Aarons Photos

Not sure what date these were really taken on but Aaron took them.

A portrait of Grandad and Granny with Lucy

Lucy with her stick - which she still has (its now April - Who said I’m slow at doing this)

Christmastime

Here we go - another Christmas day but not getting up at some ridiculous time in the morning.

Aaron already in to his books.

Jessica and Ben jammin - look at those fingers fly.

Jessica posing with Grandma and Grandad.

The garlands are from the staff as a Christmas present.

Big Brother Fair - with animals

I can’t remember exactly what this was for - something like the Worldwide Federation of Brotherhood but the kids and others had a great time riding various beasts of the land.

Jess sat on her waiting camel.

Coming back after an exhausting walk round the car park - with Aliza (Jessica’s best friend) behind.

Not to be put off by the camel its the poor elephants turn now - if you can get on with a little help though.

Even Kathy and Julie got in on the act though I’m not sure who they are hoping to be.

Orrisa Basti

Slum of the people of Orissa - such a pleasant name. This is the place where after the disaster happened the original slum was moved to.

Gathering of the women to watch us work

Moved about a mile from the Bhopal site - their homes leave much to be desired

The children play in the sand which borders their toilet - a bit of land in the middle of their homes

Daily life - sitting and watching the world go by

Very bemused girl who had never seen the like before.

The Level Crossing

Whilst filming the Bhopal site we had to go up and through a junction box which like lots of things was a bit of a time warp - fascinating though.

Here we have the man in power - even with his red hot phone.

believe it or not they wouldn’t let me take photos at first but one thing the locals do love it having their photo taken.

Meanwhile down at the nearest level crossing - well out of site the mounting crowds wait patiently for the train.

Thankfully the trains don’t travel too fast along this piece of track!!

That is very different out of town but the people still risk everything crossing the track in an apparent hurry.

Hopeless

The biggest thing that has struck me about this story is the hopelessness due to a mass of elements from corporate negligence, government ineptitude and other terrible factors. The poor people of Bhopal have no way out nor are likely to be given anything that resembles hope in the near or indeed long term future - despite our and many others people attempts to draw attention to what happened and what hasn’t happened over the last 20 years.

It is amazing that they have not demolished the site as you can see

and even more incredulous that they let us get this close

and even pose for pictures

The plant is disgusting and still has masses amounts of toxic waste stored there - there is even mercury on laying on the first floor of one of the towers.

Meanwhile every day only 500 yards away or so the daily grind in getting water goes on

The water from this pump is labelled as dangerous and not to be used for drinking as it is contaminated. There is a pipe that runs along the road that gives the slum residents water - but its only on for 45 mins a day so there is a mad rush to fill up containers with it.

These kids - mobbing Richard - are being given sweets and pens - for sitting still for us and ‘chatting’ quietly in the background for a piece to camera (ptc). Mayhem to say the least.

If you are lucky enough and can escape the disaster, the sun set over the lake is pretty. How many of the kids from the slum have seen this - a 10 min drive from their homes? Hmmm.

Bhopal - 20 Years On

The facts.

On the midnight of 2nd/3rd December 1984, the worst industrial disaster of the century was caused by the Union Carbide Corportaion, USA, in the city of Bhopal - a city with approximately one and half million people. Over 40 tonnes of Methyl isocyanate and other lethal gases leaked fromthe Carbide’s pesticide factory in the northern end of the city killing over 8000 people in its immediate aftermath and causing multiple systematic injuries to over 500,000 people. The number of deaths has risen to over 20,000 people in the subsequent years and there appears to be no end to the physical and mental suffering caused by the exposure to the poisonous gases. Breathlessness, diminished vision, loss of appetite, pain, ….. retarded growth of childern born to the exposed are the most common symptoms.

This baby has severe deformities thought to be caused by the gas leak affecting his parents.

Richard’s report for our website is here.