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India has a serious problem on its hands... and in its lungs.

Photo: coverpage of publication by International Ban Asbestos Secretariat, http://www.ibasecretariat.org

A few stories from February:

1. Quebec Liberals rebuff effort to probe asbestos exports
   (Globe and Mail, February 17, 2010)
2. Liberals shoot down opposition request to explore risks of exporting asbestos
   (Winnipeg Free Press, February 17, 2010)
3. Exportation d’amiante – Les libéraux refusent de débattre
   (radio-canada.ca, le 17 février 2010)
4. Les libéraux refusent de débattre sur l’amiante
   (La Presse Canadienne, le 17 février 2010)
5. Khadir veut un débat sur l’amiante
   (Le Soleil, le 17 février 2010)
6. Gestion de l’amiante: Québec solidaire veut remettre la question à l’ordre du jour parlementaire, Comuniqué, Québec Solidaire
   (Portail Quebec, le 17 février 2010)
7. Amiante chrysotile: des propos accablants pour le Canada
   (La Presse, le 17 février 2010)

Another great piece in the Montreal Gazette from last week, written by Michelle Lalonde. The article refers to the letter sent by a group of 14 Canadian physicians that accused Premier Jean Charest of misinformation about the dangers of asbestos.

A group of 14 Canadian physicians, including McGill University’s Abby Lippman and Dick Menzies of the Montreal Chest Institute, sent a letter to Charest yesterday expressing their “shock” at his statements and accusing him of misrepresenting the position of the World Health Organization.

“Premier Charest, you have the right to oppose the WHO position. However, and especially because of the public trust in your position, you do not have the right to misrepresent the WHO position as being what you perhaps wish it were, instead of what it is,” the letter says.

Read the full piece by clicking on this link, or by clicking the “more” link. (more…)

For immediate release: February 10, 2010
RightOnCanada: www.rightoncanada.ca

Read here / Lire ici: Letter to Premier Charest, Feb 10 2010

Quebec Premier Charest challenged by scientists for supporting the science on climate change, but not on asbestos

While Premier Charest is in Vancouver attending the Olympics, a number of scientists and health advocates have issued him a challenge for supporting the science on climate change but not the science on asbestos.

“We are shocked by your statement that your government closed its mind on the asbestos question a long time ago and will not change its position,” Dr Kapil Khatter, President of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, told Charest.

“Premier Charest, a closed mind is a very dangerous thing, particularly in a political leader,” say the scientists in their letter, sent to Charest today.

The signers agree with Charest’s statement that, politically, asbestos is part of Quebec’s history. They say this does not, however, justify use of asbestos and note that “It is dangerous to substitute politics for science.”

The letter is signed by Prof. Abby Lippman of McGill University, on behalf of scientists from five other universities and health advocates.

“Our question is: why does Premier Charest refuse to listen to his own Quebec experts at his government’s  National Public Health Institute, who oppose his position on asbestos,” said Dr Fernand Turcotte, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Medicine at Laval University and one of the signers. “On what basis does Premier Charest reject the position of the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Cancer Society, who say asbestos use must end?”

“Instead of supporting independent science, Premier Charest is supporting the position of the asbestos lobby group (the Chrysotile Institute),” said Kathleen Ruff of the Rideau Institute. “On Jan. 28, this Institute, which is funded by the Quebec and Canadian governments, put out a press release calling the position of the Canadian Medical Association to ban asbestos “wacko.” It boggles the mind that Premier Charest and Prime Minister Harper are giving tax-payer funds to this industry lobby group and allowing it to set their asbestos policy.”

The group asked to meet with Charest and asked that, if he had been misquoted, he issue a corrected statement of his position on asbestos.

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Dr Fernand Turcotte
Kathleen Ruff
Dr Kapil Khatter

Read here / Lire ici: Letter to Premier Charest, Feb 10 2010