Posted on April 14, 2017
Deaths from the results of inhaling asbestos are still rising. This year’s Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW) marked 13 years of efforts from all at the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) who strive to raise awareness of the issue. By encouraging the community worldwide to share, learn and most importantly, take action, the hope is that exposure to asbestos will lessen ultimately reducing unnecessary death.
Partnership in Prevention
To ensure our messages were communicated globally, we once again decided to join forces with The McOnie Agency, a specialist PR agency with expertise spanning the occupational health, manufacturing and industrial markets. Working in these sectors for over 25 years, they are all too aware of the true dangers of asbestos – the costs to society, the devastating effects on the individuals and families affected, and the startling fact that despite all of this, asbestos remains legal in an estimated 70% of countries around the world.
The PR practitioners developed communications material that encouraged a worldwide call to action. The “Hear Asbestos. Think Prevention” message and supporting information included key World Health Organization (WHO) statistics highlighting 300 deaths globally every day from an asbestos related disease. The team engaged with international networks to ensure the press release was translated into six languages —English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Italy, Portuguese and Russian — for international distribution. The McOnie Agency’s international partners in Denmark, Luxembourg, Italy and India all shared the materials and press release to relevant media sectors, as well.
Outcomes
As I reflect on the success of #2017GAAW I am both amazed and encouraged. Amazed at how far the core messages of GAAW and the ADAO were communicated worldwide and encouraged to see tangible results from our combined efforts, highlighting that what we are doing is for a purpose and really is working. More people then ever have truly heard our messages and more importantly, have recognized the importance in sharing them. In the US, the Senate unanimously passed the 13th annual resolution to establish a National Asbestos Awareness Week, held in conjunction with GAAW during the same week.
As the sunset on GAAW, we gathered on Friday to light a candle of hope, remembrance, and strength as we began the 13th Annual Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference in Washington DC. In total, there were nearly 40 conference presenters from around the world and a candlelight vigil at the end to honor and support those touched by the disease. We had the lovely opportunity to be together for the conference on Day Seven of GAAW and light a candle as a unified group.
Looking Ahead
The global reaction to GAAW ’17 has been truly remarkable, and we have created worldwide conversations on asbestos dangers. Our 2017 mantra “One Word, One Week, One World” has been realized and more people than ever are aware of the efforts of the ADAO.
Together, our shared goals and ultimate objectives are:
- to ban both the manufacturing and mining of asbestos
- prevent overall exposures
- increase the compliance and enforcement of existing laws and regulation
How will this ever be achieved? With collaborative efforts that unite the world with one simple message – HEAR ASBESTOS. THINK PREVENTION. If we continue to take action together, we will achieve! Each of you who shared your story, the stories of other Warriors, and shared our educational resources — you made this happen and are the biggest part of the solution!
On behalf of ADAO, I want to sincerely thank Sarah McOnie and her amazing team for supporting ADAO and GAAW for allowing us to take this message and week to a wider global audience. The McOnie Agency is absolutely incredible and enormously talented, two of their many qualities that ensure success.
We look forward to continuing the Global Asbestos Awareness Week conversation in 2018. Until then, remember — asbestos awareness must be more than the focus a day or a week — it must be a mantra.
Linda Reinstein