Ingrid Eckerman

Today, after 25 years, the verdict on the Bhopal case fell. "The Union Carbide subsidiary's former employees, all Indian nationals and many in their 70s, were sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay fines of 100,000 rupees ($2,175) apiece. All were released on bail shortly after the verdict" (Yahoo News). They were eight, one of them already deceased.

I was contacted by Times of India and Göteborgsposten. What could I say?

Well, is it not a little miracle that a verdict finally fell - after 25 years? Of course, the court could have done more or at least quicker. The punishments were small - that could also be expected. I suppose the laws from 1984 have been used. At that time, the laws on environment and work environment were weak all over the world. The Bhopal disaster was the start of new laws. Today, according to Swedish work environmental laws, Warren Andersson would have been punished. But Indian laws in 1984? I do not know.

The laws and regulations are still not enough, nowhere in the world. Just see what is happening in the Mexican Gulf. Big and small Bhopals are happening every day - or at least every year. Chemical industry is "developing" specially in the so called "rising economies" in Asia and South America - where the laws often are weak, corruption is common and the power of multinational companies is growing.

Chemicals are now invading every living cell on the whole earth. No living organism can avoid them. We have no idea of what this will lead to. Mainly, they are based on oil. When the price of oil increases (which it will, it is only a question of time), the price of chemicals will also rise. Maybe that will save the life on earth.
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