Since its inception, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization has been promoting storytelling based techniques to increase asbestos education, fight for change in public policy, and build a sustainable global asbestos community. In light of these continued efforts, the ADAO is proud to announce that we have published an article featured in the University of Southern California academic Public Diplomacy Magazine Summer 2014 Issue – The Power of Non-State Actors. The PD Magazine Summer 2014 Issue, a publication of the Association of Public Diplomacy Scholars at USC, addresses the growing presence and power of non-state actors (NSAs) to shape public policy in wake of the information technology revolution. Due to the her success stirring international attention about asbestos by utilizing social media and technology, ADAO president and co-founder, Linda Reinstein, was solicited to write an article on the power of non-state actors. Her article, “Non-State Actors: 21st Century Activism For Influencing Public Policy,” Page 57 draws upon the ADAO’s own successes as evidence for the vast potential non-state actors exhibit in influencing public policy. Covering the ADAO’s three areas of special interest – education, advocacy, and community – Reinstein cites the non-profits specific achievements and explains the importance of storytelling and social media sharing in reaching a global population and igniting public interest in the issue. In Reinstein’s words – “We use the united voices of our specific public—people affected by asbestos—to shape international public opinion.” Through this article ADAO hopes to help other non-state actors forage new modern techniques to enact lasting change.
