by Laurie Kazan-Allen, IBAS Coordinator

In April 2009, the Asian Asbestos Conference (AAC 2009) was held in Hong Kong. This landmark event accelerated the ban asbestos debate in China, the world’s largest asbestos user. New contacts were made and conduits developed with campaigners working in China on issues relating to occupational and environmental health. As a result of the discussions and demonstrations held in Hon Kong, the Asian Ban Asbestos Network (A-BAN) was formed. A-BAN has a crucial role to fill as it will extend the ban asbestos campaign throughout Asia. IBAS has been supportive of and plans to work closely with A-BAN.

In 2010, IBAS will continue to concentrate its efforts in Asia where the majority of asbestos is being used in countries that have few, if any, health and safety regulations. IBAS-sponsored grassroots projects are ongoing in India, Indonesia and Brazil. Plans are progressing for an asbestos conference in September 2010 in Indonesia which will provide an opportunity for Asian activists to share their experiences and improve regional ban asbestos strategies.

Having recently distributed a monograph on The Asian Asbestos Conference 2009, IBAS has commenced work on its next publication in collaboration with international colleagues. Other IBAS initiatives include working with colleagues in Italy on the production of a TV documentary on the global asbestos panorama which will initially focus on the “Great Asbestos Trial” in Turin and then broaden to include developments elsewhere. Plans for new initiatives in Mexico, Columbia, India, Iran, Korea and Brazil are under development.

Donations to the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) can be sent to IBAS c/o The Center for the Study of Public Policy (CSPP), a 501c3. The CSPP is run by Dr. Ken Gesier, a Professor from the University of Massachusetts; his contact details are: Dr. K. Geiser, The Center for the Study of Public Policy, 44 Foskett Street, Somerville, Massachusetts 02144; tel: 978-934-3299; email: Ken_Geiser@umi.edu.

IBAS Website: http://www.ibasecretariat.org/