Global Action to Ban Asbestos: April 28, 2006
Groups representing international labor are making a global asbestos ban atop priority of this year's activities on International Workers' Memorial Day (April 28). The Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) are mobilizing their members throughout the world to “engage in peaceful demonstrations and petitions at Canadian Embassies and Consulates to convince the Canadian government to call a halt to its aggressive marketing and promotion of asbestos in developing countries such as India, Zimbabwe and Brazil." In a recent press release, BWI General Secretary Anita Normark said:
"Today's exposures guarantee an epidemic lasting at least another generation, with the asbestos graveyards shifting from the developed to the developing world."
This is the most recent action taken by the BWI, a body which has long been committed to a global asbestos ban. Activities by other groups representing labor will help raise awareness of the global asbestos scandal and increase the pressure on the International Labor Organization, the World Health Organization and United Nations to ban its use. Last year, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the International Metalworkers' Federation launched major ban asbestos campaigns. On December 10, 2005, the ICFTU's Executive Board passed a resolution entitled Global Asbestos Ban which called on:
governments and social partners to support “national bans and a global ban of asbestos and the promotion of alternatives…”
the International Labour Organisation to “adopt health-based policies in favour of the elimination of the use of all forms of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials.”
Public Services International (PSI) a global federation with 650 affiliated public sector trade unions representing 20 million workers in 150 countries, is also broadcasting the ban asbestos message at its April 28 events. The United Network International, the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco & Allied Workers Association and the International Federation of Journalists are also backing the pro-ban campaign.
Support from other sectors of the international community for a worldwide asbestos ban will be forthcoming on April 28. The publication of a petition by Parliamentarians, being circulated by Belgian Senator Alain Destexhe, will be timed to coincide with the day of action. As of now, 100 politicians from Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America and the Middle East have signed up to the document which states:
“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. As Parliamentarians we will endeavour to lobby national governments, regional and international bodies and work with international labor, NGOs, groups representing asbestos victims and others to secure a global ban. The time for action is now!”
To provide a vehicle for the expression of public outrage at the continuing trade in this deadly substance, another petition is being circulated; it is hoped that asbestos victims, campaigners, medical professionals and concerned individuals will endorse this petition by logging onto the website:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/878671812
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March 30, 2006
