1000 Bhopals Photo Exhibition Launched by Kanimozhi

Chennai November 29, 2006 - Renowned poet Ms. Kanimozhi launched the '1000 Bhopals' photo exhibition at the Lalit Kala Akademy today. The exhibition that displayed images from various toxic hotspots across India is part of the week long activities organized by the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal as a lead up to the 22nd Anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

The photo and painting exhibition primarily focuses on chemical pollution and its impact on human and environmental health and aims at raising awareness of the general public about the consumption of chemicals and its impact on the future generations and on people who share their backyards with facilities that make such chemicals. Though the exhibit displays images of Endosulphan poisoning in Kasargode, Kerala and chemical pollution from the Golden Corridor in Gujarat, the main focus is on Tamilnadu where places like Cuddalore, Mettur, Manali and Chengelpet are severely impacted by industrial pollution.

The exhibition also aims to generate public opinion on further expansion of SIPCOT Cuddalore that is already reeling under pollution from the 19 chemical industries that it houses. Air samples taken inside the estate revealed the presence of at least 25 toxic chemicals including 8 carcinogens, some at levels 20,000 times above those prescribed by the US Environment Protection Agency.

There are plans underway to divert 4 toxic and 2 industrial infrastructure projects to SIPCOT Cuddalore including a 170,000 tons per annum PVC plant, a six million tons per annum oil refinery, a 4000MW coal-fired power plant, a Textile Park a la Tiruppur and pipelines to pump effluents from leather tanneries in Ambur-Vaniyambadi and Tiruppur textile dyeing units into the Cuddalore sea.

The exhibition is on until the 4th of December 2006 between 10am and 5pm at Lalit Kala Akademy No. 4 Greams Road, Thousand Lights, Chennai.

For more information contact Dharmesh Shah - 9444416546

Issued by: SIPCOT Area Community Environmental Monitoring, Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation, DEPORT, Youth for Social Change and The Other Media. Supported by: West Gonur Farmers Welfare Association, Manali Youth Exnora, Students from Chennai, Liberation Tigers of Fisherfolks, South India Fishermen Welfare Association, Tamilnadu Meenavar Munnetra Kazhagam, Human Rights Initaitive of Tamilnadu, Pondycherry Unit of DYFI, Pondicherry Science Forum, Guide Chengalpet, Thandai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam.

Supported by: West Gonur Farmers Welfare Association, Manali Youth Exnora, Students from Chennai, Liberation Tigers of Fisherfolks, South India Fishermen Welfare Association, Tamilnadu Meenavar Munnetra Kazhagam, Human Rights Initaitive of Tamilnadu, Pondycherry Unit of DYFI, Pondicherry Science Forum, Guide Chengalpet, Thandai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam.

Visit http://www.sipcotcuddalore.com/