Make India Asbestos Free

Make India Asbestos Free
For Asbestos Free India

Journal of Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI). Asbestos Free India campaign of BANI is inspired by trade union movement and right to health campaign. BANI has been working since 2000. It works with peoples movements, doctors, researchers and activists besides trade unions, human rights, environmental, consumer and public health groups. BANI demands criminal liability for companies and medico-legal remedy for victims.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Round Table on Shipbreaking & Asbestos Industry

Round Table on occupational and environmental health in the shipbreaking and asbestos industry in the emerging national and international scenario.

The Round Table is on 25 March from 10 AM -5 PM at Indian Social Institute, New Delhi.

It will begin with the famous documentary "IRONEATERS".

In the first half the Round Table would take stock of the occupational and environmental health aspects in the proposed UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) international treaty on ship breaking, Indian Comprehensive Code on Shipbreaking and the recent order of the Bangladesh High Court and their implications for India. It will also deliberate on the workers strike in Alang that has just started.

In the second half the Round Table would deliberate on the alarming rate of increase in the consumption of asbestos products, recent Kerala Human Right Commission’s order on Asbestos, a new asbestos document by Union Ministry of Environment Forests and Asbestos liabilities of U.S. based company Asarco (formerly known as American Smelting and Refining Company) which is being bought over by London-listed Vedanta Group subsidiary Sterlite Industries wherein the agreement between Sterlite Industries and Asarco involves Sterlite Industries assuming operating liabilities, but not legacy liabilities for asbestos and environmental claims for ceased operations. Earlier, Asarco had filed for bankruptcy protection in 2005 after it was sued for $1 billion over environmental clean-up and asbestos claims. Unlike in Indian asbestos companies who are enjoying manifest immoral and unpardonable political patronage even U.S based Dow Chemicals Company has set aside $2.2 billion to address future asbestos-related liabilities arising out of its acquisition of the Union Carbide Company. It will dwell on asbestos and corporate accountability issue in the shipping industry as well.


For Details:
Gopal Krishna
Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI)
Indian Platform on Shipbreaking
New Delhi
Mb: 9818089660
E-mail:krishnagreen@gmail.com

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