The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Remembering Bhopal tragedy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 03, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Remembering Bhopal tragedy

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the morning of December 3, 1984, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh witnessed one of the world’s worst industrial disasters when a holding tank on the premises of the Union Carbide pesticide factory released 40 tonnes of toxic methyl isocyanate gas into the atmosphere. Approximately, 20,000 people are believed to have died of exposure to the gas and tens of thousands continue to suffer the effects.

The incident, later referred to as ‘The Hiroshima of the Chemical Industry,’ shocked the whole world and highlighted the dangers of the manufacture and use of chemical pesticides.

On the 23rd anniversary of the tragedy, a series of programmes is being organised in schools and colleges in Kerala as part of the No Pesticides Use Day being observed at the global level under the auspices of the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) International since 1998 to draw attention to the hazards posed by pesticides to human health and the environment.

Toxic pesticides in use

The campaign programme in Kerala is being organised by Thanal, a city-based non-governmental organisation (NGO). According to the campaign literature released by Thanal, India is one of the few countries in the world where highly toxic pesticides like Endosulfan, phorate and methyl parathion continue to be used.

These omnipresent chemicals cause not only acute health hazards but also long-term effects like cancer, mental disorders and endocrine disruption that may lead to infertility or malformation of an unborn child. . The programme will cover 10 colleges and schools between December 3 and 17.

Poster exhibition

The inauguration of the campaign will take place on Monday at All Saints College, Chakka. A poster exhibition titled ‘The Story of Pesticides’ and a film show titled ‘The slow poisoning of India’ are also being organised. Information leaflets on the use of pesticides will be distributed to the students.

The campaign will be extended to the University College, Government College, Nedumangad; MG College and Government College for Women, as well as institutions in Nagercoil and Kollam. Colleges and schools interested in hosting the exhibition are directed to contact V.V Rajasree at phone 94471 85254.

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