Press statement- Dated 3 December 2010(For Immediate Release)
As the survivors of the world’s worst industrial disaster-Bhopal gas tragedy (1984) prepare for the 26th anniversary of the disaster on 3rd December 2010, mourning their dead and fighting for their survivors, the workers and health activists from Asia gear up to fight the Quebec government (Canada) and its powerful asbestos industry from exporting more asbestos deaths to Asia. Continue reading
Checking asbestos death facts: Judith Estavillo and Rolante Santos of ALU-TUCP
December 1, 2010: Manila, Philippines – The Associated Labor Unions (ALU), the Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) asked Canada to close Jeffrey asbestos mine in Quebec in a protest around the Canadian Embassy in Manila in 25 November 2010. ALU, BWI and TUCP condemned the planned opening of an underground mine in Quebec. Continue reading
Dear All,
Asbestos is now considered one of the most toxic compounds on the earth. More than 50 countries have declared ban on its use, mining, manufacturing and trading. On the other hand, contrary to this its import in India is continuously rising. Indian import of Asbestos has more than doubled in last three years. Canada is one of the major exporters of Asbestos and over 60% of its export is imported by India. Continue reading
My name is Mohit Gupta, Charter Member of GBAN for India. I am also the coordinator of OEHNI, Occupational and Environmental Health Network of India. Together with other NGOs and likeminded people, we work towards banning of Asbestos use in India. Mining of asbestos is already banned in India and we are working towards a complete ban on the use of this harmful substance. Asbestos is a worldwide problem and we all need to come together to achieve this important goal of GBAN. You can contact me at India@gban.net.
Apolinar Tolentino is the Building and Woodworkers International’s Regional Representative for the Asia Pacific Region. In this capacity, he has been spearheading trade union activities along with the affiliated organisations on various sectoral issues, including raising awareness amongst member organisations on the hazards of asbestos exposure in the region. He has been instrumental in helping affiliates / associate organisations to launch ban Asbestos campaigns, particularly in countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and India. Also, he has assisted in networking with other like-minded organizations, both in the region and globally and played a pivotal role in the launch of the Asian Ban Asbestos Network (A-BAN) in 2009. Malaysia@gban.net
“Voices on the Wall”FACEBOOK: Post your message, photo or video on the Global Ban Asbestos Network (GBAN) Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/gbanAsbestos or email victims@gban.net to have your message posted. “Voices on the Wall” Flyer
Deadly Asbestos Facts:
We urge Prime Minister Harper to stop the mining and exporting deadly asbestos to the developing world.
Resources
Recent Canadian Asbestos News and Reports
Letter from Université Laval in Québec to Prime Minister Harper
“The Remnants of Asbestos Mining in Rajasthan; An Occupational Health Update “, Mine Labour Protection Campaign (MLPC)
VIDEO
México Ban Asbestos (Spanish)
Los abogados de México Ban Asbestos hablan encima sobre de la exportación Canadiense mortal del asbesto
Asbestos in Mexico (English)
Mexico Ban Asbestos Advocates Speak Up about Deadly Canadian Asbestos Exportation
International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) Publications
Policies, Reports, and Statements
I am a retired Union Official of the Maritime Union of Australia. I worked on the docks for 38 years and was a Union delegate for 30 years, during which time I was also Senior Vice President of the Union. In 1995, I was elected a full time Official until 2003, retiring only due to health reasons after a heart attack. My experience with asbestos was unloading asbestos on the Sydney waterfront. When elected, part of my duties was to represent the Union at ADFA (Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia). In this period, I was involved in the successful test case for compensation for waterside workers in Australia suffering from asbestos related diseases. I was asked in 2002 to become the President of ADFA because of the illness of the then President, Reg Stephenson. I have been elected the President every year since.
Barry Robson, President ADFA Australia@gban.net
Press Release
New Delhi/ 26/11/2010
Environmental, labour & health groups denounce India-Canada Trade Agreement
Stop Revival & Expansion of Canadian Asbestos Mines
BANI Appreciates Canadian Journal of Public Health
New Delhi/ 26/11/2010: Instead of immediately banning the import of potentially deadly asbestos, the proposed free trade agreement between India and Canada will boost asbestos trade. In such a backdrop, talks on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries is quite sad and disturbing and has been denounced by the environmental, labour & health groups. The groups demanded that ban asbestos trade must be deemed a pre-condition for future negotiations on CEPA. Continue reading
“Quebec asbestos project prompts safety protests”
By Bernard Simon in Toronto, Financial Times
Published: November 24 2010 19:25 | Last updated: November 24 2010 19:25
An attempt by Indian and other investors to revive a big Canadian asbestos mine has run into a storm of protest from health and environmental groups. Continue reading
Melody Kemp, “Moral Fibre: Japan’s Asbestos Dilemma,” The Asia-Pacific Journal November 22, 2010
Japan to date has provided an inspiring role model for Asian workers trying to ban the importation and mining of asbestos in Asia. Japanese money has enabled international gatherings of workers and officials trying to end the importation and use of this deadly dust. Continue reading
