Posted on April 25 2018

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is honored to have the opportunity to present at the II International Asbestos Seminar on May 16, 2018 for the second time. The second annual seminar, organized by the Associação Brasileira dos Expostos ao Amianto (ABREA), The Interunion Department on Worker’ Safety And Health (DIESAT), and Labor Public Ministry (MPT), takes place in Sao Paulo, Brazil from May 15 to May 19, 2018. The international conference brings together hundreds of stakeholders from the fields of medicine, public health, policy, advocacy, and more to discuss various aspects of the fight to end the asbestos man-made disaster in Brazil and around the world. I am excited to attend this incredible conference with my fellow Americans; Dr. Steven Markowitz (City University of New York/ Mt. Sinai), Dr. Barry Castleman (Environmental Consultant), and Dr. Arthur Frank (Drexel University). 

The symposium takes place at an important time in history when the debate on asbestos and its adverse consequences to human health continues, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that asbestos is a human carcinogen. According to Dr. Jukka Takala’s research, asbestos-related diseases cause 39,275 deaths in the United States annually—more than double the previous estimates of 15,000 per year. ADAO’s presentation, “Social Activism in the USA: The Most Recent Actions Forward to the Ban of Asbestos,” will focus on the progress and challenges in the USA to ban asbestos.  

The Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) ruled to ban the mining, use, and commercialization of asbestos in November 2017. This landmark decision sounds a clarion call reaffirming there is no safe or controlled use of asbestos. The scientific evidence is irrefutable: “all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, are carcinogenic to humans.” According to the World Health Organization, “about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace.”

We encourage the US to learn from more than 60 countries around the world, follow suit and ban asbestos without any loopholes or industry exemptions.

I am grateful to our colleagues and leaders in Brazil for inviting me to be a part of this phenomenal seminar and providing ADAO with the opportunity to connect with Warriors and experts alike in a country that is leading the charge with the global anti-asbestos movement. We stand in the shadow of Brazil and hope to follow their lead to ban asbestos in the United States. I look forward to a powerful few days of solidarity between international warriors, experts, and advocates. For the latest seminar updates, follow the hashtag on social media #BrasilSemAmianto and stay tuned for more information from ADAO.

When we partner for prevention, we make global change happen!

In unity,

Linda

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