URGENT APPEAL:CANADA EXPORTING TOXIC ASBESTOS

An international action being organized for July 1 (Canada Day) to shame Canada into stopping its export of deadly asbestos to developing countries. Canada is the lead global propagandist for the asbestos industry.

ACTION: On July 1(or a nearby date), please sign and send in the attached World Appeal to Canada by fax, email or hand deliver it to the Canadian embassy or consulate in your country. You can get the contact info for the Canadian embassy in your country at the following website
http://www.international.gc.ca/ciw-cdm/embassies-ambassades.aspx?lang=eng Or you can email Kathleen Ruff for it at kruff@bulkely.net

There will be demonstrations outside the Canadian embassy in Washington, DC, in Sydney, Australia and in Paris, France. If you would like more information about these demonstrations, or if you would be willing to demonstrate outside a Canadian embassy in your country, even if very briefly, or if you have any other questions, please email Kathleen at the email above.

EMBASSY CONTACT INFO FOR FOLLOWING COUNTRIES:

1) France. Fax: (011-33-1) 44.43.29.99;

2) Germany. Fax: (49 30) 20312-121; email brlin-pa@international.gc.ca

3) India. Fax: 91 (11) 4178-2020; email delhi@international.gc.ca

4) United Kingdom. Fax: (0207) 258-6476; email ldn.publicaffairs@international.gc.ca

5) U.S. Fax: (202) 682-7726;

If anyone can find the email address for the embassy in France & the US, please send it to me.

URGENT APPEAL
TO CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER
ON CANADA DAY, JULY 1, 2009

WHEREAS:

- Canada is the only western country exporting asbestos

- The science is irrefutable that chrysotile asbestos (the only form of asbestos still sold commercially) causes cancer and other deadly diseases

- Canada has virtually banned asbestos itself and exports 95% of its asbestos to developing countries

- Canada is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to remove asbestos from the Parliament Buildings and homes and schools across Canada

- In April this year your government gave yet another quarter of a million dollars to the Chrysotile Institute to promote asbestos in developing countries

- As shown in the recent CBC The National documentary Canada's Ugly Secret, Canada's asbestos is being used overseas under appallingly dangerous conditions

- A government of Quebec report shows a 100% failure rate to practise safety standards in the tiny numbers of industrial sites using asbestos in Quebec, showing that Canada’s “safe use” claim is a myth, even in an advanced, regulated, wealthy, technological society like Canada itself

- The World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, the 160 million members of the International Trade Union Confederation in 155 countries, the World Bank and every independent scientific organization that has examined asbestos have all called for an end to the sale and use of asbestos as the only way to end the unnecessary tragedy of asbestos disease

- Bill C-399, tabled in the House of Commons on June 1, 2009, prohibits the commercial mining of any form of asbestos

WE THEREFORE CALL ON YOUR GOVERNMENT TO:

- END THE SHAME OF CANADA’S ASBESTOS EXPORT

- PUT PEOPLE’S LIVES AHEAD OF POLITICAL AMBITION

- CELEBRATE CANADA DAY BY SUPPORTING BILL C-399 TO BAN ASBESTOS

SIGNED:

NAME:
ORGANIZATION (if applicable):
ADDRESS:

Canada's Ugly Secret

Canada's overseas sales of asbestos breathing new life into a dying industry - but may also be making exposed workers sick. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) exposed Canada's Ugly Secret on 10th June.

Views on the CBC Documentary

Anyone else watch the CBC documentary on asbestos that aired on The National tonight? Holy Christ, India, which imports Canadian asbestos, is setting itself up for a major health care crisis in the years ahead, as virtually every building, public and private, has Canadian asbestos in it. Melissa Fung, who did the documentary, could not find one person in the industry here (in Thetford Mines, Quebec) or in the federal government - which heavily subsidizes this industry - and Lisa Raitt is the Minister responsible - to appear on camera. Canada should be ashamed of itself for exporting death to Third World and developing nations such as India and others!

The height of hyprocrisy:

At the same time Canada is paying to have asbestos removed from federal buildings on Parliament Hill, Canada is subsidizing asbestos production in Thetford Mines, Quebec, for export to India and other countries.


One wonders if the Indian (and other) governments will soon begin lawsuits against Canada to recover the cost of medical care for ailments (cancer and respiratory diseases) caused by Canadian asbestos used in these countries?

Isn't India responsible for making and enforcing health and safety laws in India? Given that it is possible to use asbestos safely, why should India's desire for asbestos be a cause for concern among Quebeckers, or anyone else, for that matter?