| [1] | | | | carbide only, they gradually started |
| | | | manufacturing from carbide calcium sulphide |
| Development through foreign investment and | | | | and later on chemical fertilizer containing |
| export. According to the trend of | | | | ammonium sulphate. In the meantime Mitsubishi |
| globalization this is precisely the | | | | also joined them on partnership basis. By |
| government-approved paradigm of development, | | | | 1930 they had accessed the technology of |
| the real aim of which is plunder. | | | | manufacturing acetylene by using mercury |
| Free-of-cost supply of water and | | | | compound. They started producing various |
| infrastructure, land and labour at cheap | | | | organic items like acetic acid, acetone, |
| price-these are the preconditions of such | | | | butanol, etc. In course of this process they |
| investments. The investors will bring over | | | | also established their monopoly in acetylene |
| their own capital, own technology, even their | | | | chemistry. Not only in their own country, but |
| own raw material if required; and then they | | | | also in many countries abroad, including |
| will carry on indiscriminate plunder, shatter | | | | Korea, ther Nippon Kesso spread its empire. |
| nature, environment, destroy water, air, | | | | In the meantime the topography of Minamata |
| soil, and all resources for production. | | | | too has changed along this course of the |
| Ultimately they will leave without the least | | | | progress of the Nippo Kesso Company. |
| qualm after they have pushed the total | | | | Initially from village to town, Minamata had |
| economy of the country into the jaws of | | | | eventually emerged as a full-fledged city, |
| imminent disaster. This has been proved by | | | | with abundant roads, communication and |
| history; Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Thailand, | | | | transport facility. |
| Singapore, Malaysia, and other places bear | | | | |
| witness to this process. When the investors | | | | But under this façade of prosperity there |
| arrive they force a huge number of people to | | | | lies hidden many an untold story of lost |
| death by dispossessing them of their means of | | | | lives, shattered families, ruined means of |
| livelihood, displacing them from habitation, | | | | livelihood, smashed ways of life. The local |
| and pauperizing to destitution; and when they | | | | fishermen, farmers, farm lands have been |
| finally leave they have already shattered the | | | | ruined bit by bit silently imperceptibly. The |
| backbone of the country's total economic | | | | horrible claws of chemical industry have |
| development which affects not only the | | | | grabbed and mangled all the resources of |
| uprooted, penniless, homeless millions, but | | | | man's livelihood. The uncontrolled dumping of |
| also people belonging to all rungs of the | | | | factory waste has poisoned the sea water, |
| society. Considered in this perspective the | | | | which has in its turn infected sea weeds, |
| plan of installing 'chemical hub' in West | | | | fish and other creatures of the sea. |
| Bengal acquires enormous significance. It | | | | Poisonous chemical elements have entered the |
| becomes clear here how international trade | | | | food chain, which through the circuit of |
| and commerce , in their own interest, offers | | | | other creatures ultimately enters the human |
| some such projects to the third world | | | | body. The soil, air, water, forests have been |
| countries, where the dazzle of advertisements | | | | infected in the same way. In all it headed |
| and fanfare of government propaganda keep | | | | for such a grim situation about which nobody |
| hidden the ugly face of the marauders, the | | | | had spared a forethought - neither the |
| real conspiracy of the plunderers. | | | | company nor the government had been bothered |
| | | | by it in the least. Consequently the |
| But what is actually meant by this so-called | | | | pollution went on unabated, and the count of |
| controversial 'chemical hub'? It is not known | | | | the infected started to show a steep hike. |
| if there is any formal definition of this | | | | |
| phenomenon. Anyway, as a practical definition | | | | The horror of the situation came to the fore |
| it can be said that 'chemical hub' is an | | | | around 1956. One day four patients, |
| industrial zone which contains a series of | | | | complaining of a strange symptom, were |
| chemical factories that are connected to each | | | | admitted to Minamata hospital. The number |
| other in an interdependent chain. However, | | | | continued to swell with time. The symptoms |
| the real issue is not the definition, but the | | | | included signs of mental abnormality, rigour, |
| threat of pollution, ecological imbalance, | | | | fainting, slipping into coma, and finally |
| threat to public health, security, etc. And | | | | death. Before long this unknown ailment took |
| certainly of course some more questions are | | | | the form of pestilence in the area. As the |
| related to this. For instance, exactly what | | | | very ailment was of an unknown category, |
| chemical items are going to be produced | | | | treatment too was not possible. Eventually it |
| there, and for whom; what is their | | | | came to light that all of them used to catch |
| requirement, who are going to be the main | | | | fish in the far sea, and consume that fish on |
| consumer of the produced goods-are they | | | | a regular basis. Harosuai, a physician at the |
| Indians or foreigners, etc., etc.? | | | | local hospital, first turned attention |
| Furthermore, if it is meant for indigenous | | | | towards the sea. After some time, the very |
| consumption, then what will be our policy | | | | same year a team of researchers from Kumamoto |
| regarding chemical production? In fact, | | | | university discovered the presence of an |
| chemical industry is not just another | | | | extraordinary level of mercury in the waste |
| industry. Its area is far more extended, and | | | | rolling into the sea water, and they |
| its impact too is far-reaching. In addition | | | | identified this as the cause of the lethal |
| to this, chemical industry is directly | | | | disease. The discovery led to a considerable |
| connected with agricultural policy, and | | | | stirring at the national level. But Kesso |
| various other questions related to | | | | refused to admit the allegation and continued |
| environment and habitation are also involved | | | | their production as before. Neither did they |
| in this context. | | | | have any trouble amassing the governmental |
| | | | support on their side. Instead of |
| Today's chemical industry is not what it was | | | | disinfecting the environment the government |
| a hundred years ago. Today it has sent | | | | only came down ruthlessly on the very report, |
| tentacles into food processing, agricultural | | | | which was stiffly opposed. The demonstration |
| trade, manufacturing from seeds to | | | | of local fishermen against Kesso was met with |
| cosmetics, soft drinks and many different | | | | repression and torture on the part of the |
| items. Besides installation of such a | | | | government. In the meanwhile hundreds of |
| chemical zone involves great hazards at | | | | cats, turned mad, started to jump into the |
| every step. The place where huge quantities | | | | sea and thus commit suicide. Every now and |
| of such a dangerous range of chemicals will | | | | then infected birds started dropping down |
| be produced, will necessarily emit or spit up | | | | from the sky and falling dead. Various |
| countless elements which are bound to be | | | | ailments including physical deformities |
| hazardous for the environment, for the health | | | | surfaced among the bulk of the human |
| and security of the labourers, as also for | | | | population of the area. |
| vast numbers living in the adjacent areas. | | | | |
| Even apart from this, there always remains | | | | Then at last Nippon Kesso geared itself up to |
| the possibility of some massive accident, the | | | | stop protest. They started thrusting cash |
| kind of which had been witnessed in Bhopal. | | | | into the palms of the infected. The |
| In this situation, if the produced goods are | | | | government kept completely silent on the |
| again shipped off abroad, why should we at | | | | matter. Neither did they announce any kind of |
| all take this additional risk of danger? We | | | | compensation. On the other hand more than |
| must give serious thought to the matter. | | | | forty thousand people had waited till 1993 in |
| | | | the hope of compensation. Neither was there |
| According to the note issued by the State | | | | any compensation, nor any pause in |
| Government here the hub will be engaged in | | | | production, or any restrain in the violation |
| making petrochemical products. The main | | | | of nature. No order/ordinance was clamped on |
| problem of such chemicals producing zone is | | | | Kesso towards restraining or controlling this |
| the poisonous waste which is not less | | | | violation; instead a ban was imposed upon the |
| hazardous than radioactive nuclear waste by | | | | fishermen of the locality-that they could |
| any account. Any chemical reaction lead to | | | | catch fish in the sea, but won't be allowed |
| the production of certain unwanted items | | | | to consume that fish or any other |
| which come to no use any more. For instance , | | | | sea-creature. Furthermore, the news had |
| the lethally poisonous Dioxin, or Furan, can | | | | already reached far and wide. As a result no |
| be mentioned. Besides there are the varied | | | | customer was to be found for their fish. |
| polluting emissions which roll into the air. | | | | Consequently an enormous economic disaster |
| Among the waste there are the heavy metal | | | | confronted the fishermen of the entire area. |
| including mercury, arsenic, etc. Where will | | | | In the meantime Kesso had started dumping its |
| these go? It is quite expensive to reduce or | | | | waste into the adjacent river called |
| control the amount of poisonous waste. Who | | | | Minamata; carried along the flow of the river |
| will shoulder this extra expense? All the | | | | pollution now spread into other cities as |
| industries indiscriminately dump this waste | | | | well, and there too the diseases of Minamata |
| into adjacent rivers, canals or the sea. A | | | | began to spread. Countless people died. And |
| sizeable portion also enters the air as black | | | | as there was no cure for this ailment except |
| smoke. This creates a heavy layer in the air, | | | | pollution control, the consequence of the |
| and innumerable minutest of the minute | | | | Minamata disease too was extremely |
| particles gather in the air which lead to | | | | terrifying. It is strange that Nippon Kesso |
| perforation in human lungs. The heavy | | | | had never admitted that the pollution caused |
| elements spread over the soil, seep into the | | | | by their waste was the precise cause of this |
| lower layers underneath, roll into the water | | | | pestilence. Consequently none of the affected |
| tanks of the locality. Gradually, the rivers, | | | | has got any compensation till date. |
| sea, canals, tanks, forests, plantations, | | | | |
| everything get contaminated by the poison. | | | | Since this is the fallout of chemical |
| The strong poison seeps from the surface | | | | industry zone [or 'hub'] throughout the |
| through the soil into the underground; | | | | world, how far should it be wise or |
| drinking water gets poisoned, which again in | | | | practicable to build this type of industry |
| its turn attacks the agricultural field. From | | | | zone in a densely populated state like West |
| there through crops and corns the poison | | | | Bengal, or a highly populated country like |
| creeps into the bodies of humans and cattle, | | | | India? It is desirable not to undertake any |
| poultry and fish leading to various severe | | | | project of such potentially hazardous |
| incurable diseases. That is the grim | | | | industry in a place where there is no |
| inevitability. Ultimately the whole zone | | | | existing appropriate governmental |
| ceases to be habitable any more. Then the big | | | | infrastructure to ensure public |
| companies too wind up their industry and | | | | safety-security, where there is practically |
| sneak off elsewhere. | | | | no existing system to control pollution. It |
| | | | is also noticeable that the government here |
| 'Chemical Hub'! However fine the name may | | | | is seeking to install 'chemical hub' |
| sound, this is but that old wine in new | | | | precisely in the Brazilian model. The raw |
| bottle. In many places of the world | | | | material will come from abroad; they will use |
| industrial zones of this type have come up. | | | | the water, land and cheap labour of our |
| And the experience of those chemicals | | | | country. Then the produced goods will be |
| producing industry zones is not of | | | | shipped off to other countries, especially to |
| prosperity, but rather its opposite. A | | | | those developed countries which are |
| glaring example of the kind of horrible | | | | adequately conscious of their health |
| disaster that can fall upon a whole area in | | | | requirements, sufficiently vocal about |
| the wake of emissions from the long chain of | | | | protecting their own environment. |
| factories is Kubatao, the chemical industry | | | | |
| city or 'hub' of Brazil. During the decade of | | | | In fact, it is under the pressure of |
| the seventies, in the name of quick and | | | | environmental movements of the first world |
| largescale development and prosperity, it had | | | | that the many big commercial houses are now |
| indiscriminately invited a host of investors. | | | | in a rush for the third world shores in order |
| On the crest of a tidal wave of foreign | | | | to maintain their rate of profit. Today the |
| investment, this industry city came up | | | | new chemical industry control policy in |
| there-crowned as 'the Chemical Capital of | | | | Europe, called 'RICH', have been forcing the |
| Brazil'; flanked by the flowing river, while | | | | investors to look for new locations. 'RICH' |
| Port Santos, the largest Latin American sea | | | | is the abbreviated name of a policy called |
| port stood close by, -- a flawless | | | | 'Registration Evaluation and Authorization of |
| communication-transport system both by land | | | | Chemicals'. Since the enforcement of this |
| and water routes. To this was added | | | | regulation it will not be possible for them |
| trade-friendly liberal industrial policy, | | | | to shoulder all the responsibility of |
| cheap labour, unlimited tax concession, land | | | | protecting the environment and amassing the |
| at nominal price, -- a free field for | | | | huge profit margin at the same time; it is |
| plundering. At that time no other country in | | | | precisely for this reason that they have now |
| the world was agreeable to such an extent of | | | | been on the lookout for new sites. The German |
| concessions. Therefore, by getting the | | | | company, BASF has already declared in so many |
| guarantee of biggest profit the investors had | | | | words that this regulation is not realistic; |
| rushed for Brazil which provided for them | | | | because this will multiply the cost of |
| the ideal arena for unrestrained plunder. It | | | | building and running 'chemical hubs' to such |
| seems much like the scene of today's West | | | | a degree that customers will ultimately give |
| Bengal or India. | | | | up the consumption of chemicals. Yet Europe |
| | | | has not backed out from its earlier stance at |
| Kubatao is the grim example of the horrible | | | | all; not only that, but they are also |
| consequences of unplanned haphazard | | | | actively engaged in strengthening their own |
| investment, unrestrained trade, and the | | | | chemical usage policy and imposing control |
| limitless concession to export-oriented | | | | over the use of many items. |
| economy. Within just a single decade that | | | | |
| city turned into the valley of death. It is | | | | Towards ensuring a pollution-free earth the |
| for this reason that Kubatao is called 'the | | | | Stockholm convention of 2001 had identified |
| valley of death.' The dense Atlantic forest | | | | twelve specific chemicals as the 'dirty |
| that once covered the mountain ranges there | | | | dozen'. Recently many more items are being |
| was completely destroyed. The river that once | | | | added up to these compounds. That list |
| quietly brimmed with life turned into a dead | | | | includes undesirable poisonous waste like |
| water reservoir. There was no living creature | | | | Dioxin, furan as well as various |
| inside the river any more; it was now | | | | chlorine-based insecticides including D.D.T., |
| carrying only poisonous water and some water | | | | Eldrine , and poisonous by-products. These |
| plants. The city slithered with poison all | | | | are called 'Persistent organic pollutant' or |
| over its body. The air above is poisoned; so | | | | POP compound. This means that these are not |
| is the soil below, the land, the forests. | | | | only poisonous, these can continue unabated |
| Kubatao began to have infants born without | | | | in the environment for a long time, and can |
| the brains, infants who rarely survived and | | | | even be bio-accumulative. This means they can |
| were born deformed. It was difficult to draw | | | | enter the vegetation or animal body , through |
| one's breath in the heavy air, which severely | | | | food chain and can infect the human body |
| lacked oxygen. The sky was dark even during | | | | through these. Let us suppose this is |
| day time. And sickness everywhere! Most of | | | | sprinkled on the grass; from there it enters |
| the residents of the area had been suffering | | | | the body of bovines and other cattle, from |
| from tuberculosis, or cancer, asthma or | | | | there again in the milk; through the milk |
| lungs-related various diseases. The once | | | | seeping into the human body, which can even |
| dense forests upon the hills had disappeared; | | | | percolate through the body of the succeeding |
| in its place appeared some stray dwarfish | | | | generation. A big range of such poisonous |
| sickly trees and plants , with leaves shaken | | | | chemicals are again broadly classified as |
| off by the pungent smoke of chemicals. Every | | | | PBT, or 'Persistent Bio-accumulative Toxic |
| now and then landslides occurred, killing | | | | Chemical'. |
| many. This was compounded by frequent acid | | | | |
| rains. In all a total disaster it was. | | | | In addition to this there are several other |
| | | | compounds which are called carcinogenic, |
| By 1985 the situation of Kubatao went | | | | mutagenic, and toxic to reproduction, or CMR |
| completely out of control. In January that | | | | compounds. This refers to those chemical |
| year a continuous rain of two days and 15 | | | | compounds which can lead to cancer, mutation |
| inches was followed by a strange landslide. | | | | (cell splitting), and adversely affect |
| Hundreds and hundreds of displaced boulders | | | | reproduction. Many elements of the |
| came down crashing on the valley of Kubatao. | | | | petrochemical industry are characterized by |
| The gigantic ammonia pipeline in Villa Parisi | | | | both these properties. Therefore, Europe and |
| burst and within an instant thick pungent | | | | America have imposed various restrictions in |
| smoke, dense like cloud, shot up. Many were | | | | the areas of high volume production. It is |
| injured in this accident, many fell sick. | | | | not difficult to guess how far these |
| Although initially the government refused to | | | | restrictions are applicable in a country like |
| admit, ultimately the administration was | | | | India. Besides this there are also many |
| forced to make an emergency evacuation of the | | | | hazards during application. The way dangerous |
| entire region on war-footing. The governor | | | | chemicals are handled in this country with |
| of Sao Paolo officially declared emergency, | | | | bare hands, and without taking any |
| and ordered the pollution control board of | | | | precaution, is enough to send cold shivers |
| the state to enforce an immediate curb on | | | | through the spine of any person with the |
| pollution, a thing which was impossible at | | | | minimum awareness. The question of additional |
| this stage. During the span of more than | | | | measures for labour security is better left |
| twenty years that followed since, and in | | | | unmentioned. |
| spite of the concerted effort of many | | | | |
| organizations, the pollution level of Kubatao | | | | In the developed countries it is not only |
| could not be lowered to the below-danger | | | | that many chemicals are being banned, or |
| level. | | | | restrictions are being imposed on the |
| | | | production of compounds classified as POP, |
| Brazil is not alone. Similar histories lie | | | | CMR, PBT; the proportion of poisonous |
| scattered over the world. Even within the | | | | elements in industry waste is subject to |
| territories of the USA itself it has been | | | | strict surveillance. In all chemical industry |
| noticed how the adjacent areas to chemical | | | | faces a big challenge in Europe today. It may |
| factories become infested with poison. Let us | | | | be mentioned that there are some chemicals |
| cast a glance at Midland of the state of | | | | whose synthesizing is restricted though not |
| Michigan. Dow Chemical, one of the world's | | | | the use. The USA too has been imposing |
| biggest producers of chemical goods, has | | | | stricter state control over chemicals |
| poisoned not only the water of the | | | | industry. The reason of all such restriction |
| Tittabaowasi river, but also the underground | | | | is precisely the possibility of hazards |
| layers beneath its basin. The local residents | | | | related to this industry. Not that it is |
| have launched movement against this. | | | | impossible to produce by obeying all the |
| Residents of the area have filed suit against | | | | restrictions; but that should be enormously |
| the Dowe Chemicals alleging its | | | | expensive. That is why the multinational mega |
| responsibility behind their many ailments | | | | industrial companies have been seeking out |
| including cancer. The level of poisonous | | | | the third world countries. It is common |
| Dioxin is extraordinarily high there, which | | | | knowledge that in these third world countries |
| can lead not only to cancer, but also to | | | | there is practically no such thing as proper |
| serious complicated ailments including | | | | system towards pollution control; neither can |
| heart-disease, diabetes, skin-disease, | | | | the situation change overnight. Therefore, if |
| deformity at birth, etc. The data figures in | | | | the production is shifted to this location |
| the bulletin of the Michigan Department of | | | | then the profit level can be maintained at |
| Environmental Quality. In Washington various | | | | ease. It is only too clear that if West |
| allegations have come up against Du Pont, the | | | | Bengal is turned into such an industrial |
| largest chemical corporate of the world. For | | | | colony under the excuse of development, then |
| instance, in the adjacent areas to Du Pont's | | | | ultimately it will be a repeat of Kuabato; |
| factory in Virginia, the tap water shows the | | | | such an anxiety can prove only too real. |
| presence of the poisonous C8 which is used in | | | | |
| Teflon. When blood test of the local | | | | The government-adopted paradigm of |
| residents also exposed the presence of the | | | | development, in accordance with the trend of |
| same poisonous element, cases had been lodged | | | | globalization , and by means of investment |
| against the company. It was alleged that the | | | | and export, is actually a plan of plunder to |
| company had deliberately suppressed facts. In | | | | serve the interests of multinational trade; |
| the Teflon case Du Pont had to pay more than | | | | and the effort to set up chemical hub in West |
| ten million US dollars towards compensation. | | | | Bengal is but a glaring example of that plan |
| It needs no mention that even after Teflon | | | | of plunder. And if it materializes , a |
| had been banned in the USA it continued to be | | | | total disaster will be inevitable in the |
| exported long afterwards. It should be | | | | coming days. In view of the standard and |
| mentioned in this connection that there are | | | | infrastructure of pollution control in our |
| many chemicals which have been banned in the | | | | country, and moreover, in view of the past |
| developed countries, but are still being | | | | record of the big multinational trade and |
| produced and used in the underdeveloped | | | | industry, it requires no great wisdom to |
| countries of the world. | | | | foretell that wherever such an industry zone |
| | | | comes up, a vast area around it will be |
| [Author: Abhi Datta Majumdar; Professor, Saha | | | | turned into a graveyard in near future. |
| Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata. | | | | Agriculture, food, water, air, public health, |
| Translation by Rama Kundu from the Dainik | | | | everything will be under attack. The moment |
| Statesman, 29 & 30 June 2007] | | | | they find it uncongenial to their interest |
| | | | all the time-servers of today will wind up |
| [2] | | | | their trade and scurry away; but they will |
| | | | leave behind a poisonous killer field. Those |
| [Author: Abhi Datta Majumdar; Professor, Saha | | | | who knowingly or unknowingly, acting at the |
| Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata. | | | | behest of foreign multinational companies, |
| Translation by Rama Kundu from the Dainik | | | | are taking initiative to set up this chemical |
| Statesman, 29 & 30 June 2007] | | | | hub, are actually forcing the countrymen to a |
| | | | devastating, horrible, grim hell. In the name |
| Let us now look back from North America to | | | | of industrialization they are actually going |
| Asia. In Japan, towards the West of Kauusu | | | | to stop all roads to development, and stop |
| there is a small coastal village, called | | | | them permanently. Posterity will not forgive |
| Minamata. During the early years of the last | | | | any of them for this crime. |
| century there came up the carbide factory of | | | | |
| the Nippon Kesso Company in Minamata. As they | | | | [Author: Abhi Datta Majumdar; Professor, Saha |
| could not garner enough profit by producing | | | | Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata. |