Appeal to Smt Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh

Appeal to Smt Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh

On June 20, 2011 the United Nations will vote to list chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous substance, Government of India has been refusing to do so for several years under the influence of asbestos companies.

Smt Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, Indian National Congress led United Progressive Alliance and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh appear to be the main obstacle to the UN agreement on hazardous chemicals- Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

We appeal to Smt Gandhi and Dr Singh to:
Support listing of chrysotile asbestos in the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure list of hazardous materials at the 5th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the UNs Rotterdam Convention to be held from 20 to 24 June, 2011 in Geneva
Prohibit import, manufacture and use of asbestos based products
Institute just transition program for asbestos workers, their families and communities around asbestos plants and products
Join the United Nations in banning the production and export of chrysotile asbestos worldwide
Announce the compensation package for present and future victims of asbestos diseases
Make the asbestos companies criminally liable for knowingly exposing citizens and consumers of asbestos products

The World Health Organisations latest estimate notes that asbestos already claims 107,000 lives a year, she said, pointing to a July 2010 WHO factsheet. Even that conservative estimate means every five minutes around the clock a person dies of asbestos related disease. The ongoing use of the asbestos fibre kills at least 300 people every day.

Asbestos is banned in 55 countries, including the European Union and Japan. India is the largest importer of asbestos, according to the United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database. Most of it goes into making corrugated roofing sheets as building material.

Ask Smt Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh as to why is India still a leading importer of asbestos?

Canadian government which exports chrysotile asbestos to India has removed it from Canadian Parliament and its Prime Ministers Home.

Believe it or not, India has technically banned mining of asbestos but allows import, manufacture and use of asbestos based products which are proven to be deadly!