The Legacy of Bhopal

It's been twenty years since a release of methyl isocyanate caused the deaths of thousands of local Indians living adjacent to the plant. Accounts about the cause vary widely; Union Carbide says it was caused by a disgruntled worker, India says it was mismanagement on UC's part. Regardless of what the cause was, this was a impactful event in the history of corporate accountability for the safety of people who live in proximity to facilities that manufacture hazardous products.

In response to events in Bhopal, congress enacted the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) that forced businesses to release information on chemicals that are used or stored at their facilities, among other requirements.

If you want to know about chemical hazards in your neighborhood, click here.

Update: To my friends in the UK, that's a nice public broadcasting corporation you're being forced to pay for:

BBC World said yesterday it was duped in an "elaborate deception" by a man who claimed to be a Dow Chemical Co spokesman and said the US company accepted responsibility for India's Bhopal disaster.
The British news channel, after twice running the interview with a man identified as Jude Finisterra, later said the report was wrong.

CBS sucks and wpould do something like this, but fortunately we don't have to pay for it. Via Tim Blair.