UK protest over Dow in Olympics grows

London, Jan 27 (IBNS) The voice of UK politicians grew louder against the Bhopal gas leak tainted Dow Chemical's sponsorship of the London Olympics soon after the resignation of the Games' ethics committee commissioner on Wednesday.

UK´s Opposition Labour Party´s Shadow Olympic Minister Tessa Jowell, who had earlier too expressed solidarity with the Bhopal victims, has once again demanded a review of the sponsorship of the Olympics by Dow Chemicals.

Another Labour Party lawmaker is as vocal and even asked the Indian politicians to take a call.

"This is not just a UK campaign. I frankly want to see Indian politicians getting involved," said Barry Gardiner, Labour MP, speaking to NDTV .

He said Indian politicians now need to come out and rise to the cause because they represent the people of Bhopal.

Tessa Jowell issued a statement saying: "I have called today for an audit of the steps taken that led the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 to recommend to the London Olympics organisers, the LOCOG, that Dow Chemicals´ sponsorship of the wrap was consistent with the high sustainability aims that we set for 2012 (Games).

"We also need to understand what the role of other Commissioners was in the process which reached that conclusion.

"We need a solution not a row. Dow Chemicals need to understand the seriousness with which people take the continuing situation in Bhopal following the tragic disaster in 1984. I will do everything I can to make sure this issue does not overshadow the Games. There is still time for a solution to be found."

A day ago, Olympics Ethics Committee Commissioner Meredith Alexander resigned from the post in the watchdog body in protest of the sponsorship company Dow´s link to the Bhopal Gas tragedy of India in 1984 that killed over 15,000 and affected countless.

Back in Bhopal, Meredith Alexander became a revered person and the Bhopal victims hailed her decision with jubilation.

London Mayor Boris Johnson had appointed Alexander to serve on the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012.

Dow is likely to provide a plastic wrap that would encircle the London 2012 Olympics stadium during the sporting event.

Dow bought Union Carbide in 1999, the company whose Indian subsidiary owned the Bhopal pesticide plant the spewed the poisonous gas.

Union Carbide had paid $470 million in compensation in 1989, but the survivors and activists said it was too small an amount for such a catastrophe and they should pay $1.2 billion more in damages.

On the other hand, the company has clarified its stance by issuing a statement which said that it was in no way involved with the Bhopal tragedy or its aftermath.

While it is understandable that human emotions evoked by the tragedy remain, allowing a misrepresentation of facts and to rewrite history as some are trying to do is not only wrong, but it sends an unfortunate and inaccurate message that obscures the facts rather than clarifies the Bhopal tragedy, the company said.