October 1, 2011 – Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
I want to thank Leah Nielsen and Stacy Cattran for giving the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) the honor and opportuity to join you for this amazing two-day event shared around the world.
In keeping with a longstanding ADAO tradition, I want to dedicate my keynote speech to the Dewey Family of Sarnia, where asbestos-caused diseases have claimed five lives – yes, five lives.
Last night, over one hundred people gathered to light candles in honor and remembrance of their loved ones and now we begin our walk, knowing collaboration is essential in partnering for prevention and shaping public policy to end Canadian chrysotile mining and exporting to Asia. We stand together not as Canadians or Americans, but as North Americans committed to ending asbestos exposure in order to eliminate these deadly diseases.
We have seen the catastrophic statistic that about 107,000 workers die every single year because of asbestos exposure – but this is more than a number – it is about us too, the families shattered by asbestos.
History is a great teacher to those who listen. Asbestos, including chrysotile, has been a known human carcinogen for decades and there is no safe level of use, yet I am continually bewildered and shocked by the asbestos industry’s propaganda and rhetoric. Recently, I toured three Quebec asbestos mines where tons of chrysotile is mined and exported to developing countries and the tailing piles are the size of mountains. People around the world have joined your efforts to stop Canada from giving the Jeffrey Mine a $58 million loan guarantee to continue mining and exporting deadly chrysotile asbestos to Asia.
When the sun sets tonight and we reflect on our first steps as North Americans in pursuit of social justice and protecting human rights, we know our work has just begun. Decades have been spent on ban-asbestos advocacy, but today is different – we are truly locking arms, turning our anger to action, and walking together to raise asbestos awareness and strengthen our voices for education, advocacy, and community. We are and can remain connected in so many ways – especially digital technology that allows us to connect and share easily on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. As we stand here together today, we are powerfully reminded that, whether we are face to face or looking at each other on a screen, our hearts are bound by a powerfully shared mission.
One live lost to an asbestos-caused disease is tragic, hundreds of thousands of lives lost in unconscionable.
Click here for more information about the events in Sarnia.
Join #ADAO in sharing, supporting, and taking action in Sarnia Sep 30-Oct 1 http://bit.ly/qoSFWa #asbestos #OSH #Mesothelioma