Introduction
In today’s era, media would constitute print media publications like newspapers, magazines, journal and digital media like television, internet, social media websites and internet platforms and mobile networks.
Broadly the above-listed media sources affect us in more than ways and keep us informed on the happenings around us and on far-off locations as well. Hence the role of media is very vital in an emergency situation whether it is a situation of national disaster or emergency.
This
ings us to a very important aspect played by media thereby educating the viewers or the citizens on such disasters and helping them in spreading awareness on various developments, situations and relief centers media helps people to inform rescue teams and their relatives their coordinates and thus requisite aid or help could be provided.
The irony is that these days big media companies are owned by a set of handful corporate and such corporate are loyal to a set of politicians or political party thus we also could not rule out the role of media in spreading or developing a wrong perception in mind of general public which could result in a disaster like situation like clashes among people basis religious beliefs or diverting the issue of national crisis with certain political development around the same time.
Thus we understand that the role of media is very vital to develop a perception in minds of masses and thus in our view media should be an independent autonomous body portraying a clear picture of the situation around (Madsen, 2015).
References
Madsen, T. L., & Walker, G. (2015). Modern communication strategy. McGraw Hill.
Long-lasting Impacts of Bhopal Gas Disaster, Its Biggest Physical, Economic and Environmental Effects on Community of Bhopal
The Bhopal gas disaster that occu
ed in 1984, was an alarming incident that shook people across the globe and send warning signs regarding the regulations and awareness related to process-safety in the processing industries. It is also refe
ed to as Bhopal Gas Tragedy which refers to the incident of gas leak at the Union Ca
ide India Limited (UCIL) plant in Bhopal.
The major impact of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy was on the health of the people of Bhopal. According to Dhara and Dhara (2002), a total of 3787 people died for the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, as stated by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. In total, more than 200,000 people were exposed to the toxic gases and were severely affected. Death tolls were estimated to be over 6000 by 1994. Multiple associated diseases were also experienced by the affected people exposed to those harmful gases. Most of the diseases were involved with ocular, reproductive, respiratory, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity and neuromuscular toxicity. The exposure to the Methyl Isocyanate gas caused an i
itating effect in the cornea. This also led to the ocular burning, swelling of the lid, and ulceration.
Many patients also showed lesions in the upper respiratory tract followed by enlargement of lungs, hemo
hage and acute
onchiolitis. Other effects to pregnant women included misca
iage and death of infants. As stated by Broughton (2005), a steep increase in the abortion rates was also observed after the tragedy. The genetic damage caused due to the exposure to the gas involved mainly the damage to the lymphocytes. Therefore, the exposed people were also prone to infections and their immune systems were also largely affected. Additionally, numbness, tingling and muscle aches were observed among the people which occu
ed due to the prevention of forming new muscle cells.
The economic effects involved mainly the stock prices. As mentioned by Mittal (2016), compared to US dollar price, which increased during that time for the major chemical industries, in India, the stock market prices were reduced significantly. In addition, land pollution had also increased due to improper disposition of hazardous and toxic wastes from these industries.
However, over the past two decades, due to several regulation and efforts, the chemical industry is growing at a steady rate in both United States and in India. Another indicator of the economic growth, known as the Industrial production (IP) index, also showed that there was a sharp drop in 1985, just after the disaster but has been found to grow steadily in the past years. There have been both long-term and short-term impacts on the environment. Although the toxic air had cleared, the hazardous wastes percolated down the soil, contaminating groundwater, impacting all organisms across generations for years to come.
As mentioned by Yadav (2018), the major effect of the Disaster was the Environmental Protection Act, which was passed in 1986. The main point of the Act was to create the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to administer and enforce the environmental laws and plans. This was due to the growth of the small scale industries (SSIs) and the subsequent wastes disposed by them into water sources causing increased pollution. Therefore, based on the economic, physical and environmental factors, the Bhopal Gas Tragedy has affected the people in a major with most serious and long term impacts in the health of the people.
References
Broughton, E XXXXXXXXXXThe Bhopal disaster and its aftermath: a review. Environmental Health, 4(1), 6.
Dhara, V. R., & Dhara, R XXXXXXXXXXThe Union Ca
ide disaster in Bhopal: a review of health effects. Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 57(5), XXXXXXXXXX.
Mittal, A XXXXXXXXXXRetrospection of Bhopal gas tragedy. Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 98(9), XXXXXXXXXX.
Yadav, S XXXXXXXXXXEnvironmental Pollution Effects on Living Beings. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.