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The Tobacco Industry Inteference With Tobacco Controlby Richard Munroe
Judging by what has happened in previous decades, tobacco companies or big tobacco as otherwise known have employed divers tactics to sharp and influence tobacco regulation and policy in general. Tobacco companies dread the effects of rapidly spreading smoking laws which are increasingly banning smoking in public places. With certainty the industry is amongst those with the highest levels of litigation. Tobacco companies such as Philip Morris in the United States have suffered serious tobacco lawsuits filed by relatives and victims of smoking diseases such as lung cancer, other cancers and cardiovascular diseases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has since concluded that the conflict between tobacco and public health is absolutely irreconcilable. For this reason there is total intolerance of the tobacco industry by the UN. On its part the industry has employed economic power and marketing and advertising prowess and even the media to discredit growing concerns about second hand smoking. This strategy is also known by another name as "manufacturing doubt". The industry is known to commission own research to discredit anticipated research findings of ongoing mainstream science against tobacco. Tobacco companies such as Philip Morris tobacco have also employed serious million dollar philanthropic initiatives into social programs including sporting events in order to generate positive public image. The goal is essentially to expand the tobacco market and increase the number of people who smoke. In China for instance, a tobacco company was given permission by the government to reconstruct a school damaged by an earthquake. On leaving, the company left banners up across the elementary school glorifying tobacco smoking. Even though the government of China is party to the FCTC it still controls and enjoys up to 8% of government revenue contribution from tobacco taxes. Anti-smoking laws are rather relaxed in China and business involved with tobacco off spins appear to have ongoing government respect to the extent of influencing government policy and general tobacco decision making. During the Beijing Olympics of 2008 smoking in public places was banned in China save for bars, restaurants and hotels as the behest of business. As a result of the tobacco industry invisible yet effective under-hand influences on tobacco control policies; WHO through the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that came into force in 2005 blocks big tobacco interference in global health policies and implementation of this global tobacco treaty. The FCTC is a binding international treaty ascended to by over 160 countries. Since 2005 tobacco industry has sought to side track its implementation. Attempts have included tobacco companies trying to help the writing of tobacco smoking laws in member countries and blocking passage of smoke free laws amongst other things. It is a fact that tobacco companies have sought to weaken legislation on tobacco in countries such as Germany, Argentina, Latin America and the Caribbean amongst many others. In essence the industry is incensed by the WHO objectives of preventing tobacco uptake, maximizing cessation and prohibiting smoking in public places. This stands in the way of the commercial objectives of the industry. Despite efforts somewhat insincere to consciountise the public on dangers of smoking, the industry routinely seeks to maximize tobacco uptake and makes sure nicotine addicts continue to smoke. They do not in reality fancy quit smoking products let alone stop smoking programs which ultimately promotes smoking cessation. As far as the anti-smoking movement is concerned, the tobacco industry is not and neither can it be a partner in effective and sincere tobacco control. On the contrary the big tobacco sees itself as a legitimate and sincere stakeholder in tobacco regulation initiatives. WHO anticipates the industry is determined to continue influencing and interfering in the implementation of effective tobacco control. Delays through side tracking of the implementation plan will only pro-long the industry's massive tobacco profits.
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