New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) Going beyond film screenings and photo exhibitions, survivors of the Bhopal gas leak started a campaign here, appealing to the youth not to work for Dow Chemicals, the company that has bought Union Carbide, which was responsible for the disaster 25 years ago.
“The campaign hopes to sensitise them about an issue which seems to be remote and unconnected with them. Through this initiative, we aim to inspire the young brigade to respond to the appeal and pledge saying, ‘we won’t work for Dow’,” Javed Naqi of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal told IANS.

He said this would “pressurise Dow to meet the demands of the victims in Bhopal in a speedier and transparent manner”.

The Bhopal gas leak — the world’s worst industrial disaster — took place the night between Dec 2-3, 1984, when tonnes of methyl isocyanate spewed out of the Union Carbide pesticide plant, killing more than 3,500 people instantly and maiming thousands more.

Children of survivors of the Bhopal gas leak Tuesday started a three-day caravan campaign, called Bhopal Blues on Wheels, in Delhi in which they will visit several colleges, telling stories of the disaster and showcasing a mobile photo exhibition to commemorate the 25th anniversary.

Naqi said the purpose of the pledge campaign was much more that just getting victims’ justice.

“It also focuses on raising our voices against irresponsibility of big corporates towards people and the environment and that we need to take action now to prevent more such Bhopals from happening in future apart from raising the cry for justice for the people of Bhopal,” he said.