Page 21 - ETU Journal Autumn 2017

hEALTh & SAfETy > APHEDA ASBESTOS
asbestOs
www.etuvic.com.au
tHE Etu > AutuMn 2016 21
#notHerenotanywhere
In Australia, asbestos is totally banned. It was a long, hard ight against
a powerful industry, but we got there. However, in other parts of the world Aasbestos continues to do its deadly damage.
ustralian unionists know what it takes to struggle and win asbestos bans. We also know we have
to be vigilant. Despite import bans, asbestos is still getting into Australia — in construction materials, in mechanical parts, in school science kits. Recently, asbestos traces were even found in children’s crayons. We know the ight for victims is ongoing.
Widespread and killing in South East Asia
Hundreds of thousands of tonnes
of raw asbestos are imported across South East Asia, where they are used to make building products, roof-tiles, machine parts and specialist fabrics for clothing.
The workers in the factories are exposed, as are the communities surrounding the factories and the workers’ families. The cost in human life is incalculable.
In Vietnam, there is progress towards a ban, but the work ahead to organise for eradication is extensive. In Cambodia, as construction sites pop up all over the place, lowly paid building and construction workers are exposed to asbestos dust from
union Aid Abroad- APHEDA is building a movement of people in Australia to support movements in South East Asia to work towards asbestos bans and eradication.
cheap cladding. In Indonesia, 26 factories, each with more than 100 workers, are producing products with asbestos. The industry in Indonesia directly exposes over 7,000 workers.
These workers, and their communities, are largely unaware of the damage caused by exposure to asbestos.
the union movement — your union— is stepping up to eradicate the Asbestos killer overseas
The World Health Organisation says that the only way to see an end to asbestos-related disease is to see asbestos eradicated globally.
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is building a movement of people in Australia to support movements in South East Asia to work towards asbestos bans and eradication.
In Vietnam, we are continuing the support VN-BAN, a local network
of organisations joining forces to see asbestos eradicated. Despite the concerted eforts of the powerful asbestos lobby, we now have government support for a ban by 2020.
In Cambodia, we are looking to scale up our involvement in campaigns
and organising around asbestos. We are also looking for opportunities to support local unions and movements in Burma, Laos and wherever asbestos is used and people are exposed.
And right now, in Indonesia, we
are supporting a new partner, LION. LION’s vision is for all Indonesians to be able to work without fear of injury or illness from their jobs, because workplace health and safety hazards are understood and recognised by all.
WHAt CAn YOu DO?
Join APHEDA. Your contributions make a big difference and APHEDA members are ready and willing to take action to support global asbestos bans.
Make a solidarity sign and share it using #NotHereNotAnywhere (you can download these at www.apheda.org.au/asbestos)
Get resources and an action pack to spread the word at: www.apheda.org.au/asbestos
Contact APHEDA for support to spread the word, build the campaign or if you have any questions ofice@apheda.org.au.
UnionAidAbroadAPHEDA @apheda UnionAidAbroadAPHEDA