Some rather distressing images of Bhopal here.
Young Hegelian | Homepage | 12.03.04 - 7:14 pm | #

Some rather distressing images of Bhopal here.
Young Hegelian | Homepage | 12.03.04 - 7:14 pm | #

Some might argue that agreeing to pay half a billion dollars in compensation to the local government in full and final settlement might count as, well, some kind of, erm, full and final settlement.
john b | Homepage | 12.03.04 - 9:24 pm | #

Some might argue that agreeing to pay half a billion dollars in compensation to the local government in full and final settlement might count as, well, some kind of, erm, full and final settlement.
john b | Homepage | 12.03.04 - 9:24 pm | #

Rumors are these guys are behind it. As I said before, they have real style.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 12:00 am | #

Rumors are these guys are behind it. As I said before, they have real style.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 12:00 am | #

john b–you write:

"it's not only acceptable, but morally correct, to apply less stringent safety standards in India than in the US. In India, poverty is the biggest cause of premature death. In the US, it is not. Building a dangerous factory in India that makes its workers rich enough to afford food and medicine is better than not doing so (this is also why developing-world sweatshops are *good* - the people who work there are less abysmally badly-off than if they didn't work in developing-world sweatshops)."

Your words are truly inspiring, and I wish to thank you. I had no idea the use of pesticides had "eradicated famine" in India. Now if only pesticides could eliminate cancer and Third World debt, but then these things are unrelated I suppose?
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 12:10 am | #

john b–you write:

"it's not only acceptable, but morally correct, to apply less stringent safety standards in India than in the US. In India, poverty is the biggest cause of premature death. In the US, it is not. Building a dangerous factory in India that makes its workers rich enough to afford food and medicine is better than not doing so (this is also why developing-world sweatshops are *good* - the people who work there are less abysmally badly-off than if they didn't work in developing-world sweatshops)."

Your words are truly inspiring, and I wish to thank you. I had no idea the use of pesticides had "eradicated famine" in India. Now if only pesticides could eliminate cancer and Third World debt, but then these things are unrelated I suppose?
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 12:10 am | #

Seriously though, while we're blaming the victims (or the Indian government) instead of drawing much-needed, if not precedent-setting attention to the systemic failings of current "free" trade contexts and the reality of environmental injustice, perhaps someone could explain to me the subsequent actions Bhopal has no doubt taken to prevent such incidents from happening ever again.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 12:18 am | #

Seriously though, while we're blaming the victims (or the Indian government) instead of drawing much-needed, if not precedent-setting attention to the systemic failings of current "free" trade contexts and the reality of environmental injustice, perhaps someone could explain to me the subsequent actions Bhopal has no doubt taken to prevent such incidents from happening ever again.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 12:18 am | #

I'm sure this woman (and her family?) were deeply satisfied by their monetary reward, if ever they got it.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 1:11 am | #

I'm sure this woman (and her family?) were deeply satisfied by their monetary reward, if ever they got it.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 1:11 am | #

The Green Revolution, which was based around the use of pesticides, fertiliser, and irrigation, massively increased India's food output. Before these changes were made, famines would sporadically kill hundreds of thousands of Indians.

While obviously starvation hasn't yet been eradicated in India, mass famine has, and pesticides have played a significant role in this.
john b | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 9:57 am | #

The Green Revolution, which was based around the use of pesticides, fertiliser, and irrigation, massively increased India's food output. Before these changes were made, famines would sporadically kill hundreds of thousands of Indians.

While obviously starvation hasn't yet been eradicated in India, mass famine has, and pesticides have played a significant role in this.
john b | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 9:57 am | #

Yes, and letting the Hell's Angels provide security for a concert is a brave victory for Civil Rights. Never was a "revolution" more misnamed.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 2:23 pm | #

Yes, and letting the Hell's Angels provide security for a concert is a brave victory for Civil Rights. Never was a "revolution" more misnamed.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 2:23 pm | #

More on The YES MEN and Bhopal here.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 2:26 pm | #

More on The YES MEN and Bhopal here.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 2:26 pm | #

Revolutions misnamed...well, maybe there has been more than one.
Matt | 12.04.04 - 3:41 pm | #

Revolutions misnamed...well, maybe there has been more than one.
Matt | 12.04.04 - 3:41 pm | #

Thank you, google police. That is an excellent choice of book.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 4:28 pm | #

Thank you, google police. That is an excellent choice of book.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 4:28 pm | #

Never was a "revolution" more misnamed.

So the fact that India hasn't had a famine since independence is a *bad* thing?
john b | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 7:25 pm | #

Never was a "revolution" more misnamed.

So the fact that India hasn't had a famine since independence is a *bad* thing?
john b | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 7:25 pm | #

Of course not. BUt using the word "green" to describe pesticides and policies that lead to "Bhopal" is just plain *not* a good thing.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 9:45 pm | #

Of course not. BUt using the word "green" to describe pesticides and policies that lead to "Bhopal" is just plain *not* a good thing.
Matt | Homepage | 12.04.04 - 9:45 pm | #

Dude, condolences are great! You can use them for all kinds of things around the home! They make nutritious sandwich wraps! And soaked in glass cleaner and placed in tupperware, are handy for spills and smudges! The Secretary of State, her real name is Condolences! Condolences Rice!
Hey now!
John B's value system is human-centered. But human-right-now centered, not human-as-they-we-could-be.
It's selfishness extended to the edge of the barracks and the camp perimeter. We hit 6billion living humans in 1999, since then we've gained 400 million more. Any value system that puts saving human lives above any other concern is just soft squichy evil looking for something to hide behind so it can work it's dark scams unrecognized.
Condolences, john b! You're missing the boat, forever! Sorry!
Poisoning the world to save babies is a lie and it doesn't work!
Condolences!
Bye!
Sorry!
See ya!
vernaculo | 12.05.04 - 4:02 pm | #

Dude, condolences are great! You can use them for all kinds of things around the home! They make nutritious sandwich wraps! And soaked in glass cleaner and placed in tupperware, are handy for spills and smudges! The Secretary of State, her real name is Condolences! Condolences Rice!
Hey now!
John B's value system is human-centered. But human-right-now centered, not human-as-they-we-could-be.
It's selfishness extended to the edge of the barracks and the camp perimeter. We hit 6billion living humans in 1999, since then we've gained 400 million more. Any value system that puts saving human lives above any other concern is just soft squichy evil looking for something to hide behind so it can work it's dark scams unrecognized.
Condolences, john b! You're missing the boat, forever! Sorry!
Poisoning the world to save babies is a lie and it doesn't work!
Condolences!
Bye!
Sorry!
See ya!
vernaculo | 12.05.04 - 4:02 pm | #

more
Anonymous | 12.07.04 - 5:51 pm | #

more
Anonymous | 12.07.04 - 5:51 pm | #