Export Asbestos? Tell Harper to JUST SAY NO!

[Guest guest]

October 26, 2007

Export Asbestos? Tell Harper to JUST SAY NO!

Dear Shan,

 

Asbestos is a known killer and a leading cause of workers' deaths in Canada

and around the world.

Most developed countries, including the European Union, have banned

asbestos. The World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour

Organization,

the Canadian Cancer Society and other respected organizations have called

for a ban on all forms of asbestos. But instead of banning asbestos, the

Canadian government uses tax-payers dollars and Canadian embassies to actively

promote the sale of asbestos around the world.

(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ekIQK9PTLoKWKfL & s=gsIYL5NCK9INL0MJLtG & m=fhJLLZP\

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(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=bhKKJ0OGIdLQIdI & s=gsIYL5NCK9INL0MJLtG & m=fhJLLZP\

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Over 90% of Canada's asbestos goes to developing countries, where worker

protections are weak or non-existent.

The Canadian government pushes the spin of the asbestos industry that

chrysotile asbestos can somehow be safely handled. Medical experts and

knowledgeable organizations, such as the WHO, disagree. And as the government

knows full

well, safety protections are usually non-existent in developing countries.

Quebec, home to most of Canada's asbestos mines, has one of the highest

rates of mesothelioma (a deadly cancer caused by asbestos) on the planet. Yet

the

Canadian government refuses to even keep track of the growing numbers of

Canadian workers who are sick and dying from asbestos-caused cancer.

And internationally Canada is acting as a scoundrel. Canada has been

severely criticized for preventing the listing of chrysotile asbestos as a

hazardous

product under the Rotterdam Convention, an International Agreement that

requires that importing countries be warned of the risks associated with

hazardous products.

Please _send your letter to Stephen Harper at RightOnCanada.ca_

(http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=ciIMJ5OIKbJOKbL & s=gsIYL5NCK9INL0MJLtG & m=fhJLLZP\

GIkJ4G)

_http://www.rightoncanada.ca/c.juIZLdMOJrE/b.2517563/k.8F11/Take_Action/siteap

ps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=juIZLdMOJrE & b=2517563 & aid=9394 & tr=y & auid=3128032

_

(http://www.rightoncanada.ca/c.juIZLdMOJrE/b.2517563/k.8F11/Take_Action/siteapps\

/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=juIZLdMOJrE & b=2517563 & aid=9394 & tr=y & auid=31280

32)

" It is unconscionable that Canada knowingly exports a product that will kill

thousands of people in Asia, Africa and South America, " says David R. Boyd

of the David Suzuki Foundation.

It's time, says health expert, Barry Castleman, for Canada " to join the rest

of the civilized countries of this world in shutting down the asbestos

industry. "

The next meeting of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention takes place in

Rome in October 2008.

LETS GET OUR GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE ITS POSITION AND BAN ASBESTOS BEFORE THEN.

TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT!

Please tell Prime Minister Harper to ban asbestos now, before more

unnecessary deaths are caused. Tell him to put the lives of people ahead of the

profits of the asbestos industry.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Ruff—

Founder of RightOnCanada.ca