Hearing_TobaccoControl

Tobacco Control Hearing

World Health Organization

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Hearing, Washington, D.C.

March 15, 2000

Testimony by Dianne M. Berlin, Legislation/Citizenship Director for the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

Thank you for this opportunity to speak on the issue of a world-wide health policy on tobacco control.

My name is Dianne Berlin and I am the Legislation/Citizenship Director for the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union. I am representing our adult, our youth, and our child members as well as our honorary members at this hearing.

Our organization has been for healthy children and adults since its inception more than one hundred twenty-five years ago. Abstinence from tobacco in both the smoking and the smokeless forms is what we have and still advocate.

A physician on a panel at a conference where drug use was being discussed mentioned a drug which was used to treat people with chronic pain who were not helped with any other drug or non-drug treatment.Â Because that drug killed five people in the United States in a year, it was taken off the market.

Tobacco is our number one killer drug and we here in the States foolishly continue to allow the people who produce, market and sell it to be seen as just ordinary business people.

Unfortunately, the U SÂ tobacco policy is manipulated at every opportunity by the pure greed of those connected with the producing, marketing and selling of such a lethal product aided by those who want to be elected or re-elected who accept their campaign contributions.

A good public health policy on tobacco here in the States has been fought for every step of the way by caring individuals with a real concern for humankind. This was a hard fought battle and it still is not over, but some major victories have been experienced.

Our organization is very grateful to the many individuals and organizations in our country as well as throughout the world who have come together on this issue.

It is a HEALTH issue not just for the user but for the rest of us who are affected by the secondhand smoke.

It is our hope that the World Health Organization will not allow the infiltration of the tobacco interests to destroy what should be a very clear public policy which directs a tobacco-free lifestyle for all people no matter where they live and a policy which condemns those who produce,Â sell and use tobacco as this is not just an issue of personal use.

We need no more proof as to the harm done. The truth has been uncovered... the mask removed.

As Americans, our organization is ashamed of the blatant disregard for the health and lives of people in other countries when this lethal product is shipped to those countries.

A good business corporation would NOT even choose to be a part of any product which kills off the users.Tobacco companies are NOT innocent in any way.

If the tobacco companies have any compassion for the tobacco farmers, they need to work together to get both of those components out of the tobacco business.Â It would be good if they can find a product such as soy or other food products for the farmers to grow and for them to produce which would not cause economic hardship or destruction of life. HOWEVER, they CHOSE to be in this business and CHOSE to grow tobacco.They must bear the responsibility for those decisions.

We support your efforts to embrace a true public health policy free from the tobacco forces' influence.

We advocate a clear no use policy as well as a policy which would publicly condemn those pharmacies which continue to sell tobacco products. This policy could be strengthened in those countries where public money is used to make medically prescribed drug purchases by avoiding any pharmacy which sells tobacco. It can be further strengthened by not buying drugs from companies which still do business with those pharmacies which insist on selling tobacco.

We urge you to conduct more of these hearings regionally to gain additional input.

As this opportunity came to us very quickly, we will send further material and suggestions in support of your efforts.

We pledge our support and will do our best to garner the support of our sister organizations world-wide.