To

The Prime Minister

Government of Canada



Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Canada is unambigulously guilty of crime against humanity through its policy of trade in cancer causiung white asbestos. In your country groups like Ban Asbestos Canada is seeking immediate ban on export of asbestos.

It is unbecoming of nation like Canada which is reputed to be a civilised country to promote use of white asbestos in countries like India which is causing 30 deaths every day over here.

Asbestos is banned in almost 40 countries around the world.

The government buildings in Capital Hill in Ottawa are being decontaminated of asbestos, it is reasonable that precautions be implemented in international commerce in asbestos. The U.N. Rotterdam Convention provides that prior informed consent (PIC) be required for products that are banned in different parts of the world as ultra-hazardous, and asbestos is on the agenda for inclusion on the list of materials requiring PIC to buyers of asbestos in the international marketplace. This is a basic, minimal step that has been accepted for many other toxic substances. Opposition to inclusion of asbestos for PIC listing has been led by Canada.

Canada's reputation is seriously being compromised because of its approach on the issue of asbestos. The less than 1000 fulltime jobs left in Canada's asbestos mining industry (there is no asbestos-using industry left in Canada) are not a continuing justification for dumping
asbestos on the poor countries of the world. Alternatives of retraining these workers and cleaning up the environment where asbestos has been mined
in Quebec are more appropriate for the new century.

Although Canada's debacles in losing the asbestos case at the WTO has shown that Canada was guilty of trade in this killer fiber which led to it being outlawed in Europe, it is amazing to note that this country instead of rectifying its blunders is commiting the crime of encourgaing asbestos use in the developing countries like India.

The International conference on asbestos exposure on September 12, 2004 in New Delhi will expose Canada's role in exporting asbestos and the Canadian scientist being trotted out to defend asbestos will receive appropriate scrutiny, and strong media attendance is expected. Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI) will share the status of asbetsos in India and how asbestos industry prevailed upon the government to include asbestos promoting experts in the conference.

It is expected that asbestos will cause 5-10 million deaths just from projected trends, and a global ban on asbestos has been urged by numerous respected international groups.


Sincerely,
Gopal Krishna