The Global Green Congress 2012 at Dakar, Senegal passed the Bhopal Resolution with unanimous vote on 1st April 2012. There was a 100% vote passed on the resolution.
Green party representatives from around the world came together to ensure justice for Bhopal under a ‘polluter pays’ principle. They further agreed to hold Union Carbide and its current owner Dow Chemical accountable for Bhopal related liabilities, as well as oppose any association with Dow until the site is remediated, non-toxic water supplies ensured and medical care for those still suffering provided.
The Bhopal Resolution is outlined below:
MEP604 – Justice for Bhopal
UKPP India
{Whilst this resolution is a new one, it emerged from the discussion related to the nuclear resolution amendment and has been accepted after the deadline on that basis.}
Resolution: Global Greens urge for Justice for Bhopal to ensure a disaster free world
The 1984 Bhopal Gas Disaster – The world’s worst industrial disaster – has valuable lessons for the world. The disaster happened on the intervening night of 2-3rd December 1984 when tonnes of toxic gases leaked out of a factory owned by an American Multinational Union Carbide Corporation. The gas leak killed more than 3,000 people and left another 120,000 chronically ill in the first few days, which has now substantially increased. The disaster itself is far from over. The compensation amount of $470 million, with $450 million levied from Union Carbide Corporation, was wholly inadequate. Shared by 600,000 victims, the compensation amounted roughly to $500 per victim for lifelong illness. Costs of environmental remediation, medical monitoring and rehabilitation, economic rehabilitation of the victims were not and have not been considered. While Dow Chemicals, current owner of Union Carbide refuses to accept any liability, the disaster continues in form of second generation effects, groundwater contamination, shoddy relief and rehabilitation measures, and an ever elusive justice.
We recognize that companies like Dow Chemicals have demonstrated disregard for all principles of environmentally sustainable practices, and equity and justice in several developing countries. Therefore, ensuring justice in Bhopal will resonate and strengthen the environmental justice and corporate accountability movements across the world.
We declare our support to the Bhopal survivors led movement for justice and corporate accountability and state our commitment to do all within our powers to ensure that a Bhopal like situation never happens again anywhere in the world. We strongly condemn any association with Dow Chemicals in wake of its Bhopal related liabilities. We urge International and National Olympics Committees to demonstrate their real commitment to environmental sustainability and peace by dissociating themselves from Dow. We strongly urge Indian and US government to act in the interest of victims by working together in upholding the rights of the victims, resolving all matters related to Bhopal liabilities and setting up a strong precedence for the internationally recognized “Polluter Pays” principle.
We want developmental policies to be drafted keeping in mind the rights of disaster victims, rather than the interests of the corporate perpetrators of such disasters.
In this context, Greens parties will work to:
1. Ensure justice for Bhopal and do all within our powers to make the polluter pay by holding Union Carbide and its current owner, Dow Chemicals, accountable for Bhopal related liabilities so that a strong precedence can be set for the future.
2. Oppose any association with Dow Chemicals until it agrees to correct the historical wrongs committed on the people of Bhopal by agreeing to pay – for cleaning up the site and local water supplies, for medical care for those still suffering as a result of the disaster, and for their continued disregard for both due legal process and the rights of Bhopal’s victims.
Tabled for vote with support from:
UKPP India
Australian Green party members
Green Civil society (Nepali Greens)
Civil Will Green Party of Mongolia
Nigeria Green Movement
Partido Kalikasan – Philippines (Philippines Green Party)
Green Party of Canada
Green Party Brazil
Green Party of Kenya (Mwazingira)
Mongolian Green Party
Green party members from Japan
Green Party of Tunisia
Pakistan Green party members
German Green party members
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