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Press Release North American Declaration for the Elimination of Asbestos-Related Diseases petition

Joint Statement from Linda Reinstein and Alec Farquhar

Over the past two years, there has been unprecedented media attention and public concern about the terrible impact of asbestos in the developed world – and the imminent threat that the same thing will happen in the developing world.  Tragically, Canadian asbestos exports to countries like India form a major component of that threat to the developing world and the United States has also seen increasing asbestos imports from Canada during the past three years.

The World Health Organization estimates that over 100,000 workers die annually from asbestos-caused diseases and there is no safe level of exposure.   WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS DEATH SENTENCE TO BE REPEATED IN OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD EVER AGAIN.

Our mobilization and focus on public health NOW will help put a ban on the production, use, and export of asbestos by Canada and the United States within our grasp.

You can make a difference!  We ask for your signature in support of the North American Declaration for the Elimination of Asbestos-Related Diseases petition.  And if possible, please commit your organization in support as well.

This Declaration represents the collaboration between the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) and the Canadian Voices of Asbestos Victims (CVAV).  It is a call to action for the entire world and, upon completion, will be taken to various heads of state including U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.  Subsequently, this petition will go before United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UN to promote a global declaration embracing these same goals.

We are aiming to transmit the Declaration to the President and Prime Minister in May 2012.  In order to do so, we need thousands of individual signatures and many organizational endorsements.   We urge you to please sign the Declaration yourself and circulate the link to your friends, colleagues, and organizations you are part of to seek their endorsement.  None of your personal information will be shared and you will not be placed on a mailing list.

The time is now to unite in solidarity and action.  Together, change is possible.

In solidarity and gratitude,

Linda Reinstein, Co-Founder, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) and Alec Farquhar, Managing Director, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers

Recent Blogs:

Update: Increasing Asbestos Awareness One Signature at a Time, Jan 6

Asbestos: Still Legal and Lethal in Canada and the United States, Feb 3