The Curse of Asbestos

Victims launch an international offensive to revoke the titles and awards of billionaire Stephan Schmidheiny, former owner of the Swiss Eternit Group. In Brazil, they are focusing on the Order of the Southern Cross, granted to him by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso

If it is up to asbestos victims, 2014 may be the worst year in the life of Swiss billionaire Stephan Schmidheiny. They are getting ready to open another front in the struggle to ban the carcinogenic fiber. This time, they are looking at something perhaps more valuable than the actual fortune of the businessman whose family founded the Swiss Eternit Group. Throughout the 20th century, the industrial group planted factories around the world and through them sowed fatal diseases such as asbestosis (known as “stone lung”) and mesothelioma (the so-called “asbestos cancer”). Now, the target of patients and their families is the intangible property to which the Swiss [tycoon] devoted much money, battalions of marketers and his greatest efforts: his biography.

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India's coal inferno

Champa's eyes are surrounded by dark circles and her face is thin and drawn. It began with a fever, pain in her limbs, and she was then diagnosed with tuberculosis.

"I was diagnosed with TB two years ago now. I have been on medication but I am not getting any better. I have difficulty breathing and even talking is hard. It has been like this for five or six years - ever since the plant started, our problems have started too."

 

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2250064/indias_coal_inferno.html

[Singapore]New rules to make asbestos disposal safer

Effective from May 1, the measures will benefit both workers and public

THE removal of asbestos could be safer for workers and the public after the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) spelt out enhanced regulations yesterday for work involving the building material, now known to cause serious illness.

The new rules specify that companies must have a proper workplan to deal with asbestos, including a risk assessment, if it is present. They must also notify MOM seven days before starting work that involves asbestos.

 

http://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/slw/headlinesnews/36325-new-rules-to-make-asbestos-disposal-safer.html

 

Regards

Mohit

In Philippines, workers toil among hazards in compressor mining

SANTA MILAGROSA, Philippines -- Brian Mullaton is 13 years old and makes his living by diving into deep, muddy holes.

He works on a floating wooden platform in shallow Mambulao Bay in what is one of the world's most dangerous professions: compressor mining.

On a typical day, he makes the equivalent of $5.

"Sometimes, I am scared to go down because of the possibility it will collapse," said Brian, the fourth of nine children in his family. "But I like the job because I get money. I give the money to my parents for food."

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http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2014/01/in-philippines-workers-toil-among-hazards-in-compressor-mining.html

Jharkhand asks Planning Commission to study impact of CIL mining

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand government has asked the Planning Commission to assess the impact of mining by Coal India on the state's economy in order to ask for compensatory measures. 

The development comes close on the heels of the Jharkhand government slapping notices for recovery of land rent to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore to Coal India LtdBSE 0.20 % (CIL) for excavating fuel in the state without any compensation, based on a preliminary assessment. 

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods/svs/metals-mining/jharkhand-asks-planning-commission-to-study-impact-of-cil-mining/articleshow/29456346.cms

India's mica mines: The shameful truth behind mineral make-up's shimmer

India officially produces about 15,000 tonnes of crude and scrap mica a year, according to the government's Bureau of Mines. It has a few hundred tonnes stockpiled. Yet it exported more than 130,000 tonnes - more than eight times the official production figure - in 2011-12, more than half of it to China. read more:

Hunt for gold in Southeast Asia poisons child workers, environment

At 16, Romnick has worked half his life in the meager family business: searching for gold in the remote mining region of Camarines Norte about 200 miles southeast of Manila. One of his jobs is to incinerate the mercury, and, on this occasion, he produced a button-sized lump of nearly pure gold. He is uncertain whether to believe the smoke is dangerous. “I have been doing this since I was 8 years old,” he said. “I do it every day now. I don’t know if the mercury contains poison. No one has ever told me that.” Read More: