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41 Eternit on Trial (November 24, 2011)

Due to the determination of the people of Casale Monferrato and the persistence of the Turin prosecutors, two former Eternit executives have been accused and tried for their alleged involvement in the company's negligent exploitation of asbestos. The charges against Stephan Schmidheiny and Baron Jean Louis Marie Ghislain De Cartier de Marchienne include allegations of wilfully causing an environmental disaster and failure to comply with safety rules. Neither defendant has appeared in the Turin court.

42 Surprise Moves by Schmidheiny's Lawyers (November 27, 2011)

The Cavagnolo deal was announced as the lead prosecutor Raffaele Guariniello was making his closing statement to the Court in July; the later offers came just days after the proceedings in Turin drew to a close. It is well known that politicians the world over have a very short memory when it comes to the promises they make and the statements they issue.

43 Making Waves and Noise in Turin (July 18, 2011)

A play “The Translator” about the Turin judicial process is being shown at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August and next year two exposés about Eternit are scheduled for publication. The fact that both these books are in English is highly significant as previous texts about the company's global activities have, to date, been available in German, Italian, French and Portuguese but not in English.

The Turin trial may very well be the tipping point in the corporate legacy not only of the former Eternit multinationals but also of other Eternit companies around the world still manufacturing asbestos-cement products.

44 A Town in Mourning, a Town Reborn (May 3, 2011)

The town did not die even though thousands of individuals did. From its shared grief, a community action group emerged which lobbied for justice, decontamination, medical and scientific research. That this movement flourished and succeeded when so many others might have faltered is a measure of the deeply-rooted motivation of its leaders, their strategic thinking and political skills as well as the heartfelt support and engagement of the entire population. A town united in sorrow but determined to call to account those who had brought it to its knees. Ongoing criminal proceedings in the Turin Court against former Eternit executives Stefan Schmidheiny and Jean-Louis Chislain de Cartier De Marchienne are supported not only by the victims and their family members but by the wider community in Italy and abroad.

Having pressed for legal redress for so many decades, the Turin trial is the focus of local attention and civic hope. Of course, any decision will be appealed, but a guilty verdict will confirm that the evil deeds perpetrated in Casale Monferrato are finally receiving the judicial attention they warrant.

45 Asbestos Center Stage on Workers' Memorial Day (April 27, 2011)

Two former asbestos executives are on trial in Turin for their role in the negligent operations of the companies which owned this plant.

46 Asbestos Meetings in Brazil (September 28, 2010)

A series of high-profile meetings held in Brasilia, Maceio, Simes Filho, Rio de Janeiro and Osasco generated an avalanche of media attention in Brazil over recent weeks.1 The international seminar entitled Asbestos and its harmful affects, a socio-judicial approach which took place on August 30-31, was co-organized and co-sponsored by the Brazilian Association of the Asbestos-Exposed (ABREA), in collaboration with important partners from civil society including the National Association of Labor Prosecutors and the National Association of Labour Law Magistrates. Speakers from Europe and North America discussed the manner in which asbestos victims were seeking restitution in their respective countries. The ongoing case in Italy against two former executives of Eternit, a global asbestos conglomerate which had major financial interests in Brazil, was of particular interest to conference delegates. Speaking about the judicial proceedings in Turin, Eliezer João de Souza, President of Brazilian Association of the Asbestos-Exposed (ABREA), said:

47 The Day of Reckoning: Eternit on Trial (March 22, 2010)

In December 2009, court hearings began in the case initiated by Turin Prosecutor Dr. Guariniello against Stefan Schmidheiny and Jean-Louis Chislain de Cartier De Marchienne who respectively worked for the Swiss and Belgian Eternit companies.1 They are facing criminal charges relating to the asbestos-related deaths of 1,500+ Italians who were occupationally or environmentally exposed to Eternit asbestos.

As significant as is this ground-breaking lawsuit is the formation of an alliance of European groups and professionals which has coalesced to progress the claimants' cause. A series of meetings which took place in Turin from March 14-16, 2010 brought together asbestos victims' representatives, ban asbestos activists, legal practitioners and other experts from Europe, Latin America and Asia to:

Reflecting on the importance of the events in Turin, Organizer Annie Thébaud-Mony from Ban Asbestos France and the International Ban Asbestos Network expressed the feelings of many delegates when she said:

“People in Turin and the surrounding area know only too well the consequences of working for Eternit. Thousands of people in Casale Monferrato and other Italian towns have died from their occupational and environmental exposures to Eternit asbestos. Considering that hazardous exposures experienced in Italy were replicated elsewhere, there must be hundreds of thousands of people who have died from their exposures to this company's asbestos products.

2 The proceedings on March 15, 2010 were cancelled while the judge considered jurisdictional issues such as a defendant's application to relocate the trial from Turin to Genoa. The usual schedule is for a weekly hearing on Mondays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.

http://ibasecretariat.org/draft_program_turin_15_16_mar_2010.pdf

48 Stephan Schmidheiny: Saint or Sinner? (October 26, 2009)

In light of Schmidheiny's upcoming trial in Turin for his alleged role in exposing thousands of Italians to Eternit asbestos,5 the appearance of the glowing commentary in Forbes would seem quite fortuitous: a coincidence or part of the well-honed Schmidheiny public relations machine?

49 The Wheels of Justice (August 17, 2009)

Italy: On July 22 Judge Cristina Palmesion ordered two former Eternit executives to stand trial for charges relating to negligent asbestos exposures experienced by hundreds of Italians. If convicted, Stephan Schmidheiny and Jean-Louis de Cartier De Marchienne could face up to 12 years in prison; the trial will begin on December 10 in Turin.10

50 Asbestos Pigeons Coming Home to Roost (May 8, 2009)

Recent developments suggest that the fight-back by asbestos victims is succeeding in more and more jurisdictions. Even as a trial in Turin, Italy is progressing against former Eternit company executives for their role in the fatal exposures received by thousands of Italians,2 ten asbestos businessmen were condemned by an Australian Court for misleading the public over the content of a James Hardie press release which stated that the company was fully funded and able to meet its compensation liabilities.3 Within two years, a shortfall of more than $1 billion was revealed; the certainty which the company had sought to give asbestos victims and investors was not justified.