New European Publications on Asbestos
The Polluter Pays was the title of a bi-lingual international conference held in Holland in May, 2004. In July, 2005, a 164 page book was published in English which is an accurate representation of the presentations made at that event. The translation of the Dutch papers into English by Steven McGiffen constitutes a useful contribution to our collective knowledge of the on-going global asbestos tragedy. This book can be obtained from the website of the Committee of Asbestos Victims [http://www.comiteasbestslachtoffers.nl) at a cost of 15 euros; it will also be available in a pdf file from that website.
The Asbestos Tragedy: Eternit and the Consequences of 100 years of Asbestos Cement (Het asbestdrama: Eternit en de gevolgen van 100 jaar asbestcement) by Bob Ruers and Nico Schouten was published in July by the Socialist Party of the Netherlands; the book is written in Dutch. According to Bub Ruers the book, which covers the history of the asbestos cartel established in 1928, reveals how strongly the asbestos industry has promoted the use of asbestos cement products whilst simultaneously denying the harmful nature of the asbestos they contain. An abridged English version of this book is being compiled; it will be available solely in pdf format.
Special Report: Asbestos in the World by Laurent Vogel is a thirteen page feature which appeared in the June 2005 issue of the HESA Newsletter.1 This concise round-up of current asbestos developments includes subjects such as:
increasing consumption of asbestos in Asia;
global asbestos politics: the role played by Canadian asbestos stakeholders;
the betrayal by President Lula of Brazil's asbestos victims;
the worldwide trade union campaign against asbestos.
The article can be viewed online:
http://hesa.etui-rehs.org/uk/newsletter/files/Newsletter27p7-21.pdf
August 1, 2005
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1 HESA: The Health and Safety Department of the ETUI-REHS, European Trade Union Institute - Research, Education, Health & Safety.
