As of the date of release of the new Asbestos
Statement by the Joint Policy Committee of the Societies of
Epidemiology, and compared to previous policy documents, it
appears that record numbers of organizations and individuals have
endorsed the new statement. According to Kathleen Ruff, a
Canadian asbestos activist who helped to prepare for the release
of the statement, 57 separate organizations from 20 countries have
endorsed it. And at last count before this publication went to
press, over 80 persons had signed on as individuals.
Response
Included among the high profile organizations
endorsing the statement are the American Public Health
Association, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Medical
Association, the Canadian Public Health Association, and Collegium
Ramazzini. The roster of organizational endorsers includes not
only these health and professional groups, but trade unions, civil
society organizations, and victims groups as well. These endorsers
are located in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark,
France, India, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico,
Philippines, Scotland, South Africa, The Netherlands, UK, and USA.
Triggers
Asked what caused the large number of early
endorsers from so many separate sectors of society, Ruff told The
Epidemiology Monitor there are several reasons. First of all, she
said many have felt a need to do this to counter the denial,
misinformation, and deception created by the asbestos industry.
The statement is not abstract and bites the bullet on this, she
said, because it deals with the real world and states why more
progress has not been made in reducing the two million tons of
asbestos traded each year. Second, she said the statement has all
the up to date science on the topic and it is “completely
overwhelming and irrefutable.” She said it re-establishes the
paramount importance of science over political expediency.
Third, while there are no breakthroughs in terms of
the information presented, it pulls everything together from many
different scientific disciplines. Finally, asbestos is traded
everywhere and is a global issue. There is widespread awareness
about asbestos and this made it possible for a large number of
groups to endorse quickly.
On Epidemiologists
According to Ruff, the activist community around
asbestos has developed “enormous respect for the epidemiologists
doing this” statement. While not victims themselves,
epidemiologists have seen the harm being caused and they are
taking responsibility to try to prevent the harm, she said. The
statement has been seen as “outstanding leadership”, and the
activist community is deeply grateful to the scientists, she
added.
To support her point, Ruff quoted Matt Myers,
President of Tobacco Free Kids, from an article in last month’s
issue of The Epidemiology Monitor who said that “…in epidemiology
and public health it is rarely enough to produce science and
assume that change will happen. Change requires leaders,
leadership, dedication, and sustained commitment…unless
individuals and scientists feel strongly enough about the need to
translate evidence into action or policy, then it won’t happen.”
About Victims
She told the Monitor that many victims have a very
hard time being listened to and have no real voice. She said many
governments have put political interests ahead of health, and now
victims will know that their life is worth something. She called
the statement “inspiring and a landmark” coming at a critical
time, especially in Asia where industry intimidation and lobbying
is now being felt.
Potential Impact
Asked if she thought the statement would really
make a difference, Ruff told the Epidemiology Monitor that she is
hopeful. Every little bit counts, she said, and it will add to the
momentum now building to eliminate the use of asbestos. As a
person respected in Canada and internationally as a human rights
advocate, Ruff said this statement reinforces that everyone has a
right to health and that no lives are disposable.
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