ADAO’s RESOURCE PAGE for Brazil’s International Seminar on Asbestos: A Socio-Legal Approach
October 6, 2016: On the Frontlines of Change: Day One of Brazil’s International Seminar on Asbestos: A Socio-Legal Approach
October 7, 2016: On the Frontlines of Change: Day Two of Brazil’s International Seminar on Asbestos: A Socio-Legal Approach
October 11, 2016: Reflecting on Three Informative, Inspiring Days of Brazil’s Asbestos Seminar
Dr. Marcia Kamei Lopez Aliaga, Fernanda Giannasi, and Linda Reinstein at Brazil’s 2016 International Seminar on Asbestos: A Socio-Legal Approach.
The Brazilian government is hosting the International Seminar on Asbestos: A Socio-Legal Approach, a three-day conference, which began today.
It’s an honor to join countless and passionate advocates like Fernanda Giannasi, Dr. Arthur Frank, Dr. Barry Castleman, Bruno Pesce, Nicolino Pondrano, Maria Assunta Prato, Agata Mazzeo, and Laurie Kazan-Allen.
Nearly 250 people from Brazil, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, and the United States convened for the first day of the seminar. The day’s sessions consisted of three panels, each including several experts who provided updates and fielded questions on the panel topics: “Asbestos Legalization in Brazil,” “Asbestos: Technical Aspects legal,” and “National and international scene in Fight to Ban Asbestos and Justice for Victims,” as well as an opening speech about one of the major asbestos justice cases of the present moment: “Lawsuits in Italy Against Asbestos Cartel: Max Process and Eternit Bis – Research Methodology and Monitoring of Asbestos.”
Dr. Arthur Frank, Dr. Barry Castleman, and Dr. Andrew DuPont at Brazil’s 2016 International Seminar on Asbestos: A Socio-Legal Approach.
I presented during the third panel, sharing ADAO’s progress in “The Fight to Ban Asbestos in the United States.” In addition to discussing current usage and challenges to prohibition, I was thrilled to announce the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2016, which was introduced by U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in late September. Dr. Castleman and Dr. Frank spoke on the second panel, “Asbestos: Technical Aspects legal.” As Dr. Frank reminded us, “The absence of data does not mean the absence of disease.”
It is interesting to attend such a seminar in a country that remains among the major producers of raw asbestos in the world. In fact, funding for the seminar comes from the Ministry of Labor, as a result of the Conduct Adjustment Terms. According to the seminar’s website, “It is compensation for damage to society and the realization of the polluter-pays principle.”
The dedication and commitment is powerful at this seminar, and I so look forward to the next two days. Check back tomorrow for the next update from ADAO’s Brazilian contingency!
When we partner for prevention, we make change happen!
Linda