A patchy dispensation of justice

The US government have managed to set up a $20-billion BP compensation fund for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. And rightly so.

However, this highlights a blaring double standard. The Bhopal disaster killed 3,500 people in the direct aftermath, and 15,000 in the following years; many children born disabled; and toxic waste continues to contaminate drinking water. Yet the Indian government and Union Carbide agreed at a settlement for a meagre $470 million.

Yes, the BP oil spill is outrageous but it is pale in comparison to the Bhopal gas leak. Senior managers at the time of the gas leak in Bhopal were sentenced to two-year prison sentences and a fine. This scandalous dispensation of justice has been said to be treated like "a minor traffic accident."

The Indian govermnent have pledged to pursue a clean-up of the toxic waste by Dow Chemical (the company who bought up the assets of Union Carbide but have refused to take responsibility for its liabilities.) This is a welcomed decision - better late than never.