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Survivors of the December 3rd, 1984 catastrophic gas leak in Bhopal, India are currently touring the United States in search of justice and accountability. As the worst industrial accident in history, 8,000 people were killed instantly that fateful day when methyl isocyanide spewed from a pesticide-manufacturing plant operated by the US-based Union Carbide Corporation. Due to still present contamination in surrounding areas and groundwater supplies, tens of thousands of residents continue to suffer ill-health effects as a result of the Bhopal disaster including those who were born after the incident took place. Ahead of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the tragedy, a delegation of survivors is touring major U.S. cities to raise awareness. Earlier this month, three Bhopal residents met with members of Congress at the start of their tour to call for a hearing on the accident. They specifically urged lawmakers to apply pressure on Dow Chemicals which bought out Union Carbide in 1999. Seeking to hold the corporation accountable for the disaster, the touring survivors are demanding that Dow Chemicals clean the contaminated areas, provide significant economic assistance to affected residents, and stand trial before a court in Bhopal as the owners of Union Carbide.

GUESTS: Sarita Malviya, a 2nd generation survivor of the Bhopal disaster, Rachna Dhingra, a member of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal.

For more information, visit www.bhopal.net and www.studentsforbhopal.org.