Previous Year-In-Review listed below.
Posted on October 31, 2018
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the largest non-profit in the U.S. dedicated to providing asbestos victims and concerned citizens with a united voice, is pleased to share a Year-End Summary of Accomplishments including our education, advocacy, and community impact in 2018. As a leader in social media advocacy, we are on the front lines working to end the man-made asbestos disasters on many levels. ADAO further strengthened its network of victims, physicians, researchers, public health practitioners, and labor union members by utilizing social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Some of our biggest highlights of the year include: presenting at several conferences around the world spanning from Ghana to Brazil, hosting our 13th Congressional Staff Briefing, participating as a stakeholder in many legislative discussions, being a resource for the media, expanding our “Share Your Story” collection to over 200 stories, coordinating Global Asbestos Awareness Week, and hosting our 14th Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference.
Every accomplishment ADAO achieved in 2018 was possible because of the generosity of the volunteers, sponsors, and donors who fuel our work and further our cause. The organization’s growth continues to reflect the development and progress made around the world in this issue area. We look forward to continued shared success throughout 2019 and beyond.
2018 Educational Initiatives: In an effort to educate the public about the dangers of asbestos, ADAO:
- Distributed 12 monthly eNewsletters with the latest asbestos-related news and events to a global audience.
- Hosted ADAO’s 3-day 14th Annual International Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference: “Where Knowledge and Action Unite,” which brought together nearly 40 expert speakers and over 100 patients, physicians, researchers, educators, and public health advocates from 9 countries to discuss updates on the prevention, detection, and treatment of asbestos-related disease and global advocacy for an asbestos ban.
- Held our 13th Congressional Staff Briefing: “TSCA and Asbestos: EPA’s Failure to Protect Public Health”
- Continually updated ADAO’s website highlighting asbestos-related news and events and housing extensive educational resources, including an Asbestos Video Library of conference videos and educational presentations
- Hosted multiple lively #ENDMeso Twitter chats to maintain a constant conversation on social media and promote sharing education.
- Flew a flag over the Capitol in Washington, D.C. in honor of Mesothelioma Warriors on Mesothelioma Awareness Day.
- Built our Know Asbestos website that is a one-stop resource guide to learn about asbestos and what to do about it.
2018 Advocacy Initiatives: In order to advocate for an international ban on asbestos use, mining, and exportation of this known carcinogen, ADAO:
- Ensured the passage of U.S. Senate’s 14th Annual Resolution, which designated April 1-7, 2018 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week”
- Quoted as an expert resource in publications
- Published numerous Op-Eds:
- Collaborated with health and safety influencers and leaders with guest blogs to raise asbestos awareness and action
- Expanded our art and advocacy efforts by collaborating with artists to promote advocacy:
- Supported the creation of “Breathless – Fighting the Global Asbestos Industry” a film about the export of the asbestos industry to the developing world, focussing on a Belgium company ETEX/Eternit, which operated factories in Belgium and in India.
- Supported the creation of Inextinguible: a documentary about the anti-asbestos movement in Colombia
- Sponsored the third rendition of Earl Dotter’s traveling photographic exhibit, “Badges: A Memorial Tribute to Asbestos Workers,” this year featured “Badges: A Memorial Tribute to Asbestos Workers.”
2018 Community Initiatives: To provide a community of support for those affected by asbestos, ADAO:
- Coordinated Global Asbestos Awareness Week to raise public awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure.
- Published and shared new “Share Your Story” submissions from patients and families from across the globe who have been devastated by asbestos-related disease.
- Hosted multiple virtual candlelight vigils throughout the year via ADAO’s “Light a Candle” website. These vigils provide an opportunity for individuals to honor loved ones who have lost or are currently fighting a courageous battle with an asbestos-related disease.
- Utilized ADAO’s Facebook Page, Facebook Group pages, and Twitter presence to provide an interactive medium for those seeking a space to share, connect, or access information.
- Continued the virtual running team for “Miles for Meso” Mesothelioma Awareness Day and was designated the beneficiary of the event
- Published numerous video and blog interviews with mesothelioma patients and experts.
ADAO 2018 Presentations:
- Money, Power, and Politics, American University Law School, Washington, DC, February 5, 2018
- Less Cancer’s National Cancer Prevention Day on Feb. 7in Washington D.C.
- “Mitigating Asbestos Exposure in the 21st Century” at 22nd Annual PACNY Environmental Conference on February 28 – March 2
- “Asbestos: Prevention and Policy: Eliminating Asbestos Exposure in the 21st Century” at the 2018 Insulators International Invitational Symposium on Asbestos in Miami, Florida on March 7-9.
- “Mesothelioma Advocacy in the 21st Century” at the 14th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group – Ottawa, Canada on May 2-5.
- “Social Activism in the USA: The Most Recent Actions Forward to the Ban of Asbestos” at II International Asbestos Seminar in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 16
- III National Meeting of Relatives and Victims of Asbestos in Brazil on May 19
- “21st Century Advocacy: Ending the Asbestos Man-Made Disaster”, on Mesothelioma Action Day, London, United Kingdom, July 6
- “ADAO’s Advocacy Efforts in Banning Asbestos” at “Asbestos: A Silent Killer?” University of Rosario, Bogota Colombia on September 13
- TSCA and Asbestos: EPA’s Failure to Protect Public Health” 13th ADAO US Congressional Staff Briefing, September 26 in Washington, D.C.
- “Asbestos Prevention in the 21st Century: Lessons Learned from Frontlines” 2018 African Conference on Occupational Health and Safety – in Ghana on October 29-31
- “21st Century. Communication. Collaboration. Action” at 2018 Asian Pacific Occupational Safety and Health Organization conference (APOSHO 33) – in Hong Kong on December 4-5
2018 was a busy, but successful year for ADAO. We are excited to build on our momentum as we enter 2019 and get even more done as we work to ban asbestos without any loopholes or exemptions!
Together, we will make change happen.
Linda Reinstein
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