The
REAP Report: Asbestos: Nikao Students Respond
Earlier
this month asbestos roofing was removed from Nikao Maori School
without proper safeguards in place and without prior warning
to students, staff or parents.
As
a result of what occurred at Nikao Maori School students in
the Small Islands Voice programme did some research on the asbestos
issue. REAP would like to congratulate them for their contribution.
The
following is the students' unedited comment on the asbestos
issue. "Small voices from a small country ring loud on a major
issue."
Nikao
Maori School Article--Asbestos Issue
We
found out some very important information about asbestos which
we didn't know and we also think this applies to our parents
too.
Asbestos
is a fibrous form of several minerals and hydrous silicates
of magnesium. It also applies to the fibrous form of calcium
and iron. Asbestos fibres is a disease of the lung caused by
the inhalation of asbestos particles especially lung cancer
and mesothelioma which is an operable cancer of the chest and
abdominal lining after a latent periods of up to 30 years and
more.
In
1992 the South Pacific Festival of Arts was held in Rarotonga,
Cook Islands and my school Nikao hosted the Aboriginal group.
They refused to stay in the junior classroom because of the
asbestos roofing. This incident made us aware in the Cook Islands
that asbestos roofing is a danger to human health. But nothing
was done at the time because it was an unknown issue. This roof
has been up for 50 years. One of our teachers can still remember
when she first came to this school in 1962. The children used
to drink water that flows from the roof on rainy days or wash
their faces under it. They didn't know that the roofing was
poisonous.
During
the removal of our schools asbestos roof on May the 8th 2003
the school was just starting for Term 2. Junior classes were
combined together in the library in block C during the 2 days
of renovation. The contractors didn't wear any proper clothes
while handling asbestos except for a mask. The contractors failed
to contact the Environmental service before the dismantling
of the roof. It was removed illegally and while handling they
made an error. They broke one sheet of asbestos roofing.
Media
were on the alert when one concerned parent complained his child
has developed a sore eye and a throat irritation while at school
caused by the asbestos dust. Environmental service and the Health
department came to school to look at the environment. They said
that the school should have been closed because of the dust.
This became a highlight on television, radio and newspaper.
In
the Cook Islands there is no law for handling asbestos and for
disposal of it. The Environment service has set up a guideline
for the disposal of asbestos. Now they are looking into making
it as a law in handling and disposal of it. The asbestos was
buried at the Black Rock Quarry.
Nikao
Maori Students - Form 2
Tereapii,
Lisa, Metua, Makara, Jonathan, Terepai
Age:
12 years.
Cook
Islands News 17th June 2003
