Every Story Matters: A Win for Public Health, the People, and the Law

Posted on July 8, 2025

In 2015, I wrote a blog that began with this truth: “Every story matters.” Ten years later, that sentiment still rings true.

Thanks to over 200 stories submitted to our “Share Your Story” platform, we’ve shown the world what statistics alone cannot: the human cost of asbestos exposure. Your stories are more than testimony; they are catalysts for change.

Today, we saw a change in action. After strong opposition from ADAO, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) withdrew its motion to delay implementation of the Asbestos Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos rule. This is more than a legal development; it’s a win for public health, the rule of law, and most importantly, for people like you who raised your voices to protect others.

This victory belongs to every individual who contributed to our Shared Stories: How Asbestos Changed Our Lives Forever book. It belongs to those who’ve stood with us through our “Every 13 Minutes” campaign, reminding the world that an American dies every 13 minutes from preventable asbestos-caused diseases. Lastly, it belongs to our community that refuses to stay silent.

In July 2015, your stories helped shape our 8th congressional staff briefing and were shared internationally at the  London Hazards Centre’s Mesothelioma Action Day. Today, nearly a decade later, those same voices continue to echo in advocacy meetings, hearings, classrooms, media, and courtrooms worldwide.

As we look ahead, ADAO remains steadfast in our mission: to ban asbestos in all forms, in every use, across the globe. Your stories fuel that mission. They are part of our public record, shared memory, and call to action.

To everyone who has written, shared, or supported a story: Thank you. We know how hard it is to relive your pain, but you have chosen to make that pain purposeful. If you haven’t yet shared your story, we invite you to do so here.

Together, we are louder. Together, we are making change happen. And yes, sharing makes us stronger 

Linda