Global Health Watch 1 in one file

grass roots in building government support, despite staunch US opposition
throughout and aggressive attempts by the tobacco giants to derail it.
Thousands of people took action globally in support of the FCTC through
International Weeks of Resistance to Tobacco Transnationals and other
vehicles.
Continued opposition to the treaty is expected from the tobacco industry
and its government allies, but it has the necessary momentum from governments,
backed by broad-based civil society support, to be implemented
effectively in a growing number of countries. Civil society and health professionals
are more important than ever to support ratification and implementation
at country level. Monitoring and exposing ongoing tobacco
industry interference in public policy is also vital. With continued support
from citizens throughout the world, this treaty could save millions
of lives.
Useful resources
Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, is a membership organization
that wages and wins campaigns challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate
actions around the world. For over 25 years it has forced corporations like
Nestlé, General Electric and Philip Morris/Altria to stop abusive actions. It is an
NGO in official relations with WHO. For more information visit http://www.stopcorporateabuse.org.
The Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT), launched by Corporate
Accountability International in 1999, includes more than 100 NGOs from over
50 countries working to enforce the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
References
Anderson S and Cavanagh J (2000). Top 200: the Rise of Global Corporate Power. Washington
DC, Institute for Policy Studies (http://www.ips-dc.org/reports/top200.htm,
accessed on 16 March 2005).
Tobacco Reporter (2003). Who’s in control? Just how binding will the FCTC be?
July (http://www.tobaccoreporter.com/backissues/Jul2003/story1.asp, accessed
on 16 March 2005).
The full text of the global tobacco treaty is available on the internet at: http://www.
who.int/tobacco/fctc/text/final
Philip Morris/Altria documents can be obtained at: http://www.pmdocs.com
Case study 2: Breastmilk substitutes
The health benefits associated with exclusive breastfeeding for the first
six months of life have been well documented: it is good for children in all
countries and at all levels of socioeconomic development. It is often a matter
of life or death in poor countries, yet is continually under threat from the
promotion of breastmilk substitutes. Civil society, public health practitioners
Big business
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