Today, 19 years ago, a world tragedy happened. See The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal.

On the night of December 2nd-3rd 1984, 27 tons of methyl isocyanate, hydrogen cyanide, mono-methyl amine and other lethal gases began spewing from Union Carbide Corporation’s pesticide factory in Bhopal, India. Severe cost-cutting meant that six safety systems designed to contain a leak were inadequate or inoperational. Nobody outside the factory was warned because the safety siren was turned off. Not until the gas was upon them in their beds, searing their eyes, filling their mouths and lungs, did the communities of Bhopal know of their danger.

Over half a million people were exposed to the deadly cocktail. The gases burned the tissues of the eyes and lungs, crossed into the bloodstream and damaged almost every system in the body. Nobody knows exactly how many died but in the next days more than 7,000 death shrouds were sold in Bhopal. With an estimated 10-15 people continuing to die each month the number of deaths to date is put at over 20,000. And today, more than 120,000 people are still in need of urgent medical attention.

A point that Chomsky usually makes is the following: India believes Warren Anderson, former chairman of Union Carbide, should pay for what he have done and demand him for being processed in India. India believes USA is hiding a man who killed many many Indians. … Should India be allowed to bomb USA just as USA did with Afghanistan because Afghanistan refused to give them Osama Bin Laden?

If you follow the logic, the answer is yes. But this world is far from logic.

If you haven’t already I suggest you to read Five Past Midnight in Bhopal.