February, 16 2012, 10:56am EDT
IOC Rejection of Dow Concerns Leaving Toxic Legacy for London 2012, says Amnesty International
WASHINGTON
It is extremely disappointing that Olympic organizers continue to side with Dow Chemical Company while refusing to listen to legitimate concerns over the company's sponsorship of the London games, Amnesty International said today.
On February 16th, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rejected the India Olympic Association's (IOA) call to terminate Dow Chemical's sponsorship deal with the IOC for the 2012 London Games.
"Unbelievably, the IOC says Dow is committed to 'good corporate governance,' shocking when you consider all the facts and that the company refuses liability for a corporate disaster the scale of Bhopal, creating a toxic legacy for London 2012," said Seema Joshi, Amnesty International's head of Business and Human Rights. "London Olympic organizers have failed to make a fair assessment of the issues surrounding Dow's responsibility to the victims of Bhopal. They have repeatedly refused our requests for a meeting. Instead, they take a one-sided approach and rely on Dow's position."
Dow Chemical bought Union Carbide in 2001. Amnesty International does not claim that Dow's responsibilities for the Bhopal disaster emanate from any form of management of the Bhopal facility or Union Carbide at the time of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster.
Union Carbide is a defendant in four legal actions related to Bhopal, including a criminal prosecution in which the company is accused of "culpable homicide not amounting to murder." Despite having been charged in 1987, Union Carbide never appeared before the courts.
The Bhopal factory site continues to be heavily contaminated today.
"When Dow bought Union Carbide, it bought liability for the Bhopal disaster," added Joshi. "As the 100% owner of Union Carbide, Dow has the power to force its subsidiary to face justice, and has responsibility for the clean-up of the Bhopal site."
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.
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