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Japan Argues Against Financial Resources for Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Earns Marlboro Man Award FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACTS: GENEVA -- For consistent attempts to ensure that adequate financial resources are not built into the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Japan receives today's Marlboro Man Award. The award, bestowed by the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT), exposes and challenges countries for espousing treaty positions that benefit the tobacco industry at the expense of public health. Throughout these negotiations Japan has also blocked progress toward a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, seen by most countries as at the heart of the FCTC. "Financial resources, including a dedicated funding mechanism, are absolutely critical to a strong, enforceable FCTC. Wealthy countries that have chartered, assisted and benefited from the international expansion of tobacco transnationals bear a particular responsibility to help ensure that developing countries can implement the FCTC. Instead, Japan is standing in the way of progress toward a global fund," says Bejon Misra of ConsumerVOICE (India), a NATT member. Throughout the FCTC process, developing nations led by Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East have been clear on the absolute necessity of funding mechanisms in the treaty. In the last few days, Japan and a few other wealthy countries have sought to derail progress toward a position that many countries have accepted. The winner of the Marlboro Man Award will be announced regularly by NATT. To date at INB6, the award has gone twice to the US, in addition to Ambassador Luiz Felipe de Seixas Corrêa, the Chair of FCTC negotiations, and Cuba. The award is named after Philip Morris's notorious advertising icon because of the Marlboro Mans central role in spreading tobacco addiction globally. The image was designed by its creator as "the right image to capture the youth market's fancy&a perfect symbol of indepedence and individualistic rebellion." Philip Morris has ridden to the top of the industry on the strength of the Marlboro Man advertising and promotional campaign, which has made Marlboro the worlds leading cigarette brand. ### The Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) includes 75 NGOs from more than 50 countries working for a strong, enforceable Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. NATT members at INB6 include: Center for Alternative Development Initiatives (Philippines), Consumers Association of Malawi, ConsumerVOICE (India), Environmental Rights Action (Nigeria), Infact (US), and Zambian Consumers Association.
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