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{{Short description|Indian Environmentalist and author}}
{{Short description|Indian Environmentalist and author}}
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Revision as of 02:35, 7 August 2023

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.[1] He has been involved with green movements in India since 2002 ranging from ship-breaking to industrial pollution and campaigns against pesticides.

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.[2] 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 [3][4]. This action of sending waste from a developing country to a developed country was widely hailed by the media as ‘reverse dumping'.[5] Shahul along with campaigners like Navroz Mody led environmental and local community groups in lobbying for remediation of the site[6], 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.[7][8][9] 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.[10]

He also campaigned against the practices of ship breaking in Indian shores for hazardous waste disposal [11] [12], and against ground water exploitation and waste dumping by Coca-Cola in Kerala known as Plachimada Coca-Cola struggle[13] [14]. He also brought to notice the worst incident of a a state owned company continuing to manufacturing the globally banned DDT [15].

Author

In 2023, Pan Macmillan published his book titled, Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned Kodaikanal.[16][17] Deccan Herald described the book as 'a blunt and bold account of a tragedy'[18], while Malayala Manorama termed it as the gripping take on an industrial tragedy, and of green resistance. [19] Business Line described the book as 'a good pointer to be on our guard and save the environment.'[20] The Financial Express (India) called it a case study on corporate and regulatory failures,[21] while The New Indian Express described it as a crisp cinematic account of corporate greed and the struggle for justice in India.[22] The Indian Express described the book as a ‘crisp cinematic account of corporate greed and the struggle for justice in India.’[23] 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’.[24]

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.'[25]

References

  1. ^ Macmillan India, Pan (2023-02-09). "Heavy Metal". Pan Macmillan. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  2. ^ Lawrence M, Salinger. "Encyclopedia of White-Collar & Corporate Crime, Volume 1". Sage Publications. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  3. ^ Saritha Rai (May 7, 2003). "Hazardous Waste Is Shipped From India to U.S. Recycling Plant". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  4. ^ 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 – via High Beam Research.
  5. ^ "India sends hazardous waste back to US". Times of India. Apr 16, 2003. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  6. ^ Fernando, A.C. (2010). Business Ethics And Corporate Governance. New Delhi: Pearson Education India. p. 9.14. ISBN 9788131734629.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Closed Unilver factory source of Mercury Pollution". Deccan Herald. January 17, 2004. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22.
  9. ^ "Hindustan Lever Limited Found Guilty again". Greenpeace. February 4, 2004. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  10. ^ "Greenpeace spooks HLL AGM; Demand Public Apology for Kodaikanal Mercury disaster". Greenpeace. August 4, 2004. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  11. ^ TNN, Times of India (2003-11-24). "Asbestos to be cleaned up before UK ship is broken". Times of India. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  12. ^ "Ban Kannur ship-breaking yard: Greenpeace". www.rediff.com. 2003-11-24. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  13. ^ Venugopal, P (Aug 7, 2003). "Tests Confirm Toxicity In Sludge From Coke Plant". The Hindu. Kochi.
  14. ^ "Red wrath for Coke in green Kerala". Domain.b. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
  15. ^ Iype, George (Oct 10, 2003). "Eloor is one of the world's most toxic spots". Rediff.com. Kochi.
  16. ^ Times, of India (2023-03-26). "Mercury poisoning can affect generations to come, says Eric Solhiem". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  17. ^ Hindu, The (2023-03-26). "'Mercury may be present in Kodaikanal forest soil for centuries'". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  18. ^ Shahul, Ameer. "With Lichen and Moss as Allies". Deccanherald.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  19. ^ "Heavy Metal: A gripping take on an industrial tragedy, and of green resistance". Malayala Manorama. February 23, 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-12.
  20. ^ "Book review: Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned Kodaikanal". May 19, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "Heavy Metal is a crisp cinematic account of corporate greed and the struggle for justice in India". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  23. ^ Neelakantan, Murali (2017-06-18). "Heavy Metal is a crisp cinematic account of corporate greed and the struggle for justice in India". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  24. ^ NP, Ullekh (2017-06-18). "Toxic Truths: An investigation into the mercury poisoning of Kodaikanal". Open Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  25. ^ Gandhi, Divya (2023-03-26). "Kodaikanal one of Asia's mercury hotspots: Ameer Shahul". The Hindu. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
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