People in Australia and the UK have experienced the highest deaths from asbestos-related diseases. Around 2500 Australians are currently diagnosed each year and 5000 have died. Estimates of fatalities from such causes, 1980-2050, range from 30,000-45,000. |
| Name of conflict: | Anti-asbestos Campaign, Australia |
| Country: | Australia |
| State or province: | Western Australia |
| Location of conflict: | Wittenoom |
| Accuracy of location | HIGH (Local level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Mineral Ores and Building Materials Extraction |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Landfills, toxic waste treatment, uncontrolled dump sites Tailings from mines Building materials extraction (quarries, sand, gravel) |
| Specific commodities: | Asbestos |
| Project details | Between 1948 and 1966, the CSR mines at Wittenoom produced 161 000 tons of crocidolite fibre. |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Start of the conflict: | 1980 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | CSR Wittenoom from Australia Jamies Hardie - forced to establish a Medical Research and Compensation Foundation |
| Relevant government actors: | Western Australian and Australian governments |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | Many environmental organisations supported the campaign which finally formed round the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia (ASDA) see http://asbestosdiseases.org.au/asbestosinfo/medical_research.htm, The Slater and Gordon law firm partnered ADSA in court cases http://www.slatergordon.com.au/the-firm/our-history/ |
| Intensity | HIGH (widespread, mass mobilization, violence, arrests, etc...) |
| Reaction stage | Mobilization for reparations once impacts have been felt |
| Groups mobilizing: | Indigenous groups or traditional communities Industrial workers Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Trade unions Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of mobilization: | Development of a network/collective action Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Shareholder/financial activism. Street protest/marches -- |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Air pollution, Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Waste overflow, Mine tailing spills Potential: Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Genetic contamination, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion |
| Other Environmental impacts | Use in building materials and other products means widespread contamination and exposure to humans and uncertain impacts on non-human nature. |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…), Mental problems including stress, depression and suicide, Occupational disease and accidents, Infectious diseases, Deaths |
| Other Health impacts | Asbestos mining and milling was often conducted under unsafe and uncomfortable working conditions irrespective of the lethal nature of the material involved. |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement, Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment, Loss of livelihood, Specific impacts on women, Violations of human rights, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place Potential: Increase in violence and crime |
| Other socio-economic impacts | All Australians have been and still are exposed to asbestos in the form of environmental dust from degrading building materials etc. It would be almost impossible to estimate the economic and social impacts of the widespread use of asbestos for so many decades after WWII. |
| Project Status | Stopped |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Compensation Deaths, Assassinations, Murders Environmental improvements, rehabilitation/restoration of area Court decision (victory for environmental justice) Migration/displacement New legislation Application of existing regulations 0 |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | Alternative building and brake-lining products have been developed to replace asbestos. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
| Briefly explain: | People and those who care about them cannot be compensated with money for experiencing a serious illness and death as a result of asbestos exposure. It took decades of environmental campaigning and court cases to pressure James Hardie, a key Australian producer of asbestos building materials, to establish a Medical Research and Compensation Foundation. In 1985, the Slater and Gordon law firm won its first successful claim on behalf of Pilmer and the same firm continues to represent victims, working with the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia (ADSA). Famous campaign leader Berbie Banton had worked for James Hardie and developed asbestosis and pleural disease, dying late 2007 (aged 61) from peritoneal mesothelioma, after being made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2005 for his ardent advocacy, awareness-raising and campaigning. |
| Juridical relevant texts related to the conflict (laws, legislations, EIAs, etc) |
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| Other comments: | 0 |
| Contributor: | Anitra Nelson — [email protected] |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 90 |