(San Jose) Recognizing the cancer clusters and occupational health risks facing workers in high-tech plants, international delegates representing more than 20 organizations from 10 countries arrived in San Jose to bring international attention to the detrimental health and environmental impacts of the global high-tech electronics industry. The delegates attending the first Global Symposium for a Sustainable High-Tech Industry include former semiconductor workers suffering from cancer, health care professionals specializing in the illnesses of high-tech workers and their children, and representatives of environmental, labor and health and safety organizations.

"We've known for more than three decades that the manufacturing of computer chips requires many toxic chemicals and that workers have been getting sick from exposure to those chemicals," said Ted Smith, Executive Director of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. "We invited the Semiconductor Industry Association to meet with us and explain what they are doing to protect workers' health. They declined our invitation, so we are coming to meet with them."

"It is time for the high-tech industry to demonstrate corporate responsibility," said Jim McCourt of PHASE II, a health and safety organization in Scotland working with Scottish employees of National Semiconductor who suffer from cancer. "We were able to get a health study done in Scotland. It proved that there are high cancer rates among electronics workers. If we can do it, I don't see why the industry can't make it a priority to undertake a similar study."

McCourt went on to say, "The semiconductor industry must face up to the fact that their workers are dying. By not being forthcoming, they are further tarnishing the industry's reputation. We implore the regulators in the U.S. to undertake a comprehensive, definitive health study of exposed workers."

McCourt referred to a 2001 announcement by health officials in the United Kingdom who found higher than expected rates of several types of cancer among workers at a National Semiconductor plant in Greenock, Scotland. The plant was investigated after a myriad of health complaints began to surface there.

Sam Lin, a Taiwanese environmentalist, highlighted the case of RCA in Taiwan. "RCA had manufacturing operations in Taiwan from the 1970's until the mid-80's. RCA left Taiwan, but severely contaminated groundwater and soil remains. Hundreds of workers are suffering from cancer. More than 200 have died and many have various tumors. This site contamination is considered among the worst in history."

In Thailand, Dr. Orapun Metadilogkul, a pioneer in occupational health and safety spoke out on behalf of workers in Thailand. A company retaliated against her because of her advocacy, and she lost her job.

"Cancer's timetable won't wait", sand Mandy Hawes, a San Jose attorney representing hundreds of electronics workers and their families who suffer from cancer, birth defects, and other serious illnesses. "People who have been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals can't wait forever for the problems to be corrected. More and more workers are dying and many others are developing new cancers. We need dramatic action to save lives now, not several years from now."

"We expect much more from the state-of-the-art high-tech electronics industry," said Smith. "The SIA must accept its responsibility to protect workers that are suffering. Now is the time to undertake a comprehensive epidemiological study of the semiconductor industry. The industry that was born here, must come to face the reality of the suffering and loss of life that accompany it," said Smith.