India: Former Asbestos Workers on a Hunger Strike against NIOH

Posted on December 8, 2010 by admin
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“Human Life Is More Important Than Asbestos Industry Profits”

Posted on December 7, 2010 by admin

Press Release: DECEMBER 7, 2010
 
Human life is more important than asbestos industry profits, says Solidarity Delegation from Asia to Québec

MONTREAL – A delegation from Asia, including activists, a trade unionist and victims of asbestos arrived in Québec to make a desperate attempt to stop the Quebec government from financing a new asbestos mine (the Jeffrey mine), that would export millions of tonnes of asbestos to Asia, most of it to India.

“We have come to Québec to make a direct, personal appeal to the Québec people,” said Sugio Furuya, leader of the Solidarity Delegation from Asia to Québec. “We decided we must do everything we could to try to stop a terrible wrong: the financing by the Québec government of the the Jeffrey mine.” Continue reading →

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“Mouvement Pro Chrysotile” Press Release

Posted on December 7, 2010 by admin

As a mesothelioma widow and Co-Founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), I am shocked with the December 7, 2010 Mouvement Pro Chrysotile Press Release. 

Excerpt: “As stated by the spokesperson for the Mouvement Pro Chrysotile, Mr Serge Boislard: “The pathetic determination of some militants of the anti-chrysotile lobby in Canada and Quebec is reaching new heights. With no new science-based arguments to share, they choose to prey on emotions and perceptions, playing to the media and taking advantage of a clear bias for their cause on the part of some members of the media.” Continue reading →

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Asbestos lyrics to three Christmas songs by Rory O’Neil

Posted on December 7, 2010 by admin

Asbestos lyrics to three Christmas songs by Rory O’Neil, Hazards Campaign

The International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) has established the Asian Solidarity Delegation Mission to Canada page which posts mission details and extensive background information.   

Cancer cause is coming to town – To the tune of ‘Santa is coming to town’

Canada the red faced liar – To the tune – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Jingle Tills – To the tune ‘Jingle Bells’

Continue reading →

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Press Release:”Blood in the Canadian Snow”, United Kingdom

Posted on December 6, 2010 by admin

Press Release: December 6, 2010

“Blood in the Canadian Snow”, Asbestos Victims Support Groups’ Forum UK

Asbestos widows and victim support groups have called on Britons not to holiday in Canada this winter until it stops mining and exporting asbestos. 

Canada, one of the few remaining countries to export deadly asbestos, is looking to establish new mining operations at the Jeffrey Asbestos Mine in Quebec.  The Quebec government is actively considering a $58 million loan to the company which could mean an export of 5 million tonnes of asbestos over 25 years to developing countries. 

Today (6 December), an Asian delegation is arriving in Quebec to protest the planned development of the Jeffrey Asbestos Mine. During a week of meetings and events, delegates from India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Hong Kong will detail the deadly consequences of exposure to Canadian asbestos in their countries. To support their efforts, a coalition of groups from the UK will hold a protest outside Canada House, Trafalgar Square, in London at 11am on 9 December, the day the delegation will hold a press conference in the Quebec National Assembly. Other protests will take place across the World.  Continue reading →

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End Canadian Asbestos Exports to Asia

Posted on December 5, 2010 by admin

Former asbestos mine workers on hunger strike in Rajasthan, India

 “Asbestosis victims plan hunger strike”    

Former asbestos miners are silently speaking out to send Canada a powerful message: Stop mining and exporting asbestos to developing countries.  

We must encourage as many people as we can to “SPEAK FROM THE HEART” so that Canada’s Prime Minister Harper and the Canadian political leadership, to hear and consider the “Voices on the Wall” as we embrace solidarity and tell Canada it is unacceptable to mine and export asbestos to developing countries. Please invite your networks to post on the wall, and encourage them to join and share “Voices on the Wall” with their networks.  We are all demonstrating that the WORLD is watching, and expecting Canada to stop exporting asbestos NOW!  On December 8th, every “Voice on the Wall” will be printed and delivered to Prime Minister Harper.  EVERY POST IS IMPORTANT.  Don’t wait, paste this Voices on the Wall” Campaign link https://www.gban.net?p=849 into your Facebook “write something” box.     

In Unity, Linda Reinstein

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, Eric Jonckheere, Belgium

Posted on December 5, 2010 by admin

Eric Jonckheere, Co-président ABEVA and GBAN Charter Member

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BWI: “Calling for Ban on Chrysotile Asbestos”

Posted on December 4, 2010 by admin

Thanks to Kathleen Ruff and the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) – the excellent article from the Canadian Journal of Public Health “Ban All Production and Export of Chrysotile Asbestos“, is now online.  Please take time to read this powerful statement from the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) “calling for ban on chrysotile asbestos”.  Trade Unions, Labor Federations, and Occupational Safety and Health Organizations are critically important in shaping public policy, and most importantly, to protect workers and their families.  Also, sign the Asia Monitor Resource Centre online petition: Stop the re-opening of Jeffrey Asbestos Mine! Stop mining and exporting Canadian asbestos!   

Geneva, 3rd December 2010
CANADA –STOP EXPORTING CHRYSOTILE TO ASIA
The Quebec government is preparing to give a loan guarantee of $58 million to rescue the asbestos industry and allow the opening of the new Jeffrey underground mine. The Jeffrey Mine Inc. plans to export 200,000 tonnes of asbestos a year from the new underground mine to developing countries for the next 25 to 50 years.
The BWI believes that the governments of Canada and Quebec must take responsibility for the damage that the continued production and export of chrysotile will do to workers’ health in Asia . We urge the government of Quebec not to invest the $58 million in the Jeffrey mine, and instead to invest in a programme of just transition for the affected communities to provide them with safe, healthy, sustainable employment. Continue reading →

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Dominador Tuvera, Philippines

Posted on December 4, 2010 by admin

Dominador Tuvera, Philippines

Dominador implements the ALU/BWI/TUCP trade union campaign to ban asbestos in the Philippines and represents the unions in consultations about the problem of asbestos. In those meetings, he is one of two speakers most passionate on the issue – the other is the chrysotile industry. He posts campaign updates in the Ban Asbestos Philippines Facebook page and TUCP website’s asbestos section. Because banning asbestos involves different stakeholders and concerns, GBAN will greatly help anti-asbestos advocates as it shares strategies and interventions used in other countries.

Dominador Tuvera, GBAN Charter Member, Philippines@gban.net

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Manila, Philippines: Demonstration in support of the Asian delegation to Quebec, Canada to press against the opening of an underground asbestos mine

Posted on December 3, 2010 by admin

The Associated Labor Unions (ALU), Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) will stage a demonstration around the Canadian Embassy in Manila.  The demonstration will support the Asian delegation to Quebec, Canada to press against the opening of an underground asbestos mine. We invite everyone to join the march at 3pm in front of the Makati Central Fire Station. The march will proceed to the nearby Canadian Embassy for the demonstration.  Continue reading →

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