Mesothelioma Action Day in London 2016
Phil did it… He Topped Last Year!
The London Hazards Centre Asbestos Support Awareness Group is really taking shape, as this event proved!
The day started with Frances O’Grady releasing doves in memory of the victims of asbestos past and present, reminding us that this is an ongoing fight. Then we went inside the TUC headquarters to start interacting with the speakers. This is where it started getting really good. This year there were new speakers and people who had appeared at previous events, brought out new ideas and new plans of attack, to use in the fight against asbestos.
Powerful speakers against asbestos
There was almost too much good stuff. The speakers brought so much to the table this year, that I’m going to have to be very brief or this blog post could quite easily turn into a book!
Speakers at the London Action Day against Mesothelioma 2016
Hugh Robertson is the senior policy officer at the TUC. Hugh is very clued up on occupational diseases and his contribution was very informative.
Linda Reinstein ADAO. USA. Linda is very well respected around the world for activist activities in the fight against asbestos and the LHC are behind her all the way. Linda made an excellent presentation,Linda Reinstein Presentation for lhc.org.uk.
Dr Peter Szlosarek Consultant St Bartholomew’s. Dr Peter added so much to this event, which everyone appreciated. Dr Szlosarek has kindly let us share his presentation slides they can be found here. AMD2016 Peter Szlosarek
I’m a handyman for a london council, Dr Szlosarek is such a good communicator I genuinely felt I had a grasp on complex Molecular Oncology.
Every one appreciated his excellent contribution and we all wish him and, his patients well. His research is to laymen like myself mind boggling. It’s fair to say everyone at this event had total respect for Peter and the work he is doing.
Harminder Bains Is a much liked and respected friend to all of us at the lhc (London Hazards Centre) If you click on Harminder’s name you will be taken to a page which shares the story of Keith Winton and his wife Susan. Like many videos related to the sufferers of asbestos related illness it is very moving and it is also a testament to Harminder Bains passion for justice.
Mavis Nye needs no introduction to people in the fight against asbestos Mavis is the Meso Warrior. Ray Nye is just as deeply involved in this fight and I’d like to share Ray’s Story on this post today. Just a little personal note on this, meeting Mavis and Ray is always a pleasure.
This video is so moving. Please leave a comment after you’ve watched this.
Other notable speakers
Edward Beek
Susan Murray (Unite)
David Trigg Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team
Tony Lennon President of SERTUC (Bectu) Gave a top notch talk. That opened people’s eyes to just how varied the job types of people, at risk of exposure to asbestos are, and how; just earning a few pounds can cost a life. His stories on film crews and location shoots certainly opened new trains of thought in my mind.
Sarah Lyons, NUT / asbestos in schools. This is scary stuff and extremely disturbing. The risk to school children of asbestos related illness is a national disgrace in my book, and anyone who holds or has held a senior position in the Department for Education have a lot of questions to answer in my book. Here are the slides from Sarah’s presentation.
Gill Reed Speaking on asbestos exposure in Brent. This event was the first time I’d personally met Gill and her talk was yet another eye opener in a day full of stories and reports that make you go “what” that is happening now! Gills presentation can be found here.AMD2016 Gill Reed
The acting chair of the London Hazards Asbestos Group closed the event, and on his behalf I would like to say sorry to all the people who contributed but were not thanked… The gentleman from the Maritime workers union Nautilus, springs to mind, I never caught his name in my notes. Any and all omissions are down to me. There were new faces that I never had a chance to chat to.
I will close this post with a quick thank you to Gareth Beaton from the Fire Brigade Union who spoke for firefighters.
I think that like many people on the day he received as much as he gave. Like the previous lhc ation day People shared stories and information. If knowledge is power then all the attendees left just a little bit more powerful than when they arrived, I certainly hope so.
Thank you to everyone involved.
