In 2007 my husband Robert was diagnosed with mesothelioma a deadly cancer caused by Canadian mined chrysotile asbestos to which he was exposed while serving on board Canadian naval ships in the late 40’s and early 50’s. In December 2009, Robert died at home surrounded and loved by his family. He was a professor of Modern European History at the University of Ottawa. After 46 years of married life, I will never get used to missing him. Since then I, with the help of my children and endless others, have dedicated my life to stop us Canadians from exporting chrysotile asbestos to developing countries. It has been an exciting journey which unexpectedly thrust me into the public eye in Canada and abroad. It was a fame of short duration but it achieved that many learned about the cancerous danger of chrysotile asbestos. It taught me much about love, human decency, generosity of others and the strength of the human spirit. The work started by the anti-asbestos movement is still not done. You will continue to hear from us until no more asbestos is used and mined in Canada. Please add your voice to the chorus of Canadians who want our deadly asbestos trade to stopp for ever. Michaela Keyserlingk Canadian Voices of Asbestos Victims February 2012  |