In Patricia Lambert's home country of South Africa, tobacco industry executives take shots at the activist by calling her a "neo-Nazi nanny." No matter. Opponents can call her whatever they like, Lambert says, as long as they don't impede her efforts at strict tobacco control. Lambert, director of the legal consortium for Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, warns public health advocates that in order to make strides against tobacco deaths they must know their opposition."There is no magic wand," she admits. But three key principals will take nations far in establishing strong control measures: Align with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), use skill to navigate the political landscape of each country, and keep on guard for opposition because the tobacco industry is strong, powerful and sophisticated. "Hold onto these principals, make them work and shoot for the ceiling," she says. And of opponents? Know their actions. "But remember when a country wants to control malaria," she says, "They don't negotiate with mosquitoes."
1 comment:
One of the finest lectures I've heard in the recent times.Patricia Lambert is a brave and bold woman who has pushed the tobacco industry to the back in many parts of the world with her anti-tobacco campaign.The tobacco industry executives taking shots on her by calling her a "neo-Nazi nanny" shows the quantum of impact her campaign had in South Africa.Her policy to expose the anger of the tobacco industry who know are fighting a losing battle and her comments that the tobacco industry are not as big as projected but really weaklings and not strong as projected by many have impressed me very much.She has rightly pointed out that there is no magic wand to clear this epidemic but the three key principles suggested to the nations to fight this menace will definately prove her to be correct.I label her as the "Joan of Arc" in this war against the tobacco epidemic.
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