Posted on March 30, 2020
Posted on March 30, 2020
Each year, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) dedicates Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW) April 1-7 to increasing awareness of asbestos and preventing exposure by bringing together experts and victims from around the world to share, learn, and take action. To view all 7 days of GAAW content, please click here. We’d also like to thank the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) for sharing it’s No Time to Lose campaign resources on preventing asbestos exposure and to McOnie for their commitment in the international distribution of the GAAW press release. Be sure to follow the conversation on social media with our GAAW hashtag: #2020GAAW.
*COVID-19 INFORMATION AND AWARENESS: To protect your family and stop the spread, learn more about World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and best practices during this outbreak here*
Today, the fifth day of GAAW, is dedicated to ADAO’s art, advocacy and academia programs. We would also like to highlight the story of Conor and Zack, written about their grandmother Iva. Read Iva’s story, “Dirty Laundry that Kills.”
Asbestos is a known carcinogen and there is no safe level of exposure. Throughout the 19th century, this mineral was widely used in construction, shipbuilding, and the automotive industry. Without a ban, asbestos remains legal and lethal in nearly 70% of countries around the world, including the United States.
ADAO has been using art to drive our advocacy since our founding in 2004. Storytelling is at the heart of the work ADAO does, helping us to translate the experiences of victims and expertise of scholars alike into more accessible forms that help them be seen, felt, heard, and remembered. We’ve experimented with a myriad art forms to deliver our message––from film to music and everything in between. In the digital era, graphic design has become invaluable to our messaging efforts.
Over the years, we have been fortunate to partner with some phenomenal artists who use their talents to spread a worthy cause.
One of those amazing partnerships is with Earl Dotter, an incredible photojournalist and artist. For the past few years, Earl has dedicated his time to making a poster that masterfully captures the health impact and injustice of asbestos exposure. This year’s poster features Julie Gundlach, a nearly 13-year mesothelioma survivor, preparing for the first-ever March for Justice and Remembrance, held last year on March 5 in Washington, D.C. The march was organized in conjunction with ADAO’s annual 15th Annual International Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference and Day Five of 2019 Global Asbestos Awareness Week. Earl’s work shows other participants from the march, standing strong in the nation’s Capitol, sternly telling Congress that it’s time to ban the carcinogen once and for all.
From the frontlines of 9/11 to the Mount Sinai Medical Center operating room — ‘asbestos fighters’ work diligently to prevent and cure deadly asbestos-caused diseases. Earl’s work has showcased the human toll this carcinogen takes on not only those who get sick, but everyone who knows the victim. His BADGES exhibit features ID badges worn by asbestos workers alongside historic photographs of work sites, product advertisements, vintage photos, and product catalogs from industrial companies, connecting the human faces to the industry.
BADGES also features real-life workers who spent their lives unknowingly mining and manufacturing products containing a lethal amount of asbestos, even though their employers knew the danger of the carcinogen. The badges capture the profit-over-people culture that threatened and eventually killed many of the faces you see in the poster. It is hard to emphasize how stunning, moving, and educational the work is, and we are incredibly grateful to Earl for continuing this project.
Another great partnership is with Jordan Zevon, our national spokesperson, musician and the son of Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Warren Zevon. He produced his father’s final album, The Wind, which examined the late singer’s battle with mesothelioma. Warren’s song from that album, entitled “Keep Me In Your Heart,” has become an anthem of our Mesothelioma Warrior community and continues to bring comfort and understanding to those touched by asbestos diseases.
This year, Jordan helped champion “Record Store Day,” set for June 20, 2020. The upcoming event, in celebration of the few remaining brick and mortar record stores, is a day near and dear to Jordan, who grew up working in several record stores before eventually owning his own, “Summit Records.” The day is in partnership with comedian, actor, writer, and filmmaker Judd Apatow, who has curated his personal Warren Zevon, “Greatest Hits” collection, a vinyl-only release to commemorate the day.
The album includes thirteen of the elder Zevon’s most beloved tracks, according to Apatow. It opens with the 1976 song “Carmelita” and also features live takes of “Werewolves of London” and the “The French Inhaler.” Side A of the compilation finishes with a cover of “Something Bad Happened to a Clown,” recorded by Taylor Goldsmith from the band, “Dawes” along with high school friend and well-respected producer/writer and performer, Blake Mills.
In Jordan’s words, “When I think about Judd and my Dad, there are a number of similarities, but mostly the confidence in their work. They both took a look at the line and stepped over it with an unflinching dedication to their vision and the gamble that like-minded people would respond. They did. Like a breath of fresh air, these two artists are speaking to their audience and not speaking down to them.”
We are honored that Earl and Jordan have dedicated their time and work to us. We are also thankful to partner with IOSH, who helps spread education about prevention. Utilize our co-branded resources here.
We hope you will view Earl’s work here or purchase an album on June 20, 2020.
When we partner for prevention and get creative, we make change happen! Join the #2020GAAW Twitter conversation and follow us at @Linda_ADAO, @IOSHTweets and @_NTTL.
Special thanks to our 2020 Platinum Sponsor Simmons Hanly Conroy, LLC.
Together, we make change happen.
Linda Reinstein
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