US president Barack Obamas, tough stand against British Petroleum for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is worthy of emulation by other governments around the world and the same yardstick should be applied to the Bhopal gas tragedy involving a US company
British Petroleum knew the perils of entanglement with American justice and shelled out within six weeks of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.Big Oil (which is far bigger than Big Chemical) has been forced to put aside $20 billion for the repair of the environment after an ecological disaster that has not killed a single innocent human being.Technically,BP need not have paid more than $75 million.The first demand on Carbide,26 years ago was for $15 billion.It has paid the equivalent of just one billion dollars (at todays prices) for the death of nearly 20,000 people and the horrific maiming of over 100,000.
BP paid America out of fear,not because of a demand order from its conscience.Carbide had nothing to fear,and never possessed a conscience.
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