[Intl-tobacco] "U.S. Hijacks Global Health" Demo at DHHS - Feb 12, 2003
Robert Weissman
rob@essential.org
Fri, 14 Feb 2003 13:28:12 -0500
From: Anna White <awhite@essential.org>
Dear Friends,
On Feb 12, Infact and Essential Action held a demonstration outside of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in Washington,
DC to draw attention to U.S. efforts to sabotage negotiations of the
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The 6th and last round
of FCTC negotiations begin next Monday (Feb 17) in Geneva.
Essential Action brought out its 10+ foot high "U.S. Pack of Lies" prop,
complete with four gigantic cigarettes labelled "Weapon of Mass
Destruction", "U.S. Hijacks Global Health", "U.S.: Stop Fronting for Big
Tobacco" and "Tommy T: Tobacco or Health?" For links to photos and more
information, see below!
In a moment, we will forward you a sample press release about the event,
that you can use to generate media coverage in your own state or country
about U.S. government opposition to a strong FCTC. Feel free to
distribute photos of the demonstration to the media:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/
Best wishes,
Anna
Global Partnerships for Tobacco Control
Essential Action
***************************************************
REPORT ON "U.S. HIJACKS GLOBAL HEALTH" DEMO AT DHHS
February 12, 2003
***************************************************
Essential Action arrived at the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services bright and early at 7:30am to distribute flyers about the noon
rally to employees coming to work. The flyers featured photos of DHHS
Secretary Tommy Thompson, President George Bush, the infamous photo of
the seven tobacco company executives lying under oath, and the text
"Think the U.S. is Opposed to Weapons of Mass Destruction? Think
Again...The U.S. Fronts for One of the Greatest Purveyors of WOMD: BIG
TOBACCO." Within an hour, our 150 flyers were all gone.
To view the flyer:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/flyer.html
Download word version:
Page 1:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/flyer1.doc
Page 2:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/flyer2.doc
We also passed out color postcards, courtesy the San Francisco Tobacco
Free Coalition, with the text ""It's a lot easier to sell cigarettes
around the world when you have the U.S. government on your team,"
featuring George Bush tipping his cowboy hat.
To view the postcard go to http://www.stopglobaltobacco.org
and click on "Postcards (PDF)"
About 25 people attended the rally itself -- a great turnout for DC,
particularly given the out-of-the-way location and bitter cold and windy
weather conditions. We set up our large "U.S. Pack of Lies" prop in
view of both the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Department of Human Services
building and sign. Several reporters came, including someone from
National Public Radio, who taped the entire rally.
The rally began with a picket line and some spirited chants decrying the
pro-tobacco positions of the U.S. delegation to the FCTC. Read chants:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/chants.html
Infact organizer, Diana Silbergeld, started by relating a telephone
conversation she had had that morning with Kenneth Bernard, Assistant
Surgeon General and chair of the U.S. delegation to the FCTC. Mr.
Bernard expressed deep frustration over the hundreds of phone calls,
emails, and letters he has been receiving (great job everyone!).
Needless to say, Mr. Bernard turned down Diana's invitation to come to
our rally!
GPTC Coordinator Anna White then spoke about tobacco's incredible global
toll, a toll that the World Health Organization projects will rise to
over 10 million deaths annually by 2030 -- the equivalent of 95 jet
planes full of passengers crashing each and every day of the year. She
emphasized the irony of the Bush Administration's failure to properly
address these "weapons of mass destruction."
Next, a statement from American Lung Association was read by Geetha
Veliah, Program Manager of Tobacco Control. Read the statement:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/aladc.html
Followed by statement by Moka Pantages of the Charles County Maryland
Youth Movement Against Tobacco Use. Moka is a new GPTC participant!
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/ccmymatu.html
Statements of solidarity from GPTC participants around the world were
also read at the rally:
"If the US hinders the FCTC, it will be responsible for
tobacco=92s global death toll"
Dr. Kamel Bekersi, President
NGO Sante Sii El Houari
ALGERIA
"The message to US Delegation is clear : They MUST not allow
their own tobacco companies to advertise tobacco so ruthlessly
and shamelessly and unethically, in developing countries. The
practices which tobacco companies cannot indulge in their own
country, should not be allowed to happen across their
borders."
Bobby Ramakant, Pilot Coordinator
INGCAT Task force for South East Asia
INDIA
"Money is not as important as people lives"
Muna Hamzeh, Chief of Health Education
Ministry of Health
JORDAN
"U.S. should know it influences the whole world. We use
American examples here in our advocacy. Please do something
positive. Forget selfishness, so that you can be the world
leader in truth -- indeed, the world is watching and waiting"
Seun Akioye, Campaign Director
Journalist Advocacy for Safe Environment & Tobacco Eradication
(JASETE)
NIGERIA
"Protecting your own nation is not enough, protect others as
well
Jin Sook Choi, Secretary General
Korean Association of Smoking and Health
SOUTH KOREA
PHOTOS OF DEMONSTRATION
U.S. "Pack of Lies" prop & giant cigarettes in front of U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/005.JPG
Banner "It's a lot easier to sell cigarettes around the world when you
have the U.S. government on your team" (features photo of Bush tipping
his cowboy hat) in front of DHHS sign
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/007.JPG
Sign "Stop Fronting for Big Tobacco" (features photo of DHHS Secretary
Tommy Thompson)
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/011.JPG
Sign "U.S. & Phillip Morris - Stop the Killing!" with U.S. Capitol in
the background
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/012.JPG
Sign "Whose Side Are You On - Big Tobacco or Public Health?" (features
photo of George Bush)
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/014.JPG
Sign "World's #1 Marlboro Man" (features photo of Bush tipping cowboy
hat)
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/015.JPG
National Public Radio records GPTC Coordinator Anna White
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/infact4.jpg
Infact organizer Diana Silbergeld speaks in front of "Pack of Lies" prop
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/infact3.jpg
GPTC participant Moka Pantages, CCMYMATU, calling for the U.S. to
support a strong FCTC
Photo: http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/017.JPG
Demonstrators posing with "Pack of Lies" prop and cigarettes
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/infact1.jpg
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/infact2.jpg
More photos are up at:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/dhhsdemo/
CONTENTS OF INFACT PRESS PACKET
Press Release (Infact, Essential Action)
D.C. Rally One of Seven Major Events Across US Demonstrating Strong
Support for World's First Public Health Treaty on Tobacco
Community Leaders, Local Officials, Public Health Advocates Urge Bush
Administration to Stop Blocking Progress on Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/pressrelease.html
Statement of Thomas E. Novotny, MD MPH
Former Chief US Delegate to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
San Francisco, Wednesday, February 12, 2003
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/novotny.html
Letter from Rep. Henry Waxman (CA) and Senator Richard Durbin (IL) to
President Bush, decrying the U.S. government's efforts support Big
Tobacco's global expansion. The letter addresses: 1) Trade negotiations
that benefit tobacco companies. 2) Market assistance to tobacco
companies. 3) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 4) Smuggling.
Date: February 12, 2003
http://www.house.gov/reform/min/pdfs/pdf_inves/pdf_tobacco_bush_admin_feb_1=
2_let.pdf
New Infact Report "Cowboy Diplomacy: How the U.S. Undermines
International Environmental, Human Rights, Disarmament and Health
Agreements"
For a copy, contact Infact at: <info@infact.org>
PRESS COVERAGE
U.S. retreat extinguishes tough global-smoking limits
Op Ed - USA Today
Wed Feb 12, 2003
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=3Dstory2&u=3D/usatoday/20030212/cm_us=
atoday/4858855&e=3D1&ncid=3D
Or: http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/usatoday.html
Up in smoke
The World Health Organization has spent three years crafting a global
tobacco treaty. As negotiations come down to the wire, U.S. delegates
appointed by President Bush's tobacco-friendly White House are gutting
it.
By Tali Woodward, San Francisco Bay Guardian
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/sfbg.html
U.S. Should Lead Efforts to Protect Global Health or Get Out of the Way
As Final Negotiations Begin on Tobacco Treaty (Feb. 17-28)
Statement of Judith Wilkenfeld, Director of International Programs,
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
February 12, 2003
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/Script/DisplayPressRelease.php3?Display=3D60=
1
Ex-Clinton official rips White House on tobacco treaty
He says U.N. draft has been 'watered down' since he quit as U.S.
delegation chairman
by Sabin Russell, San Francisco Chronicle
Thursday, February 13, 2003
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/chronicle/archive/2003/02=
/13/MN99014.DTL
Or: http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/sfc.html
Bush Accused of Catering to Big Tobacco on Global Treaty
By Robert B. Bluey
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
February 13, 2003
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=3D\Culture\archive\200302\CUL20=
030213b.html
Or: http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/dhhsdemo/cnsnews.html
---------------------------------------
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