San Pedro, CA - Aug. 30, 2007 - It's time for California to drop its state rock permanently. The state rock of California, serpentine, is a form of asbestos ore. Asbestos is notorious for indiscriminately killing tens of thousands of people every year without regard to the color of their skin, their social or economic standing, sex, age, occupation, or health.

The Pacific Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, working with our firm, has taken the lead on contacting legislators and setting up meetings in order to change the law that makes asbestos ore the state rock. You can get involved or voice your support by contacting PHLBI at www.phlbi.org.

Asbestos has been called the worst public health crisis in the history of this country. California leads the nation in asbestosis and mesothelioma deaths. Beginning in 1979, when asbestos-related deaths were first tracked, until the end of 2007, the total number of mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths in California will exceed 7,600. Staggeringly, Los Angeles County leads all American counties in deaths from asbestosis and mesothelioma by a wide margin.

The state rock symbolizes a public health catastrophe, particularly since the companies that made and sold asbestos-containing products knew of its deadly consequences, and since the state rock was adopted at the behest of the asbestos mining industry. We refuse to accept this mockery of Californian men, women, and children dying from asbestos poisoning. We ask you to support legislation to get rid of this pernicious state symbol.

Click here to read a letter to legislators. Please feel free to copy and send to your assemblyperson and state senator.

Click here to read a fact sheet about toxic serpentine.

Click here to take a survey about California's state rock.

Click here to find your California legislators.

Call us for more information: 1-800-831-9399
The Law Office of Roger G. Worthington, P.C.
273 W. 7th Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
www.mesothel.com