tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47393149015130103632024-02-18T22:18:52.005-08:00ROCAUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-47252444376171807712015-05-14T11:29:00.003-07:002015-05-14T11:29:31.468-07:00Rotterdam Convention COP 7 (May 13th 2015). ROCA /WECF Side Event on “Chrysotile Asbestos and the question: Who pays the Bill?”<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">More
than 70 people attended a successful, informative and emotional Side Event at
COP 7 in Geneva<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Testimonials
and Dialogue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">The ROCA/WECF Side event “Chrysotile Asbestos and the question: Who pays
the Bill?” with its testimonials of victims who suffer from lifelong health
effects from the exposure to chrysotile asbestos showed once more the urgent
need to listing chrysotile asbestos to Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention.
The event, attended by more than 70 people, was a real contrast to the numerous
interventions of Parties in the morning plenary of COP7, opposing the listing
of chrysotile asbestos by disseminating the claim that they are not aware of
any health impacts resulting from the exposure to asbestos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">The event was accompanied by a key note message from Elizabet Paunovic, head of
WHO European Centre of Health and Environment, calling all Parties of the COP
finally to take responsibility and vote for listing. ROCA/WECF screened WHO’s
new film “Chrysotile Asbestos – Voices from South-East-Asia” which makes the
voices of asbestos victims heard.</span><span lang="EN-US"> A highlight was the presence of </span><span lang="EN-US">the Indian worker Sharad Vittnal
Sawant, who pleaded for listing of the substance. He and his wife suffer, after
working with chrysotile asbestos for 40 years, from asbestosis and </span><span lang="EN">made
the audience to witnesses of what kind of incredible impact chrysotile asbestos
has and who in reality has to pay the bill.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">The panel of speakers consisted of Tran Tuan from the
Vietnam Research and Training Centre for Community development, South Korean
activist and researcher Yeyong Choi, and Sanjiv Pandita from the Asia Monitor
Resource Center. The presentation of Tran Tuan pointed out that action by Civil
Society could move things forward in a positive way and very fast, like the
Vietnam example is showing. Yeyong Choi delivered insights on how the asbestos
industry shifts their production to countries with less strict regulation, and
this effects workers and residents in the factories neighborhood. Sanjiv
Pandita pointed out how important objective medical investigations are to make
sure asbestos related diseases like cancer, asbestosis get know as this.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";"> The side event was organized by the Rotterdam Convention Alliance (ROCA) and
was facilitated by <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Women in Europe for a
Common Future (WECF). The WECF's Johanna Hausmann chaired the session, a taxing
job not made any easier by the boorish behaviour of Russian Chrysotile trade
Union representatives who tried to interrupt the proceedings on more than one
occasion. They accused WHO being a propaganda organization due to the fact WHO
is supporting movies such as the one screened in the side event which shows the
real impacts of chrysotile asbestos.<br />
<br />
The panelists and many speakers from the plenary, such as representatives from
WHO, ILO, victim action networks, trade unions etc. attending the side event were
in agreement regarding the crucial importance of listing chrysotile asbestos on
Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention; they called on delegates to make every
effort to resolve the current impasse over chrysotile in order to protect human
health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-14247577012518684862015-05-14T03:34:00.002-07:002015-05-14T03:34:48.841-07:00WECF / ROCA intervention at COP7 of Rotterdam Convention<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">Mr
President, thank you for giving us the floor, I speak on behalf of WECF as a
member of the Rotterdam Convention Alliance. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(held by Alexandra Caterbow)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Distinguished delegates, the objective of
the Rotterdam Convention is to protect health and the environment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Instead we are witnessing blocking of
chrysotile asbestos for the fifth time, to protect industry interests instead
of protecting health and environment. We see a very active industry here, but
we also recognize that this industry is a dying one. So many countries are
thinking about banning chrysotile asbestos now, since without listing, the
Rotterdam Convention does not allow them to access their right of prior
informed consent and to protect their borders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The listing was not supported because there
is a problem of science, nor a problem of meeting the criteria of the
convention, but a problem of lack of political will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">We see that there are countries, that are quite
new parties to the convention, who are using their status to block the
convention - this is shameful. Some of the blocking countries committed at the
Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in Italy to eliminate all
asbestos related diseases and now they want to prevent other countries to
access their right on prior informed consent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Those opposing the listing of chrysotile asbestos,
state that listing would cause extra costs. This argument is wrong, as it omits
the enormous health and economic costs caused by chrysotile asbestos, which is
already up in the hundreds of billions of dollars. While industry takes the
profits, the cost is put on the shoulders of the public taxpayer and the
hundreds of thousands sick victims. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">We strongly urge Parties to continue
efforts towards listing of chrysotile asbestos, including inter-sessional work
and in cooperation with civil society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I would like to invite you to our side
event in room 3 during lunch time today. And I would like to introduce you now
to Mr SHARAD VITTNAL SAWANT, a chrysotile asbestos victim from India. He came
here to speak to you all, because you are the ones who can make a huge difference
this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Thank you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr Sawant:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I am SHARAD VITTNAL SAWANT; I come from
Bombay, India, I have worked for 40 years at the factory Hindustan Ferodo (now
Hindustan Composits), which uses chrysotile asbestos. I am suffering from
asbestosis and my wife as well. Another 400 of my colleagues have been
diagnosed as well. I came here to request you to put chrysotile asbestos in the
PIC List of the Rotterdam Convention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">NGO colleagues are standing in solidarity behind Mr Sawant </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-75773144547119999432015-05-06T00:19:00.000-07:002015-05-11T01:09:23.441-07:00Invitation side event ROCA COP7: 13th May, 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-62477600000926523752015-05-05T03:15:00.000-07:002015-05-05T03:15:47.806-07:00ROCA Position Paper COP 7 in RussianPosition Paper<br /><br />In preparation to the COP 7 of the Rotterdam Convention in May 2015, we would like to present the Position Paper of the Rotterdam Convention Alliance.<div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-77621194078024403262015-05-05T03:10:00.000-07:002015-05-05T03:10:38.300-07:00ROCA Position Paper COP 7 in EnglishPosition Paper<br /><br />In preparation to the COP 7 of the Rotterdam Convention in May 2015, we would like to present the Position Paper of the Rotterdam Convention Alliance.<div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-48033404022812754722015-05-05T02:58:00.000-07:002015-05-05T02:58:33.759-07:00ROCA FAQ COP7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In preparation to the COP 7 of the Rotterdam Convention in May 2015, we would like to present the FAQ Paper on Chrysotile and Rotterdam Convention Alliance.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-85695752965549486702015-05-05T02:32:00.004-07:002015-05-05T02:32:56.378-07:00Expose of the sabotage of the Rotterdam Convention<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>The Rotterdam Convention conference is all about
Russia and Kazakhstan</b>
</span><br />
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'bell gothic', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Kathleen Ruff, <a href="http://rightoncanada.ca/">RightOnCanada.ca</a></span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'bell gothic', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">In 2013, almost a million tonnes of asbestos was exported by a tiny number of asbestos mining countries.</span></div>
<ul style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'bell gothic', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: circle inside !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 3px 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"> <strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Just two countries – Russia and Kazakhstan – were responsible for 80% of global asbestos export.</strong></span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'bell gothic', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="border: 0px; list-style: circle inside !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px; padding: 3px 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Russia on its own was responsible for close to two thirds of total global asbestos export.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'bell gothic', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">What this means is that the attack on the Rotterdam Convention to prevent chrysotile asbestos being listed as a hazardous substance is really all about Russia and Kazakhstan. They are sabotaging the Convention because they want to continue practicing irresponsible trade and to export chrysotile asbestos with no safety warnings required.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'bell gothic', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Protecting profits, not people’s lives, is their mission.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'bell gothic', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Brazil, which exported 125,832 tonnes of asbestos in 2013, has not to date ever opposed the listing of chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous substance.</span></div>
<div style="border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: 'bell gothic', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 20px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px;">
For more please click <a href="http://www.rightoncanada.ca/?p=2953" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-38481547135968264662015-05-05T02:16:00.002-07:002015-05-05T02:16:41.459-07:00One in three Europeans potentially exposed to asbestos, new UN study shows<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">30 April 2015 – A high-level meeting on
environment and health in Europe today appealed urgently to all European countries
to eliminate asbestos-related diseases, as a new United Nations report showed
that one third of the 900 million people living in the region are potentially
exposed to asbestos at work and in the environment.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“We cannot afford losing almost 15,000 lives a
year in Europe, especially workers, from diseases caused by exposure to
asbestos,” Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab, the World Health Organization’s Regional
Director for Europe was quoted as saying in a<span class="yiv3704644127apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.euro.who.int/en/media-centre/sections/press-releases/2015/at-least-one-in-three-europeans-can-be-exposed-to-asbestos-at-work-and-in-the-environment" target="_blank"><span style="color: #005689; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">press release</span></a></span><span class="yiv3704644127apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">issued
in Haifa, Israel, where more than 200 delegates met from 28-30 April to
evaluate progress on environment and health in Europe.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Every death from asbestos-related diseases is
avoidable,” Dr. Jakab said. “We urge all countries to leave the Haifa meeting
to fulfil their 2010 commitment and develop policies by the end of this year
that will eliminate asbestos-related diseases from the face of Europe.”</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“There is very little time left for that,” she
said.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Elimination of asbestos-related diseases was
one of the major issues discussed at the Haifa meeting, according to WHO.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px;">For more please click <a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50739#.VUiKGI4irIV" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-82976134421559093842015-05-05T02:12:00.000-07:002015-05-05T02:12:08.391-07:00Video Message to President Obama, Legislative Updates, and Events from the AFL-CIO, U.S. Senate, and Community<br />
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)<br /><br />The ADAO message to the 2015 delegates is: “ADAO urges the Rotterdam Convention delegates to list chrysotile asbestos on the PIC List now. Everyone has the right to safe water, soil, and air free from hazardous chemicals. The life you save may be your own.”<br /><br />This year's International Asbestos Awareness conference marked 11 years of progress towards an asbestos-ban while highlighting monumental strides in global asbestos awareness and prevention. With <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FaEkYNUp5MXPBQoG_ZzcjkJdfTZS71R1EiETJp7onxYDs-uKYiU4-PXKJuvlu0xYliTJeL60iHTDVMUh_xD8g7jKNRGoDI8JJ-V833dUZ6YBe_EWxZyu9pT6uy1qxuk3TqqkhxR6PJgRb4T_m7O_XzgcI6_OVa3ZrMYKJ_pWxRk=&c=&ch=">Nearly 40 expert presenters from nine countries</a>, the weekend served as an incredible educational resource, discussion forum, and starting point for future collaborations.<br />
Video message: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boV4E6mAg0k" target="_blank">Experts from Five Countries Urge President Obama to Ban Asbestos.</a><br />
<br />
For more please click <a href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=0647ba0c-0111-44db-994a-532afbd87183&c=64c8d570-eb97-11e4-9385-d4ae529a7ef1&ch=64d160f0-eb97-11e4-938b-d4ae529a7ef1#LETTER.BLOCK32" target="_blank">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-70574260212429059052015-05-04T02:23:00.000-07:002015-05-05T02:26:31.337-07:00Indian Environment Minister takes "note" of reasons for India disassociating itself from Russia & other white chrysotile asbestos producers at UN Meet<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Seventh
Conference of Parties (CoP 7) of UN's Rotterdam Convention commences in Geneva
from today </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>May
4, 2015: </b>In
a remarkable move India's<b> </b>Minister of Environment Forests
& Climate Change ( MoEFCC), Prakash Javadekar has communicated
today that he has "noted", the contents of the letter addressed to
him in the context of Seventh Conference of Parties (CoP 7) of UN's Rotterdam
Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous
Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade ahead of the commencement
of CoP 7 in Geneva.In the letter it has been argued as to why India must
disassociate itself from Russia & other white chrysotile asbestos producers
at CoP 7 in Geneva. The letter from ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) dated May 3,
2015 is attached and pasted below. CoP is underway in Switzerland from 4th May
to 15th May 2015. </div>
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The
minister has communicated the same to Shri Shashi Shekhar, Special Secretary,
Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Union Ministry of
Environment, Forests & Climate Change who responsible for Hazardous
Substances Management Division and international negotiations in the ministry.
The minister's response within hours of having received the letter underlines
the seriousness with which he is involved in the matter. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The
text of the Rotterdam Convention was adopted by the Conference of the
Plenipotentiaries (Rotterdam, 10 September 1998). The text was subsequently
amended by the First Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Geneva, 20 - 24
September 2004), the Fourth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Rome, 27
– 31 October 2008), the Fifth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Geneva,
20 - 24 June 2011) and the Sixth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties
(Geneva, 28 April – 10 May 2013). There are 72 Signatories and 154
Parties to the Convention. India gave its consent for Accession to the
Convention on 24th May, 2005. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To
achieve its objectives the Convention includes two key provisions, namely the
Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure and Information Exchange. The PIC
procedure is a mechanism for formally obtaining and disseminating the decisions
of importing Parties as to whether they wish to receive future shipments of
those chemicals listed in Annex III of the Convention and for ensuring compliance
with these decisions by exporting Parties. The Convention facilitates
information exchange among Parties for a very broad range of potentially
hazardous chemicals. The Convention requires each Party to notify the
Secretariat when taking a domestic regulatory action to ban or severely
restrict a chemical.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The
Conference of the Parties oversees the operation of the Convention and makes
decisions regarding amendments to the Convention, including the addition of
chemicals to Annex III. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
purpose of the Convention is to promote responsible trade. Indian
delegation should be advised to:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>to support responsible trade</li>
<li>to support the recommendation of the Convention's
scientific committee (the Chemical Review Committee) to list chrysotile asbestos</li>
<li>to support the purpose of the Convention, which is
to provide the right to Prior Informed Consent, based on the recommendations of the Convention's scientific committee </li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
Chemical Review Committee is a subsidiary body of the COP. Its members are
government designated experts in chemicals management. Its responsibilities
include reviewing notifications and proposals from Parties, and making
recommendations to the COP on the addition of chemicals to Annex III.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
Convention is based on a process under which the Chemical Review Committee
examines the evidence before recommending whether a substance should be
put on the Convention's list of hazardous substances. Some countries like
Russia who are promoting transfer of harm to countries like ours due to
their incestuous relationship with the asbestos industry are rejecting the
scientific process and refusing to act as per the recommendation of
the scientific committee in the matter of white chrysotile asbestos.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Taking
cognisance of Hon'ble Supreme Court’s judgment dated 27th January,
1995, the Ministry of Environment of Forests came out with its 19 page long Vision Statement on Environment and Human
Health (Para 4.3.1) wherein it is stated: “Alternatives to asbestos may be
used to the extent possible and use of asbestos may be phased out” on page
no. 12 This is available on its website. Source: <a href="http://moef.nic.in/divisions/cpoll/envhealth/visenvhealth.pdf" target="_blank">moef.nic.in/divisions/cpoll/envhealth/visenvhealth.pdf</a>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a concept paper Union Ministry of Labour disclosed at the two-day 5th India-EU Joint Seminar on “Occupational Safety and Health” on 19-20th September, 2011 that "The Government of India is<br />
considering the ban on use of chrysotile asbestos in India to protect the workers and the general population against primary and secondary exposure to Chrysotile form of Asbestos." It has noted that<br />
"Asbestosis is yet another occupational disease of the Lungs which is on an increase under similar circumstances warranting concerted efforts of all stake holders to evolve strategies to curb this<br />
menace". The document is readily available at <a href="http://www.labour.nic.in/lc/Background%20note.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.labour.nic.in/lc/Background%20note.pdf</a>)<br />
<br />
In a notice dated December 24, 2014, Hon’ble National Human Rights Commission has asked the Ministry of Labour regarding steps taken in pursuance of its concept paper.<br />
<br />
Notably, US Environment Protection Agency says, “No safe exposure threshold (with respect to for inhaling asbestos fibers) has been established, but the risk of disease generally increases with<br />
the length and amount of exposure.”<br />
Source :<a href="http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/OWCM.NSF/0/1892d33bca669504882566d700671e50?OpenDocument" target="_blank">http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/OWCM.NSF/0/1892d33bca669504882566d700671e50?OpenDocument</a><br />
The same is reiterated by World Health Organization (WHO) at <a href="http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2006/WHO_SDE_OEH_06.03_eng.pdf" target="_blank">http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2006/WHO_SDE_OEH_06.03_eng.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It
is noteworthy that in a recent inter-ministerial meeting held last month,
MoEFCC took a position which was quite sensitive to enviro-occupational health
in the matter of hazardous ship breaking industry. The migrant workers in this
industry are admittedly exposed to hazardous and carcinogenic substances like
asbestos fibers. In the light of these reasons, there is a compelling logic for
MoEFCC to disassociate itself from Russia.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For
Details: Gopal Krishna, Ban Asbestos Network of India
(BANI)- ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA), Mb: 08227816731, 09818089660<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="mailto:E-mail-1715krishna@gmail.com">E-mail-1715krishna@gmail.com</a>, Blog:<a href="http://banasbestosindia.blogspot.in/" target="_blank">banasbestosindia.blogspot.in</a><br />
Web: <a href="http://www.toxicswatch.org/" target="_blank">www.toxicswatch.org</a>,
Website of Rotterdam Convention Secretariat: <a href="http://www.pic.int/">http://www.pic.int/<br />
</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p>
</o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-42551093514797409842015-05-04T01:46:00.000-07:002015-05-05T01:51:14.070-07:00 Asbestos industry lobbyists will go to Geneva to sabotage Rotterdam Convention<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Kathleen Ruff, <a href="http://rightoncanada.ca/">RightOnCanada.ca</a><br />
<br />
Two dozen asbestos industry lobbyists will be attending the Rotterdam
Convention conference in Geneva this month to seek to prevent chrysotile
asbestos from being put on the Convention’s list of hazardous substances.<br />
<br />
Read more here: <a href="http://www.rightoncanada.ca/?p=2937">http://www.rightoncanada.ca/?p=2937</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-6398981857355280522015-05-04T00:33:00.000-07:002015-05-05T00:34:43.555-07:00NGO calls for blanket ban on import of asbestos by Centre, state govt<b><span style="color: #0059a5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><img align="bottom" class="" id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://epaper.dnaindia.com/images/author.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px;" /> dna correspondent
@dnaahmedabad</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #0059a5; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></b>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
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<td style="padding: 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .75pt; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 1.5pt; margin-top: .75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Ahmedabad: Days before an international
convention scheduled in Rotterdam takes up the issue of health hazards of
asbestos, a Gujarat-based non-governmental organization has demanded that the
central government put a blanket ban on the import of asbestos.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .75pt; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 1.5pt; margin-top: .75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The Occupational Health and Safety
Association (OHSA) pressed for a blanket ban, saying asbestos is a killer
product and has been banned by more than 55 nations across the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .75pt; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 1.5pt; margin-top: .75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The Gujarat Cancer and Research Center has
confirmed that 108 asbestos-based cancer patients have received treatment at
the center between 2008 and 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .75pt; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 1.5pt; margin-top: .75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">OHSA’s Jagdish Patel alleged that the central
government as well as the state government have been insensitive to the issue
and do not care for the health of workers. Patel said the Indian government
should announce at the Rotterdam convention on May 8 that it is going to ban
asbestos import and that it will not support exporters of asbestos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: .75pt; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-right: 1.5pt; margin-top: .75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Raghunath Manvar, another OHSA activist, said
many infected workers fight till the last for compensation as there is no
guarantee that they will get it. There are cases, he said, where the ESI has
not released compensation amounts even after the courts have ordered and that
the orders have often been challenged, making workers’ lives miserable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-- <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Jagdish Patel<br />
Peoples Training And Research Centre<br />
43,Srinathdham Duplex,<br />
Dinesh Mill -Urmi Rd<br />
VADODARA-390007<br />
Gujarat, INDIA<br />
Ph: +91- 0265- 2345576 (R)<br />
M-94264 86855<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.peoplestraining.org/" target="_blank">www.peoplestraining.org</a><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-30608788977905649152015-04-09T13:38:00.000-07:002015-04-26T23:21:55.707-07:00Korea has achieved a total ban<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another country changed its position towards the use of asbestos. <span style="font-size: small;">Korea has achieved a literal total ban on asbestos </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">on April 1st by issuing the Notice 2015-89 (Ministry of Labor </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">under the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA) ) </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">to removing the below </span>delegations<span style="font-size: 12pt;">:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
- asbestos containing gasket for submarine and missile and</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
- asbestos containing insulation for missile.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
Japan has achieved a total ban on March 1st, 2012. </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We can say there is no usage for which non asbestos</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
substitute is available (at least in Korea and Japan).</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Japan has adopted 0.1% standard since 2005 even if </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">there is an </span>argument<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> that 0.1% is below the detection limit </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and that it will be not enforceable.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-60461712709256135962015-04-08T13:41:00.000-07:002015-04-22T13:49:16.403-07:00Asia’s emerging asbestos epidemic<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Asbestos-related diseases (ARD) represent a growing global epidemic. Yet little is known about the current status of asbestos and ARD in Asia. Now, new research from the UNU International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) attempts to fill this void.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Growing awareness about the risks posed by asbestos — and the acquisition of asbestos-related diseases (ARD) data — has, in several cases from the region, correlated with a reduction in asbestos use. However, other Asian countries have been slow to learn these lessons.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Will the marked increase in asbestos use in Asia since the 1970s trigger a surge of ARD in the immediate decades ahead? What policy and public health measures can counterbalance a rise in asbestos-related diseases and mortality?</div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
Asbestos related diseases — The global dimensions</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that asbestos is one of the most significant occupational carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). In 2006, it declared the need to eliminate the rise of ARD and asbestos use.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
WHO estimates that, globally, some 107,000 deaths annually are caused by ARD; these include asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Despite gradually growing international awareness, at the regional level the analysis of asbestos use and ARD in Asia has been limited. The first regional-level discussions of the issue only took place in 2002, and a comparative understanding of the situation is patchy at best.</div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
Asbestos in Asia — Filling the research gap</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Ongoing data limitations make the task of filling the knowledge void on asbestos is Asia particularly challenging. ARD are known to be generally rare and difficult to diagnose. Furthermore, questions on data validity emerge in countries that have limited experience in diagnosing ARD. Similarly, under-reporting and inconsistent reporting of both asbestos use and ARD create additional barriers to obtaining a comprehensive picture: Of 47 Asian countries studied, 30 had data available for asbestos use only (not ARD), 15 countries had data available for both asbestos use and ARD mortality, and 2 countries only had data available for ARD mortality.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Nevertheless, using the indicators of per-capita asbestos use (measured in kilograms per capita per year) and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR, measured in cases per million population per year), recent groundbreaking research from the UNU International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH) attempted to map the dimensions of Asia’s asbestos situation. Drawing on a comparative assessment of public data, this research compared the impact of asbestos in 47 selected Asian countries over the observation period of 1920 to 2007.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Overall, asbestos use in Asia from 1920 to 2007 totaled 55.5 metric tons, or 29 % of the world’s asbestos use. Asia’s proportion of global asbestos use increased significantly overall, from a 14 % share in 1920-1970 to 33 % in 1971-2000, then rising to 64 % in 2000 – 2007. In terms of ARD, 12.5 % of ARD deaths (or 12,882 deaths, or which 12,012 were mesothelioma) were recorded cumulatively in Asia.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
During the observation period (1920 to 2007), most individual Asian countries (60 %) increased their asbestos use: Between 1920 and 1970 (period A), 5 countries recorded high values of asbestos use (greater than 1.0 kg/capita/year), while 13 countries recorded high values from 1970 to 2000 (period B). This spike in asbestos use was followed by a dip, back to 5 countries that recorded high values between 2000 and 2007 (period C).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Kazakhstan was the only county studied that maintained high values during all three periods. Cyprus and Lebanon both had high values for periods A and B and Kyrgyzstan, UAE, Thailand and Uzbekistan had high values for the two later periods (B and C). China, Thailand, India and Indonesia all increased their use of asbestos over the three periods.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Asia’s overall share of worldwide asbestos use is summarized in the chart below:</div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
Linking asbestos use and ARD mortality</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
The chart highlights that prior to 1970, Asian countries only accounted for a minor proportion (14 %) of global asbestos use. This is reflected, at least partially, in the current situation for ARD, where only 17 of the 47 countries analysed in Asia recorded ARD. Only around 13 % of global ARD has occurred in Asia. (These figures are low for a region that, in 2000, represented 61 % of the word’s population.)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
The situation is fluid, however, and has continued to change dramatically since Asian countries increased their share of world asbestos use from 1970 onwards.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Analysis of available data implies a linear correlation between the volume of a country’s past asbestos use and rates of ARD mortality (suggesting that recent and current usage will influence future ARD rates).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
For example, peak asbestos use in Japan exceeded 2.0 kg/capita/year between 1970 and 1990, which was followed by a linear increase in ARD mortality. Asbestos use in the Republic of Korea peaked at just below 2.0kg/capita/year from 1975 to 1995, and this has also correlated with a rise in ARD. Singapore recorded a sharp peak in asbestos use around 1975 (to almost 4.0 kg/capita/year), followed by an almost four-fold increase in ARD mortality. China and India also have shown steep increases in asbestos use, but data on ARD is not available.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Among countries reporting ARD data for at least three years during the observation period, Cyprus, Israel and Japan had the highest rates of asbestos-related mortality.</div>
<div align="center" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
“Countries reduced their asbestos use after realizing the burden of ARD. Although the reduction of asbestos use may correlate with a country’s own acquisition of ARD data, the ‘lessons’ of other countries are not easily learned.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
The rise in asbestos use in Asia generally correlates with rising asbestos-related mortality over time. As a general trend, the ARD epidemic curve follows the asbestos-use curve after several decades (where the initial rising of the presumed ARD curve coincides with the final waning segment of the asbestos use curve).</div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
Taking a toll for years to come</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
These correlations suggest that asbestos is likely to continue to take its toll on public health in Asia for years to come.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Several countries in Asia have moved to reduce (or ban) asbestos use after realizing the burden of ARD; however, the availability of national data plays a key role. Particularly since 2001, countries that had data available for both asbestos use and ARD have substantially reduced their asbestos usage. In contrast, countries where available data only covered asbestos usage (and not ARD) substantially increased their asbestos use over the same period.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Thus, although the reduction of asbestos use may correlate with a country’s own acquisition of national ARD data, countries that do not have this data available are slow to learn these important “lessons” from their neighbours.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
These observations suggest that Asia’s increased asbestos use since 1970 will continue to take its toll in upcoming years. That is, countries will continue to experience ARD even after asbestos use decreases significantly, in a manner reflective of historical asbestos use.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
An accurate sketch of regional trends, however, is limited by data availability. In particular, it is highly unlikely that ARD are absent in countries such as China and India, both of which have used large volumes of asbestos but have not reported/do not report the related numbers. (In China and India, the large volume of asbestos use is also diluted by their large populations, i.e., per capita rates remain moderate.) The moderate per capita use of asbestos in populous countries, therefore, cannot be overlooked.</div>
<h3 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Oswald, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
The case for a regional ban</h3>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
What political measures are Asian countries taking to counter the damage caused by asbestos use? Has weak political will to improve the situation, combined with ongoing limited resources to diagnose ARD, compounded an ARD epidemic?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
Public sentiment has a role to play in motivating political will. Japan, which was a major asbestos user, experienced the Kubota Shock (media exposure of a cluster of ARD victims) in 2005 and, as a result, adopted a total ban on asbestos in 2006. Similarly, the Republic of Korea also promulgated a ban, in principle, in 2006 and imposed a total ban in 2009, after recognizing a surging number of ARD cases. Momentum is gradually growing and, at present, several South-East Asian countries are also at various stages of considering a ban.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
The International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Asbestos Convention (1986) commits signatory states to protect workers from potentially harmful occupational asbestos exposure. In Asia, ratification of this important ILO convention is significantly lower than the global average (just 6 % of Asian countries — namely Cyprus, Japan and the Republic of Korea are signatories — compared to 17 % of countries globally). The %age of Asian nations that have implemented a total asbestos ban, however, is more on par with the global average (28 % of Asian countries, compared with 30 % of countries worldwide).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
The adoption of such bans can contribute to a significant reduction in ARD mortality.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
As a practical recommendation, Asian countries should look to ban asbestos as soon as possible, minimize exposure and ratify the ILO convention. No matter what is done, however, a surge of ARD in Asia should be anticipated in the coming decades. Asian countries, therefore, should not only cease asbestos use but also prepare for an impending epidemic. – United Nations University</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-73161494497617350532015-04-08T13:25:00.000-07:002015-04-22T13:30:01.076-07:00Korea Prohibits All Use of Hazardous Asbestos<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, palatino; line-height: 24px;">In Korea, more than 20 individuals have been diagnosed with occupational diseases due to asbestos exposure. It is expected that there will be more cases of individuals diagnosed with diseases caused by exposure to the carcinogenic material, considering the long incubation period and the large amount of asbestos used in the early years of Korea’s industrialization.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, palatino; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, palatino; line-height: 24px;">For more read <a href="http://koreabizwire.com/korea-prohibits-all-use-of-hazardous-asbestos/33054?utm_content=buffer9579e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">here</a>.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-82369295274182994982015-04-07T00:00:00.000-07:002015-04-22T13:26:11.998-07:00Govt under pressure to enforce 2011 'ban' in interests of trade The Prayut Chan-o-cha government should express a clear stance on banning chrysotile asbestos, activists say.<br />
The campaign to ban Russian asbestos began years ago when the group T-Ban was formed to head the Thailand Ban Asbestos Network and protest the product to the Russian embassy in Bangkok.<br />
<div>
<br />
Please find out <a href="http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/519911/activists-urge-clear-stand-on-asbestos-with-russian-pm?utm_content=buffer4b4de&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer">more</a> on Bangkok post about Activists urge 'clear stand' on asbestos with Russian PM. <br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-67251769908941181342015-04-03T13:18:00.000-07:002015-04-22T13:22:49.165-07:00EWG Action Fund:Senators Seek Answers Regarding Asbestos in Nation’s Schools<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The EPA requires every public school district and private non-profit school to develop a plan for managing asbestos in its buildings and complying with federal asbestos regulations. Although the law’s requirements have been in place for 20 years, EPA has found that there is widespread misunderstanding and confusion about how to implement its requirements and how to manage asbestos in school buildings.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
EWG Action Fund recently launched a new national public education campaign, <a href="http://asbestosnation.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #916a2a; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Asbestos Nation,</a> to raise awareness of this ongoing threat.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 19.5px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Read more <a href="http://www.ewg.org/release/ewg-action-fund-senators-seek-answers-regarding-asbestos-nation-s-schools" target="_blank">here</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-11470254780812023992015-04-01T19:30:00.000-07:002015-04-22T13:23:54.107-07:00Unions call for action on asbestos<div class="count_el" style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Unions have presented a petition to Parliament calling for an end to asbestos imports.</div>
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It also asks the Government to develop a comprehensive plan for the removal of all existing asbestos in New Zealand.</div>
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br />Read more <a href="https://www.blogger.com/Unions%20have%20presented%20a%20petition%20to%20Parliament%20calling%20for%20an%20end%20to%20asbestos%20imports.%20It%20also%20asks%20the%20Government%20to%20develop%20a%20comprehensive%20plan%20for%20the%20removal%20of%20all%20existing%20asbestos%20in%20New%20Zealand.%20%20%20Read%20more:%20http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/unions-call-for-action-on-asbestos-2015040116#ixzz3Y4PLp6yS" target="_blank">here</a> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-82641793165059003332015-04-01T02:30:00.000-07:002015-04-22T12:53:42.212-07:00Uproar over UN Asbestos Debacle<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An article has just been uploaded to
the IBAS website in the run up to next week’s “Chrysotile Technical Workshop”
being held under the Rotterdam Secretariat in Geneva.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For more on this workshop, please
see: Uproar over UN Asbestos Debacle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u1:p class=""></u1:p>
<u1:p class=""></u1:p><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://ibasecretariat.org/lka-uproar-over-un-asbestos-debacle.php"><span style="color: purple;">http://ibasecretariat.org/lka-uproar-over-un-asbestos-debacle.php</span></a><u1:p class=""></u1:p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-39298681683798393292015-03-31T13:30:00.000-07:002015-04-22T13:35:08.454-07:00Asbestos in Asia<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Verdana, Helvetica, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">Asbestos is a global killer. Despite lessons learned in the developed world on the use of asbestos and its hazardous pulmonary consequences, its use continues to increase in Asia. Although some countries such as Japan, Korea and Singapore have curtailed the use of this mineral, there are numerous countries in Asia that continue to mine, import and use this fibre, particularly China, which is one of the largest consumers in the world. Numerous factors ranging from political and economic to the lack of understanding of asbestos and the management of asbestos-related lung disease are keys to this observed trend. Awareness of these factors combined with early intervention may prevent the predicted Asian ‘tsunami’ of asbestos diseases.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Verdana, Helvetica, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Lucida Grande, Geneva, Verdana, Helvetica, Lucida Sans Unicode, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">For more read <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/resp.12517/epdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-72120175467661584422015-03-02T12:42:00.000-08:002015-04-22T12:52:28.285-07:00Ford Can't Duck Worker's Overseas Asbestos Exposure SuitBy <b>Sindhu Sundar</b><br />
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Law360, New
York (March 02, 2015, 5:11 PM ET) -- A New York appellate court has ruled that <a href="http://www.law360.com/companies/ford-motor-company" target="_blank">Ford Motor Co</a>.
must face a former mechanic’s suit claiming his exposure to asbestos in Ireland
lead to his mesothelioma, with the panel citing Ford's "substantial
role" in the design of auto parts distributed by its U.K. subsidiary. <br />
The appellate panel dismissed Ford's U.K. subsidiary Ford Motor Co. Ltd. from
the case for lack of jurisdiction, but said in a ruling Thursday that there
were "issues of fact" about whether Ford USA can be held liable in
the case brought by plaintiff Raymond Finerty, a U.S. resident who claimed his
work in Ireland from the 1960s to the 1980s with automotive parts, including
car brakes, caused his illness.<br />
<br />
The ruling affirms a lower court's decision in October denying Ford USA's
summary judgment motion, and reverses that court's decision denying its U.K.
subsidiary's motion to dismiss the suit, according to the order.<br />
<br />
"The record demonstrates that Ford USA acted as the global guardian of the
Ford brand, having a substantial role in the design, development, and use of
the auto parts distributed by Ford UK, with the apparent goal of the complete
standardization of all products worldwide that carried the signature Ford
logo," the panel said in its ruling.<br />
<br />
"Thus, issues of fact exist whether Ford USA may be held directly liable
as a result of its role in facilitating the distribution of the
asbestos-containing auto parts on the ground that it was 'in the best position
to exert pressure for the improved safety of products' or to warn the end users
of these auto parts of the hazards they presented," the court said.<br />
<br />
Finerty, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in December 2009, had brought his
suit in the following year against a number of defendants including Abex Corp.,
a producer of hydraulic systems. He has resolved his claims against all
defendants except for Ford, his attorneys at <a href="http://www.law360.com/firms/levy-konigsberg">Levy Konigsberg LLP</a> told
Law360 Monday.<br />
<br />
"We're very pleased with the court's decision, and it could have
wide-ranging effects because the court found that Ford can be responsible for
exposing people to its products around the world," Amber R. Long of Levy
Konigsberg said.<br />
<br />
"For decades, they have exported poisonous products, and since that time
they've been able to avoid liability by hiding behind a scheme of complicated
corporate hierarchy that amounts to a shell game," Brendan Tully of Levy
Konigsberg said. "This is the first time we've been able to show Ford's direct
role in its European products."<br />
<br />
The attorneys said that they hope the suit will go to trial within the next few
months.<br />
<br />
According to the order, Ford USA had argued that it could not be held liable
for parts made and sold by its U.K. subsidiary, saying that there was "no
basis" to pierce the corporate veil, in which a company's owners can be
held responsible for their units' liabilities.<br />
<br />
The panel agreed with this aspect of Ford USA's argument, but ruled the suit
should nonetheless proceed against it because of its potential role the
products' design, according to the order.<br />
<br />
Representatives and an attorney for Ford USA could not immediately be reached
for comment late Monday.<br />
<br />
The plaintiffs are represented by Amber R. Long and Brendan Tully of Levy
Konigsberg LLP.<br />
<br />
Ford is represented by Elliot J. Zucker of <a href="http://www.law360.com/firms/aaronson-rappaport">Aaronson Rappaport
Feinstein & Deutsch LLP</a>.<br />
<br />
The case is Raymond Finerty et al. v. Abex Corp. et al., case number 190187/10
14344 14343, in the Supreme Court of New York Appellate Division, First
Department.<br />
<br />
--Editing by Emily Kokoll.<u1:p class=""></u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-28523690163432676072014-10-22T13:53:00.000-07:002015-04-22T14:02:46.794-07:00Government agrees to pay damages to asbestos workers after Supreme Court win<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AUuzl7rXM2dJFZ0Ml_icMuGicGDVGX-ioqzm80e9XcnEz2XvXlkUjQhS-oqWRHuidbHxk8tCFQL1TXV-9BCPa0ewmpHSOfUiUNqPPQFUXDlJwm8Vtb2ar7o162S0-qUIIOkJrwm1nHI/s1600/P1010698%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AUuzl7rXM2dJFZ0Ml_icMuGicGDVGX-ioqzm80e9XcnEz2XvXlkUjQhS-oqWRHuidbHxk8tCFQL1TXV-9BCPa0ewmpHSOfUiUNqPPQFUXDlJwm8Vtb2ar7o162S0-qUIIOkJrwm1nHI/s1600/P1010698%5B1%5D.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
The central government has said it will settle a pending asbestos suit brought by Osaka Prefecture factory workers and their families, after the Supreme Court ruled in their favor earlier this month.<br /><br />It said it would consider also settling with plaintiffs who have filed similar lawsuits elsewhere and with all people who suffered health problems as a result of their work at asbestos factories during the period the Supreme Court ruled on.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For more read <a href="http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/10/22/national/crime-legal/government-agrees-to-pay-damages-to-asbestos-workers-after-supreme-court-win/#.VTgJr9KUdpt" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-40709527763002082942012-01-12T08:23:00.000-08:002012-01-12T08:23:35.335-08:00International Trade of hazardous chemicals and pesticidesThree years after its adoption, regulation 689/2008/EC, implementing the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade at EU level is being recast.<br />
<br />
Please find out <a href="http://www.wecf.eu/english/articles/2011/12/PIC_recast_2011.php" target="_blank">more</a> about ROCA Appeal on PIC recast, WECF position on the Commission proposal final to recast of PIC regulation and its letter to the European Parliament ENVI Committee Members.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-35327101796691831862012-01-12T01:23:00.000-08:002012-01-12T01:23:46.790-08:00Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International TradePlease find below the provisional agenda of the eighth CRC meeting in Geneva, 19-23 March 2012:<br />
<br />
1. Opening of the meeting<br />
2. Organizational matters:<br />
(a) Adoption of the agenda<br />
(b) organization of work<br />
3. Review of the outcomes of the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Rotterdam Convention relevant to the Committee's work<br />
4. Operational issues:<br />
(a) Rotation of the membership<br />
(b) Report on activities for effective participation in the Committee's work<br />
(c) Working procedures and policy guidance developed to facilitate the Committee's work<br />
5. Technical work:<br />
(a) Report of the Bureau on the preliminary review of notifications<br />
(b) Review of notifications of final regulatory actions:<br />
(i) Dicofol<br />
(ii) Trichlorfon<br />
(c) Consideration of draft decision guidance documents:<br />
(i) Pentabromodiphenyl ether commercial mixtures<br />
(ii) Octabromodiphenyl ether commercial mixtures<br />
(iii) Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, its salts and its precursor perfluooctane sulfonyl fluoride<br />
(iv) Gramoxone Super<br />
(d) Review of the draft guidelines to assist parties in preparing notifications of final regulatory action<br />
(6) Other matters<br />
(7) Dates and venue of the Committee's ninth meeting<br />
(8) Adoption of the report<br />
(9) Closure of the meetingUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4739314901513010363.post-78818601054799414692011-12-21T04:59:00.000-08:002011-12-21T04:59:23.302-08:00International NGOs call on EU Commission, EU Parliament and EU Member States not to lower the health and safety standards in its EU PIC Regulation<div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">The right to Prior Informed Consent (PIC), as provided by the Rotterdam Convention, is an essential right, both to ensure responsible management of hazardous chemicals and pesticides and also to ensure that developing countries control how their environment is used in pursuit of sustainable development.</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">The EU is a leader in the implementation of the Rotterdam Convention and its objectives through the current EU PIC Regulation. Therefore we are very concerned about new proposals put forward by the EU Commission to weaken the EU PIC Regulation. These proposals would result in an increase in the export of hazardous chemicals to our countries, potential importing countries. Our countries often lack information and technical and financial resources to handle these chemicals. These proposals not only pose direct risk to human health and the environment in our countries, but also undermine the very purpose of the Convention.</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>We, as NGOs from potential importing countries, strongly call on EU politicians and decision makers to:</b></div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>1. Withdraw the 2 exemptions mentioned in Article 14/7</b>, which would allow continued exportation of the chemicals even if no response or notification permitting importation had been received after 60 days. Moreover, the proposal made by the Commission, states that the export would be allowed if the chemical has been used or imported in the last 5 years and no regulatory action has been undertaken to prohibit its use.</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>2. Support Amendment 5 to article 14/7</b> of rapporteur Dan Jorgensen to ensure inclusion in the substances excluded from PIC derogation regime of all categories of hazardous substances classified CMR 1A or 1B under CLP regulation or PBT/vPvB and endocrine disrupting substances under REACH regulation EC No 1906/2006.</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>3. Consider the inclusion in this list of article 14/7</b> of substances of Annex XIV (substances of very high concern) and substances of Candidate List of REACH regulation EC No 1906/2006.</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">We believe that the EU does not want to lower its standards to protect human health and the environment by inventing derogations aimed at increasing the export of dangerous chemicals/pesticides, which are banned, not authorized or severely restricted in the EU, to non-EU countries, especially developing countries and countries with economies in transition.</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">The proposed changes would increase environmental injustice by exposing populations of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to greater risk of harm.</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">We call on you to support environmental justice by maintaining or even enhancing the existing standards. Thank you for your support.</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Signatories from Non-EU countries</b></div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Friends of the Earth, Malaysia </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Ecological Restorations, Ghana </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">SEEPOM (Association d'Éducation Environnementale et de Protection des Oiseaux au Maroc, Morocco </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Alaska </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Eco Accord, Russia </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Pesticide Action Network Aotearoa, New Zealand </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Uganda Network on Toxic Free Malaria Control (UNETMAC), Uganda </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">ToxicsWatch Alliance, India </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Asociation of Ecotoxicologist from Moldova, ECOTOX, Moldova </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Journalists for Human Rights, Macedonia </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">CUTEZATORUL Association, Moldova </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Association for Farmers Rights Defense, AFRD, Georgia </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Terra-1530, Moldova </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">TOXISPHERA – Environmental Health Association, Brazil </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">APROMAC – Environmental Protection Association, Brazil </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">MAMA86, Ukraine </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">CAATA ( Cener for Analyses on Toxics and Alternatives), Mexico </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Indonesia Toxics-Free Network, Indonesia </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Corporate Accountability Desk-The Other Media, India </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">"Khazer" Ecological and Cultural NGO, Armenia </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">AEEFG, Tunesia </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE), Armenia </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Sciencecorps, USA </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Alliance Nationale des Consommateurs et de l'environnement (ANCE-Togo), Togo</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Supporting signatories from EU countries</b></div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">WEN, Scotland </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Social Ecological Institute, Poland </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Clean up Greece, Greece</div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><a href="http://www.wecf.eu/english/chemicals-health/WECF-position-paper-PIC-recast.pdf" target="_blank">WECF – Women in Europe for a Common Future, <span id="goog_816814479"></span>Germany, France, The Netherland<span id="goog_816814480"></span>s</a> </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">VHUE e.V., Association for the Support of Environmental sick People, Germany </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">EU Umweltbüro, Austria </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Réseau Environnement Santé (RES), France </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Ecobaby Foundation, The Netherlands </div><div style="font: 10.8px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Ban asbestos France et Association Henri Pézerat, France</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0