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.
