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STOP CANADA’S EXPORT OF ASBESTOS

Selling asbestos is illegal in Canada. Strict occupational health and safety rules limit workers’ exposure to the mineral.

However the Canadian Government sees nothing wrong in continuing to produce asbestos and to export the killer fibre. Most of its exports go to developing countries.

An Indian worker directly exposed to asbestos

The Government funds an industry lobby group, the Chrysotile Institute, which promotes the ‘controlled use’ of chrysotile or white asbestos in developing countries, even though there is overwhelming evidence in Canada and overseas that exposure to all forms of asbestos has caused cancer among worker and their families.

The Canadian Government has pressured poor countries like Chile to resist moves to ban the use and production of all forms of asbestos.

It has also spearheaded the campaign to block the addition of chrysotile asbestos to the United Nations (UN) list of highly dangerous substances that cannot be exported to developing countries without their knowledge and agreement.

Such hypocrisy is a damning indictment on wealthy Canada.

It is evidence of callous disregard for the lives of workers in poorer countries who do not have the protection of strong trade unions and health and safety laws.

DEMAND THAT CANADA JOIN THE ASBESTOS BAN
With up to one million people dying of asbestos related diseases worldwide each year, the Canadian Government must stop asbestos production and export.

It must ratify the UN Rotterdam Convention, listing chrysotile as a toxic product which cannot be exported to developing countries without their prior, informed consent.

It must cease to promote chrysotile asbestos as safe for ‘controlled use’.

JOIN THE PROTEST AGAINST MILLIONS MORE ASBESTOS DEATHS

Ring the Canadian Consulate on (02) 9364 3000 and express your outrage and demand Canada cease mining and exporting asbestos.

Send an email protest to the Government of Canada - online form below.

CALL FOR A GLOBAL ASBESTOS BAN
 

Workers in ship breaking yards in Asia  can also be exposed to asbestos material.

To bring an end to one hundred years of disability and death caused by the use of asbestos, asbestos victims, public health campaigners, healthcare professionals, concerned citizens and NGOs are calling for a global ban on asbestos. Millions of lives have already been sacrificed to generate billions of dollars of profits for governments and companies with asbestos interests; the time has come to call a halt to this killer industry! On the occasion of International Workers' Memorial Day (April 28, 2006), we join together to support calls for a worldwide ban on asbestos being made by Parliamentarians, international trade unions, medical associations and international agencies.

There is a global consensus that exposure to all types of asbestos can kill. This view is supported by the International Labor Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Programme on Chemical Safety, the European Union, the Collegium Ramazzini, the International Social Security Association, the World Trade Organization, the International Commission on Occupational Health, the International Federation of Building and Woodworkers, the International Metalworkers' Federation and the Governments of: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Uruguay and scores of independent scientists.

International Workers' Memorial Day is a time to remember the dead and fight for the living. In that spirit, we hereby issue the following pledge:

"In the spirit of humanity and equality, we declare that each human being has the right to live and work in a healthy environment. It is not acceptable that a substance which is too harmful to be used in the European Union is used in Asia, Africa and Latin America; it is not acceptable for an industrialized country to dump asbestos-contaminated ships in a developing country. A global asbestos ban is the first step in the campaign to rid humanity of the threat it faces from asbestos. To end the asbestos scourge, we pledge our commitment to work together to achieve our goal. The struggle continues!"

By Laurie Kazan-Allen
International Ban Asbestos Secretariat
March 30, 2006

How you can help
To sign this petition go to: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/878671812