The Protest against the UC-DOW Merger (May 11, 2000) - Priya Sudarsan

Social Justice for the Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims and Corporate Accountability of Union Carbide was the theme of a protest organized by the Chicago group, Essential Action (http://www.essentialaction.org), in which AID- Ann Arbor volunteers participated.

On Thursday May 11th, a group of 10 strident protesters from AID Ann Arbor took a day off work, and were joined by volunteers from Ann Arbor's Ecology center (http://www.ecocenter.org) and Boston's INFACT group (http://www.infact.org) to demonstrate at the 103rd Annual Shareholder's meeting of Dow Chemicals in Midland Michigan.

Under the dynamic direction of Corey Conn, the serious message of opposing Dow's impending merger with Union Carbide was expressed in a colorful, playful, and thought provoking manner. Holding large banners, multi-colored signages, and two giant puppets, the group chanted slogans and passed out postcards that shareholders could mail to the Union Carbide Corporate office. The group also met with several media persons who later wrote about the event. You can read some of the press articles here.

Nishant Jain and Priya Sundaravalli, both AID volunteers (who had proxies to attend the meeting), gave passionate speeches at the Shareholder's meeting keeping the voices of Bhopal victims alive. This event brought the AID - Ann Arbor volunteers closer together and feel part of Global community.

For more info on supporting the Bhopal Cause, go to: http://www.essentialaction.org/bhopal/index.html

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