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 Stay Tuned! More to Come from Brazil
in our July 2nd eNewsletter! ADAO's visit, presentations, and meetings in Brazil have been both productive and enlightening! Stay tuned for our July newsletter where we will detail all that we have seen and done, where we plan to go from here, and how you can get involved! ADAO RIO+20 Landing Page. |
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 WEI Publishes ADAO's
"Asbestos: Still Legal and Lethal in North America"
ADAO was recently asked to write an article for the Women and Environments International (WEI) Magazine's Spring/Summer 2012 edition "Asbestos & Women's Health." The Spring/Summer issue includes contributions from Olga Speranskaya, Laurie Kazan-Allen, Alexandra Caterbow, Fe de Leon, Kathleen Ruff, and many other experts and advocates in the field. This edition focuses on the effects of asbestos exposure that disproportionately fall on women, while increasing awareness in order to prevent environmental and occupational asbestos-caused diseases.
ADAO is extremely honored to have been asked to contribute to this edition and we consider it an excellent opportunity towards advancing the struggle in a global ban on asbestos. Currently, only 55 countries have banned asbestos and asbestos is still mined in Russia, China, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Canada. It is reprehensible that the U.S. and Canada have not banned asbestos, and this practice must be stopped.
Read the full article here.
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Joel Shufro, "Left in the Dust: Ten Years after the Attack on the World Trade Center," ADAO Conference Presentation Video
We are pleased to share the video of Joel Shufro, Executive Director of NYCOSH, as he presents "Left in the Dust: Ten Years after the Attack on the World Trade Center" at ADAO's 8th Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference. Mr. Shufro was also honored with the "Tribute of Inspiration" Award at the conference for his tireless efforts to protect workers occupational safety and health, especially in regards to asbestos exposure.
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Dr. Raja Flores Interviewed About Lasting Health Toll of 9/11
 Dr. Raja Flores, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center and ADAO Science Advisory Board Member, was recently interviewed in "The Lasting Health Toll of September 11" on a televised news health segment. Flores states, "Mount Sinai researchers have been following approximately 30,000 first responders, many of whom were breathing in dust containing 2,000 tons of asbestos on a daily basis as they cleaned up the site." View the full video here.
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Share Your Story: "In the Midst of the Storm...A Rainbow Shines"
We have been touched by asbestos in individual ways, yet we are joined together by a common bond of community. As a testament to the strength of our global family, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) highlights the courageous stories of those affected by asbestos with the "Share Your Story" feature. This month, we would like to honor the story of Richard, as shared by his daughter, Missy, who is a part of our ADAO family.
We encourage you to submit your personal stories by clicking here and following the simple instructions on the page. In sharing, comes healing. Remember, you are not alone.
View our previous stories here.
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Photographic "Asbestos: See for Yourself" Campaign
Each week, ADAO highlights some great educational pictures from industrial hygienist, Tony Rich, as part of our Asbestos: See for Yourself Campaign, designed to let the public see asbestos fibers in homes and workplaces, and share historical photos of asbestos in order to raise awareness.
Click to view our entire presentation of photos on SlideShare.
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The Power of Collective Activism:
U.N. Petition Gathers Over 1,300 Signatures
Recently, with the help of international anti-asbestos advocates in Brazil and around the world, ADAO started a petition to the United Nations urging them to bar Stephan Schmidheiny from participating in the U.N. Rio+ 20 Conference on Sustainable Development. In February, both Stephan Schmideiny and Louis Cartier de Marchienne were sentenced to 16 years in prison and ordered to pay millions of Euros in damages to the families and victims of the Eternit plants in Italy.
The petition, spearheaded by ABREA and ADAO, highlights the inappropriateness of having a convicted criminal in attendance at such a globally significant event. Since its creation, the petition has gained tremendous momentum, and now has more than 1,300 signatures. This petition is an excellent example of the powers of digital activism and global social sharing. We want to thank each of you for signing the petition and making this campaign a success!
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| Make Your Voices Heard!
 Both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives have recently introduced important legislation.
First, Senator Frank Lautenberg [D-NJ] has introduced S. 847: Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 which, if passed, would amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in order to ensure, among other things, that risks from chemicals are adequately understood and managed. The EPA has not tried to use Section 6 of TSCA, which provides the EPA authority to ban or restrict chemicals, since 1991. In support of his bill, Lautenberg recently submitted an opinion piece to CNN.com.
The Safer Chemicals, Health Families fact sheet explains the TSCA and the importance of passing the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011.
Second, the House Committee on the Judiciary passed the H.R. 4369: Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act of 2012. ADAO submitted a letter to Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Conyers in opposition of H.R. 4369. As written, the H.R. 4369: Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act of 2012 (FACT Act) will delay or deny justice for victims of asbestos exposure. The FACT Act would create a greater burden for patients and families to overcome during an already extremely difficult time. Americans deserve legislation to protect public health, not legislation that diminishes civil rights. ADAO Opposition Letter
We urge you to use your voice and contact your congressional representatives today! Go to www.congress.org to find your Senators and Representatives. It's easy; just type in your zip code.
Together, change is possible.
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Mark Your Calendars!
July 6: Join the UK community for Action Mesothelioma Day in support of education, advocacy, and community.
July 12 - 13: Join MARF's Meso Foundation Symposium in Washington, DC or view the sessions online via your computer.
July 28th: "Ridin' the Wind With Rob," a 95-minute motorcycle ride and dinner in Memory of Rob Cagle. More on this great event to come!
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The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO is an independent global organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases through education, advocacy, and community. For more information, visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org
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