[Reader-list] Fwd: Remember Bhopal; Fight for Cuddalore

[Iram Ghufran]

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Subject: Remember Bhopal; Fight for Cuddalore
From: "Karen Coelho" <kcoelho at email.arizona.edu>
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2006 11:20:39 +0530
To: <reader-list at sarai.net>
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Remember Bhopal;
Fight for Cuddalore

Youth on Cycles for Cuddalore � 28 November to 2 December
*Appeal for Support: *Those interested in supporting the campaign are 
requested to make contributions by cheque in the name of Samarthan 
Trust. Please write (For CEM) on the reverse. Only Indian Rupee 
contributions can be accepted. The cheque may be sent to: Nityanand 
Jayaraman, 42A, 1st Floor, Besant Nagar, Chennai 600 090. Tel: +91 44 
24465461
Cuddalore is another Bhopal in the making. Youth from Chennai, Cuddalore 
and Mettur will cycle from Cuddalore to Chennai to raise awareness about 
the environmental issues confronting residents of SIPCOT, Cuddalore, and 
highlight the threats of pollution-intensive industrialization facing 
Cuddalore. The cycle tour will travel through the coastal areas of 
Cuddalore, Pondicherry and parts of Kanchipuram and Chennai districts, 
and through the inland areas along GST Road. Kindly extend your support 
to the cycle tour by organizing solidarity activities en route.
  Distance to be covered - 280 km
Route and Schedule
28 November: Flag Off from Cuddalore Town.

29 November: Periyapattu to Sonnanchavadi, Semmankuppam, Sangolikuppam, 
Eachangadu, Kudikadu, Devanampattinam, Thazhanguda, Pondicherry. Film 
screening/Night Halt: Pondicherry

30 November: Pondy to Marakkanam, Tindivanam. Film screening/Night halt: 
Tindivanam

1 December: Tindivanam to Madurantakam, Chengalpattu. Film 
screening/Night halt: Chengalpattu

2 December: Chengalpattu to Kovalam, Besant Nagar. Film screening: 
Besant Nagar
 
Background: December 3 is the 22nd anniversary of the 1984 Union Carbide 
disaster in Bhopal. In the lead-up to the anniversary of the world's 
worst industrial disaster, the International Campaign for Justice in 
Bhopal (Chennai) and its supporters wish to highlight Cuddalore as a 
Bhopal in our own backyard.

The Tamilnadu Government has earmarked coastal Cuddalore for locating 
the dirtiest, most hazardous industries in Tamilnadu. Already, an 8 km 
stretch of the district � the SIPCOT industrial estate -- is seriously 
affected by pollution from more than 19 chemical industries. The State 
Human Rights Commission and the Indian People's Tribunal on Environment 
and Human Rights have observed that SIPCOT residents are already 
overburdened with pollution. They have recommended against setting up 
any more chemical industries in the area.

Despite massive public protest and the recommendations of various expert 
agencies, the Tamilnadu Government is planning to intensify pollution in 
and around SIPCOT. In the pipeline, are the following proposals:
1.Chemplast PVC factory and marine terminal, and desalination plant, 
Semmankuppam and Chitrapettai
2.4000MW coal-fired thermal power plant, Naduthittu
3.A mega textile park, Periyapattu
4.A 6 million tones per annum petrochemical refinery by Nagarjuna, 
Thyagavelli
5.Effluents pumped into sea from Tiruppur textile dyeing units
6.Effluents pumped into sea from Ambur-Vaniyambadi leather tanneries
7.A shipbuilding yard

For more information on Bhopal and Cuddalore,
Email: nopvcever at gmail.com <mailto:nopvcever at gmail.com>
OR
Visit:
www.sipcotcuddalore.com <http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/>
cuddaloreonline.blogspot.com <http://cuddaloreonline.blogspot.com/>
www.bhopal.net <http://www.bhopal.net/>