TAKE ACTION: Tell U.S. and Germany to stop blocking a strong FCTC!

[Anna White]

Dear Friends,

The last round of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
negotiations is coming up shortly. The U.S. and Germany are both
blocking a strong FCTC. Below are 3 quick and easy ways you can take
action:

1. Send a fax to the U.S. Delegation to the FCTC (San Francisco Tobacco
Free Coalition
2. Sign a petition to the German Chancellor Gerhard Schr=F6der (German
Coalition against Smoking)
3. Participate TODAY in national call-in to DHHS Secretary Tommy
Thompson (Infact)

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KENNETH BERNARD: STOP GLOBAL TOBACCO!

It's a lot easier to sell cigarettes around the world when you have the
U.S. government on your team. Tell the U.S. Government to support the
Tobacco Control Treaty and stop spreading cigarette deaths around the
world!

Send a free fax to Assistant Surgeon General Kenneth Bernard, chairman
of the U.S. delegation to the FCTC:
http://www.StopGlobalTobacco.org

If you want to take an additional action, print out and send a postcard
that features a photo President Bush, aka "The Marlboro Man", tipping
his cowboy hat.

For more information: Alyonik Hrushow, San Francisco Tobacco Free
Project Director <alyonikh@igc.org>

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GERHARD SCHRODER: STOP GERMANY'S BLOCKING POSITION

Germany is one of the countries blocking an effective treaty. Please
join the German Coalition against Smoking in signing an online letter to
Chancellor Gerhard Schr=F6der at

http://petition.globalink.org/view.php?code=3Dde-eng

calling on Chancellor Schr=F6der (with a cc to the head of the German
FCTC-delegation) to finally end the blocking position of the German
government in the upcoming last round of negotiations towards the FCTC
from mid-February onwards.

The list of signatures will be handed over at a demonstration against
the tobacco politics of our government, planned for the 12th of February
in front of the office of Chancellor Schr=F6der in Berlin. We need as many
signatures as possible - so please hand this on to your friends and
colleagues - as many as possible.

Thanks for your support in this effort!

Kind regards - for the German coalition against smoking:
Annette Bornh=E4user <bornhauser@globalink.org

####

TOMMY THOMPSON: US SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY!

The Bush Administration is blocking progress on the world's first public
health treaty. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), has
the potential to set global standards on how tobacco corporations
operate.   Most of the world is working together for an effective,
strong treaty, but the Bush Administration, with strong ties to the
tobacco industry, is working to weaken some of the most crucial
provisions in the treaty!

TODAY IS THE NATIONAL CALL-IN! Call 202-690-7000 and ask for Tommy
Thompson, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, one
of the lead agencies on the US negotiating team.

Leave a message for him saying that:

* The overwhelming majority of countries are moving toward a strong
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and the US is standing in the
way.
* This is outrageous, as 4.9 million people around the world are dying
every year from tobacco-related illnesses.
* The US needs to stop blocking progress on the treaty: GET OUT OF THE
WAY AND LET THE REST OF THE WORLD ADOPT A STRONG FCTC!

YOUR CALL WILL HELP CURB CORPORATE ABUSE WORLD-WIDE

Once you have called, please email Diana Silbergeld, an Infact
organizer, at <diana@greencorps.org> or give her a call at 202-547-0953

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Global Partnerships for Tobacco Control
Essential Action
P.O. Box 19405
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: +1 202-387-8030
Fax: +1 202-234-5176
Email: tobacco@essential.org
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco