Mark Ruffalo and Ashton Kutcher lauded the rap song and termed it a powerful message
For the first time in 14 years, Kodaikanal's fight against Unilever got unprecedented global support, all thanks to a rap number titled Kodaikanal won't featuring Indian rapper Sofia Ashraf.
Chennai: For the first time in 14 years, Kodaikanal’s fight against Unilever got unprecedented global support, all thanks to a rap number titled Kodaikanal won’t featuring Indian rapper Sofia Ashraf. Even, Hollywood stars stood up and took notice!
The ‘conspicuous’ video became an instant hit registering 2.8 million views from around 190 countries and still counting within a fortnight after its launch on July 31.
This apart, the two online campaign organisations Jhatkaa.org and SumOfUs.org have garnered 1.5 lakh signatures combine. Prominent Hollywood stars like Bianca Jagger, Mark Ruffalo and Ashton
Kutcher lauded the rap song and termed it a powerful message. Mr Mark Ruffalo, the lead cast in the movie The Hulk, tweeted “This cause is close to my heart” and asked his fans to sign online petition at SumOfUs.org.
Even, leading international media houses in United States and United Kingdom took note of kind of public outrage and praised the rap song and sustained campaign of activist groups, besides lending a voice to the families of victims of alleged mercury poisoning.
Nicky Minaj, whose popular hit song Anaconda the Indian rapper Sofia used, also tweeted “Wow” pledging her support for the cause.
Pay up, activists tell Hindustan Unilever
After having catapulted the issue of mercury poisoning on to a global stage, activists and ex-employees of now-defunct thermometer factory operated by Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), have said it is payback time and Unilever has to clear the mess.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Indian rapper Ms. Sofia Ashraf said Jhatkaa.org had first approached her four months ago. “I came into the campaign on creative capacity. The video received overwhelming response because it is backed by facts. We shot the song on Chennai local train in Basin Bridge, a residential complex and other locations in Chennai. I am happy that Nicky Minaj, whose popular hit song “Anaconda” we used, gave a pat for the effort”.
Ashraf said the high point was the social media had forced ever-so dormant Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to respond. “In fact, the TNPCB has debunked a number of claims made by Unilever that they had closed down voluntarily and had cleaned up and exported the wastes voluntarily. I am ready to contribute more for the cause”.
Nityanand Jayaraman of Chennai Solidarity Group said he never thought the response would be so overwhelming. “Forcing Unilever CEO Paul Polman respond and making TNPCB take tough stand was a sweet success, but the real challenge is to make Unilever clear its mess and compensate the ex-workers”.
Rachita Taneja, campaigner for Jhatkaa.org, said the government and the Unilever should hold-up the responsibility. The “Kodaikanal won’t” song was a great catalyst. The issue hasn’t got such national and international support before. The public online are also making calls to boycott Unilever products until it clears the mess at Kodaikanal.”
Unilever boss Paul Polman first tweet saying determined to solve and need others too and facts not false emotions invited trouble and further criticism. Soon, he rephrased his statement asking Indian authorities to re-engage in the stalled process and said needed government to agree and move and determined to solve fast. Too slow progress. “This is the kind of impact social media had on one of the powerful individuals in business world. Now, it’s time for Polman to walk his talk”, Taneja said.
Next step will be consumer action
A meeting to chalk out the next plan of action was held at Kodaikanal on Wednesday where it was proposed to give a call to boycott all Unilever products. The meeting was attended by Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) ex-workers association, local NGOs, people from Dindigul and Periyakulam. Noticeably, the Kodaikanal Municipality chairman M. Sridhar also participated.
HUL ex-workers association president Mahindra Babu told DC over phone that it was a strategy meeting and an attempt to mobilise more public support.
Along with people of Kodaikanal, the water bodies flowing out are a source of livelihood for neighbouring districts as well. “We are trying to make them aware of dangers of mercury poisoning and will take a decision to call for consumer action in next meeting scheduled on August 21, which will be attended by consumer forums, drivers association, hoteliers association, tourist guides, construction workers and other public outfits. The local area committee will take a final call”, he said.
Babu said that the ex-workers had been pleading the state government to conduct a credible assessment of impact of mercury on health, but 14 years have passed by since the HUL thermometer manufacturing factory closed in 2001 during which 45 people had died due to suspected mercury poisoning and many became physically impaired.
“We have already submitted the list of dead workers and their medical records to the High Court, where we have filed writ petition in 2006 demanding suitable compensation from the HUL and necessary healthcare. Our case will get extra boost, if our claims are backed by any scientific analysis”, he said.
In 2001, HUL conducted a medical check-up and concluded that no worker in the factory suffered from any illness which could be attributed to mercury exposure.
However, a preliminary health survey conducted by two occupational and community health specialists from Bengaluru-based Community Health Cell on 30 workers and ex-workers found many people had gum and skin allergy related problems which appeared to be due to exposure to mercury.
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