Stop Your Media Misinformation Campaign, ERA/FoEN tells Philip Morris
The
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has
described as false and deceptive recent activities by Philip Morris
International (PMI) to promote itself as a supporter of a “smoke-free
world”.
ERA/FoEN,
in reaction to the start of PMI-funded training of senior journalists
in Naivasha, Kenya, with the theme - Tobacco Harm Reduction: Towards a
Smoke-free World, said the tobacco corporation un-repentantly continues
to misinform the media and the general public using concepts that seem
tailored to reducing tobacco harms but in reality undermined efforts by
governments to implement effective tobacco control policies.
In
September 2017, PMI announced an annual support of $80 million for the
establishment of a so-called Foundation for a Smoke-free World over the
next 12 years. That announcement which was aimed at burnishing the
corporation’s image was however greeted with criticism by the World
Health Organisation (WHO), and a host of non-governmental organisations
across the globe. The WHO distanced itself from the initiative and asked
governments to do same.
ERA/FoEN
in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, said the PMI Kenya training,
was a continuation of PMI orchestrated mis-information campaign and
attempt to buy media influence and silence rising public support for
effective tobacco control laws across Africa.
ERA/FoEN
Deputy Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “Governments in
Africa and media practitioners should be alarmed that PMI, while
increasing the production and marketing of its deadly wares on the
continent is now talking about tobacco harms reduction through its
so-called trainings. It is totally objectionable.”
Oluwafemi
pointed out that a very dangerous dimension to PMI new tactic is the
muddling of public health policy issues in its quest to grab more lungs,
stressing, “or else, how can it be imagined that a known producer of a
lethal product is talking of helping governments achieve goal three of
the Strategic Development Goals (SDGs) which promotes Good health and
well-being”?
“We
can see through this deception. Again if PMI is interested in a
smoke-free world all its needs to do is stop cigarette production and
stop undermining regulations across our continent,” Oluwafemi added
He
advised that governments discontinue engagements with PMI that
conflicts with the World Health Organisation - Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), and particularly strengthen the
implementation of Article 5.3 which explicitly obligates Parties to act
to protect their public health policies from the commercial and other
vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national
law.
He
maintained that there is a global consensus about how to reduce tobacco
use which has nothing to do with lack of evidence requiring research,
but has everything to do with PMI and other tobacco companies doggedly
fighting strong policies proven to reduce tobacco use around the world
such as higher tobacco taxes, graphic health warnings and bans on
tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
“PMI
should stop gambling with our lungs through its deceptive concept of a
smoke-free world. There is no safe alternative to the manufacturing,
sale and marketing of tobacco products. Attempting to confuse the media
with its deceptive message is totally unacceptable”, he insisted.
