Global Asbestos News

Ban Asbestos Canada / Bannir L'amiante Au Canada

— http://www.bacanada.org

BAC est un réseau sans but lucratif, basé sur le volontariat de victimes de l'amiante et de leur famille, de scientifiques, d'universitaires, d'activistes et d'autres citoyens. BAC se consacre au bannissement mondial de l'amiante sous toutes ses formes. Il a été mis sur pied le 14 septembre 2003, à la conférence internationale "L'amiante canadien; une préoccupation mondiale".

Le commerce de l'amiante canadien est entaché de morts, au pays et à l'étranger. Il le sera encore de nombreuses années. Ces pertes en vies humaines sont inacceptables. BAC demande donc au gouvernement du Canada de cesser la promotion de cette industrie mortelle, d'imposer un bannissement total de l'amiante et d'assurer aux travailleurs de l'amiante et à leur famille une alternative économique équitable.

BAC is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization of asbestos victims and their families, scientists, academics, activists and concerned citizens dedicated to banning all types of asbestos world-wide. It was formed on September 14th, 2003 at the international conference "Canadian Asbestos: A Global Concern."

The Canadian asbestos trade has taken a deadly toll at home and abroad and will continue to do so for many years to come. This unnecessary loss of human life is unacceptable. As such, BAC calls for the Canadian government to end its global promotion of this deadly industry, to implement a total ban on asbestos, and to provide a just transition for those working in the asbestos industry and their families.

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CANADA / CANADA

1. Les travailleurs disent oui à 67 % LA TRIBUNE (QUEBEC): 2005-06-16 URL:
C'est à 67 pour cent que les travailleurs syndiqués de la mine souterraine Bell, de Thetford Mines, ont dit oui à de nouvelles propositions patronales. Des 165 travailleurs qui ont voté, 111 ont voté en faveur des offres patronales qui prévoient une entente jusqu'en 2011, mais aussi une diminution de salaire.

2. Les employés de la mine Bell acceptent à contrecoeur les offres patronales RC QUÉBEC : 2005-06-17 URL:
C'est à contrecoeur que les 240 travailleurs de la mine souterraine Bell de Thetford Mines acceptent une baisse salariale de 20 % à compter de novembre. La même concession avait été rejetée, il y a deux mois. Cette fois, certains avantages apportés au régime de retraite et la menace d'un arrêt des activités, en avril 2006, ont fait pencher la balance.

3. MINING NEWS: Worst is over at former Yukon asbestos mine PETROLEUM NEWS : 2005-06-17 URL:
Dawson City, Yukon epitomizes the romance of the Gold Rush, so it was a little surprising that the first field trip arranged as part of this year's Northern Latitudes Reclamation Workshop was to an extremely unglamorous site: the former asbestos mine at Clinton Creek.

UNITED STATES / ÉTATS-UNIS

4. Asbestos Reform Group Launches National PR Campaign INSURANCE JOURNAL: 2005-06-16 URL:
The Coalition for Asbestos Reform (C.A.R.), a group of small and medium sized businesses and major insurance companies, has engaged a team of veteran campaign, advertising and public relations professionals to launch a major national campaign to educate U.S. businesses and policymakers about the reported serious flaws in the asbestos liability legislation reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee last month.

5. A lesson in history: Founder of bankrupt Johns Manville died of asbestos-related illness MADISON COUNTY RECORD, IL : 2005-06-17 URL:
Henry Ward Johns started experimenting with asbestos in 1879, at age 21. His work laid the foundation of Johns Manville, a great American business. It also killed him. A coroner attributed Johns' death at age 40 in 1898 to "dust phthisis pneumonitis." But hindsight makes obvious what the cororner missed--Johns had inhaled asbestos fibers, which irritated his lungs and eventually destroyed them.

6. Asbestos critics see signs of hope in Madison County ST. CLAIR RECORD, IL : 005-06-17 URL:
For years Madison County's asbestos docket was seen as a model of swift and favorable resolution for plaintiffs, attracting trial attorneys from near and far to file grievances for the recruited ill. An ensuing traffic jam has helped earn status as Number One judicial hellhole in the nation. But recent events have raised hopes of the court's critics. "Judges are assuring proper discovery and applying rules of evidence," said Victor Schwartz, one of three authors of an article on Madison County asbestos litigation, published last year by Washington University's Journal of Law and Policy.

7. Lies hid asbestos scandal ALBANY TIMES UNION, NY : 2005-06-21 URL:
A former Schenectady man, who worked for contractors convicted in the largest asbestos case in the nation's history, admitted Monday in federal court he lied at trial to protect his former bosses. Kevin Pilgrim, 38, pleaded guilty to perjuring himself during last year's trial of Raul and Alexander Salvagno, who were found guilty of racketeering and conspiracy to violate the federal Clean Air Act and Toxic Substances Control Act.

AUSTRALIA / AUSTRALIE

8. Hardie gets revolving credit for asbestos payouts AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW, AUSTRALIA : 2005-06-17 URL:
Building products maker James Hardie Industries NV has entered into new debt facilities to help fund its payouts to asbestos victims. The arrangement comes as the building products company finalises an agreement to provide $1.5 billion in compensation over the next 40 years to victims of asbestos-related disease.

9. MPs rush interim law for payouts AUSTRALIAN: 2005-06-21 URL:
The Carr Government yesterday brought in emergency legislation to ensure thousands of James Hardie asbestos victims continue to receive compensation while it wrestles with the company over issues including immunity from civil prosecution for its directors. In a move sparked by the failure of the parties to reach final agreement on a proposed $1.7 billion asbestos compensation package before state parliament rises this week, the Government introduced legislation to save the Medical Research and Compensation Foundation from potential liquidation. The MRCF, which meets civil damages claims of Hardie asbestos victims, is running low on money, and its directors fear they could be charged with trading while technically insolvent.

10. Please release me AUSTRALIAN: 2005-06-21 URL:
Past and present executives at James Hardie are hoping for immunity from any civil prosecution that could finish off their careers, as part of the $1.7 billion asbestos-disease funding deal. But Ean Higgins reports they may well be disappointed.

INDIA / INDIE

11. Visaka Industries finalises Rs 200-crore investment plan BHARAT TEXTILE, INDIA : 2005-06-18 URL:
Visaka Industries has finalised a Rs 200-crore investment plan for the next three years. The company would spend about Rs 175 crore to expand its textiles business in the post-quota regime;entrepreneur Dr G. Vivekanand told reporters here on June 17. It is also planning a second green-field asbestos cement sheet unit, which would be either located in Bengal or Jharkhand.

MALDIVES / MALDIVES

12. UNEP post-tsunami assessment finds environmental impacts in Maldives RELIEF WEB: 2005-06-17 URL:
A report issued by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP. today found that the Indian Ocean tsunami caused a number of significant impacts on the Maldives environment. Although Maldives' world-famous resorts are in good condition and largely open for business, the country's inhabited islands are confronting several environmental challenges that have resulted from the December 2004 tsunami. The UNEP report concluded that the tsunami generated approximately 290,000 cubic metres of waste on the country's 69 inhabited islands that were severely damaged by the tsunami. Asbestos from crushed roofing material was mixed into the debris.

UNITED KINGDOM / ROYAUME-UNI

13. Blair Backs Global Asbestos Ban Moves THE SCOTSMAN, UK : 2005-06-15 URL:
Tony Blair backed efforts to secure a worldwide ban on asbestos amid warnings its use in the developing world would ruin attempts to eradicate poverty.

"We all recognise that asbestos can have serious effects on people's health and we should aim to achieve a global ban," he told MPs at question time.

"We are working towards this at the moment through the United Nations environment programme."

14. £140,000 asbestos compensation for plasterer's widow NOBLESVILLE DAILY TIMES: 2005-06-15 URL:
A widow from Corby has been awarded £140,000 in an out-of-court settlement because her husband died after being exposed to asbestos dust whilst working as a plasterer for Corby Borough Council. The award was made following a case taken by the victim's union, Community.

15. CAPE MILL'S £40m FOR PAYOUT FUND HALIFAX TODAY, UK : 2005-06-17 URL:
CAPE, the asbestos group that owned the Calder Valley factory Acre Mill, is to create a multi-million pound fund to pay for future UK asbestos-related claims. The company said £40 million would be put aside to make proper compensation payouts to affected British workers who are expected to file claims for at least the next 46 years.

16. Support group is set up for asbestosis sufferers DEVON 24, UK : 2005-06-17 URL:
A NEW support group for asbestosis sufferers, their wives and widows from Exmouth and East Devon will be launched on June 21. It has been formed at the request of widows of asbestos sufferers and will be run by Hospiscare nurses in Exeter and the Swindon and Southwest Asbestos group. The group will offer free advice such as help with benefits or compensation claims and also support to asbestos sufferers and their families throughout the South West.

The views expressed in these articles are not necessarily the views of BAC or it's members.