BP and Bhopal Verdict: 'A Perfect Storm of Public Outrage'
In her passionate op-ed on the similarities between the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the Bhopal verdict in India, Mira Kamdar articulates a sentiment that is growing increasingly popular in both countries.
"Too often," Kamdar writes, "governments see their primary duty as facilitating corporate activity whatever the human or environmental cost."
It isn't difficult to agree with her when you look at the recent political developments regarding the two catastrophes; both of which have been called "the worst environmental disaster in history."
Despite the fact that the Bhopal gas leak killed thousands in 1984 and continues to wreak environmental havoc, the Indian government has worked to protect American CEO, Warren Anderson, from any legal consequence. The Indian managers found responsible for the leak received little more than a slap on the wrist from the Indian judiciary.
Meanwhile, in the US, the UK government is pushing back on the Obama administration's threats against BP, citing that oh-so-familiar concept that a company like BP is "too big to fail."
Kamdar believes that, "until governments return their allegiance to ordinary citizens," they are the ones who are failing us.
What do you think? Do you see a connection between the BP and Bhopal tragedies?
Click here to read Kamdar's op-ed.