Posted on July 25, 2018

ADAO congratulates Colombian filmmakers and supporters on broadcasting the moving asbestos documentary — Inextinguible — on national television.

On Saturday July 21st, all of Colombia was able to witness the powerful documentary about asbestos — Inextinguible — on Caracol Television, a major Colombian national television network. Caracol is one of five television stations that broadcasts throughout all of Colombia, hitting major cities like Bogota, Medellin, and Cali, where over 10 million people reside. Before the movie premiered that Saturday night, the Caracol News Station televised a small segment about the movie. For all anti-asbestos advocates in Colombia and around the world, this was a major win.  

Inextinguible, originally released in early 2018, documents the anti-asbestos movement in Colombia. It follows the lives of Daniel Pineda González, leader of the #ColombiaSinAsbesto movement and an ADAO ally, and his late wife Ana, who strongly advocated for a Colombia without asbestos. From the moment of Ana’s diagnosis with mesothelioma, a disease caused by asbestos exposure, the movie sheds light on the complexity of the asbestos problem and the myriad of huge economic and political interests which are at stake. At the same time, the documentary also describes the human capacity to transform pain into love, indignation into action, and the importance of citizen unity when it comes to generating changes that benefit us all.

As Daniel Pineda González shared, “I was very emotional at first because it was a dream Ana (my late wife) and I shared and started, and finally I’ve seen completed. Secondly, the movie was viewed by many Colombians, which makes the movie a strong instrument of awareness, dissemination, and finally a wake-up call for the government regarding the huge issue of asbestos in our country.”  

Art and advocacy helps to share policy. Felipe Rico Atara, Inextinguible Producer said, “I believe this premiere was the best that could happened to Inextinguible, because Caracol TV is one of the most important channels in Colombia. It is an honor to know that thousands of Colombians watched it. It is really beautiful and powerful to read messages in social networks and see that the people are very happy with it. They felt strongly connected with the characters, Ana and Daniel, the story, and the movement overall. For me that’s worth everything.”

Asbestos-related disease is 100% preventable and through education and awareness lives can be saved. In honor of Ana and the other Colombian victims, we congratulate Daniel, GreenPeace, and the IZE Foundation for their efforts of spreading asbestos awareness!

You can follow the Inextinguible conversation online by using @Inextinguible_D @historiasazules @CaracolTV @masterfelx44 @FundacionIze @Linda_ADAO #ColombiaSinAsbesto and #InextinguibleDocumental!

Together, we can strive towards an asbestos-free world.

Linda Reinstein
Social Networks