With Asbestos, Canada Deals Death to the Poor in Developing Countries
You don't have to spend anymore time wondering about the Canadian government. Their thinking is rather limited to the short term and what is economically progressive for Canada now. Take cancer-causing asbestos for instance. Canada is one of the world's largest producer at close to 350,000 tonnes, most of which are destined for South-East Asia and South America. The government (Harper's and previous) actively promotes asbestos as safe to use in controlled situations, and has actively worked to ensure that the Rotterdam Convention, a UN directive to create a list of hazardous chemicals that countries can't export without the importing country's permission, doesn't get passed. Yes, Canada is an international pariah. We're exporting death for profits.
Health Canada warns about the use of asbestos, pointing out that its use is highly regulated by the Hazardous Product Act and its production regulated by the Environmental Protection Act -- but Health Canada tows the government line, and doesn't say the stuff will kill you. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency has attempted to ban the substance, but has faced stiff opposition from industry.
Who produces asbestos products? Well, you won't find many companies declaring they deal in asbestos. Fibrox for instance, a private company operating in Quebec, speaks only of mineral fiber on their website. There are approximately 2,000 people employed in the asbestos business in Quebec, and to be sure, most are probably equipped for the safe handling of asbestos. In developing countries however, where the poor are a commodity resource, asbestos handling is anything but safe.
Help make a difference, and send a message to the Canadian government -- we need to take a more global outlook on human life and the environment.
Health Canada warns about the use of asbestos, pointing out that its use is highly regulated by the Hazardous Product Act and its production regulated by the Environmental Protection Act -- but Health Canada tows the government line, and doesn't say the stuff will kill you. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency has attempted to ban the substance, but has faced stiff opposition from industry.
Who produces asbestos products? Well, you won't find many companies declaring they deal in asbestos. Fibrox for instance, a private company operating in Quebec, speaks only of mineral fiber on their website. There are approximately 2,000 people employed in the asbestos business in Quebec, and to be sure, most are probably equipped for the safe handling of asbestos. In developing countries however, where the poor are a commodity resource, asbestos handling is anything but safe.
Help make a difference, and send a message to the Canadian government -- we need to take a more global outlook on human life and the environment.
We are sealing asbestos roofs & walls in Australia. Many owners of asbestos roof buildings cannot afford to shut them down for replacement, so they use us to apply a special encapsulating paint system to seal the fibres. It is not as good as removal but it is 80% less than replacement and there are no fibres evident after our maintenance. If Canadian companies are going to continue to export asbestos sheeting etc., they could minimise the future risk considerably if they coated the asbestos with this type of process.
ReplyDeleteHow do we get the message across to the Canadian Government and/or the manufacturers in Canada?
Is anyone listening?
There is a solution to reduce loss of life!
www.cocoon.net.au
Hey, not a bad idea ... it will minimize the problems. If you Google Industry Canada (asbestos site:ic.gc.ca), you'll find some companies that work with asbestos, complete with phone numbers and email addresses. Go get 'em people!
ReplyDelete