“Breathless Fund” applauded
The Bhopal gas tragedy, a gas leak incident on the night of 2–3 December 1984, is reminded with the establishment of “Breathless Fund” CrowdJustice campaign in London.
“History repeats itself. Breathless comes at a crucial time in educating, supporting and lobbying people in India about this deadly dust, which has caused so much needless suffering across the world,” said a tweet from the organizers.
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), an independent nonprofit dedicated to preventing asbestos exposure through education, advocacy, and community work, applauded the filmmakers behind Breathless, the Belgium Asbestos Victims’ Trust (ABEVA) and the Kymore Victims’ Trust for establishing the “Breathless Fund”.
Over one hundred people attended the international release of Breathless at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London on 27 October.
This powerful new documentary highlights the dangers of asbestos, a known carcinogen, and the struggle against the asbestos industry which continues to endanger the lives of workers and communities around the world.
Following the death of his father, Director Daniel Lambo embarked on a personal journey to explore human rights and environmental concerns currently affecting communities in India and throughout other parts of the globe.
Lambo’s investigation focused on the small village of Kymore, not far from the urban center of Bhopal, where there are toxic effects of the local asbestos industry on residents.
“Breathless poignantly showed the corrupt asbestos industry and their disregard for human rights in India, Belgium, and around the world,” said ADAO President and Co-Founder Linda Reinstein.
This point was emphasized by legal expert Krishnendu Mukherjee and Baskut Tuncak, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights & Toxics, both of whom participated in the panel discussion following the screening.
“There are currently courageous struggles by workers in the Indian asbestos industry for the diagnosis and recognition of asbestos-related diseases,” said Mukherjee, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers in London.
“History repeats itself. Breathless comes at a crucial time in educating, supporting and lobbying people in India about this deadly dust, which has caused so much needless suffering across the world,” he stressed.
Harminder Bains, Breathless Event Chair and daughter of a mesothelioma victim, shared: “My father died 18 years ago from Mesothelioma. Not a day goes by without missing him. The asbestos industry caused his death and continues to cause death and destruction. It should be held accountable in communities and criminal courts.”
In addition to the screening, the Breathless Fund was launched to support the legal challenges currently being levied by a local trust in Kymore, demanding that public officials clean manufacturing sites to prevent further asbestos exposure.
ADAO applauds the work of these artists, advocates, and legal experts, and encourages stakeholders in the anti-asbestos movement to support the people of Kymore, India by donating to the Breathless Fund campaign.
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO is the largest non-profit in the U.S. dedicated to providing asbestos victims and concerned citizens with a united voice through our education, advocacy, and community initiatives. fiinews.com
