The Weekly Reflektion 52/2024
‘Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are’, is often attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, US President from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt used these words often in his discussions with people he met when they asked him ‘what can we do?’. Roosevelt gave credit for the quote, to Squire Bill Widner of Widner’s Valley, Virginia. The sentiment behind the message is important, especially when we are often uncertain on how to tackle our own, our company’s and all the many other challenges in the world. This uncertainty on how to contribute is so great we end up doing nothing. We need to lift ourselves up, look in the mirror and repeat these words. Others have done this and made a difference. Behind every Major Accident that we have studied since October 2017 there is someone that did not do what they could, with what they had, where they were, with tragedy as the result. Don’t let that be you.
What to you do with what you’ve got?
The Bhopal pesticide plant of Union Carbide India Limited in early 1986
Si Kahn was born in 1944, and is an American singer-songwriter, and was an activitist in the civil rights movement. In 1965 Kahn earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and in 1995 he completed a PhD in American studies. He is founder of the Grassroots Leadership, a non-profit organization which advocates for several causes, including prison reform, improved immigration detention policies, and violence prevention. Most of the profits from Kahn’s music are donated to the Grassroots Leadership campaign. Kahn actually moved to the southern states of the US to fight for the movement. Kahn is an example of someone who literally took Roosevelt’s message seriously. He even wrote a song that expresses the sentiments ‘ What you do with what you’ve got’. The chorus is:
It’s not just what you’re born with
It’s what you choose to bear
It’s not how big your share is
But how much you can share
And it’s not the fights you dreamed of
But those you really fought
It’s not what you’ve been given
It’s what you do with what you’ve got
2024 is the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster. On the night of 2/3 December 1984 there was a release of about 40 tones of highly toxic methyl isocynate (MIC) from the Union Carbide pesticide plant. The cloud descended on the nearby town and it is estimated over 20 000 people lost their lives, either directly or indirectly, and over 500 000 were treated for injuries. If someone had done what they could have with the inherent design of the plant. If someone had done something on not operating with the disposal facility on the flare out of service. If someone had ensured the maintenance of the facility had been carried out properly. If someone had ensured the people operating the facility were properly trained. Let there be no doubt that someone did know and could have intervened and prevented the Bhopal disaster. There are probably things we all know that should be done to prevent an accident or incident. Let’s make 2025 the year when we make a difference.
Merry Christmas to all our readers and to everyone that follows Reflekt in our investigations, seminars and other activities that we hope will contribute to prevention of Major Accidents.