Kodaikanal STILL won’t
Archanaa Seker
Sofia Ashraf is BACK with another video for the #UnileverPollutes campaign. Click here to watch the video, and then share it on social media to help it go viral. Just like last time.
Last July, Jhatkaa.org joined forces with activists in Chennai to take the struggle of Hindustan Unilever (HUL) ex-workers to social media. Our super viral music video “Kodaikanal Won’t” made international waves, and Unilever global CEO Paul Polman was forced to respond promising quick action. It resulted in HUL compensating 591 of their ex-workers in Kodaikanal, many of whom had been devastated by mercury toxicity.
That was a massive victory but we only won half the battle. Unilever is yet to clean up the harmful mercury contamination inside and near their thermometer factory, which continues to slowly poison forests and water bodies in the Kodaikanal.
In the video, Sofia challenges some of Unilever’s biggest misleading statements. Right from the fact that 1.3 tonnes of mercury waste have been dumped in the Pambar Shola reserve forest. Not only that but some of the mercury-laden scrap glass from Unilever's factory was sold to toy-makers who made marbles that children play with!
The residents of Kodaikanal want Unilever to clean up its mercury mess to rigorous, scientific standards. Instead, the company has currently proposed standards that are TWENTY times weaker than what would be allowed in the United Kingdom, where Unilever is headquartered (1).
This is plainly a double standard. India and the town of Kodaikanal deserve better.
Help correct the record and expose Unilever’s double standards. Click here to watch and share Sofia Ashraf’s latest video.
Thanks for all you do,
Divya and the Jhatkaa.org team
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Source:
1. Why Former Environment Minister Javadekar’s Parting Gift to Unilever is Illegal
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