Bhopal Ethical Issues
1. Introduction:
In the morning of December 3, 1984 a tragic event occurred in the city of Bhopal, the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It has been known as the world's worst industrial disaster. A Union Carbide India, Limited (UCIL)'s plant released 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas which instantly killed over 3,000 people and carrying on causing the death of more than 20,000. This tragic event involved not only the technical, safety issues at the time, but also ethical issues on the responsibility of those who would have been able to prevent the tragedy from happening and those who denied or intentionally decreased the responsibility of causing it.
2. Background of the involved organization:
It was declared by the Union Carbide Corporation in their statement regarding the Bhopal tragedy that: The Bhopal plant was owned and operated by Union Carbide India, Limited (UCIL), an Indian company in which Union Carbide Corporation held just over half the stock The other stockholders included Indian financial institutions and thousands of private investors in India. The plant was designed, built and managed by UCIL, using Indian consultants and workers (Union Carbide Corporation's statement). By declaring this, the Union Carbide Corporation tried to change the direction of target of the society into UCIL which is technically owned by Union Carbide by owning over half of the stock. They also stated that the plant was designed, built and managed by the Indian firm (UCIL - which they declared that they "only" own over half the stock) using Indian consultants and workers. However Union Carbide said, stated or declared they are still held for the responsibility of the tragedy ethically, if not legally. Therefore, the main subjected organization involved in this is the Union Carbide Corporation as it has been known by the world.
3. Sypnosis:
In the early morning hours of December 3, 1984, a holding tank with 43 tonnes of stored MIC...
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