ADAO’s 2024 Highlights: Key Milestones, Actions, and Moments Driving Asbestos Prevention and Policy
Posted on December 26, 2024
As we close out the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s (ADAO) 20th anniversary, we are proud to say we achieved some of our biggest accomplishments to date. We could not have accomplished all this without our supporters and sponsors, and we are so grateful for all of you. Here are a few of our proudest moments from this year.
Recently, we introduced Every 13 Minutes.org, a sobering platform that pairs personal stories with data to highlight the human cost of asbestos. We have seen firsthand how impactful personal stories can be. They resonate deeply with members of Congress, local lawmakers, and the broader community, driving meaningful change. These stories are life-changing, revealing how even minimal asbestos exposure can profoundly affect lives. We greatly appreciate everyone brave enough to share their stories with us.
We are also proud of our new book, Shared Stories: How Asbestos Changed Our Lives Forever, a compelling collection featuring over 200 personal stories from individuals and families affected by asbestos exposure. These heartfelt accounts, gathered from around the world, highlight the resilience and courage of a community united in advocacy and action to prevent asbestos-caused diseases.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit Times Square every day, and we were able to send them a message: Asbestos is still legal and lethal in the US. In partnership with the International Fire Fighters Association (IAFF), we unveiled a billboard campaign that vividly showcased the urgent need to ban asbestos in the United States. This initiative was more than a mere public service announcement; it served as a rallying cry, highlighting the dire consequences of asbestos exposure and garnering support from across the political spectrum.
This campaign was a part of the nearly 20-year collaboration between IAFF and ADAO, who have worked in lock-step to promote awareness and implement safety policies that protect firefighters from asbestos exposure. Firefighters are at a higher risk of developing cancer, largely due to asbestos exposure during fire responses, so these valuable policies save lives.
Another ongoing campaign run by ADAO is Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW). This annual initiative highlights the urgent need to address asbestos exposure globally, sharing life-saving research about this known carcinogen and uplifting those who are truly making a change. This year’s theme, “Asbestos: One word. One week. One world,” was a powerful reminder of how our collective efforts can confront this persistent threat. We also honor our Mesothelioma warriors with two candlelight ceremonies throughout the year. Next year, we will host one on April 7th, the final day of Global Asbestos Awareness Week, and a second ceremony dedicated to remembrance on September 26th on Mesothelioma Awareness Day.
Finally, we know that the holiday season, traditionally a time of joy and celebration, can be bitter-sweet to those grieving the loss of a loved one. It’s a period when the absence of those we’ve cherished feels more acute, casting a shadow over the festive atmosphere and highlighting the challenge of accepting our new normal. We want to offer support and resources to navigate your life after loss. We will never forget our loved ones or try to rid ourselves of the pain of their absence. Instead, we acknowledge the profound change in our lives and discover ways to continue living meaningfully. It’s about learning to balance the joy of past memories with the reality of their absence in the present. Our number one ally is remembering that we don’t have to navigate grief alone.
As we move into the next decade of our work, we look forward to advancing our dual-strategy legal and legislative approach. We will fight to move the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act, the most comprehensive asbestos bill put before Congress in over 30 years, and we will continue to pursue our legal battle against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ADAO started as a small grassroots movement. We are now a globally recognized leader in asbestos advocacy, and we strive to maintain our fight until the world is a safer and healthier place for us all.
You have proven, together we make change happen.
With sincerity and gratitude,
Linda Reinstein
