This year the provincial government of Quebec plans to finance the expansion of the Jeffrey Mine located in the small northern town of Asbestos, named after its most valuable and abundant resource. This decision has incited an aggravated global awareness which has protesters all over the world voicing their concerns about investment into the asbestos industry. Prolonged asbestos exposure can cause extreme health problems including mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer which is almost always fatal.
With the provincial government’s funding approval, the new mining operation would generate close to 200,000 tons of asbestos each year. The majority of this asbestos would then be shipped to developing countries all over the world which often lack the safe handling laws that protect workers from asbestos related illnesses. South Korea, Belgium, Hong Kong and an assortment of North American cities have organized peaceful protests in an attempt to stress the severity of asbestos related diseases.
In Hong Kong, protesters gathered outside the Canadian consulate, calling for a ban on asbestos exports between the two countries. According to the Asia Monitor Resource Center, Hong Kong is in the midst of an asbestos disease epidemic, with more and more workers dying each year on account of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Even if asbestos exports cease immediately, mesothelioma’s tendency to lie dormant means citizens could potentially experience symptoms for another 30 years.
Since the beginning of the 19th century, medical records have shown how potentially dangerous asbestos can be. Mesothelioma, scarring of the lung tissue, and asbestos warts caused by sharp fibers being lodged in the skin can all be triggered from asbestos contamination. While employers, manufacturers and property owners have been aware of these problems for several years, many have failed to take the actions necessary to safeguard their employees and consumers. These types of behavior have resulted in unnecessary deaths as well as thousands of asbestos lawsuits.
In past years, lawyers have had great success in mesothelioma cases, often ending in multi-million dollar settlements. However, the medical advances concerning asbestos diseases are not so encouraging, with nearly 3,000 Americans being diagnosed each year with the potentially fatal disease.
Despite global disapproval many Canadians see things differently. Many locals are excited for the mine’s expansion, hoping that it will alleviate suffering in the local economy. Some local companies have even banned together to raise an additional two million dollars to help fund the massive project.
Protesters all over the world disagree, stating that the mine’s expansion will increase needless asbestos contamination and lead to further disease.