Help Convince Canada to do the Right Thing About Asbestos!

   
Dear Larry ,
We are asking you to show solidarity with asbestos victims in the Third World and support the campaign to demand the Canadian government ban asbestos mining and exports. Asbestos kills over 100,000 people every year, and Canada is a major player in the death-dealing industry.
In a change of tactics, we’re not targeting all Conservative Members of Parliament (MPs) - but just one. A number of other like-minded organizations are also ‘adopting’ a MP and focusing their efforts on convincing him/her what their party is doing is wrong, unethical and immoral.
In our case – we have chosen to focus our efforts on the Federal Environment Minister, the Hon. Peter Kent, MP for Thornhill, Ontario.
Peter is an intelligent guy and knows what his government is doing is wrong. We need to encourage him to support an end to Canada’s mining and export of asbestos. Peter and his government can prevent thousands of cases of cancer if they only do what’s right.
Here is what we’re asking you to do:

1. Send a letter to Peter Kent (peter.kent@parl.gc.ca). See “Key Messages” below.
2. Mail a copy of your letter to his office: House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6 (no postage is required).
3. Twitter him also (@mppeterkent). His Twitter stream is here.
4. Post your thoughts on his Facebook Wall
5. Call his Ottawa office (613-992-0253) and ask to speak with him. Keep calling until he, or a representative from his office, returns your call.
6. If you live in the Toronto area, call and ask to schedule a meeting with him (905-886-9911). Don’t take no for an answer! You can also visit his constituency office: 7600 Yonge St., Thornhill, Ontario, L4J 1V9

Please keep us informed of your efforts – we’d really appreciate it!
Key Messages:

• According to the World Health Organization, more than 107,000 people die each year from asbestos-related disease.
• Asbestos is the "perfect carcinogen" as it acts as both a promoter and initiator of cancer.
• Exposure to asbestos has been linked to several diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
• At the recent conference of the UN Rotterdam Convention in Geneva, the Harper government single-handedly prevented asbestos from being put on the Convention’s list of hazardous substances.
• Newly released documents show that back in 2006 the Canadian government rejected advice from Health Canada that asbestos be added to the UN list of hazardous substances.
• Billions of dollars will be spent over the next 20 years to remove asbestos from our Parliament Buildings because it's a cancer-causing substance.
• Canada mines and ships the majority of its asbestos to the Third World, particularly Asia. The world's leading experts predict that the sharp increase in asbestos use in Asia will see a surge of mortality and morbidity in the decades ahead.

Thank you for your consideration!
Sincerely,
John Bennett, Executive Director
Sierra Club Canada
jb@sierraclub.ca
Follow John Bennett on Twitter
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PLEASE ALSO READ: "Harper Disgraces us all Once Again."

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