With the death of Bernie Banton from an asbestos related disease this week, you might give some thought to including in the intercessory prayers at your church, on Sunday, all of those workers who have died or continue to suffer from work related diseases.

Some of the statistics behind the suffering include:

* 700,000 Aust workers suffer a work related injury or illness each year

* 50 work related deaths each week; compared to 30 deaths on the roads (other estimates put the figure of work related deaths closer to 300 each week)

* injuries cost business in Victoria,alone, 1 billion dollars each year

* asbestos is called the “silent killer”;Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos related diseases in the world;an estimated 53000 will die in Australia in the next decade or so.

Look no further than some workplaces to find the evidence of sin and destruction. Could the struggle,witness, determination and faith of Bernie Bantons of this world,be yet another sign of the Kingdom?

*Of the 137 young men who worked for James Hardie in the 60s and 70s, 127,including Banton are dead.(Australian 28.11.07)

* “In 1999,the NSW Supreme Court ruled that Hardie had ‘actual knowledge of the dangers to health posed by visible clouds of asbestos dust’ by 1938” (Aust 28.11.07)

*The safety officer …..said in evidence, my warnings to the company (in 1964) were brushed off”

*”In the weeks before his death Banton said one of the key factors driving his passion was his Christian faith. Banton’s father had been a Protestant minister and his brother Bruce also went into the ministry. I have faith in God and I believe he gave me the words” Australian 28.11.07

Peace

Alan Matheson

30 November 2007