The event will be held at the Penn State Beaver Campus Student Union Building, 100 University Drive in Monaca from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
BCMAC said Beaver County has a long history of industrial pollution, largely tied to its role as a hub of manufacturing and industrial activity dating back to the 19th century.
While regulatory efforts and the decline of traditional heavy industry have led to improvements, new challenges, particularly from the petrochemical industry, continue to pose risks to the environment and public health.
"This event is more than just a conversation—it’s a call to action. Communities across the globe are forging new solidarities—across generations, cultures, and geographies—transforming pain into power. It’s truly an honor to bring these global advocates into our community and we will continue to uplift stories of survivors within this movement," said Hilary Starcher- O’Toole, Executive Director of BCMAC.
BCMAC said 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal gas leak disaster, which remains the worst industrial disaster in history. For nearly four decades, gas-exposed communities in Bhopal have continued to face neurological disorders and generational birth defects.
Today, more than 150,000 people in Bhopal are battling chronic illnesses, and 500,000 lives remain physically and economically harmed by the disaster.
The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal has organized a U.S. tour of survivors who will present an account of how advocates have continued to persist for four decades.
"Victims of corporate crime, whether in Bhopal or Beaver County, often face a long, hard struggle for justice. Chemicals are treated as innocent until proven guilty, and affected communities are continually forced to prove that the toxic substances they are exposed to are responsible for their health impacts and diseases. It often takes decades to establish these links definitively, and by then, many of the original community members are already suffering the consequences. We are eager to build solidarity with the communities of Beaver County as they work to hold Shell and Norfolk Southern accountable for their actions," said Rachna Dhingra of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal.
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The Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community seeks to protect the residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania, with emphasis on those in Beaver County, by informing them about the health, safety, environmental and economic impacts of fracking infrastructure, including the petrochemical buildout; and by supporting sustainable alternatives to carbon-based energy sources and economic development strategies in Beaver County.
Related Article:
-- Sept. 19 Webinar: A Year Later: Have Leaders Addressed Health Concerns From Natural Gas Development Raised In University Of Pittsburgh Public Health Studies? [PaEN]
[Posted: August 30, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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