Astronomy and Cosmology
Cosmology is the name given to a range of natural sciences, including both physics and astronomy that intends to provide an explanation for how the universe works as an integrated entity. Over the centuries, since the Pythagoreans in Greece during the 6th century BC considered the possibility that Earth was spherical, cosmology has come a long way and has integrated a variety of different fields of science.
Cosmology evolved from the observation of these Greeks who interpreted the natural laws of the heavenly bodies from which, eventually, the Ptolemaic model developed during the second century AD. Centuries later, during the 16th century, the Copernican system further developed the theories surrounding astronomy and cosmology - followed, in the 20th century, by the theories of special relativity and Albert Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. Overall, however, the case for cosmology states that the laws of physics work the same everywhere and that there is homogeneity throughout the universe.
'The Holographic Universe', written by Michael Talbot, tells its story in two parts: the first part devotes 55 pages to discussing David Bohm's holographic model of the universe - simplified into everyday language by Talbot. The second part of the book delves into events of the paranormal while, at the same time, attempting to rationalise the holographic model. Talbot introduces the reader to Karl Pribram as well as the philosophies of David Bohm.
Chemistry
Chemistry and biochemistry often go hand-in-hand, existing in parallel with other scientific disciplines such as dietetics [the science of food]. McCance and Widdowson, who produce 'The Composition of Foods' summarises food composition tables and updates much in the way of nutrition as a science. The foreword to the 6th edition has been written by Sir John Krebs while the actual volume itself provides an invaluable source of reference to dieticians and nutritionists the world over.
Meanwhile,'Principles of Biochemistry' by Nelson D has been described as a 'modern approach to biochemistry'. Personally, one of the best biochemistry books I have ever encountered was that written by Patterson - now, sadly, long since out of print. I attribute my successful pass in the biochemistry exams to the presence of Patterson which, by the time I had finished with it, was particularly dog-eared! Nelson D's 'Principles of Biochemistry' really is the next best thing to Patterson and a worthy successor.
Earth Sciences and Geography
Earth sciences are a catch-all term covering a different range of natural sciences from those mentioned above. These relate to the study of the earth and how different parts of it are interlinked to produce that homogenous whole that is the classic feature of the scientific world. If you are interested in the world around you then you may be interested in a lovely book by Gavin Pretor-Pinney. This book 'The Cloud Collector's Handbook' is full of charming pictures, below which you will find a short description of each cloud and space for you to record your own sightings. It certainly gives a new connotation to having your head in the clouds!
Education
If you think about it, there is all the difference in the world between someone who loves school and somebody who loves to learn: it doesn't necessarily follow that, if you love to learn, then you must enjoy school. Education, however, is all about learning for the sheer pleasure of gaining new information. This learning may or may not be associated with school: it can even cover any subject. Evidence of this can be seen in Richard Dawkins' book 'The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution'.
Dawkins goes about educating his readers, explaining to them how fossils can be dated accurately, all about plate tectonics etc, before going into the details of how these may be linked with the global distribution of plants and animals and the effects changes in these physical elements can have on them. Dawkins, whilst making it clear that he is aware [and who could not be?] of the great debate on creation v evolution, doesn't get drawn into the minutiae surrounding this eternal dispute.
Engineering and Technology
One book that I simply have to recommend is a fantastic book written by Jo Marchant. You will find it in our Science and Nature section under the heading of Engineering and Technology. The first thing to say is that this is not some dry and boring technical tome. This book relates the story behind a particularly ancient Greek artefact and what it took to decode its hidden mysteries. The book is called 'Decoding the Heavens: Solving the Mystery of the World's First Computer'. I wish Jo Marchant had found a more intriguing title for her book because this title really doesn't do this book justice.
The book relates the story of the Antikythera Mechanism which has been shown to have amazing capabilities as an astronomical calculator: scientists believe its complexity was at least 1500 years before its time. The Antikythera Mechanism artifact is a good 2,000 years old and was found during a dive in 1901. Scientists have been attempting to unravel its secrets ever since. So, if it's a true-life mystery you are interested, or a book that's a bit different I would strongly recommend this well-written and interesting book of Jo Marchant's.
There are innumerable other sub-genres to be found within our Science and Nature section, covering quite an array of subjects. If you are a fan of the border collie, Barbara Sykes writes a delightful treatise on 'Understanding Border Collies'. This is an excellent book written by somebody who really does understand the intricacies that go to make up this breed of dog and is an absolute 'must have' for all the lovers of border collies out there. Changing from dogs to elephants, I would certainly recommend 'The Elephant Whisperer: Learning about Life, Loyalty and Freedom from a Remarkable Herd of Elephants' - it will really pull on your heartstrings then have you howling with laughter! Check out all the other options within this section - you will probably amaze yourself at the treasure trove of titles hidden within our web pages!
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suleman_Thadha
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Why You Should Drink Filtered Tap Water
There are two major benefits to having filtered tap water flowing through your home.
One is that filtered water taste great. Many filtration systems alter the pH balance of the water, giving it a crisp taste. People are more likely to drink great wasting water than bland, ordinary water. Drinking more water is a very healthy habit as well.
The other major benefit of drinking filtered tap water is the benefit it could have to your health. Filtered water has many of the contaminants that are in ordinary tap water, removed or reduced.
You see, despite North America having one of the safest water supplies in the world, there still remain residues of many contaminants in it - even after city water treatment. Now ingesting these contaminants may not cause immediate death but could have a cumulative adverse effect on health.
Take chlorine for example, long used to disinfect water supplies all over the world. Chlorine is linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Drinking chlorinated water and even taking a shower can exposure you to risks.
Taking a shower? Yes - whenever you take a hot shower the chlorine in water is vaporized and which point you inhale it. Therefore, imagine how less of a health risk taking a shower would be if it were chlorine-free filtered tap water that was coming out of your shower head.
There are many other contaminants in tap water that can affect one's health in the long term. Here is another for good measure - lead. This substance can leach from your plumbing system into your water. Lead can cause kidney and liver problems and is especially harmful to children.
So, it is best to get a quality filtration system that can produce clean, healthy filtered water throughout your entire home. Just make sure you due your due diligence before you buy a filtration unit, so that you know you are getting one of high quality.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Surgeon
One is that filtered water taste great. Many filtration systems alter the pH balance of the water, giving it a crisp taste. People are more likely to drink great wasting water than bland, ordinary water. Drinking more water is a very healthy habit as well.
The other major benefit of drinking filtered tap water is the benefit it could have to your health. Filtered water has many of the contaminants that are in ordinary tap water, removed or reduced.
You see, despite North America having one of the safest water supplies in the world, there still remain residues of many contaminants in it - even after city water treatment. Now ingesting these contaminants may not cause immediate death but could have a cumulative adverse effect on health.
Take chlorine for example, long used to disinfect water supplies all over the world. Chlorine is linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Drinking chlorinated water and even taking a shower can exposure you to risks.
Taking a shower? Yes - whenever you take a hot shower the chlorine in water is vaporized and which point you inhale it. Therefore, imagine how less of a health risk taking a shower would be if it were chlorine-free filtered tap water that was coming out of your shower head.
There are many other contaminants in tap water that can affect one's health in the long term. Here is another for good measure - lead. This substance can leach from your plumbing system into your water. Lead can cause kidney and liver problems and is especially harmful to children.
So, it is best to get a quality filtration system that can produce clean, healthy filtered water throughout your entire home. Just make sure you due your due diligence before you buy a filtration unit, so that you know you are getting one of high quality.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Surgeon
Water Filters - Trihalomethanes
Much has been written about the concerns many consumers have over the dangers of chlorine in their tap water. This article takes a closer look at how and why chlorine in tap water can affect your health.
Trihalomethanes, often referred to as THM's, consist of a group of four chemicals that are when chlorine reacts with organic and inorganic matter in water. THM's are formed with other by-products as they go the business of disinfecting water.
The four trihalomethanes are: chloroform, romodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform. EPA standards allow for a maximum annual average level of 80 parts per billion.
The concern over THM's is that these by-products belong to the Cancer Group B carcinogens. This means that these contaminants have already been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Another concern is that these by-products are not entirely stable. By that we mean that the levels of these by-products can increase according to pH, temperature, time, and the level of organic material they have to react with in the water.
It is important to remember that water treatment plants are required by regulation to maintain a certain level of residual chlorine in the water as it moves through the distribution system (water pipes). This residual chlorine is used to disinfect flowing water as it makes its way from the plant or water tank to your home. It is also important to remember that the minimum residual chlorine level must be maintained all the way to the very last point of discharge. What this means to you is that the closer you live to a treatment plant or water storage tank the higher the level of chlorine will be in your tap water.
Understanding the pro's and con's of chlorine can help consumers make better decisions on whether or not they want to remove chlorine and trihalomethanes from their tap water. In almost all cases, it is better to remove these contaminants than to leave them in the water. This is especially true for the THM's that are found in tap water.
It should also be noted that chlorine and THM's can be introduced into the body through showering. For this reason, most experts recommend homeowners install shower head water filters which are rated to remove both chlorine and THM's.
For point of use systems at homes, activated carbon filters are the most effective means of removing THM's from tap water. These POU filters are very affordable and easy to install. In addition, reverse osmosis units will also eliminate chlorine and trihalomethanes.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Tracey
Trihalomethanes, often referred to as THM's, consist of a group of four chemicals that are when chlorine reacts with organic and inorganic matter in water. THM's are formed with other by-products as they go the business of disinfecting water.
The four trihalomethanes are: chloroform, romodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform. EPA standards allow for a maximum annual average level of 80 parts per billion.
The concern over THM's is that these by-products belong to the Cancer Group B carcinogens. This means that these contaminants have already been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Another concern is that these by-products are not entirely stable. By that we mean that the levels of these by-products can increase according to pH, temperature, time, and the level of organic material they have to react with in the water.
It is important to remember that water treatment plants are required by regulation to maintain a certain level of residual chlorine in the water as it moves through the distribution system (water pipes). This residual chlorine is used to disinfect flowing water as it makes its way from the plant or water tank to your home. It is also important to remember that the minimum residual chlorine level must be maintained all the way to the very last point of discharge. What this means to you is that the closer you live to a treatment plant or water storage tank the higher the level of chlorine will be in your tap water.
Understanding the pro's and con's of chlorine can help consumers make better decisions on whether or not they want to remove chlorine and trihalomethanes from their tap water. In almost all cases, it is better to remove these contaminants than to leave them in the water. This is especially true for the THM's that are found in tap water.
It should also be noted that chlorine and THM's can be introduced into the body through showering. For this reason, most experts recommend homeowners install shower head water filters which are rated to remove both chlorine and THM's.
For point of use systems at homes, activated carbon filters are the most effective means of removing THM's from tap water. These POU filters are very affordable and easy to install. In addition, reverse osmosis units will also eliminate chlorine and trihalomethanes.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Tracey
Three Symptoms of Poor Home Water Quality
Poor water quality is the leading cause of death in the world. Life as we know it needs water for survival but the desperate need for it can also be life's downfall. Contaminated and polluted water sources, when drank from, can cause diseases like dysentery, influenza, cryptosporidiosis, cholera, E. coli, and countless others. Because of the risks involved it is always a good idea to get your home water quality checked whenever you are even remotely suspicious.
The symptoms of poor water quality are easy to read as long as you know what you are looking for. If you feel that the quality of your tap water is not up to snuff you can send a sample in for testing. There are three main forms of water quality tests that can be performed by your water treatment plant and they are bacterial, mineral, and chemical tests. These tests will give you a better idea of the problem in your water and help guide you on the proper treatment path.
Here's what to look out for before you drink your household tap water:
Foul Odor:
Clean water should be completely odorless, so if your water has any sort of smell to it you could be dealing with a chemical or mineral imbalance. If your water has an unpleasant aroma and smells like sulfur, tin, or anything at all it is a good idea to have it tested.
Discoloration:
Sanitary water will have a clear color that you can see right through. If the water coming out of your tap is tinted a certain color (like that of rust, indigo, or murky green) you should have it tested right away because that is a clear sign that something is contaminating the water source.
Odd Taste:
If the water in your glass passes the discoloration test and the foul odor test but still has an odd taste to it when you bring it to your lips you are probably dealing with a subtle mineral imbalance or bacterial contaminant. If your water tastes funny make sure to stop drinking it immediately and have it tested for water quality.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_K._Bernal
The symptoms of poor water quality are easy to read as long as you know what you are looking for. If you feel that the quality of your tap water is not up to snuff you can send a sample in for testing. There are three main forms of water quality tests that can be performed by your water treatment plant and they are bacterial, mineral, and chemical tests. These tests will give you a better idea of the problem in your water and help guide you on the proper treatment path.
Here's what to look out for before you drink your household tap water:
Foul Odor:
Clean water should be completely odorless, so if your water has any sort of smell to it you could be dealing with a chemical or mineral imbalance. If your water has an unpleasant aroma and smells like sulfur, tin, or anything at all it is a good idea to have it tested.
Discoloration:
Sanitary water will have a clear color that you can see right through. If the water coming out of your tap is tinted a certain color (like that of rust, indigo, or murky green) you should have it tested right away because that is a clear sign that something is contaminating the water source.
Odd Taste:
If the water in your glass passes the discoloration test and the foul odor test but still has an odd taste to it when you bring it to your lips you are probably dealing with a subtle mineral imbalance or bacterial contaminant. If your water tastes funny make sure to stop drinking it immediately and have it tested for water quality.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_K._Bernal
EMI & RF Environmental Safety Concerns
Electromagnetic energy is an environmental issue that is often overlooked. This invisible environmental factor should be considered as carefully as air and water quality.
Standards have been set for acceptable electromagnetic energy levels in the environment. Organizations, such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), have studied and identified levels and time limits above which human exposure should be restricted.
As required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established standards and guidelines for evaluating the level of potential human exposure to emissions from licensed transmitters. OSHA's website states "...there are national consensus standards which OSHA could consider referencing in a general duty clause citation." Policies and procedures should be put in place to reduce the potential for being challenged on these issues and for properly responding if you are challenged.
Electromagnetic energy is generated over a wide spectrum of frequencies from many different sources. The frequencies addressed in this article include extremely low frequency (ELF), Radiofrequency (RF) and microwave (MW) radiation. The term "EME/RF" will be used here to refer to these frequencies.
ELF fields are produced by power lines, electrical wiring, and electrical equipment. RF and MW radiation is generated from many sources, including radios, cellular phones, the processing and cooking of foods, heat sealers, vinyl welders, high frequency welders, induction heaters, flow solder machines, communications transmitters, radar transmitters, ion implant equipment, and microwave drying equipment. These frequencies, along with visible and ultraviolet light, are known as non-ionizing radiation to distinguish them from the more dangerous X-rays, gamma rays and other higher energy level rays known as ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is not addressed in this article.
Establishing a policy and implementing procedures to consider, identify and document the factors that influence the electromagnetic environment will help ensure that workers and the general public are appropriately protected from any potential adverse effects resulting from excessive exposure. While most devices typically would not result in levels of exposure high enough to cause injury, it is nevertheless important to ensure that human exposures are maintained well below levels that are suspected to be potentially harmful.
Electromagnetic environment evaluation procedures should be consistent and complete. The FCC has established maximum permissible exposure (MPE) levels for human exposure to RF. They have published guidelines and procedures for evaluating RF exposure for the general public and for personnel performing occupational tasks in a controlled area.
While the focus of the FCC is strictly on transmitters that they license, OSHA is very much concerned with the workplace. OSHA has published their own guidelines, which state that they agree with those of the FCC and other standards organizations. In the area of occupational protection against EME/RF exposure, the OSHA guidelines are a very clear blueprint for the responsibilities of building facilities management. The General Duty Clause of OSHA states that an employer is required "to furnish to each of his employees, employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."
It is becoming more common for building rooftops to be used as wireless base station antenna sites. A building manager should ensure that all wireless carriers located on such facilities comply with the requirements to assess and document the RF environment. These requirements are not restricted to each carrier's individual contribution to the RF environment, but mandate that they evaluate the cumulative effects of all RF sources at each site, identify areas where the MPE is exceeded in which their equipment contributes 5% or more of the MPE, and take appropriate action. That action could involve signage, barriers to restrict access, or other methods to alert people to the potential danger and prevent excessive exposure.
Forward thinking building managers might utilize internal resources or an independent third party firm to perform an EME/RF audit of any part of their facility where a potential tenant wants to install equipment that may generate EME/RF energy. This should be made a routine part of the due diligence process in evaluating the lease application and the cost included in those fees. In the case of wireless licensees, each should be provided with an updated copy of the results of the new study. The FCC rules require that each licensee consider the cumulative effects of all transmitters. Existing tenants are more willing to share the necessary information with a building manager or independent third party than with a potential new competitor.
The liability that results from an unknown or undocumented electromagnetic environment presents a unique risk-management problem. An innovative solution to the problem, using the rooftop example, is to perform an audit of RF sources. A RF sweep of the rooftop using industry-accepted test equipment can identify "hot spots" where high levels of RF are of concern.
Then, a computer modeling study of the roof can be used to predict a "worst case scenario" and generate a color-coded map of the rooftop, with the safe, "green" areas in green, and other colors to alert personnel to any areas of concern. This map should be laminated and stored in a weather resistant enclosure that is well marked and placed where anyone entering the roof will see it, so that they will be aware of the environment.
Tens of thousands of occupational situations involve potentially hazardous exposure to non-ionizing radiation that could be at, near, or above recognized safety standards. Commercial and industrial uses outside the electronics industry continue to grow. High electromagnetic levels can affect the general population and, specifically, at risk individuals.
While it is important to recognize that most facilities are safely within the MPE limits, it is also important to be able to provide some documentation to show how that was determined for your facility if you are asked to do so. For most buildings, this is easy and low cost. For facilities with more complex EME/RF environments, more detailed analysis is required; however, documenting the environment there is more important because challenges are more likely in such cases.
People with implanted pacemakers are of particular concern. The manufacturers of pacemakers usually provide specifications relative to the electromagnetic environmental levels where the device should not be used. Those responsible for environmental issues should be aware of workers and others who may have pacemakers and ensure that they are not allowed to enter an area where the electromagnetic environment is not compatible with the pacemaker. RF energy can also affect the operation of hearing aids.
In addition to effects on humans, sufficiently high levels of RF energy can interfere with other electronic equipment such as computer systems, wireless devices, medical equipment (defibrillators), and RFID systems. Often, these types of equipment are vital to providing workplace safety. As with all environmental concerns, the electromagnetic environment must be managed with knowledge and responsibility.
Electromagnetic environmental safety is a risk management issue. By recognizing it as such, facility management is taking positive steps to protect the employees and visitors as well as avoiding potential litigation should an incident occur. The guidelines established by OSHA provide a clear blueprint for the responsibility of building facilities' managers. The first step is to establish a written policy for documenting and dealing with these issues.
It is also important to establish a procedure for documenting all potential sources of electromagnetic energy at and nearby the facility. Conducting periodic reviews will ensure that the information is current. Obtaining an expert evaluation and opinion as to the need for a detailed electromagnetic/RF environment audit is a prudent step. If recommended, study of the electromagnetic environment should be performed.
Depending on the facility, this may include measurements, theoretical modeling, or a combination of the two. It is vital to correct any deficiencies noted, post signage where appropriate, and restrict access where needed. OSHA's policy states that employers who have people working around devices which produce radiofrequency/ microwave radiation need to be sure that those devices are properly shielded to prevent leakage of radiation.
The FCC sets forth two tiers of MPE levels, one for general population/uncontrolled environments and another for occupational/controlled environments. Where electromagnetic hazards may exist, awareness training should be provided to personnel who find it necessary to enter the area. In facilities where RF exposure is high, specific areas of concern can be identified and access to those areas can be restricted or controlled.
In facilities where it is more desirable to utilize the less restrictive occupational/controlled exposure limits, certain requirements must be met. These include RF safety awareness training for anyone entering such facilities. Procedures should be instituted for working in the vicinity of the RF sources that will prevent exposures in excess of the guidelines. Since the MPE limits are based on time averaging, restricting the time an individual could be near an RF source is one example of a policy that could prevent excessive exposure to RF radiation. It is necessary to inquire of prospective new tenants regarding planned equipment that may contribute to the EME/RF environment and evaluate the cumulative threat thereof.
Management should also determine if prospective new tenants plan to use equipment that may be negatively impacted by the existing EME/RF environment. EME/RF emissions can cause potential hazards to both humans and the operation of equipment. In addition to the impact on personnel, the emissions from one device may have a deleterious effect on other devices in the area. In medical related facilities or other facilities used for sensitive testing, there may also be adverse effects on test results.
Just as there are safety precautions for operating a microwave oven, such as not operating it when empty, checking to see that the door seal is tight and using extreme caution if you have a pacemaker, there are safety precautions for the operation of business, industry and health related facilities. While it is important to know what the precautions are, it is also important to take action to protect the environment and those who work within the environment from the potential hazardous effects of EME/RF emissions. EME/RF radiation is an important safety aspect of facility management. By using professionals to survey the facility and determine the levels of EME/RF radiation, providing formal training of employees and adequate posting of hazardous areas, all personnel within the facility can be protected against excessive levels of EME/RF.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Stox
Standards have been set for acceptable electromagnetic energy levels in the environment. Organizations, such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), have studied and identified levels and time limits above which human exposure should be restricted.
As required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established standards and guidelines for evaluating the level of potential human exposure to emissions from licensed transmitters. OSHA's website states "...there are national consensus standards which OSHA could consider referencing in a general duty clause citation." Policies and procedures should be put in place to reduce the potential for being challenged on these issues and for properly responding if you are challenged.
Electromagnetic energy is generated over a wide spectrum of frequencies from many different sources. The frequencies addressed in this article include extremely low frequency (ELF), Radiofrequency (RF) and microwave (MW) radiation. The term "EME/RF" will be used here to refer to these frequencies.
ELF fields are produced by power lines, electrical wiring, and electrical equipment. RF and MW radiation is generated from many sources, including radios, cellular phones, the processing and cooking of foods, heat sealers, vinyl welders, high frequency welders, induction heaters, flow solder machines, communications transmitters, radar transmitters, ion implant equipment, and microwave drying equipment. These frequencies, along with visible and ultraviolet light, are known as non-ionizing radiation to distinguish them from the more dangerous X-rays, gamma rays and other higher energy level rays known as ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is not addressed in this article.
Establishing a policy and implementing procedures to consider, identify and document the factors that influence the electromagnetic environment will help ensure that workers and the general public are appropriately protected from any potential adverse effects resulting from excessive exposure. While most devices typically would not result in levels of exposure high enough to cause injury, it is nevertheless important to ensure that human exposures are maintained well below levels that are suspected to be potentially harmful.
Electromagnetic environment evaluation procedures should be consistent and complete. The FCC has established maximum permissible exposure (MPE) levels for human exposure to RF. They have published guidelines and procedures for evaluating RF exposure for the general public and for personnel performing occupational tasks in a controlled area.
While the focus of the FCC is strictly on transmitters that they license, OSHA is very much concerned with the workplace. OSHA has published their own guidelines, which state that they agree with those of the FCC and other standards organizations. In the area of occupational protection against EME/RF exposure, the OSHA guidelines are a very clear blueprint for the responsibilities of building facilities management. The General Duty Clause of OSHA states that an employer is required "to furnish to each of his employees, employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."
It is becoming more common for building rooftops to be used as wireless base station antenna sites. A building manager should ensure that all wireless carriers located on such facilities comply with the requirements to assess and document the RF environment. These requirements are not restricted to each carrier's individual contribution to the RF environment, but mandate that they evaluate the cumulative effects of all RF sources at each site, identify areas where the MPE is exceeded in which their equipment contributes 5% or more of the MPE, and take appropriate action. That action could involve signage, barriers to restrict access, or other methods to alert people to the potential danger and prevent excessive exposure.
Forward thinking building managers might utilize internal resources or an independent third party firm to perform an EME/RF audit of any part of their facility where a potential tenant wants to install equipment that may generate EME/RF energy. This should be made a routine part of the due diligence process in evaluating the lease application and the cost included in those fees. In the case of wireless licensees, each should be provided with an updated copy of the results of the new study. The FCC rules require that each licensee consider the cumulative effects of all transmitters. Existing tenants are more willing to share the necessary information with a building manager or independent third party than with a potential new competitor.
The liability that results from an unknown or undocumented electromagnetic environment presents a unique risk-management problem. An innovative solution to the problem, using the rooftop example, is to perform an audit of RF sources. A RF sweep of the rooftop using industry-accepted test equipment can identify "hot spots" where high levels of RF are of concern.
Then, a computer modeling study of the roof can be used to predict a "worst case scenario" and generate a color-coded map of the rooftop, with the safe, "green" areas in green, and other colors to alert personnel to any areas of concern. This map should be laminated and stored in a weather resistant enclosure that is well marked and placed where anyone entering the roof will see it, so that they will be aware of the environment.
Tens of thousands of occupational situations involve potentially hazardous exposure to non-ionizing radiation that could be at, near, or above recognized safety standards. Commercial and industrial uses outside the electronics industry continue to grow. High electromagnetic levels can affect the general population and, specifically, at risk individuals.
While it is important to recognize that most facilities are safely within the MPE limits, it is also important to be able to provide some documentation to show how that was determined for your facility if you are asked to do so. For most buildings, this is easy and low cost. For facilities with more complex EME/RF environments, more detailed analysis is required; however, documenting the environment there is more important because challenges are more likely in such cases.
People with implanted pacemakers are of particular concern. The manufacturers of pacemakers usually provide specifications relative to the electromagnetic environmental levels where the device should not be used. Those responsible for environmental issues should be aware of workers and others who may have pacemakers and ensure that they are not allowed to enter an area where the electromagnetic environment is not compatible with the pacemaker. RF energy can also affect the operation of hearing aids.
In addition to effects on humans, sufficiently high levels of RF energy can interfere with other electronic equipment such as computer systems, wireless devices, medical equipment (defibrillators), and RFID systems. Often, these types of equipment are vital to providing workplace safety. As with all environmental concerns, the electromagnetic environment must be managed with knowledge and responsibility.
Electromagnetic environmental safety is a risk management issue. By recognizing it as such, facility management is taking positive steps to protect the employees and visitors as well as avoiding potential litigation should an incident occur. The guidelines established by OSHA provide a clear blueprint for the responsibility of building facilities' managers. The first step is to establish a written policy for documenting and dealing with these issues.
It is also important to establish a procedure for documenting all potential sources of electromagnetic energy at and nearby the facility. Conducting periodic reviews will ensure that the information is current. Obtaining an expert evaluation and opinion as to the need for a detailed electromagnetic/RF environment audit is a prudent step. If recommended, study of the electromagnetic environment should be performed.
Depending on the facility, this may include measurements, theoretical modeling, or a combination of the two. It is vital to correct any deficiencies noted, post signage where appropriate, and restrict access where needed. OSHA's policy states that employers who have people working around devices which produce radiofrequency/ microwave radiation need to be sure that those devices are properly shielded to prevent leakage of radiation.
The FCC sets forth two tiers of MPE levels, one for general population/uncontrolled environments and another for occupational/controlled environments. Where electromagnetic hazards may exist, awareness training should be provided to personnel who find it necessary to enter the area. In facilities where RF exposure is high, specific areas of concern can be identified and access to those areas can be restricted or controlled.
In facilities where it is more desirable to utilize the less restrictive occupational/controlled exposure limits, certain requirements must be met. These include RF safety awareness training for anyone entering such facilities. Procedures should be instituted for working in the vicinity of the RF sources that will prevent exposures in excess of the guidelines. Since the MPE limits are based on time averaging, restricting the time an individual could be near an RF source is one example of a policy that could prevent excessive exposure to RF radiation. It is necessary to inquire of prospective new tenants regarding planned equipment that may contribute to the EME/RF environment and evaluate the cumulative threat thereof.
Management should also determine if prospective new tenants plan to use equipment that may be negatively impacted by the existing EME/RF environment. EME/RF emissions can cause potential hazards to both humans and the operation of equipment. In addition to the impact on personnel, the emissions from one device may have a deleterious effect on other devices in the area. In medical related facilities or other facilities used for sensitive testing, there may also be adverse effects on test results.
Just as there are safety precautions for operating a microwave oven, such as not operating it when empty, checking to see that the door seal is tight and using extreme caution if you have a pacemaker, there are safety precautions for the operation of business, industry and health related facilities. While it is important to know what the precautions are, it is also important to take action to protect the environment and those who work within the environment from the potential hazardous effects of EME/RF emissions. EME/RF radiation is an important safety aspect of facility management. By using professionals to survey the facility and determine the levels of EME/RF radiation, providing formal training of employees and adequate posting of hazardous areas, all personnel within the facility can be protected against excessive levels of EME/RF.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Stox
Environmental Water Pollution - Time to Fight Back and Do a Favor to Your Family As Well As Society by Daniel Woods
Remember your school days when you used to paint pure blue rivers, lush green mountains and a clean clear sky? Things are no more the same today. The past few years have witnessed a huge spike in the levels of pollution - environmental water pollution, air pollution - just everything around us seems to be contaminated today.
It feels bad to say this but the truth is that many of us know all these facts but prefer doing nothing more than feeling sorry about the condition that we are in.
Let us take an example of environmental water pollution. What do you think its main causes are? Now, I know it is very easy for us to blame everything on the industries dumping their waste into our precious natural reservoirs. It is equally easy for us to curse the loose rules and laws to regulate all this; but tell me, as an individual are you sure you are not making this situation any worse?
Okay, let me ask you a direct question. Which water do you use for your daily consumption?
If you belong to category A of the people who are ignorant about the condition of the water being supplied to our homes, I am sure you would have been consuming tap water directly. Well, let me warn you that this water contains millions of pollutants including bacteria, virus, cysts, algae, traces of metals, lead, chlorine, pesticides and so on.
This is a worrisome fact because due to the rapid increase in environmental water pollution, it is no more safe to consume this water directly. Doing so is a wide and open invitation to multiple ailments including stomach infections, cancer and various other disorders.
If you belong to category B of the people who understand the condition of our water supply and resort to bottled water; be warned that bottled water is no safer than tap water! This is something which has already been clinically proven. Not only is this water equally unsafe but it actually worsens the pollution situation by using the most sworn enemy of environment - plastic bottles.
If you belong to any of these groups, I urge you to please give it a thought and think about having a nice and efficient purification unit installed at your home. Not only will it provide clean and pure water to you but it will also help in putting some control on empty water bottles being dumped in rivers and other water bodies and adding up further to the environmental water pollution.
You can look out for a multi block water purifier which is based on the combination techniques of carbon filtration, sub micron filtration and ion exchange. These purifiers have not only been the number one choice of people for years but are updated enough to catch all different types of impurities prevailing in water around us.
They are affordable to buy and extremely easy to maintain. So why not stop environmental water pollution right at your home and do a favor to both, your family and the society as well?
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Woods
It feels bad to say this but the truth is that many of us know all these facts but prefer doing nothing more than feeling sorry about the condition that we are in.
Let us take an example of environmental water pollution. What do you think its main causes are? Now, I know it is very easy for us to blame everything on the industries dumping their waste into our precious natural reservoirs. It is equally easy for us to curse the loose rules and laws to regulate all this; but tell me, as an individual are you sure you are not making this situation any worse?
Okay, let me ask you a direct question. Which water do you use for your daily consumption?
If you belong to category A of the people who are ignorant about the condition of the water being supplied to our homes, I am sure you would have been consuming tap water directly. Well, let me warn you that this water contains millions of pollutants including bacteria, virus, cysts, algae, traces of metals, lead, chlorine, pesticides and so on.
This is a worrisome fact because due to the rapid increase in environmental water pollution, it is no more safe to consume this water directly. Doing so is a wide and open invitation to multiple ailments including stomach infections, cancer and various other disorders.
If you belong to category B of the people who understand the condition of our water supply and resort to bottled water; be warned that bottled water is no safer than tap water! This is something which has already been clinically proven. Not only is this water equally unsafe but it actually worsens the pollution situation by using the most sworn enemy of environment - plastic bottles.
If you belong to any of these groups, I urge you to please give it a thought and think about having a nice and efficient purification unit installed at your home. Not only will it provide clean and pure water to you but it will also help in putting some control on empty water bottles being dumped in rivers and other water bodies and adding up further to the environmental water pollution.
You can look out for a multi block water purifier which is based on the combination techniques of carbon filtration, sub micron filtration and ion exchange. These purifiers have not only been the number one choice of people for years but are updated enough to catch all different types of impurities prevailing in water around us.
They are affordable to buy and extremely easy to maintain. So why not stop environmental water pollution right at your home and do a favor to both, your family and the society as well?
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Woods
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Bhopal gas tragedy
ETHNIC NEIGHBORS:
Agent Orange and Bhopal:
Fight for Global Environmental Justice Continues
Agent Orange and the Bhopal disaster reminds him of slash-and-burn farming, where land is deforested, farmed, and then abandoned after its nutrients have been depleted and it can no longer produce, writes
Ky-Phong Tran.A U.S. plane spraying Agent Orange
in Vietnam (above). Millions of gallons of the toxic defoliant were sprayed, with harrowing results, like children born with birth defects (left)
Agent Orange and Bhopal:
Fight for Global Environmental Justice Continues
Agent Orange and the Bhopal disaster reminds him of slash-and-burn farming, where land is deforested, farmed, and then abandoned after its nutrients have been depleted and it can no longer produce, writes
Ky-Phong Tran.A U.S. plane spraying Agent Orange
in Vietnam (above). Millions of gallons of the toxic defoliant were sprayed, with harrowing results, like children born with birth defects (left)
Bhopal
The Agent Orange campaign bears an ugly, striking resemblance to the Bhopal disaster in 1984, where a Union Carbide pesticide plant released toxic chemicals that killed over 15,000 Bhopal residents and injured another half million.Though the victims were compensated financially in an out of court settlement, the land is still infected to this day. Because of the plant’s central location and rain run-off that pollutes underground water supplies, toxics are responsible for kidney, liver, and nervous system problems among many Bhopal residents.
And in a coincidence that would be Hollywood movie-laughable if it were not true, Dow Chemical, the manufacturer of Agent Orange, is also the owner of Union Carbide.
Slash and Burn
The use of Agent Orange and the Bhopal disaster reminds me of slash-and-burn farming, where land is deforested, farmed, and then abandoned after its nutrients have been depleted and it can no longer produce.
The Union Carbide plant manufactured pesticides in India for cheap profits with shoddy regulations. After the explosion, after Bhopal could not produce, the plant was sold. Unfortunately, environmental clean-up is expensive and produces no profit for shareholders.
Vietnam was about something more than profit, it was about power. According to the Domino Theory, if Vietnam fell to Communist forces so would all of Southeast Asia. Or maybe, the dominoes were all the other colonized regions of the world that were fighting for their own self-determination.
After the Vietnam War, Vietnam was no longer useful politically or environmentally, literally de-forested by chemicals, and thus abandoned. The United States lost that battle, and again, clean up is expensive, especially for the little ‘S’ shaped country that blemished this country’s previously unbeaten war record.
Privilege in the New World
The other day, my roommate asked me if I was a Democrat or Republican. I laughed at him and told him I was neither, though I vote Democrat. I told him, elections rarely affect me. I am an English-speaking, college educated, US Citizen. I have direct access to steady work, health insurance, and a home.
I vote Democrat because their policies tend to aid people whom I am related to or those whose struggle I support: the poor, working families, the uninsured, immigrants.
It’s the same with the Agent Orange Campaign. In truth, it does not directly affect me, but somehow knowing that it could have been me contaminated with Agent Orange, that there are people who look like me, talk like me, and have the same name as I do who are suffering--I feel committed to them.
For me, what’s the point of having all this privilege if I don’t use it for something good, something bigger than me?
Sometimes, I wonder if this campaign is possible. Can the victims of Agent Orange win justice 11,000 miles away in a New York court? Can justice be had from an unjust war?
But history tells us it can happen. After decades of organizing, Japanese Americans won reparations and a national apology for internment. A few weeks after the dismissal of the Agent Orange Victims’ case, the US government paid 25 million dollars to compensate for losses after US soldiers looted a train and warehouse that contained Jewish family heirlooms that were stolen by Nazi-allied Hungarian soldiers.
I was pleased that they won, but the proximity of the cases broke my heart. To me it only confirmed that justice in this country is not just about justice, it is about influence.
As Vietnamese America grows, as it elects government officials and churns out millionaires, as it produces college graduates and white-collar professionals, I hope it can remember its own brothers and sisters across the Pacific Ocean.
I hope it can balance its ambition with its sense of community and consider people over profits.
I believe that there will be a settlement and that it will add further closure to the Vietnam War. But most of all, a settlement might make life a little bit easier for a crippled child back in Vietnam and cleanup will prevent further suffering.
It can be done because it must be done.
Seven men jailed over 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy that killed 15,000 people
The convictions are the first since the Indian disaster, when a pesticide plant run by Union Carbide leaked tons of gas.
About 4,000 died straight away and the rest succumbed over the following years.
Bhopal gas tragedy survivor and gas victims hold posters and shout anti-govenment slogans at the district court as they wait for the verdict in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Union Carbide, an American chemical company, said the leak was the result of sabotage by a disgruntled employee who was never identified. It denied that it was caused by lax safety standards or faulty plant design.
India's Central Bureau of Investigation originally accused 12 defendants: eight senior Indian company officials; Warren Anderson, the head of Union Carbide at the time of the gas leak; the company itself and two subsidiary companies.
Partially blind gas victim waits for the verdict with other victims in the premises of Bhopal court
Anderson was briefly detained immediately after the disaster, but he quickly left the country and now lives in New York.
Last July, the court issued a warrant for Anderson's arrest and ordered the Indian government to press Washington for the American's extradition.
A crowd watches as a man pastes identification labels onto dead children's foreheads, killed in the December 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy
A woman and her child lie dead on a street on December 3, 1984, after the toxic gas leak. The acciden killed thousands and contaminated water and soil when toxic methyl isocyanate gas leaked from Union Carbide's pesticide plant.
Extradition proceedings are usually mired in a complex tangle of legal paperwork and can take years to complete.
The plant was closed after the disaster, and Union Carbide was bought by Dow Chemical Co in 2001.
The sentences, which were handed down in a local court and are likely to be appealed, came as the case crawled through India's notoriously slow and ineffective judicial system.
Survivors, relatives and rights activists gathered in the city for the verdict today but said the sentences were 'too little, too late.'
On December 3, 1984, a pesticide plant run by the subsidiary of Union Carbide leaked about 40 tons of deadly methyl isocyanate gas into the air in Bhopal, central India, quickly killing about 4,000 people.
The Union Carbine plant in Bhopal, 25 years after the deadly gas leak
The lingering effects of the poison raised the death toll to about 15,000 over the next few years.Activists insist the real numbers are almost twice that, and say the company and government have failed to clean up toxic chemicals at the plant, which closed after the accident.
Investigators say the accident occurred when water entered a sealed tank containing the highly reactive gas, causing pressure in the tank to rise too high.
The Central Bureau of Investigation said the plant had not been following proper safety procedures.
Dow says the legal case was resolved in 1989 when Union Carbide settled with the Indian government for $470million, and that all responsibility for the factory now rests with the government of the state of Madhya Pradesh, which now owns the site.
Indian court convicts 8 for 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy
 |
| A lone girl is refreshing under the late monsoon rain in the impoverished Oriya Basti Colony in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, near the former Union Carbide industrial complex, Aug. 25, 2009. When the heavy monsoon rain falls every year, the rain seeps through the buried waste of Union Carbide pollute Bhopal's underground reservoirs. Over 30.000 people are here at risk by the ongoing underground water contamination. (Photo: China Daily/CHIPP Organizing Committee) |
Former Chairman of the U.S.-based Union Carbide Corporation Warren Anderson is among the eight convicted. Warren Anderson is absconding since the tragedy. In fact, no one from Union Carbide America and Union Carbide Eastern Hong Kong ever appeared in the court here.
Besides Anderson, the other accused persons are former Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) Chairman Keshub Mahendra, former Managing Director (MD) Vijay Gokhle, ex-Vice President (VP) Kishore Kamdar, ex-Works Manager J Mukund, ex-Production Manager S. P. Choudhary, ex-Plant Superintendent K. V. Shetty, ex-Production Assistant S. I. Quershi.
Another accused R.B. Roychoudhary who was assistant works manager with UCIL at that time died during the trial.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohan P. Tiwari gave the judgement 25 years after the tragedy when the deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant on the night of Dec. 2, 1984.
According to sources, 178 prosecution witnesses deposed before the court during the trial.
All the convicted persons were held guilty under Sections 304-A (causing death by negligence), 304-II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 336, 337 and 338 (gross negligence) of the Indian Penal Code.
The judge will pronounce the sentence later.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy Survivors - Including Children As Young As 6 - Beaten Up In Police Station
Bhopal: Plainclothes policemen and women and some uniformed police beat up 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy survivors and their children inside the Parliament street police station in New Delhi on Monday evening.
Sixteen-year-old Imran was belted by policemen, including Yad Ram, a uniformed policeman from the Parliament Street police station. The belting has hurt his eye, and he was taken to hospital. Other policepersons whose names are known include Suraj Bhan, Mallik (a tall, big-set cop), Mahendra (in plainclothes), and the gun-toting Yad Ram.
Bhopal gas tragedy survivors lying down covered in shrouds
Twenty-seven-year-old Vikas was set upon by 13 policemen. Irshad, 20, was also beaten up badly. The police did not spare the kids. The youngest "padayatri" (foot-marcher), 11-year-old Yasmin, 6-year-old Naghma and 24-year-old Meera More were also beaten by the police when they tried to prevent the police from dragging Rachna Dhingra, a "padayatri", into the lock-up. Seeing the girls come in aid of Rachna, plainclothesman Mahendra Singh screamed: "In Kaaliyon ke kapde fado." (Tear the clothes off these blackies). All the while, the older women were forced into police lock-up.
Since the time that they were picked up from the Prime Minister's Office, (PMO), for demonstrating in a high-security area, senior police officials have talked tough. Callers who spoke to Nand Mohan, Deputy Commissioner of Police, informed that the top cop reportedly said the Bhopalis will have to face the consequences this time. The Prime Minister's silence on the matter of demands has prompted the Bhopalis to protest in front of his house two times.
One of the Bhopal gas survivors being arrested by police
Muthukumaran, Director of Public Relations, PMO, did not know that Bhopalis were being beaten up at the Parliament street police station for a mistake of his boss, the Prime Minister. However, when intimated about it, he said: "I have heard about it. It is shameful. I have informed the authorities, and we'll see what can be done."
Die-in by covering themselves with shrouds at Indian Prime Minister's house in New Delhi on Monday being arrested by police The survivors, who arrived in New Delhi walking all the way from Bhopal, took the security guards by surprise, and staged a silent but visual protest, where the women and children lay along the entrance to Gate No. 5 that leads to the Prime Minister's Office, with shrouds covering their bodies.
Twenty fourth years after the world's worst industrial disaster killed 7,000 people, maimed thousands for life, and eventually claimed at least 15,000 more lives, the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy still await justice.
Union Carbide Corporation has washed its hands off the case, and the Government of India is not pushing too hard.
So where does that leave the victims?
All they have got to show for their endless padyatras, dharnas and hunger strikes is money from the American multinational that is not enough to even cover their medical bills.
rediff.com presents a ready reckoner to the Bhopal victims' quest for justice:
December 2-3, 1984: Methyl isocynate gas leaks from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, killing 2,000 people instantly.
December 4, 1984: The Bhopal police files its first information report.
December 7, 1984: Union Carbide Chairman Warren Anderson, the prime accused, and eight others are arrested. Anderson is released on bail of Rs 25,000.
December 1, 1987: The Central Bureau of Investigation files chargesheets against Anderson and 11 others including Union Carbide (USA), Union Carbide (Eastern) Hong Kong, and Union Carbide India Limited, the Indian subsidiary.
Summons are served on Anderson and Union Carbide.
July 6, 1988: The Bhopal chief judicial magistrate issues a non-bailable arrest warrant against Anderson for repeatedly ignoring summons.
February 14-15, 1989: While the issue of interim compensation is being heard before the Supreme Court, Union Carbide and the Indian government strike a deal, under which the company pays a compensation of $470 million. In return, criminal charges are withdrawn against the company.
February-March 1989: The Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sanghatan, the Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahayog Samiti and other concerned groups file of a number of review and writ petitions in the Supreme Court against the settlement.
October 3, 1991: The Supreme Court revokes criminal immunity granted to Union Carbide and all other accused in response to the review and writ petitions.
The court also orders the government to construct a 500-bed hospital for the victims. Union Carbide and UCIL are asked to pay money to construct the hospital and run it for eight years.
November 11, 1991: Criminal cases against all the accused are revived in the Bhopal court.
January 1, 1992: Proclamation for Anderson's appearance is published in The Washington Post.
February 1, 1992: After ignoring four court summons, Anderson is declared a fugitive. Union Carbide and UCE also are proclaimed absconders.
February 21, 1992: A chief judicial magistrate's proclamation is published in The Washington Post declaring Union Carbide an absconder and ordering it to appear before court on March 27, 1992.
April 30, 1992: The chief judicial magistrate attaches the shares and properties of UCIL held by Union Carbide.
May 22, 1992: The chief judicial magistrate commits the case to trial after separating three of the 12 accused who are proclaimed as absconders -- Anderson, Union Carbide and UCE.
October 1992: The Permanent People's Tribunal on Industrial Hazards and Human Rights holds its session in Bhopal and recommends the setting up of an International Medical Commission on Bhopal.
January 7 to 25, 1994: The IMCB is formed as 14 medical specialists from 11 countries come together to deliberate on the long-term medical care of the victims.
September 1996: The Supreme Court dilutes charges against UCIL's Indian managers, partly on grounds that culpability lies with Union Carbide.
August 1999: Union Carbide announces a merger with Dow Chemical Company.
November 1999: Several individual victims and survivors' organisations file a class action suit against Union Carbide and Anderson in a federal court in New York.
August 2000: Federal Judge John F Keenan dismisses the suit. Lawyers acting for the plaintiffs appeal.
February 2001: Union Carbide merges with Dow Chemicals and Dow claims it is not responsible for a factory it didn't operate.
November 2001: US Second Circuit Court of Appeals reinstates parts of the class action suit.
May 24, 2002: The CBI requests the Bhopal magistrate to dilute the charges against Anderson, from 'culpable homicide' to 'criminal negligence.'
August 28, 2002: The magistrate reaffirms the charges and demands Anderson's extradition.
August 29, 2002: Greenpeace visits Anderson at his home and hands him an arrest warrant.
March 18, 2003: Judge Keenan again throws out the suit.
March 25, 2003: Three survivors' groups hold a press conference in Bhopal and announce that they will appeal the decision. May-June 2003: The government conveys its request for Anderson's extradition to the US.
October 18, 2003: US Congressmen file an amicus brief with the Second Circuit, Court of Appeals.
March 9, 2004: The Reserve Bank of India through an affidavit confirms that it has more than Rs 1,505 crore (Rs 15.05 billion) left in the compensation fund.
March 17, 2004: The Second Court of Appeals rules that the victims are entitled to pursue claims against Union Carbide.
April, 2004: All the pre-trial hearings in New York are transferred from Judge Keenan's court to Judge Pitman's court.
July 13, 2004: The US government rejects Anderson's extradition request. The rejection is on technical grounds like non-framing of charges against him in Bhopal.
July 19, 2004: The Supreme Court orders the government to distribute the balance of compensation remaining from Union Carbide's settlement amount (Rs 1,503 crores) among the survivors whose claims are settled.
October 26, 2004: The Supreme Court approves a plan for the distribution of Rs 1,567 crores -- Rs 1,503 crores with interest accrued -- among 5.72 lakh victims.
This is not a matter about a few angry policemen. The policemen had nothing to be angry about the Bhopalis. The rot spreads far higher.
Meanwhile, it may be mentioned here that 36 survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal and victims of water contamination, including 13 children and 20 women, were arrested on Monday at 3.45 p.m. (IST) in New Delhi after they staged a die-in in front of the Indian Prime Minister's Office in South Block.
Die-in by covering themselves with shrouds at Indian Prime Minister's house in New Delhi on Monday being arrested by police
According to a Press release 40 survivors staged a die-in outside the PMO in South Block on Monday.The protestors demanded that the Indian government commit to empowering the Commission on Bhopal for long term rehabilitation of the Bhopal victims and take appropriate legal actions against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical.
The three organizations of Bhopal survivors leading the 111 days long campaign including today’s die-in announced the launching of a global hunger strike from tomorrow with participation from more than 18 countries. Nine survivors and their supporters will begin their indefinite fast tomorrow from 12 noon at Jantar Mantar and will be joined by Booker shortlisted author Indra Sinha who will begin "at least a weeklong fast" from France. The organizations had informed the Prime Minister of their decision to go on an indefinite fast on June 2.
The decision to undertake a hunger strike was taken after tiring of waiting for a response from the PMO regarding their demands, the organizations said. A statement partially conceding to the demands issued by the Minister of State for PMO Chavan last month made no mention of the powers, funds and the number of years the Commission on Bhopal will function and was silent on the issue of legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical.Endless humanright
Twenty fourth years after the world's worst industrial disaster killed 7,000 people, maimed thousands for life, and eventually claimed at least 15,000 more lives, the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy still await justice.Union Carbide Corporation has washed its hands off the case, and the Government of India is not pushing too hard.
So where does that leave the victims?
All they have got to show for their endless padyatras, dharnas and hunger strikes is money from the American multinational that is not enough to even cover their medical bills.
rediff.com presents a ready reckoner to the Bhopal victims' quest for justice:
December 2-3, 1984: Methyl isocynate gas leaks from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, killing 2,000 people instantly.
December 4, 1984: The Bhopal police files its first information report.
December 7, 1984: Union Carbide Chairman Warren Anderson, the prime accused, and eight others are arrested. Anderson is released on bail of Rs 25,000.
December 1, 1987: The Central Bureau of Investigation files chargesheets against Anderson and 11 others including Union Carbide (USA), Union Carbide (Eastern) Hong Kong, and Union Carbide India Limited, the Indian subsidiary.
Summons are served on Anderson and Union Carbide.
July 6, 1988: The Bhopal chief judicial magistrate issues a non-bailable arrest warrant against Anderson for repeatedly ignoring summons.
February 14-15, 1989: While the issue of interim compensation is being heard before the Supreme Court, Union Carbide and the Indian government strike a deal, under which the company pays a compensation of $470 million. In return, criminal charges are withdrawn against the company.
February-March 1989: The Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sanghatan, the Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahayog Samiti and other concerned groups file of a number of review and writ petitions in the Supreme Court against the settlement.
October 3, 1991: The Supreme Court revokes criminal immunity granted to Union Carbide and all other accused in response to the review and writ petitions.
The court also orders the government to construct a 500-bed hospital for the victims. Union Carbide and UCIL are asked to pay money to construct the hospital and run it for eight years.
November 11, 1991: Criminal cases against all the accused are revived in the Bhopal court.
January 1, 1992: Proclamation for Anderson's appearance is published in The Washington Post.
February 1, 1992: After ignoring four court summons, Anderson is declared a fugitive. Union Carbide and UCE also are proclaimed absconders.
February 21, 1992: A chief judicial magistrate's proclamation is published in The Washington Post declaring Union Carbide an absconder and ordering it to appear before court on March 27, 1992.
April 30, 1992: The chief judicial magistrate attaches the shares and properties of UCIL held by Union Carbide.
May 22, 1992: The chief judicial magistrate commits the case to trial after separating three of the 12 accused who are proclaimed as absconders -- Anderson, Union Carbide and UCE.
October 1992: The Permanent People's Tribunal on Industrial Hazards and Human Rights holds its session in Bhopal and recommends the setting up of an International Medical Commission on Bhopal.
January 7 to 25, 1994: The IMCB is formed as 14 medical specialists from 11 countries come together to deliberate on the long-term medical care of the victims.
September 1996: The Supreme Court dilutes charges against UCIL's Indian managers, partly on grounds that culpability lies with Union Carbide.
August 1999: Union Carbide announces a merger with Dow Chemical Company.
November 1999: Several individual victims and survivors' organisations file a class action suit against Union Carbide and Anderson in a federal court in New York.
August 2000: Federal Judge John F Keenan dismisses the suit. Lawyers acting for the plaintiffs appeal.
February 2001: Union Carbide merges with Dow Chemicals and Dow claims it is not responsible for a factory it didn't operate.
November 2001: US Second Circuit Court of Appeals reinstates parts of the class action suit.
May 24, 2002: The CBI requests the Bhopal magistrate to dilute the charges against Anderson, from 'culpable homicide' to 'criminal negligence.'
August 28, 2002: The magistrate reaffirms the charges and demands Anderson's extradition.
August 29, 2002: Greenpeace visits Anderson at his home and hands him an arrest warrant.
March 18, 2003: Judge Keenan again throws out the suit.
March 25, 2003: Three survivors' groups hold a press conference in Bhopal and announce that they will appeal the decision. May-June 2003: The government conveys its request for Anderson's extradition to the US.
October 18, 2003: US Congressmen file an amicus brief with the Second Circuit, Court of Appeals.
March 9, 2004: The Reserve Bank of India through an affidavit confirms that it has more than Rs 1,505 crore (Rs 15.05 billion) left in the compensation fund.
March 17, 2004: The Second Court of Appeals rules that the victims are entitled to pursue claims against Union Carbide.
April, 2004: All the pre-trial hearings in New York are transferred from Judge Keenan's court to Judge Pitman's court.
July 13, 2004: The US government rejects Anderson's extradition request. The rejection is on technical grounds like non-framing of charges against him in Bhopal.
July 19, 2004: The Supreme Court orders the government to distribute the balance of compensation remaining from Union Carbide's settlement amount (Rs 1,503 crores) among the survivors whose claims are settled.
October 26, 2004: The Supreme Court approves a plan for the distribution of Rs 1,567 crores -- Rs 1,503 crores with interest accrued -- among 5.72 lakh victims.
Bhopal gas tragedy: 25 years on, scars refuse to heal
Activists and victims of the Bhopal gas disaster participate in a torch procession towards the abandoned Union Carbide factory on the eve of 25th anniversary of the disaster, in Bhopal on Wednesday. Residents have called repeatedly for Michigan-based Dow Chemical to mount a thorough cleanup. They say the toxic waste in and around the plant -- estimated at 350 tons and never properly treated -- continues to kill crops, pollute groundwater and cause cancer, birth defects, neurological damage, chaotic menstrual cycles and mental illness. AP
The judgement in the Bhopal gas tragedy after 26 years is like rubbing salt in the still raw wounds of the poor and hapless men, women and children. Most of the affected were poor and could not afford to fight their cases against the powrful multi-national company, corrupt babus, inefficient and deliberately indifferent prosecution and dormant judiciary I do not know where are all those NGOs who cry hoarse on the death of an anti-national, criminal and smuggler Sohrabuddin and the pro-active judiciary. Nobody has done anything for the 20,000/- innocent victims of criminal apathy of the UCIL and the Govt of India and Govt of MP. More than a lakh people are suffering like hell not a single soul stirs. Who has pocketed $470/- million paid by the UCIL. How and why this sum was arrived at? Who were the people who negotiated a settlement with the UCIL? Why and how the interests of the poor were bartered or surrendered? Why the relief was not provided to the next of kin of those killed and those who suffered the consequences of the gas leak? The condition of the survivors is heart rending. What has the govt. of India done to rehabilitate the victims and their kins. How and why the charges were watered down to a lesser and less severe provisions of the IPC. The role of the CBI also needs immediate investigation. How and why the case was allowed to hang for 25 years? If this is justice tell me what can be more unjust and unfair. It seems the conscience of all those connected with the investigation, prosecution and rehabilitation has either died or has been bartered for some extraneous considerations. Billions of rupees are being spent on useless babus and netas why cant' we spend a fraction on the rehabilitation of the affected poor.
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