Labour Research June 2007

Reviews

Mesothelioma

The human face of an asbestos epidemic

Forum of Asbestos Victims Support, DVD, £5.60. Contact Tony Whitston on 0161 636 7555.

Mesothelioma is a terminal asbestos cancer that is now ranked as the UK's biggest work-related killer.

Mesothelioma kills someone in the UK every five hours - or over 2,000 people every year. The only proven cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos and the most likely place to be exposed to asbestos is at work. Plumbers, caretakers, joiners, electricians, teachers and people working in countless other jobs continue to be at threat of exposure.

This DVD is a brilliant campaigning tool on mesothelioma. It contains an eight-minute introduction plus half a dozen short interviews with victims. It nails the myth that asbestos only affects older men: one victim was born in 1969 and he will be lucky to reach his 40th birthday. The DVD is ideal for showing at branch meetings to promote awareness and start a campaign.