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Saturday the 3rd of December 2005
MCS-International Launches Today
In honour and Remembrance of Bhopal on its 21st Anniversary
Initial deaths: 3,000 - 8,000
Subsequent deaths: 15,000 - 20,000
Permanent disabilities: 50,000
"3rd December 1984: Shortly after midnight poison gas leaked from a factory in Bhopal, India, owned by the Union Carbide Corporation. There was no warning, none of the plant's safety systems were working. In the city people were sleeping. They woke in darkness to the sound of screams with the gases burning their eyes, noses and mouths. They began retching and coughing up froth streaked with blood. Whole neighbourhoods fled in panic, some were trampled, others convulsed and fell dead. People lost control of their bowels and bladders as they ran. Within hours thousands of dead bodies lay in the streets." www.bhopal.org (Click picture to see a larger version).
Toxic chemicals are no joke. This simple fact is utterly obvious when we confront the stark horrors of a Bhopal. It is not so obvious however when we try to confront the reality of toxic chemicals in our ordinary everyday lives. Unfortunately, when we do, we don't have very far to look to find them. From carpets to computers, from cars to clothing, from food to factories, from hotels to our own homes - toxic chemicals are quite literally everywhere. Not only that but there are a staggering variety of them! And even worse still is the incredible fact that numerous new ones are being added to our air, water, food, and our living, working, recreational and wild environments - on an almost daily basis - without either our consent or, often, any real safety testing! Especially for their synergystic effects!
And the end result of all this rampant and reckless use of toxic chemicals in the name of soul-less corporate profits? Blighted lives and God alone knows how many deaths. Probably in numbers that quite litterally beggar belief! Like some vast international Bhopal in insideous slow motion the numbers of people falling victim to chemical induced illnesses of some form or another continues to escalate alarmingly world-wide despite the staggering sums of money we collectively throw - endlessly - at our so-called "health services", to absolutely mind-boggling profit for some.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity ( MCS ) and all other forms of Chemical Injury ( CI ) are an out-of-control, man-made holocaust. They are devastating the health of vast numbers of people - men, women and children of all social classes and across all ethnic groups - right around the planet. We are allowing a truly insane mix of trans-national corporate greed, political apathy and corruption, and the prostitution of science (particularly medical science) to staggeringly powerful and utterly immoral vested interests, to chemically poison every nook and cranny of our lives, the lives of our children, and our recreational and wild environments seemingly with complete impunituy! And soon, incredible as it may sound, if the corporate lawyers and politicians have their way, those most responsible for these crimes against humanity will soon be able to perpetrate these ourtrages upon us with complete legal immunity as well! I ask you: "Isn't it high time we ALL stood up now and started shounting out our demands - loud and clear - for it all to stop?
In addition to helping the growing international army of the chemically injured, and helping to educate an immensely powerful international public that is still dangerously asleep to the chemical holocaust taking place in and all around it - that is exactly what MCS-International intends to do: To call out loudly and clearly and continuously for it ALL to stop until, finally, it does stop - permanently! Please, will you help us to do our part in that crucial work?
Will the World Health Organisation help by doing their part?
Gordon D McHendry
Founder & Campaign Coordinator
3rd of December 2005
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