Australia Leads the Push for Global Ban on Asbestos

Australia’s Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has begun the movement for a global ban on asbestos. Over the weekend, Rudd successfully pushed an amendment into Labor Party policy. The amendment is a commitment from Australia in the effort towards an asbestos free world.

While many industrialized nations have already taken large steps in banning asbestos production, more than one third of the world continues to expand their use of asbestos. Many of these countries are developing nations concentrated in Asia.

Many health experts fear the devastating health implications, such as a mesothelioma endemic, that this expansion may bring about.

Outlined in the amendment, in 2012 Australia will assemble a global conference along with a global alliance against the use of asbestos and the International Labor Organization.

Foreign Minister Rudd is not alone in the battle. The Australian Council of Trade Union’s president Ged Kearny fully supports the Foreign Minister’s international commitment to ban asbestos. Kearny believes that Foreign Minister Rudd is the perfect man to organize the attack on asbestos.

According to the ABC reporter, Matt Peacock, the asbestos industry is still booming, especially in Asia where countries like China and India are rapidly increasing their usage of asbestos cement building products.

Approximately two millions tons of asbestos are being sold every year. Developing countries are being flooded with the asbestos fibers simply because of a lack of information. Many of these countries have yet to realize the devastating effects of asbestos. In 30 or 40 years these countries will be faced with the devastating effects of asbestos like the waves already experienced by industrial countries like Australia and the United States.

Australia is taking a crucial step in the global ban on asbestos. The country’s global efforts will hopefully prove valiant in 2012 and will ultimately end the devastation brought on by asbestos related diseases.