Updated on February 26, 2017
Originally posted on August 1, 2016
I want to start of by sincerely thanking nearly 200 Warriors, in the USA and around the world, who have your shared heartfelt stories. We at ADAO know that these are not easy to write, let alone share with others, but I want you to know how deeply important they are to raising awareness and affecting change.
Your stories have also served our community well in Washington, D.C., helping us to put human faces to the massive issue of asbestos-caused disease for our nation’s lawmakers. These stories reached all the way to the ears of President Barack Obama, who in June became the first sitting U.S. president to publicly acknowledge asbestos as a carcinogen.
In fact, our stories have resonated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) so strongly that it made asbestos one of 10 priority chemicals for risk assessment and regulation — an historic, monumental step toward finally securing a federal ban.
But our work is not done yet, and it’s time to put our powerful stories to work again!
We need to keep the focus on the human cost of inaction when it comes to asbestos regulations, and our stories do that better than any other tool at our disposal. Trust me, our stories have moved lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
If you haven’t yet added your voice to ADAO’s communal message, we would love for you to Share Your Story here. If you need inspiration or motivation, read some of the amazing, heartfelt stories of your fellow Mesothelioma Warriors here.
As we continue down the path toward the end of asbestos imports and use, your stories and support continue to remind us how much work is being done and—even more importantly—how much work we still have ahead of us
Together, through our stories, we are making the world a safer place.
Linda