Advocacy After Bhopal : Environmentalism, Disaster, New Global Orders

The 1984 explosion of the Union Carbide chemical plant in Bhopal, India was undisputedly one of the world's worst industrial disasters. Some have argued that the resulting litigation provided an "innovative model" for dealing with the global distribution of technological risk; others consider the disaster a turning point in environmental legislation; still others argue that Bhopal is what globalization looks like on the ground. Kim Fortun explores these claims by focusing on the dynamics and paradoxes of advocacy in competing power domains. She moves from hospitals in India to meetings with lawyers, corporate executives, and environmental justice activists in the United States to show how the disaster and its effects remain with us. Spiraling outward from the victims' stories, the innovative narrative sheds light on the way advocacy works within a complex global system, calling into question conventional notions of responsibility and ethical conduct. Revealing the hopes and frustrations of advocacy, this moving work also counters the tendency to think of Bhopal as an isolated incident that "can't happen here." Booknews Fortun (science and technology studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) brings the perspective of an anthropologist and an environmentalist to this study of the Union Carbide chemical plant explosion in Bhopal, India. She describes Bhopal's place in the global political economy, and casts the disaster there as a turning point in the politics of advocacy. She draws connections between ethnography and advocacy, and portrays the perspectives of workers, feminists, anarchists, and communities concerned about corporations. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Annotation the 1984 Explosion Of The Union Carbide Chemical Plant In Bhopal, India Was Undisputedly One Of The World's Worst Industrial Disasters. Some Have Argued That The Resulting Litigation Provided An Innovative Model For Dealing With The Global Distribution Of Technological Risk; Others Consider The Disaster A Turning Point In Environmental Legislation; Still Others Argue That Bhopal Is What Globalization Looks Like On The Ground.

kim Fortun Explores These Claims By Focusing On The Dynamics And Paradoxes Of Advocacy In Competing Power Domains. She Moves From Hospitals In India To Meetings With Lawyers, Corporate Executives, And Environmental Justice Activists In The United States To Show How The Disaster And Its Effects Remain With Us. Spiraling Outward From The Victims' Stories, The Innovative Narrative Sheds Light On The Way Advocacy Works Within A Complex Global System, Calling Into Question Conventional Notions Of Responsibility And Ethical Conduct. Revealing The Hopes And Frustrations Of Advocacy, This Moving Work Also Counters The Tendency To Think Of Bhopal As An Isolated Incident That Can't Happen Here. Plaintive Response -- Happening Here -- Union Carbide, Having A Hand In Things -- Working Perspectives -- States Of India -- Situational Particularities -- Opposing India -- Women's Movements -- Anarchism And Its Discontents -- Communities Concerned About Corporations -- Green Consulting. Kim Fortun. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [385]-401) And Index. Contents......Page 6 List of Illustrations......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Prologue: The Times......Page 14 Introduction Advocacy, Ethnography, and Complex Systems......Page 24 One Plaintive Response......Page 48 Two Happening Here......Page 78 Three Union Carbide, Having a Hand in Things......Page 110 Four Working Perspectives......Page 143 Five States of India......Page 167 Six Situational Particularities......Page 182 Seven Opposing India......Page 200 Eight Women’s Movements......Page 240 Nine Anarchism and Its Discontents......Page 274 Ten Communities Concerned about Corporations......Page 295 Eleven Green Consulting......Page 337 Epilogue......Page 371 Appendix......Page 378 Notes......Page 382 Bibliography......Page 408 Index......Page 426 Contents 6 List of Illustrations 8 Acknowledgments 10 Prologue: The Times 14 Introduction Advocacy, Ethnography, and Complex Systems 24 One Plaintive Response 48 Two Happening Here 78 Three Union Carbide, Having a Hand in Things 110 Four Working Perspectives 143 Five States of India 167 Six Situational Particularities 182 Seven Opposing India 200 Eight Women’s Movements 240 Nine Anarchism and Its Discontents 274 Ten Communities Concerned about Corporations 295 Eleven Green Consulting 337 Epilogue 371 Appendix 378 Notes 382 Bibliography 408 Index 426 9780226257198 The Bhopal case was dismissed from U.S. courts by Judge John Keenan on May 12, 1986, on the grounds of forum non conveniens, a legal doctrine that posits that significant decisions leading to the case were made elsewhere, making it inconvenient to secure witnesses and evidence in the proposed forum. In exploring the worldwide political and environmental aftermath of the Bhopal disaster in 1984, this text discusses various differing claims by focusing on the dynamics and paradoxes of advocacy in competing power domains.