Bhopal, USA

From the Arizona Public Interest Research Group:

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster in India, the deadliest chemical accident in history. On December 3rd, 1984, poisonous methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a Union Carbide pesticide factory. Over 7,000 people died immediately as a result of this accident, and Amnesty International has estimated that 15,000 more have died of related illnesses since 1984.

Hard to imagine, but Americans every day live at risk of a repeat disaster here in the United States. The danger is real and the risk is high. More than 100 chemical facilities in the U.S. store enough hazardous chemicals to threaten the lives and health of over one million Americans. In fact, the 9/11 Commission singled out chemical facilities among the most lethal targets for a terrorist attack.

Despite the risk, there are no federal standards to regulate security at chemical facilities. Common-sense solutions exist that would prevent a catastrophic accident or attack, but they are not being implemented. Strong chemical security legislation is needed here in the United States to protect us from a similar disaster.

Please take a moment to contact your Senators and ask them to support strong chemical security legislation. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this email on to them.To take action, click on the link below or paste it into your web browser:http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=456&id4=ES

Sincerely,

Diane E. Brown
Arizona PIRG Executive Director
DianeB@arizonapirg.org
http://www.arizonapirg.org/