Ameer Shahul

Last updated
Ameer Shahul
Born
Pangode, Kerala, India
Education Steinbeis-Hochschule Berlin (MBA), Cochin University of Science and Technology (MSc), St John's College, Anchal, University of Kerala (BSc)
Alma mater Greenpeace. Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Nissan Motors, IBM [1]
Occupation(s)Author, environmentalist, public policy leader, startup investor
Notable work
Website www.ameershahul.com

Ameer Shahul is an Indian author and environmentalist who is known for his work against Unilever in Kodaikanal mercury poisoning. His first non-fiction book titled Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned Kodaikanal was published by Pan Macmillan in 2023. [2] He has been involved with green movements in India since 2002 ranging from ship-breaking to industrial pollution and campaigns against pesticides and climate change.

Contents

Environmentalist

Shahul worked with Greenpeace since 2002 on a campaign against mercury pollution by Unilever in Kodaikanal, industrial pollution committed by the FMCG company in the hill station of Tamil Nadu, known as Kodaikanal mercury poisoning. [3] He led the public affairs groups and ex-workers to force the company collect 290 tonnes of mercury waste disposed off in and around the factory site and send back to the United States for permanent retirement in 2003. [4] [5] This action of sending waste from a developing country to a developed country was widely hailed by the media as ‘reverse dumping'. [6] Shahul along with campaigners like Navroz Mody led environmental and local community groups in lobbying for remediation of the site, [7] and initiated an investigation by the Department of Atomic Energy of Government of India, which found that the mercury levels in the atmosphere of Kodaikanal was up to 2640 times more than what is found in normal conditions. [8] [9] [10] Shahul also led a team of activists and volunteers to spook the annual general body meeting of Hindustan Unilever in Mumbai in 2003 and 2004. [11]

He also campaigned against the practices of ship breaking in Indian shores for hazardous waste disposal, [12] [13] and against ground water exploitation and waste dumping by Coca-Cola in Kerala known as Plachimada Coca-Cola struggle. [14] [15] He also brought to notice the worst incident of a state owned company continuing to manufacturing the globally banned DDT. [16]

Author

In 2023, Pan Macmillan published his book titled, Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned Kodaikanal. [17] [18] Deccan Herald described the book as 'a blunt and bold account of a tragedy', [19] while Malayala Manorama termed it as the gripping take on an industrial tragedy, and of green resistance. [20] Business Line described the book as 'a good pointer to be on our guard and save the environment.' [21]

The Financial Express (India) called it a case study on corporate and regulatory failures, [22] while The New Indian Express described it as an exceptional book that offers a comprehensive and compelling account of not just the disaster, but also its aftermath. [23] The Indian Express described the book as a ‘crisp cinematic account of corporate greed and the struggle for justice in India.’ [24] Describing the book as an ‘essential read', Open (Indian magazine) said ‘that it took Unilever more than 15 years to compensate affected workers is a reminder of the humongous costs of such mistakes’. [25]

Hindustan Times said “This terrifying cautionary tale of corporate negligence is essential reading”. In its review, the paper said Heavy Metal, which recounts the struggle for environmental justice in India, also shows how elusive it is despite decades of social activism. “With activism having been throttled in recent times, corporate negligence of environmental regulations may remain lax. By telling the story of this disaster in a compelling way, Shahul clearly hopes to make readers vigilant about capturing future corporate manipulations of the system when it comes to environmental obligations,” it said. [26]

In his interview with The Hindu Sunday Magazine Ameer Shahul is quoted as saying 'industrial corporations, such as Unilever, can be held truly accountable only with the help of science and data.' [27]

In an interview to The Wire (India) he said 'both goodness and malice are inherent in humans. People prefer one over the other based on their culture, upbringing, and circumstances'. [28]

In his interview to Down to Earth (magazine) Shahul said, "Factories dealing with hazardous raw materials or generating hazardous bye-products require close monitoring by the regulators, assisted by the local voluntary groups. Periodic audit of raw materials and hazardous waste should be made fool proof and should be done with the participation of the local community to ensure erring officials are not taken for a ride by factory management. Countries that are selling raw materials to other countries have a responsibility to take back the waste generated out of the raw materials." [29]

In another interview to Article-14 he said, "In our quest for ‘economic progress’, we compromise many things, and the easiest of them are the environment and natural resources. That is a pattern we keep seeing. Our country is dotted with similar examples, whether industrial pollution cases or pollution caused by pesticides and chemicals, and so on and so forth. As long as people chase what we call ‘economic progress’, we all become very insular, and self-centric." [30]

In an interview to BooksFirst, he is quoted as saying "Not all solutions can be balanced. What is fair to one may not be fair to the other. In cases like this (Kodaikanal mercury poisoning) where an atrocity has been committed, whether wittingly or unwittingly, the resolution can side with the victims. Therefore, the resolution is to support and recompense up to the last victim. As far as the larger crime against the ecosystem is concerned, there should be remediation of the land, soil and air as well as work to rejuvenate the last flora and fauna in the ecosystem that faces threat to its existence due to the toxic heavy metal." [31]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollution</span> Introduction of contaminants that cause adverse change

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance or energy. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazardous waste</span> Ignitable, reactive, corrosive and/or toxic unwanted or unusable materials

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toxic heavy metal</span> Category of substances

A toxic heavy metal is any relatively dense metal or metalloid that is noted for its potential toxicity, especially in environmental contexts. The term has particular application to cadmium, mercury and lead, all of which appear in the World Health Organization's list of 10 chemicals of major public concern. Other examples include manganese, chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, antimony and thallium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chemical waste</span> Waste made from harmful chemicals

Chemical waste is any excess, unused, or unwanted chemical, especially those that cause damage to human health or the environment. Chemical waste may be classified as hazardous waste, non-hazardous waste, universal waste, or household hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is material that displays one or more of the following four characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity. This information, along with chemical disposal requirements, is typically available on a chemical's Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). Radioactive waste requires special ways of handling and disposal due to its radioactive properties. Biohazardous waste, which may contain hazardous materials, is also handled differently.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toxic waste</span> Any unwanted material which can cause harm

Toxic waste is any unwanted material in all forms that can cause harm. Mostly generated by industry, consumer products like televisions, computers, and phones contain toxic chemicals that can pollute the air and contaminate soil and water. Disposing of such waste is a major public health issue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hindustan Unilever</span> Indian consumer goods company

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is a British-owned Indian consumer goods company headquartered in Mumbai. It is a subsidiary of the British company Unilever. Its products include foods, beverages, cleaning agents, personal care products, water purifiers and other fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ship breaking</span> Disposal process to get parts or scrap

Ship-breaking is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships either as a source of parts, which can be sold for re-use, or for the extraction of raw materials, chiefly scrap. Modern ships have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years before corrosion, metal fatigue and a lack of parts render them uneconomical to operate. Ship-breaking allows the materials from the ship, especially steel, to be recycled and made into new products. This lowers the demand for mined iron ore and reduces energy use in the steelmaking process. Fixtures and other equipment on board the vessels can also be reused. While ship-breaking is sustainable, there are concerns about its use by poorer countries without stringent environmental legislation. It is also labour-intensive, and considered one of the world's most dangerous industries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kodaikanal</span> Place in Tamil Nadu, India

Kodaikanal is a hill station which is located in Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Its name in the Tamil language means "The Gift of the Forest". Kodaikanal is referred to as the "Princess of Hills" and has a long history as a retreat and tourist destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic waste</span> Discarded electronic devices

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soil contamination</span> Pollution of land by human-made chemicals or other alteration

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water pollution in India</span> Water pollution in India is mainly due to untreated wastewater discharge into rivers

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kodaikanal mercury poisoning</span> Environmental contamination incident in India

Kodaikanal mercury poisoning is a proven case of mercury contamination at the hill station of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India by Hindustan Unilever in the process of making mercury thermometers for export around the world. The exposé of the environmental abuse led to the closure of the factory in 2001 and opened up a series of issues in India such as corporate liability, corporate accountability and corporate negligence.

Greenpeace India is the Indian branch of the global environmental group Greenpeace, a non-profit NGO, with a presence in 55 countries across Europe, the America, Asia. Greenpeace India has legally registered society in four locations with Bengaluru as its headquarters and other branches at Delhi, Chennai, Patna.

Sofia Ashraf is an Indian rapper and singer. Her songs address the negligence of corporations that fail to clean up industrial disasters. Her 2008 song Don't Work for Dow criticizes Dow's failure to compensate victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy in India. In 2015, she released Kodaikanal Won't, a music video addressing mercury pollution in Kodaikanal from a thermometer factory owned by Unilever, a multinational consumer goods company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic waste in India</span> Serious public health and environmental issues in India

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<i>Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned Kodaikanal</i> Non-fictional book by Ameer Shahul

Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned Kodaikanal is a non-fiction book by Indian author Ameer Shahul, published by Pan Macmillan in February 2023.

References

  1. ↑ "Personal Website of Ameer Shahul". Ameer Shahul. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  2. ↑ Macmillan India, Pan (2023-02-09). "Heavy Metal". Pan Macmillan . Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  3. ↑ Lawrence M, Salinger. "Encyclopedia of White-Collar & Corporate Crime, Volume 1". Sage Publications. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  4. ↑ Saritha Rai (May 7, 2003). "Hazardous Waste Is Shipped From India to U.S. Recycling Plant". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  5. ↑ Saritha Rai (May 8, 2003). "Activists hail 'reverse dumping' as India sends waste to U.S." International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "India sends hazardous waste back to US". Times of India. Apr 16, 2003. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  7. ↑ Fernando, A.C. (2010). Business Ethics And Corporate Governance. New Delhi: Pearson Education India. p. 9.14. ISBN   9788131734629.
  8. ↑ D. Karunasagar; M.V. Balarama Krishna; Y. Anjaneyulu; J. Arunachalam (September 2006). "Studies of mercury pollution in a lake due to a thermometer factory situated in Kodaikkanal" (PDF). Environmental Pollution. 143 (1): 153–158. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2005.10.032. PMID   16412540 . Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  9. ↑ "Closed Unilver factory source of Mercury Pollution". Deccan Herald. January 17, 2004. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
  10. ↑ "Hindustan Lever Limited Found Guilty again". Greenpeace. February 4, 2004. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  11. ↑ "Greenpeace spooks HLL AGM; Demand Public Apology for Kodaikanal Mercury disaster". Greenpeace. August 4, 2004. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  12. ↑ TNN, Times of India (2003-11-24). "Asbestos to be cleaned up before UK ship is broken". Times of India. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  13. ↑ "Ban Kannur ship-breaking yard: Greenpeace". www.rediff.com. 2003-11-24. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  14. ↑ Venugopal, P (Aug 7, 2003). "Tests Confirm Toxicity In Sludge From Coke Plant". The Hindu. Kochi.
  15. ↑ "Red wrath for Coke in green Kerala". Domain.b. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
  16. ↑ Iype, George (Oct 10, 2003). "Eloor is one of the world's most toxic spots". Rediff.com. Kochi.
  17. ↑ Times, of India (2023-03-26). "Mercury poisoning can affect generations to come, says Eric Solhiem". The Times of India . Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  18. ↑ Hindu, The (2023-03-26). "'Mercury may be present in Kodaikanal forest soil for centuries'". The Hindu . Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  19. ↑ Shahul, Ameer. "With Lichen and Moss as Allies". Deccanherald.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  20. ↑ "Heavy Metal: A gripping take on an industrial tragedy, and of green resistance". Malayala Manorama. February 23, 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  21. ↑ Somasekar, M (2017-06-18). "Book review: Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned Kodaikanal". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  22. ↑ "Kodaikanal's tragedy: From the lens of one incident, a case study on corporate and regulatory failures". The Financial Express. June 18, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  23. ↑ Parichcha, Mayank (2023-05-21). "Following the Toxic Trail". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  24. ↑ Neelakantan, Murali (2023-06-18). "Heavy Metal is a crisp cinematic account of corporate greed and the struggle for justice in India". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  25. ↑ NP, Ullekh (2017-06-18). "Toxic Truths: An investigation into the mercury poisoning of Kodaikanal". Open Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  26. ↑ Sharma, Sudhirendar (October 7, 2023). "Review: Heavy Metal by Ameer Shahul". The Hindustan Times. New Delhii. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  27. ↑ Gandhi, Divya (2023-03-26). "Kodaikanal one of Asia's mercury hotspots: Ameer Shahul". The Hindu. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  28. ↑ Joseph, Joel (2023-02-24). "'Kodaikanal Mercury Poisoning Episode Has Lessons for Current, Future Generations'". The Wire. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  29. ↑ Banerji, Nandita (2023-03-07). "'The regulator should monitor mercury in the air in Kodaikanal'". Down To Earth. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  30. ↑ Iyer, Kavita (2023-04-07). "'We Sent 300 Tonnes Of Mercury Waste Back To The US. It Was A Milestone For Anti-Dumping Campaigns'". Article 14. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  31. ↑ Kumar, Sameer (2023-03-06). "Heavy Metal: In Conversation with Ameer Shahul". Books First. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
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