As a Canadian I am absolutely appalled that my government is funding the expansion of asbestos mines and reopening asbestos processing plants.
We are exporting death! The International Labour organization estimates that there are 100,000 deaths worldwide in work related asbestos deaths per year.
In 2009, Canada sent nearly 153,000 tonnes of chrysotile or white asbestos abroad. These exports are to third world countries, primarily to India (half the asbestos goes there) Indonesia, Mexico, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. While in Canada, the US and other developed countries, regulators are banning the use of asbestos, Canada persists in claiming that there are "safe levels of asbestos", flying in the face of scientific research which has confirmed that there are no safe levels of this dangerous substance! The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists reports that some predictions say there will be 10 million asbestos-related cancer deaths worldwide by 2030!
Please tell the Canadian government to ban asbestos exports and shut down this deadly industry for good!
