Activists mark the anniversary of Bhopal at Dow Chemical Europe headquarters
A new film produced by Greenpeace is screening as part of the Spice! season at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London.
Miles to Go details a 6000 km road trip where Greenpeace volunteers cross India, filming environmental violations by big businesses. They muster locals to fight the corporate criminals and ensure the authorities clean up their act.
Greenpeace organised the road trip, dubbed "1000 Bhopals", to raise awareness of the fact that there are indeed a thousand Bhopals happening across India now.
Almost 20,000 Bhopal people have died since 1984, when a toxic gas leaked from the local Union Carbide (now Dow) factory. Today, Bhopal is no longer a local tragedy but a highly visible symbol of the failure of governments to rein in corporate crime.
Meanwhile, similar disasters continue to occur. Some happen in slow motion while others come with no warning - like the Bhopal gas leak. The film was called Miles To Go because of the mammoth task ahead.
Nina Subramani, director of Miles to Go, specialises in capturing wildlife and environment issues. Her previous film In God's Own Country revealed how a pesticide wreaked havoc on a whole community.
Remembering Bhopal
Today, the 19th anniversary of the Bhopal tragedy of 1984, Greenpeace and the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB), held a global day of action against corporate crimes. The protests, in 16 countries, were held to support the thousands of people in Bhopal who still suffer from illnesses caused by the disaster and to demand international laws to protect people worldwide from corporate crimes.
About SPICE!
Spice is a selection of five contemporary films from the South Asian subcontinent showcasing an array of talent, visual styles and social themes that put modern India under the microscope. The season runs until 31st December. Miles to Go screens on 9th and 10th December.
Visit the ICA website at www.ica.org.uk
