Dear Editor,

At a time of division on the international landscape, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. More than 170 countries have united around the first global public health treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC will set broad limits on how giant tobacco corporations like Phillip Morris (now called Altria) can operate worldwide.

Among its groundbreaking measures, the FCTC will include a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Aggressive promotional tactics like the Marlborough Man have driven the global profits of tobacco traditionals. When this treaty becomes international law, it will significantly reduce Bit Tobacco’s ability to spread addiction, disease and death around the world.

Tobacco claims about 4.9 million lives every year, and is quickly becoming the world’s leading cause of death. Developing countries—which have been targeted as “expansion markets” by the tobacco giants—have led the way toward the passage of this landmark agreement. The FCTC is scheduled to be adopted in May by the World Health Assembly.

Now, in the 11th hour, the Bush administration has indicated its intent to stop the FCTC from being adopted as-is. With almost unanimous support for this treaty, it is inexcusable for the U.S. government to continue to do Phillip Morris’ dirty work and try to derail the FCTC’s adoption. With the “go it alone” attitude of the U.S. government fueling anger around the world, the Bush administration must be prevented from destroying the world’s first public health treaty.

Mark Shultz