7 Union Carbide executives convicted in "mockery of justice"

[Union Carbide]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bhopal-verdict-20100608,0,2008744.story

So, 26 years later, 7 executives get 2 year sentences for "negligence". Awesome.

For those of you unfamiliar with the incident:


In the early hours of Dec. 3, 1984, a pesticide factory owned by Union Carbide India Ltd. in the central Indian city of Bhopal released approximately 40 metric tons of deadly methyl isocyanate gas.

The poison spread on the wind, exposing an estimated half a million people, many of whom woke up coughing, blinded and vomiting. The Indian government said the disaster killed 3,500 people, while activists put the number as high as 25,000.

[Eric T Cheng]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bhopal-verdict-20100608,0,2008744.story

So, 26 years later, 7 executives get 2 year sentences for "negligence". Awesome.

For those of you unfamiliar with the incident:

Out of curiousity, with your nickname, do you have a personal stake in the incident?

[Union Carbide]

Me? Nah. Nickname comes from one time playing Quake with some friends at a LAN. I was doing really well, one of them said "you're killing more people than Union Carbide" and it stuck.

I'd been aware of the disaster, it was a big news story when it happened. It became something that kept popping up in my awareness, and I've kept tabs on what's going on with it.

[InfiniteJest]

Dow Chemical will fully compensate the victims and remediate the site by liquidating Union Carbide to the tune of 12 billion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiWlvBro9eI

Well, at least in a better world.

[jpinard]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-bhopal-verdict-20100608,0,2008744.story

So, 26 years later, 7 executives get 2 year sentences for "negligence". Awesome.

For those of you unfamiliar with the incident:

In another article I read most of them will send up serving just 3-6 months (at most) and they received a whopping fine of... $2,500. Corrupton, corruption, corruption.

[Adam B]

That's a pretty awesome derivation for a nick, UC.

[JeffL]

In another article I read most of them will send up serving just 3-6 months (at most) and they received a whopping fine of... $2,500. Corrupton, corruption, corruption.

Yeah, but $2500 is something like a trillion dollars in India. ;)

[Lunch of Kong]

Yeah, but $2500 is something like a trillion dollars in India. ;)

A dollar still goes a long way in India, but not like it used to. Income levels for white-collar jobs in India have been rising about 20% per year and will eventually reach parity with the median Western salary. This is one reason why India is no longer a low-cost center for tech jobs.

[Charles]

Dow Chemical will fully compensate the victims and remediate the site by liquidating Union Carbide to the tune of 12 billion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiWlvBro9eI

Well, at least in a better world.

It's a sad day when improv comedians have to do what reality cannot.

[jpinard]

Yeah, but $2500 is something like a trillion dollars in India. ;)

Not for executives.

[JMR]

This is one reason why India is no longer a low-cost center for tech jobs.

So what is, or will be, the new hotspot for off shoring?

[bago]

China.

[Jupiter Jones]

So what is, or will be, the new hotspot for off shoring?

The USA.

[CLWheeljack]

I've seen some migration to the Philippines.

[malchior]

The USA.Only if the Euro recovers...so not anytime soon.

[Greatatlantic]

Hmmm... well a settlement was reached in '89 for 470 million... which might actually be a large enough figure (especially when adjusted for inflation, roughly 800 million, and the value of the dollar in India).

However, much of that money was swallowed in whats either administration costs or corruption and many of those affected did not recieve any money. My thoughts (not entirely informed on the matter), is the remaining blame game is best directed at the Indian government.

[Nellie]

Will be interesting to see how this compares to what's eventually meted out to BP if you think $800million is a fair price.

[Greatatlantic]

Will be interesting to see how this compares to what's eventually meted out to BP if you think $800million is a fair price.

I said it may be fair. To actually determine if its fair, I'd have to do research and calculations, which I'm not going to do. Suffice it say that is a lot of money. The 470 million figure was part of an out of court settlement with the Indian government that removed further legal liability from UC. If the money was efficiently distributed and used by the Indian government, I think we'd have less of an issue today.

[Nellie]

$800 million is $140 million more than last years profits, not income. Profit.

That's a fine that says sack a few cleaners and maybe not upgrade the director's lear jet this year, maybe outsource a call centre to india to make amends.

[Athryn]

I heard there were some recent developments in this case. Anyone got any details?

[Omniscia]

I heard there were some recent developments in this case. Anyone got any details?

You mean besides Google? ;)


Bhopal: The CBI today filed an appeal in the sessions court here, seeking enhancement of the light punishment of two years of imprisonment awarded to convicts, including the then UCIL chairman Keshub Mahindra, in the Bhopal gas tragedy case.

District and sessions judge Subhash Kakade will hear the appeal on July 30.

Source. (http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_bhopal-gas-tragedy-cbi-files-appeal-wants-punishment-enhanced_1415609)

[DennyA]

AUDIO CUE: WHOOSHING SOUND HEARD OVERHEAD

[drewl]

Why were they convicted? Ineptitude?
Was it an accident or another case of blatant misconduct/poor safety?

[Dan_Theman]

Why were they convicted? Ineptitude?
Was it an accident or another case of blatant misconduct/poor safety?
I'm not aware of how the justice system works in India, but from what I know of the case they would have been found guilty of criminal negligence in the U.S..