Confessional

Reflecting upon my recent decision to become an activist I find myself on the edge of being a hypocrite.
Yes 'tis true. I the hypocrite slayer have come dangerously close to becoming one myself as well. How has this happened? Quite simply I have become, or at least I am attempting to become someone or something I would have castigated a while back. I have often said to family or friends that I always thought activists sometimes used unnecessary methods tto achieve their goals.

While this may be true for some I have come to the realization that I was being far too general in addition to not being able to perceive some of the challenges activists may face.

My recent conversion was in response to discovering the heartbreaking truth of Bhopal, India. I discovered that the citizens of this city as well as the activists who support them have tried other means to get what they need. They tried talking directly to the Union Carbide company and later to Dow Chemicals who took over Union Carbide in the early part of this decade. They were unseuccessful so they turned to the legal system. Warrants were issued for arrest but Warren Anderson, the CEO of Union Carbide at the time of the non-accident, refused to submit to the Indian legal system. Now retired in the Hamptons Anderson refuses to accept any responsibility for what he and his company did to the people of Bhopal.

In cases such as this one, the only other steps that can be taken are drastic ones. Other activists in support of the people of Bhopal have organized die-ins, Dow chemical boycotts and protests in front of Indian embassies and Dow headquarters. Now I know that for most activists they would rather take a more conventional approach before resorting to hard-core tactics.

I wish everyone good luck with this cause and I will do what I can to spread awareness of these horrible atrocities committed against the Bhopalis. Does anyone care to help me?