The State We’re In, 5 December 2009: Bhopal, 25 years later. We hear from survivors of what some have called the worst environmental disaster in history, which claimed as many as 8,000 lives. We also hear from the second generation of survivors - and victims - who grew up in the toxic wake of the catastrophe, and who still call Bhopal home.

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Eyewitness to horror
3 December 1984 may well have been the worst environmental catastrophe in history. This collection of voices, recently recorded on location in Bhopal, retells what it was like for the people who lived through that night, when hundreds of tons of toxic gas were accidentally released on the sleeping population.
 
Bhopal lynchpin
Sathyu Sarangi was living in another city when he heard about the disaster. He arrived in Bhopal two days later and what he saw that night has kept him there for the last twenty-five years, fighting what he sees as the continuing injustice against the most vulnerable people in the city.
  

  
Taking charge
The Chingari Trust was formed to help the children and grandchildren of victims who were exposed to toxic gas in Bhopal. Correspondent Chhavi Sachdev saw them in person and talks to programme host Jonathan about the people she met, and the spirit of resilience she encountered.
 

   
Hearts for the Prime Minister
Safreen Khan is seventeen and grew up in Bhopal. Despite having respiratory problems, she walked 800 km (500 miles) to the Prime Minister’s house to draw attention to the problems she and others in her generation face. She helped organize the sending of paper hearts to the Indian PM – hoping to inspire him to help bring justice to the children of the tragedy.
  

  
Union Carbide
Union Carbide sent us a prepared statement about their position on the disaster and its after-effects. They also sent us an audio clip, expressing sympathy for the victims.
  

  
CLICK HERE TO READ UNION CARBIDE’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT
 
CLICK HERE FOR EXTENDED COVERAGE OF THE BHOPAL DISASTER
 
1 December 2009: World AIDS Day
 
Rebecca’s dilemma
World AIDS Day holds special meaning for Rebecca Denison of San Francisco, California. Back in 1990, she wanted nothing more than to have a baby. But when she was diagnosed HIV positive, she thought her plans, and her life, were over. After five years of anguish and doubt, she finally decided to conceive. She tells Jonathan what making the hardest decision of her life was like.
  

  
Taking on witchdoctors
Miriams Kuwuma lives in a village outside Kampala, Uganda. After seeing her brother die of AIDS, she decided to set up a clinic. But doing so angered the local witchdoctors who tried to intimidate both her and her staff. But as she tells Jonathan, she continues to educate people in her community about the disease and – despite more threats from witchdoctors - she’s helping save lives. For more information about the project visit michiug.org.
  

  
Lead photo: Residents of the district around the factory show their fighting spirit with wall slogans - Aletta André