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23 April, 2007
Canada, as one of the biggest suppliers of asbestos, will be the target of protests on 28 April at the country's embassy in Washington, D.C., and at the Canadian High Commission in London. Organised by the London-based International Ban Asbestos Secretariat, the protest calls on the Canadian government to live up to its progressive global reputation by banning the mining and export of asbestos.
Canadian labour groups and activists are also using 28 April as a day to call on the government to halt asbestos production and export. They will issue a separate document on the issue.
Estimates are that one national asbestos-related death occurs for each 170 tonnes produced. In 126 years of asbestos mining, dating back to 1880, Canada has produced in excess of 65 million tonnes of asbestos.
The theme for this year's 28 April National Day of Mourning, as proclaimed by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), is "Safe and Healthy Workplaces for All Workers." The CLC calls on trade union bodies to demand that governments enforce existing laws by providing the necessary tools and resources. "Lives are not saved by governments simply adopting legislation," states the CLC. "Lives are saved by governments enforcing legislation."