is part of an international network for a global asbestos ban


Two important dates for the International Ban Asbestos Network (IBAN) :

Milan, Italy 1993: international conference on the carcinogenic nature of all forms of asbestos without any safe threshold limit in case of asbestos contamination

São Paulo, Brazil 1994: the International Seminar during which the policy of "controlled use" of asbestos was denounced and the ban asbestos strategies defined:

- Support to the victims struggles

- Fight against the lobby of the asbestos industry

- Action for a global asbestos ban and for the substitution of asbestos containing materials by non-hazardous others.

BAN ASBESTOS FRANCE arose in 1995, created by Henri Pezerat (former director of reearch, CNRS), the leader of the first anti-asbestos movement organized in France (1977, University of Jussieu), in cooperation with Annie Thébaud-Mony (Director of Research, INSERM, specialist in occupational health) and Patrick Herman (journalist, whistle-blower on asbestos). Ban Asbestos France has been actively part of the Andeva (National Association for Defending Victims of Asbestos) in 1996. The struggles of the numerous anti-asbestos groups all around the country finally allowed the prohibition of this material in France in 1997. Nevertheless, millions of tons of asbestos are still in place.


click on the images for information on cases in France

 

 
European Report; April 30, 2008 - EU/ROTTERDAM CONVENTION : CONTROLS TO COVER ADDITIONAL HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES

Another three hazardous substances - chrysotile asbestos, endosulfan and tributyl tin compounds - could by the end of the year be placed under the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure applicable to international trade in certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides. In a draft Council decision (COM(2008)176), the European Commission proposes to support the proposal amending to that effect Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention(1), which will be submitted to the Fourth Conference of Parties (Rome, 27-31 October 2008). The Commission considers it "necessary and advisable" to support this proposal to ensure that countries of import benefit from the protection afforded by the convention. It notes that the three substances are already prohibited or strictly regulated in the EU and subject to export requirements that are even stricter than those set by the convention. The Rotterdam Convention encourages the sharing of responsibilities and cooperation between contracting parties in the area of international trade in certain hazardous chemical substances. It encourages ecologically rational use of these substances by facilitating the exchange of information on their characteristics, establishing a national decision-making process applicable to import and export, and notifying these decisions to the contracting parties. Annex III contains the list of chemical substances covered by the PIC procedure. The document is available at www.europolitics.info > Search > 224620

(1) The convention was adopted in Rotterdam, on 10 September 1998, and entered into force on 24 February 2004. It was ratified by the EU on 25 September 2006. Council Decision 2006/730/EC - OJ L 299 of 28 October 2006.


BAN ASBESTOS CANADA - MEDIA RELEASE - March 16, 2008

Ban Asbestos Canada (BAC) applauds the NDP's support for the World Health organization's call for action to eliminate asbestos disease and asbestos use around the world. "This is the first Canadian parliamentary party to take a stand against asbestos," said Larry Stoffman, executive member of BAC and Chair of the National Committee on Occupational and Environmental Exposures. "Canada is one of the few industrialized countries who have continued to mine and export asbestos while rejecting the call of all independent, recognized scientific organizations around the world to ban all forms of asbestos." BAC is a national coalition of labour, health, and environmental groups that are dedicated to banning asbestos in Canada, ensuring compensation for all affected Canadian workers, and to promoting international conventions aimed at controlling the international trade in hazardous substances, such as asbestos. "We look forward to working with the NDP to ensure both real economic support for laid off asbestos workers and a comprehensive campaign for just compensation for thousands of Canadian workers afflicted with asbestos caused disease," said Wayne Peppard, Executive Director of the BC & Yukon Construction Building Trades Council. "Government support for this dying industry that has exploited Quebec workers must stop now." "From a public health point of view, the NDP's support for the WHO's position is, in our view, the only possible responsible position," stated Micheline Marier of the Association of Asbestos Victims of Quebec. "The population in the Asbestos region has paid a heavy price since the beginning of mining this mineral and we call on governments to assist in the revitalization of the region, as well as the environmental clean-up of the former asbestos mines" said Marier. Increasing numbers of Canadians are dying from asbestos, the world's biggest occupational health killer. In 2007 in B.C., for example, over half of occupational deaths were from asbestos-related disease."This carnage from asbestos related fatalities is disastrous for those workers and their families," Peppard said. "It's long past time that the Canadian government stop the production and use of asbestos". Canada exports over 95% of its asbestos to developing countries and has continually undermined any attempt to have asbestos banned or labeled as a dangerous product. "We are calling on all the political parties to end their unholy alliance with the asbestos industry," said Kathleen Ruff, founder of RightOnCanada, a citizens' human rights group. "All the political parties say their top commitment is to protect people's health. Let's see them put that commitment into action and eliminate asbestos use now."  Contacts: Larry Stoffman - 604-250-3713; Wayne Peppard - 778 388-0014; Kathleen Ruff - 250-847-1848; Micheline Marier - 514-847-8381.  


Announcement (Wednesday, March 19, 2008; Posted: 05:02 PM).THETFORD MINES, QUEBEC, Mar 19, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX). Mazarin Inc. (TSX VENTURE: MAZ.H) announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, 9075-6453 Quebec Inc. was forced to assign all of its assets in the hands of Raymond Chabot Inc., trustee. The subsidiary is the owner of the Bell mine in Thetford Mines. Last August, it had authorized, under certain conditions, 9184-6808 Quebec Inc. (LAB Chrysotile) to operate the mine. At the end of this month, LAB Chrysotile will cease operations at the Bell mine. After considering several avenues, the subsidiary has concluded that its limited financial resources did not allow it to operate the mine or to meet its financial obligations on an ongoing basis. This press release contains forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Mazarin Inc. According to a press article, it appears that law through access to information in Canada, it was discovered in 2006 that there is some kind of understanding between Canada and other exporting countries asbestos (like Russia and Kyrgyzstan), to maintain artificially high prices of asbestos in order to prevent the bankruptcy of the Canadian asbestos in return for funding of the institute of chrysotile by Canada which becomes the propagandist of asbestos in the world. But last year, the Canadian dollar has risen considerably, thereby increasing the cost of Canadian goods to other countries that can no longer sustain competition. And that is perhaps the reason, in spite of the agreement, the bankruptcy of the mine Bell Thetfort Mines.


Media release dated March 11, 2008, OMG in the world, to save the Rotterdam Convention


Endangering others: the appeal court of Douai just order the company Alstom, March 6, 2008, be punished by a fine of 75,000 euros (confirming the judgement of first instance in Lille in 2006) for knowingly allowed the 300 employees of the Lys-Les-Lannoy into contact with asbestos in full knowledge of the risks from 1998 to 2001, and a former director of the factory in 3000 euros fine and 3 months suspended prison term (instead of 9 months sentence in the first instance, the Court having considered that the director was merely relaying the will of the leadership, minimizing liability). On this last point, the employees are very unhappy because more than 100 of them are sick from asbestos and a dozen died. On March 14, Alstom Power Boilers indicates that it does not provide for judicial review.


International Meeting in Austria on 6 and 7 February 2008 for a ban on asbestos in the world.


Report Henri Pezerat against Bernstein's work on chrysotile asbestos


Aulnay-Sous-Bois' CMMP disused factory

A new demolition permit and a new plan for asbestos removal must be presented for the totallity of the site, after the annulation, cancellation by law of those given only for block B (old asbestos workshop).

The prefect, during a meeting including the associations, promised that a first flexible project, adressed to the Health, Labour and Ecology ministries for verification, would then be submitted, for discussion, to all protagonists, including the associations (letter sent be the associations on the 31/10/2007 to the ministers).

On Saturday 25/11/2007, France3 mentionned the file on this contaminated site (see videos on page struggle /history and it was mentionned that the prefecture would at last give to CMMP the order to take numerous samples, so far this has not been done, when the regularitions insist on this before any demolition work is started (the associations have been asking for this for years). On the 10/12/07 they send to the ministries another letter which specific regards as to technical issues. On the 25/02/2008, the associations contacted the prefect again, because there was absolutly no follow up to the France3 november broadcast. Complete radio silence !

On the 29/03/2008 they wrote to the new Aulnay Sous Bois mayor to inform him of the polluted site present situation and to ask for his support in installing an external protection bubble. On the 07/04/2008 they send a reminder to the ministries (Health, Labour, Ecology), the 11/04 they issued a press release and the 06/04 they organised a public meeting. Around 100 people came to the Gainville suite in Aulnay Sous Bois. The new mayor and his environmental aide were present. Monsieur Ségura, was in favour of "demolition in the best conditions", then Monsieur Amédro asserted that "the town is for demolition under external protection airtight bubble". They promised their support to the associations in their approach to the authorithies and to act for the installation of urgent measures for the safety of the locals. At the end of the meeting, two motions were voted by the participants to be sent to the prefect.

The new mayor wrote to the Prefect about the emergency procedure for the safety of the locals and issued a press release. The associations will meet him soon. The Mayor is to meet on site with the associations on the 3rd June. In this way, they will be able to witness the immediate security measures taken by the owner, before work on the site can be started.

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The Albert tower in Paris :

In regard to the disposal of asbestos, the foreman insisted on the solutions recommended by CRAMIF with the endorsment by the work Inspection Department. It brought about further costs, but that's the price of safety. The cheap working yards for asbestos removal, are most of the time in breach of regulations (at the last national control, 75 % the sites were in infraction !). In the case of the Albert tower with its twenty three floors and three elevators in the well an adequate solution had to be found : one elevator cut off, the working machinary protected by airtight casing which will completly cut it off from the well, stopage of the working of the elevators during the dust removal from the well at night, the use of the roof of the elevators as scaffolding. The three elevators go down simultanously as the dust removal progresses, from the top to the bottom while a strong air current blows in the same direction to stop the fibres going back up and thus contaminate the clean areas. In this way, the disposing of the asbestos can be done following regulations. The work is done in several stages.

Today, the fourth phase of the work has been put back several weeks, following the breaching of a wall leading to a suspect flocking in the car park area. Alerted by the co-owners, Ban Asbestos send a mail on the 25/02/2008 to the work inspector supervising this site. Work should normally start again on Monday 21/04. The preparation of the site starting again towards the suspect flocking, Ban Asbestos went on site to take photos and to intervene once again with the work inspector.

No account was taken of our warnings and the disposal of asbestos started again the week of the 25/04 during 5 nights with access to the car park doubtful flocking. Now, this time, will precautions be taken for the dismantling of this site ? Will the suspect flocking be at last taken away following regulations for flaky asbestos ?

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The "Comédie Française" in Paris :

For the second time in a few months, the leading institution of a certain "french culture" found itself in front of the "social security cases court ", to answer to the accusation of inexcusable negligence.

A first action had been taken by the widow of F. Delayre, electrician at the "Comédie Française". He died of a bronco pulmonary cancer. The judgement given by the Auxerre (TASS) had heavily sanctionned the famous house, who since has appealed.

On the 02/02/2008, in Nanterre, madame D. Brought a charge against this establishment. Her husband, a machinist/stage hand, had worked for them all his life. He died on the 27/04/2003 of a fibrosis diagnosed in 1980.

Solicitor for the D. Family, maître Sylvie Topoaloff, presented all the different elements of a daming case against mister D's employer, from the medical certificate asking the recognition of a professional illness, to the repeated interventions by CHSCT, the CRAMIF, etc ...

"An extradocumented file on the realisation of the danger" concluded maître Topaloff.

In answer, the lawyer for the Comédie Française tried to discredit the testimonies of the file, while trivalising the origins of the asbestos pollution of the site and trying to present it as a succession of airtight compartments, free of all lethal fibres. She then produced her joker : the certificate of an "independant" (sic) doctor, who reinterpreted without the permission of the family and in violation of professional ethic, the medical file of Mr D. Among this interpretation, one must note "hypersensibility to birds" because Mr D. Kept a canary. Nobody knew, until now, that feathers could cause pulmonary fibrosis.

Judgement was given. It did not condemn the Comédie Française for gross negligence and dismissed all the widow's demands. It provoked utter consternation and great anger within the victim's family and quite rightly because the case against the Comedie was overwhelming. Monsieur D'family has decided to appeal. The complete file will be transfered to the Versailles Appeal Court.

The second proceeding against the Comedie Française (Monsieur Delayre) must take place on June 12 to Appeal Court.

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