Prepared remarks by Linda Reinstein, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) Co-Founder, for the Galway Film Fleadh "Dust: The Great Asbestos Trial” panel discussion. Video message http://bit.ly/SaqlGA

1. Linda Reinstein, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization Co-Founder
Galway Film Fleadh
“Deadly Asbestos Ravages Humanity”
Prepared Remarks for the Dust: The Great Asbestos Trial Panel Discussion
Remarks via Video
July 12, 2012
I’m Linda Reinstein, President and Co-Founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization
(ADAO), an independent nonprofit, dedicated to eliminating environmental and occupational
asbestos-caused diseases.
I deeply regret not being with you today, but I am presently working in Washington, DC on
national and international asbestos issues.
Asbestos is still legal and lethal in the United States, Canada, and in nearly 75% countries around
the world. Worse yet, Canada continues to mine and export asbestos and the USA continues to
imports over 1,000 tons of chrysotile asbestos just this past year. Exposure continues.
History is a great teacher to those who listen. More than 30 years ago, the International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC) declared asbestos to be a human carcinogen. The World Health
Organization estimates the mineral, regardless of the type, causes 107,000 preventable deaths each
year around the world.
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization
"United for Asbestos Disease Awareness, Education, Advocacy, and Community"
1525 Aviation Boulevard, Suite 318 • Redondo Beach • California • 90278 • (310) 251-7477
www.adao.us
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2. I am just one of the hundreds of thousands of asbestos victims in the world. In 2003, after
enduring nine months of symptoms and multiple visits to doctors, my husband, Alan, was
diagnosed with mesothelioma. I had ever heard of mesothelioma and thought asbestos had been
banned in the United States. Alan underwent a surgical procedure that removed a rib, left lung, and
pericardium and replaced his diaphragm -- in hopes of having more time with our family. But,
because of his asbestos exposure, our then-10-year-old daughter had to watch her father slowly die
from a preventable disease. Sadly, our experience was a common one.
Dramatically, “Dust: The Great Asbestos Trial” tells a story through Luisa’s eyes and gives you a
window into the multinational problem in Italy, Brazil, Canada, and India, but remember asbestos
is not limited to these countries alone. In fact, as many of you may know, asbestos was recently a
problem in the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
Last week, the global struggle increased when the Canadian government decided to guarantee a $58
million loan that to revive the Jeffrey Asbestos Mine Inc. in Quebec. If reopened, this mine will be
able to export 200,000 tons of asbestos annually to developing countries. By offering this subsidy,
Quebec has consciously placed profits ahead of people, thus endangering people not only in
Canada but around the world. Defying scientific reports, this action ignores the carnage. It is
impossible, ridiculous, and criminal to promote safe and controlled use of asbestos. The reopening
of the Jeffery Mine has a domino effect, and after this announcement in Canada, Indian officials
have stated that they will use this to increase their use of asbestos, only vowing to monitor the
levels more closely. Don’t be fooled, the asbestos industry’s propaganda and political networks are
galvanized with money and power.
Powerful documentaries like “Dust: The Great Asbestos Trial” engage viewers and fuel our fight
stop the human, environmental, and civil rights violations. The only two ways to end deadly
asbestos-caused diseases are prevention and a cure. The digital revolution has enabled us to
leverage technology, social networks, and film to end the toxic asbestos trade and injustices from
mining, exporting and manufacturing asbestos products.
One life lost to an asbestos-caused disease is tragic; hundreds of thousands of lives lost is
unconscionable. With your help, we can end the deadly legacy of asbestos. Together, change is
possible.
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization
"United for Asbestos Disease Awareness, Education, Advocacy, and Community"
1525 Aviation Boulevard, Suite 318 • Redondo Beach • California • 90278 • (310) 251-7477
www.adao.us
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