Posted on July 21, 2016

Casale Monferrato, Giovedì 21 luglio 2016

COMUNICATO

“È chiaro che, anche dal punto di vista rigorosamente materiale, la morte di una persona, seppure cagionata da una medesima condotta, dà luogo ad un nuovo evento, e quindi ad un fatto diverso rispetto alla morte di altre persone”.

Più chiara di così, la Corte Costituzionale non poteva davvero essere: il processo Eternit bis “s’ha da fare” eccome!

È questa l’unica, inequivocabile indicazione che si può ricavare dalla lettura della sentenza della Corte Costituzionale, finalmente depositata oggi. Nonostante, infatti, la Corte riconosca fondata, in termini generali, la questione sollevata dal Gip di Torino, ne disinnesca completamente la portata pratica nel processo, con argomenti, oltre che giuridici, di comune buon senso.

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Posted on July 6, 2016

Lou Williams, GBAN Australian National Director

I have been invited by AMAA (Asbestosis & Mesothelioma Association of Australia) to speak at their Annual Asbestos Memorial Service.

It is very special and heartwarming to have been invited to attend and speak.  I am looking forward to meeting many members of AMAA.

Annual Asbestos Memorial Service
Asbestosis & Mesothelioma Association of Australia (AMAA)
 Friday 8 July 2016

AMAA Headquarters at Seagulls Club 80 Gollan Drive Tweed Heads West
PO Box 1178, Tweed Heads, NSW 2485
Tel: 07 5587 9006 or 1800 017 758 – Mob: 0417 705 534
Email: info@asbestosassociation.com.au – www. asbestosassociation.com.au
ACN:  602 979 000

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MEDIA RELEASE: Tuesday 29 March 2016

National asbestos response grinds to a halt as Federal Government withholds funding

Asbestos victim support groups have slammed the Federal Government for allowing the national response to the deadly mineral to grind to a halt over a funding dispute with the independent government agency tasked with overseeing its eventual eradication.

Setup with bipartisan support in 2013, the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency has been working with state and territory governments on a coordinated plan to address ageing asbestos products located in millions of homes, workplaces and public buildings.

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Media Release: Friday November 20, 2013

Asbestos victims slam James Hardie over slashed compensation funding

Asbestos victims are outraged following the revelation that James Hardie has almost halved its contributions to its compensation fund, despite increasing cash flow and profit.

Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia president Barry Robson said the move was a devastating blow for asbestos victims and a sign that once again James Hardie was placing profits over human lives.

“This is simply morally bankrupt,” Mr Robson said.

“The James Hardie company only exists because of the profits made from asbestos products – products they knew would kill.”

Figures released in James Hardie’s interim profit announcement revealed contributions to the Asbestos Injury Compensation Fund (AICF) fell to $US62.8 million this financial year, down from $US113 million the year before.

“That is a massive reduction of 44 per cent, which not only risks leaving asbestos victims high and dry, but will force taxpayers to shoulder the burden,” Mr Robson said.

“The funding cuts came despite a rise in interim profit from $US156.1 million to $US190 million, and operating cash flow increasing by 160 per cent.

“James Hardie spent decades knowingly selling these deadly products.

“To this day, nearly one third of Australian homes contain asbestos — leading to a whole new generation of Australians at risk from asbestos related disease in the years to come.”

Mr Robson said the funding reduction followed an urgent intervention by the New South Wales Government earlier this year to extend further credit to the AICF, which was facing an $183 million shortfall by 2017 and had proposed moving to an instalment scheme to cover the gap.

“Australians were outraged by the way this company behaved 10 years ago when it tried to leave Australian without compensating victims,” he said.

“James Hardie seem to be trying to shirk their responsibilities once again, showing continued contempt to the thousands of people killed by their unsafe product.

“It is time for James Hardie to stop playing games and to genuinely commit to looking after the innocent victims of their asbestos products.”

For media comment please call ADFA President Barry Robson on 0407 235 685

Guest Blog: “Cause-effect” Relation between White Asbestos and Mesothelioma” by Francisco Báez Baquet

The demonstration of a causal relationship between chrysotile and mesothelioma, it is essential to justify the ban on industrial use of the mineral.

FRANCISCO BAEZ BAQUET

This is so, because of that, to cause mesothelioma, weak enough, small doses, as determined by short, sporadic or even specific and unique exhibits, as evidenced by the experimental and epidemiological studies demonstrating these latter, even exhibitions of only several minutes, or even a single inhalation, may be sufficient to cause malignancy.

Epidemiological studies show that because of non-occupational exposure, in which fiber concentrations given in atmospheres, well below those corresponding to those generated in the workplace, determined, however, detectable increases in the rate of mesothelioma incidence compared with background, for the whole nation or geographical area considered. That morbid effect, extending around the industrial source of pollution, to expressible distances in complete kilometers, depending on the direction of prevailing winds, which is an additional element of conviction of the truth of causation.

Furthermore, it is affecting those who have not had any employment relationship with chrysotile, as in the case of pets that have lived in the vicinity of the industrial centers of the use of that mineral.

In these conditions, it is impossible alleged “safe and controlled use” of chrysotile, and the only effective alternative is the absolute prohibition of use.

Click here to view the full text of our article about all these issues.

Francisco Baez Baquet
Former clerk of the sales office in Sevilla, of the firm manufacturing asbestos cement, Uralita SA
Former member co-founder of the “National Commission of Asbestos.”
Former member of the General Council of the “National Institute for Safety and Health at Work” (INSHT), on behalf of the Trade Union “Comisiones Obreras”

Posted on July 12, 2015

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization is honored to have talented journalist Alok Gupta write about the new study finding Asbestos in children’s toys. Voices like Alok’s are necessary to inspire change and ADAO is beyond grateful for his bravery and honesty.

Alok Gupta was born and raised in one of India’s poorest and lawless state of Bihar. After witnessing violent crimes and injustice in the society, he took up journalism to change things for better. He specializes in development and environment journalism. He feels that majority of environment issues impacts the poor more than the rich. It’s the aboriginal who face the stigma of displacement and disease due to mining, drought and floods due to extreme weather is destroying farmers.

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Crayons of Cancer

Deadly asbestos laced crayons might be making children severely ill.

By: Alok Gupta

A non-profit, Environment Working Group Action Fund’s Asbestos Nation has found traces of lethal cancer causing asbestos in children crayons and crime scene toy kits. Around four out of 28 samples of four crayon brands tested positive for asbestos in the US.

This is not the first time that asbestos has been detected in crayons. Similar tests in the year 2000 and 2007, considerable amount of asbestos were detected in the crayons. Agencies like Consumer Product Safety Commission that monitors toy safety in the US have remained silent on these killer crayons that might be creating havoc on children’s health.

The current findings nails four brands Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Saban’s Power Rangers Super Megaforce and those made by Amscan. EWG report claims that package labels of asbestos containing crayons mention product ‘Made in China’ and imported to the US.

Dr. Philip Landrigan, professor of pediatrics and preventive medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York observes that asbestos in toys poses an unacceptable risk to children, today as it did in 2000 and 2007, the last time tests found the deadly substance in these children’s products.

Campaigners at Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, a non-profit that exposed asbestos presence in children toy in 2007 are outraged after the findings of EWG. Linda Reinstein, president of ADAO says, “Since asbestos was found in children’s crayons in 2000, an estimated 150,000 Americans have died from preventable asbestos-caused disease and the USA has consumed more than 55,000 metric tons of asbestos. This killer chemical has caused one of the largest manmade disasters in history, yet imports continue.”

Interestingly, in 2007 when ADAO found asbestos in five consumer products including a child’s toy, it submitted a detailed report to The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) but agency didn’t initiate any action.

ADAO raised alarm over asbestos in Planet Toys CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit, DAP “33” window glazing, DAP Crack Shot spackling paste, Gardner Leak Stopper roof patch, and Scotch High Performance Duct Tape.

Damage caused by asbestos inhalation can show its impact even decades after the exposure has stopped. Inhalation of asbestos fibers for prolonged time can trigger serious and fatal illnesses it includes malignant lung cancer, Asbestosis and mesothelioma.

One of the most common diseases caused by asbestos are asbestosis and pleural abnormalities.

Beyond America

Asbestos contamination in the crayons and crime scene testing kit toys is apparently not just limited to the US. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that crayon that have tested positive for containing asbestos is also available in Australia.

Report also states that the National Toxics Network (NTN) has attempted unsuccessfully to alert the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the body responsible for the safety of products in Australia about the potential problems.

A simple Google search on availability of four brands Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Saban’s Power Rangers Super Megaforce and those made by Amscan shows that these products are also available in British and Indian markets

It’s baffling why law-implementing agencies have refused to crack whip on importers or products for playing with children health. Now, the hope hinges on non-profits like International Council of Toy Industries, a non-profit that work to ensure safety standards of toys. ICTYI recently started its Hong Kong chapter that might work towards making safe toys in China, a world leader in toy manufacturing.

Posted on June 10, 2015

On May 27^th 2015, Amsterdam was the exciting scene of the first international conference of the European Asbestos Forum (EAF). The long held dream of our Charter Member and EAF founder, Dr. Yvonne Waterman, the EAF aims to improve networks and sharing asbestos knowledge across both borders and asbestos sectors.

All day, the motto ‘Sharing makes us stronger!’ resonated across the venue, gaining strength by the hour as the many visitors from over ten countries and three continents became visibly enthused by this concept. Flawlessly chaired by Hans van der Wart of Shield Group International, the conference proceeded at a fast pace.

The Opening Speech was provided by the Director General Work of the Ministry for Social Affairs and Employment, Marcelis Boereboom. He was followed by Wayne Williams, who represented the English IATP, Mark Wit and Linda Reinstein. Dr. Richard Lemen closed the morning session by giving a very varied, profound and impressive Keynote Speech – when he warned of the combined dangers of asbestos and tobacco, you could hear a pin drop.

In the afternoon, three simultaneous sessions were held to allow for a wide array of asbestos specialists. Sadly, Nicola Pondrano, who was to have spoken on the Italian fight against Eternit, was ill. But his colleagues in the session Asbestos & Labour, Arco Engelen, Lydia Charlier, Wayne Williams, Christian Lahnstein and Dilan Yesilyurt provided very interesting insights in the asbestos awareness problems faced on the work floor and in schools, and subsequently the problems encountered in the legal process and the insurance aspects. Lydia for instance pointed out the huge discrepancies in compensation between various countries for one and the same case.

During the session on Asbestos & Technological Developments, new innovations and technologies regarding asbestos were the main topic, with speeches provided by Ruud Janssen, Nick Garland, Tony Rich, Mark Winter, Joris Gribnau and Herm Zweerts. We learned about new removal techniques, comparative methods and legislations and the importance of a real estate asbestos register.

The third session related to European Policy & Raising Awareness, where Gonzalo Zufia, Barry Robson, Linda Reinstein, Prof. Gert van der Laan, Prof. Thomas Kraus and Prof. Nico van Zandwijk used different approaches to this subject. Prof. Kraus for instance showed that the incidence of asbestos related lung cancer is several times as high as the mesothelioma incidence, and yet these patients are very neglected from every angle.

The EAF’s special honour, the Dr. J. Stumphius Recognition Award, was awarded to Prof. Nico van Zandwijk, who spoke on his ground-breaking discovery of a new and hopeful treatment of mesothelioma. His research is truly equal to that of Nobel Prize winners. The Award, showing a glass plate supported by a bronze base, signifying a large burden carried by many people, was proudly sponsored by Shield Group International, also a very supportive Main Sponsor.

Since the conference, enthusiasm for the concept of building and improving the asbestos network has grown daily by leaps and bounds, as word of the EAF spreads. Many visitors admitted to being stunned by the diversity of methods, techniques and insights and the many possibilities that combining forces could provide for all. Indeed, many allowed it was the first time they even realised they had an insular approach to asbestos; and how much there was to be gained in saving lives, raising awareness, improving safety and health on the work floor etc. by sharing.

This conference is sure to have a follow-up in 2016! News on this as well as many of the presentations may soon be found regularly on www.europeanasbestosforum.org.

Yvonne Waterman Ph.D. LL.M., GBAN Charter Member for the Netherlands.