Help Stop the Mad Dow Disease
In a surprise move to help bolster financial performance, Dow Chemical has replaced Michael Parker as CEO and President of the company with William S. Stavropoulos. Stavropoulos, Dow's CEO from 1995 until 2000, helped orchestrate the merger of Dow and Union Carbide in February of 2001.

Change is good. A new CEO allows Dow to take responsibility for their inherited role in the world's worst industrial disaster in Bhopal, India in December of 1984. Stavropoulos's new post does give him an opportunity to show Dow's real commitment to sustainability by cleaning up Bhopal for the people who have been suffering for over eighteen years.


Step 1 Fill-in your information so that we can address your message properly. First Name: Last Name: Email: Address1: Address2: City: State: Zip/Post Code: - Country/Region: NOTE: Required Field**		Step 2 Read the letter we've provided. Either send it as is or edit the below text to make it your own. Dear Mr. Stavropoulos As the new CEO and President of Dow Chemical Company, you stated that Dow must work to restore its financial strength after eight quarters of disappointing financial performance. Unfortunately, a change in your company's leadership without a change in values and actions will not lead to this desired end. It is no coincidence that Dow's recent financial stagnation has occurred parallel to your purchase of Union Carbide Corporation in February of 2001. As the chairman of Dow's board during this buyout, you played a key role in the acquisition of Carbide even in the face of overwhelming evidence that Carbide was not a profitable purchase. Since then Dow has settled outstanding Carbide asbestos claims to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, and more importantly, Dow is still denying responsibility for Carbide's role in the world's largest industrial disaster in Bhopal, India, in December of 1984. Union Carbide's operations in Bhopal led to the deaths of thousands of people, and one person a day continues to die in Bhopal as a direct result of the gas leak from the Union Carbide plant. The toxic waste left behind at the plant has contaminated the groundwater, and we are witnessing a new generation of Bhopal residents who continue to be poisoned by Union Carbide's carelessness in India. During his time as company president and CEO, Michael Parker explained his sympathy for Bhopal survivors but repeatedly denied that when Dow bought Union Carbide, they not only bought the company's assets but also its liabilities, including the Bhopal disaster. Investors from socially responsible firms like Domini, Trillium and Calvert disagree: these firms, with assets at over 13 billion dollars (USD), recently sent your company a letter urging Dow to responsibly deal with Bhopal. Companies who respect the environment and the people who inhabit it are also profitable companies. As the new Dow CEO in search of financial remedies that will help your company, I urge that your first endeavor is to take responsibility for Bhopal before it will cost your company more money. Sincerely, Send your message to Primary Contacts: Mr. William Stavropoulos, President and CEO, Dow Chemical Company Secondary Contacts: Mr. Sam Smolik, Global Vice President for Health, Environment and Safety, The Dow Chemical Company via: Email
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