The Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, its aftermath, and how the four "I's" - issues, interests, institutions, and information - manifest themselves in any discussion of this calamity. The paper maintains that the chemical industry is more intent upon fixing its image than fixing the problem. It adds that this marked unwillingness to put safety ahead of profit is a major reason why the Bhopal plant became so susceptible to the melt-down.The paper concludes that the tragedy could have been avoided, and turns responsibility over to NGOs, concerned government officials, and to the international community to see to it the chemical industry does not get away with such a crime again.

From the Paper:

"The ramifications of the tragedy do not begin and end simply with the human toll or with the lethargic pace of the clean-up - though both of those things are hugely important. Rather, one must also bear in mind the astonishing inability of Indian (and international) authorities to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster. For one thing, Union Carbide's Chief Executive Office at the time, Warren Anderson, was charged by local government officials with manslaughter in 1991. Instead of facing his accusers, Mr. Anderson successfully fled an international arrest warrant and a summons to appear before a US court. Even when he was finally unearthed in August of 2002 by Greenpeace - apparently living a life of quiet luxury in the Hamptons - neither the US government nor the Indian government expressed much interest in seeing him extradited to India to face trial. Drawing upon information provided by the official website of the Bhopal Medical Appeal & Sambhavna Trust foundation, it appears as though Mr. Anderson to this very day remains a free man (para.15)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• The Bhopal Medical Appeal & Sambhavna Trust. "What Happened in Bhopal?" n.d. Bhopal Medical Appeal & Sambhavna Trust. 29 Mar. 2007 <http://www.bhopal.org/whathappened.html>
• Chemical Manufacturers' Association. "Association Program and Issue Report." N.d. 29 Mar. 2007 <http://www.chemicalindustryarchives.org/dirtysecrets/bhopal/pdf/19850129_00001557bhopal.pdf>
• Chemical Manufacturers' Association. "Public Outreach Program." 10 Dec. 1990. CMA. 29 Mar. 2007 <http://chemicalindustryarchives.org/dirtysecrets/responsiblecare/pdfs/CMA083581.pdf#page=2>
• Environmental Working Group. "The Inside Story: Anniston, Alabama." Chemical Industry Archives. 11 Jan. 2002. Environmental Working Group (Chemical Industry Archives). 29 Mar. 2007 <http://chemicalindustryarchives.org/dirtysecrets/annistonindepth/intro.asp>
• Environmental Working Group. "The Inside Story: 18th Anniversary of Bhopal Disaster." Chemical Industry Archives. 10 Dec. 2002. Environmental Working Group (Chemical Industry Archives). 29 Mar. 2007 <http://www.chemicalindustryarchives.org/dirtysecrets/bhopal/index.asp>

More papers on The Bhopal Gas Tragedy:

• Analytical Essay # 132772 : "The Bhopal Gas Tragedy"
• Essay # 15907 : "Environmental Auditing"
• Essay # 61100 : "Corporate Responsibility"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: