{"id":1004,"date":"2011-06-14T10:32:05","date_gmt":"2011-06-14T14:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rightoncanada.ca\/?p=1004"},"modified":"2011-08-05T12:04:57","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T16:04:57","slug":"release-%e2%80%9cit%e2%80%99s-time-to-put-human-health-ahead-of-asbestos%e2%80%9d-over-200-health-advocates-tell-prime-minister-harper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/?p=1004","title":{"rendered":"Release: \u201cIt\u2019s time to put human health ahead of asbestos\u201d over 200 health advocates tell Prime Minister Harper"},"content":{"rendered":"

For immediate release: June 14, 2011<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time to put human health ahead of asbestos\u201dover 200 health advocates tell Prime Minister Harper<\/strong>
\nHarper government overruled Health Canada\u2019s advice not to block UN Convention, document reveals.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In an Open Letter, released today<\/a>, over two hundred environmental groups, labour unions and scientists from Asia, Africa, North & South America and Europe, call on PM Harper to stop preventing the UN Rotterdam Convention from adding chrysotile asbestos to its list of hazardous substances. Chrysotile asbestos represents 100% of the global asbestos trade.
\nThe Convention promotes responsible trade by requiring that \u201cprior informed consent\u201d be obtained before a country exports a hazardous substance on its list.<\/p>\n

A document obtained by Ken Rubin under Access to Information,<\/a> reveals that Health Canada (HC) recommended that Canada support the listing of chrysotile asbestos, but was overruled.
\n\u201cHC\u2019s preferred position would be to list – \u00a0as this is consistent with controlled use \u2013 i.e. let people know about the substance so they have the information they need, thru prior informed consent, to ensure they handle and use the substance correctly,\u201d states the memo from Paul Glover of Health Canada. \u201cWe want to contribute health advice, but acknowledge the final decision will not be made on the basis of health alone,\u201d said Glover.<\/p>\n

The Convention\u2019s Chemical Review Committee has repeatedly called for chrysotile asbestos to be put on the list, but Canada has refused. The issue will be brought forward again at a UN Conference in Geneva June 20-24. PM Harper and Minister Christian Paradis have said that Canada will continue to block the listing.<\/p>\n

By preventing people from being informed that chrysotile asbestos is hazardous, Canada is betraying science, human health and common decency,\u201d said Dr Fernand Turcotte, Professor Emeritus of Public Health, Laval University. \u201cQuebec\u2019s public health leaders, as well as Amnesty International in Quebec, are today calling for Canada to respect the right to health and to non-discrimination and to support the listing of chrysotile asbestos.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChrysotile asbestos is listed as a hazardous substance in Canadian law,\u201d said Dr Jean Zigby, president, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. \u201cOur government is practicing a double standard by saying it is not hazardous for people overseas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy putting the interests of the asbestos industry ahead of the protection of human health and the environment, Canada is bringing shame on Canada\u2019s international reputation,\u201d said Kathleen Ruff, senior human rights adviser to the Rideau Institute.<\/p>\n

\u201cCanada\u2019s trade union movement has fought to protect workers from asbestos harm. We demand that Canada stop blocking this basic right for people overseas,\u201d said Laura Lozanski of the Canadian Association of Univeristy Teachers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe call on PM Harper to do the right thing: Support the Rotterdam Convention, not the asbestos industry,\u201d concluded Dr Turcotte.<\/p>\n

= 30 =<\/p>\n

CONTACT: <\/strong>
\nKathleen Ruff: 250 847-1848, kruff@bulkley.net; Dr Kapil Khatter: 416-306-2273, khatter7@gmail.com; Laura Lozanksi: 613-726-5168, lozanski@caut.ca<\/p>\n

Download the Open Letter to Prime Minister Harper here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Download the Health Canada letter here. <\/a><\/p>\n

—————————————————————-<\/p>\n

Pour diffusion imm\u00e9diate : le 14 juin 2011
\n<\/strong>
\n200 militants de la sant\u00e9 demandent au premier ministre Harper de faire pr\u00e9valoir la protection de la sant\u00e9 de l\u2019humanit\u00e9 avant le commerce de l\u2019amiante<\/strong>
\n Un document r\u00e9v\u00e8le que le gouvernement Harper a refus\u00e9 un avis de Sant\u00e9 Canada lui recommandant de ne pas s\u2019opposer \u00e0 une convention des Nations Unies.<\/em><\/p>\n

Dans une lettre ouverte rendue publique aujourd\u2019hui<\/a>, plus de deux cents mouvements de protection de l\u2019environnement, de syndicats ouvriers et de scientifiques d\u2019Asie, d\u2019Afrique, des deux Am\u00e9riques et de l\u2019Europe demande au premier ministre Harper de mettre fin \u00e0 son obstruction de l\u2019inscription de l\u2019amiante chrysotile dans la Convention de Rotterdam r\u00e9gissant le commerce mondial des produits dangereux. L\u2019amiante chrysotile compte pour 100% du commerce mondial de l\u2019amiante.<\/p>\n

La Convention fait la promotion du commerce responsable en exigeant l\u2019obtention d\u2019un consentement \u00e9clair\u00e9 avant qu\u2019un pays n\u2019exporte un des produits dangereux inscrits dans une liste qu\u2019elle pr\u00e9pare.<\/p>\n

Un document obtenu en vertu de la loi sur l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 l\u2019information montre que Sant\u00e9 Canada a recommand\u00e9 que le Canada soutienne l\u2019inscription de l\u2019amiante chrysotile sur cette liste et que cette recommandation n\u2019a pas \u00e9t\u00e9 mise en pratique.<\/p>\n

\u00ab \u00a0La pr\u00e9f\u00e9rence de Sant\u00e9 Canada serait d\u2019inscrire l\u2019amiante chrysotile \u00e0 la liste, d\u2019autant plus que cette d\u00e9marche serait concordante avec les principes de l\u2019utilisation s\u00e9curitaire lesquels exigent qu\u2019on donne aux gens toutes les informations n\u00e9cessaires pour manipuler ce produit correctement, avant qu\u2019ils ne l\u2019ach\u00e8tent \u00bb, comme le dit le document de Paul Glover de Sant\u00e9 Canada. \u00ab Nous souhaitons participer \u00e0 la formulation des avertissements sanitaires mais nous savons aussi que la d\u00e9cision ultime ne d\u00e9pendra pas des seules pr\u00e9occupations de la sant\u00e9 \u00bb a dit M. Glover.<\/p>\n

Le Comit\u00e9 d\u2019experts en chimie de la Convention a demand\u00e9 \u00e0 r\u00e9p\u00e9tition que l\u2019amiante chrysotile soit inscrit sur la liste mais le Canada s\u2019y est oppos\u00e9. Le probl\u00e8me sera \u00e0 nouveau discut\u00e9 lors de la prochaine r\u00e9union de la Convention qui se tiendra \u00e0 Gen\u00e8ve du 20 au 24 juin prochain. Le premier ministre Harper et le ministre Paradis ont dit que le Canada vont continuer \u00e0 s\u2019opposer \u00e0 l\u2019insertion de l\u2019amiante chrysotile dans la liste des produits dangereux.<\/p>\n

\u00ab En emp\u00eachant les gens d\u2019apprendre que l\u2019amiante chrysotile est un produit dangereux, le Canada trahit la connaissance scientifique, la sant\u00e9 de l\u2019humanit\u00e9 et la d\u00e9cence la plus \u00e9l\u00e9mentaire \u00bb dit le Dr Fernand Turcotte, professeur \u00e9m\u00e9rite de sant\u00e9 publique \u00e0 l\u2019Universit\u00e9 Laval. \u00ab \u00a0Les chefs de file de la sant\u00e9 publique du Qu\u00e9bec tout comme Amnistie internationale demandent au Canada de respecter le droit \u00e0 la sant\u00e9 et le droit d\u2019\u00eatre prot\u00e9g\u00e9 de la discrimination en appuyant l\u2019inscription de l\u2019amiante chrysotile \u00e0 la liste des produits dangereux. \u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab L\u2019amiante chrysotile est un produit dangereux selon la loi canadienne \u00bb rappelle le Dr Jean Zigby, pr\u00e9sident de l\u2019Association canadienne des m\u00e9decins pour l\u2019environnement. \u00ab Notre gouvernement est de mauvaise foi quand il pr\u00e9tend que l\u2019amiante n\u2019est pas dangereux pour les gens d\u2019outre-mer. \u00bb<\/p>\n

\u00ab En faisant pr\u00e9valoir la protection des int\u00e9r\u00eats de l\u2019industrie de l\u2019amiante sur la protection de la sant\u00e9 de l\u2019humanit\u00e9 et de l\u2019environnement, le Canada se d\u00e9shonore aux yeux de l\u2019humanit\u00e9 \u00bb signale Kathleen Ruff, conseill\u00e8re principale en droits humains de l\u2019Institut Rideau.<\/p>\n

\u00ab Le mouvement syndical du Canada s\u2019est longtemps battu pour prot\u00e9ger les travailleurs contre les dangers de l\u2019amiante. Nous exigeons \u00a0que le Canada cesse d\u2019entraver l\u2019acc\u00e8s des gens d\u2019outre-mer \u00e0 ce droit \u00e9l\u00e9mentaire \u00bb a d\u00e9clar\u00e9 Laura Lozanski de l\u2019Association canadienne des professeurs d\u2019universit\u00e9.<\/p>\n

\u00ab Nous demandons au premier ministre Harper de faire son devoir: Soutenir la Convention de Rotterman et non pas l\u2019industrie de l\u2019amiante \u00bb conclut le Dr Turcotte.<\/p>\n

= \u00a030 \u00a0=
\n<\/strong>
\nContacts :<\/strong> Kathleen Ruff : 250-847-1848; kruff@bukley.net. Dr Kapil Khatter : 416-3062273; khatter7@gmail.com. Laura Lozanski : 613-726-5168; lozanski@caut.ca<\/p>\n

T\u00e9l\u00e9charger le lettre au Premier Ministre Harper ici.<\/a><\/p>\n

T\u00e9l\u00e9charger le lettre de Sant\u00e9 Canada ici. <\/a><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For immediate release: June 14, 2011 \u201cIt\u2019s time to put human health ahead of asbestos\u201dover 200 health advocates tell Prime Minister Harper Harper government overruled Health Canada\u2019s advice not to block UN Convention, document reveals. In an Open Letter, released today, over two hundred environmental groups, labour unions and scientists from Asia, Africa, North & […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[29,47,143,18,23,109,108,19,140],"class_list":["post-1004","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-asbestos","tag-abestos","tag-asbestos-exports","tag-harper","tag-health-canada","tag-minister-paradis","tag-premier-ministre-stephen-harper","tag-prime-minister-stephen-harper","tag-rotterdam-convention","tag-stephen-harper"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1004","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1004"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1004\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1059,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1004\/revisions\/1059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1004"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1004"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rightoncanada.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1004"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}