ADAO Canadian Declaration: Advocacy organization initiates collaboration to eliminate asbestos-related diseases

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), which combines education, advocacy and community to provide a unified voice for asbestos victims, has announced with the Canadian Voices of Asbestos Victims, the release of the North American Declaration to Eliminate Asbestos-Related Diseases.

The declaration initiates an enhanced collaboration between the United States and Canadian asbestos disease victims and their families, public health organizations, environmental non-governmental organizations, occupational safety and health specialists, and politicians. The posting of the declaration and petition on ADAO's website serves as an invitation to all concerned citizens and organizations to support the North American Declaration to Eliminate asbestos-related Diseases. In February 2012, the ADAO and the Canadian Voices of Asbestos Victims will deliver the Declaration and list of supporters to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama urging them to take action to prohibit the use and export of all asbestos.

The leading international health agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), state that asbestos is a human carcinogen and that 107,000 workers die annually from asbestos-related diseases.  Despite these findings, with support from the Canadian and Quebec governments, Canada remains one of top countries in the world exporting asbestos.  In fact, until recently, Canada was the world's biggest chrysotile exporter and may soon regain that title. A decision is expected soon from the Quebec government about financial support for the reopening of an asbestos mine in Quebec, which would allow exports to continue for many years to come.

Asbestos lawyer Anne McGinness Kearse represents many victims and family members who have contracted mesothelioma through asbestos exposure as well as Canadian Workers' Compensation Boards seeking to recoup benefits paid out to asbestos victims in Canada.

Learn more about how Motley Rice asbestos lawyers represent U.S. and Canadian asbestos victims and fight for compensation and accountability on their behalf against companies that manufactured, distributed or supplied asbestos-containing products.