Today in Labor History December 3, 1984: A methyl isocyanate leak from a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, killed over 3,800 people and injured up to 600,000 more. Up to 16,000 people died, in total, over the years following the disaster. The Government of Madhya Pradesh has paid compensation to family members of 3,787 of the victims killed. Numerous local activist groups emerged to support the victims of the disaster, like Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla, who won the Goldman Prize in 2004. Many of the activists were subjected to violent repression by the police and government. Larger international groups, like Greenpeace and Pesticide Action Network also got involved. The disaster has played a role in numerous works of fiction, including Arundhati Roy’s “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness” (2017) and Indra Sinha’s “Animal’s People” (2007). It has also been referenced in music by the Revolting Cocks “Union Carbide” and the Dog Faced Hermans ”Bhopal.”
@MikeDunnAuthor
I remember well that insurance companies executives rushed to have the family of deceased or injured victims, and signing a settlement agreement of a few hundred $, a huge amount for those people, preventing them from suing the company after that and obtaining the thousands and ten of thousands of $ they might have claimed and would have no doubt obtained.
Was a teenager then and I remember seing these obnoxious people as a pack of hyenas.
They would have a bonus of many thousands of $ for each settlement they had those illiterate victims signed.
I love* how much #disaster preparedness starts with "have money."
I also love* how many people who give disaster advice completely ignore how much money they are actually talking about.
I really love* all of the people with no experience in disasters confidently talking about this as if it were something they had done a thousand times.
Gas prices are at a ten month high, and they are always higher in areas with potential disasters coming in.
Also, why are you assuming that there's a car capable of handling evacuation for their family?
"Stock up on…"
see above.
"Be ready to evacuate…"
Unless you know what goes into an evacuation—and unless you've been through one, you don't—it is very, very likely that whatever you are going to say next is something people on the ground already know.
My own views on how to prepare for an #evacuation, as someone who has more than once.
Have a plan. Know where you are going to go and what options you are going to have a available. Think specifically about where you might sleep. Know where shelters are and recognize that if you live in a city you are some fo the last to get the evacuation notice, so it is likely that the closest shelters are going to be completely full. Look especially for parking lots.
Today in Labor History September 6, 1869: The Avondale fire killed 110 miners, including several juveniles under the age of 10. It led to the first mine safety law in Pennsylvania. Avondale is near Plymouth, Pennsylvania. The Susquehanna River flows nearby. The mine had only one entrance, in violation of safety recommendations at the time. In the wake of the fire, thousands of miners joined the new Workingmen’s Benevolent Association, one of the nation’s first large industrial unions (and precursor to the United Mineworkers). My book, “Anywhere But Schuylkill,” opens with this fire. My main character, Mike Doyle, joins the bucket brigade trying to put out the flames shooting out of the mineshaft.