This month’s meeting is being held on May 8th (second Monday of the month) because of the bank holiday. As usual we will meet in the Collier Room, Methodist Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JQ. These meetings are open to all people living with mesothelioma, carers and family members.

Our speaker this month is Alessandro Pugno, a film-maker and member of AFEVA, the Italian national asbestos victims group. Alessandro was born and raised in a small town called Casale Monferrato. The main employer in this town was a company called Eternit, a giant multi-national asbestos company. Because of the activities of this company, thousands of people from this small town have developed mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases, including many who never worked at the factory who were exposed to asbestos fibres in the environment and from their loved ones’ workclothes.                                                     

Local people have fought for years for justice and restitution. Company directors have been prosecuted but have so far wriggled free on technicalities. Similar campaigns have been waged against Eternit in Belgium, Switzerland, France and Asia. Campaigners have vowed to continue the campaign until the perpetrators have been brought to justice.

This is an inspiring story and will be a good meeting so we hope people can make it.