The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: ViSa-Mauritius adapts new methods of fighting the tobacco industry in the new context of the ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This industry is also cornered since the tobacco papers made public revealed its dirty dealings and truth concealment regarding the scientific proofs on the debilitating and lethal nature of the tobacco products. In order to survive to such a public shame, the tobacco industry buys relationships and uses front groups to influence the public opinion and policy makers.

Methods: The priority is to identify and unveil the tobacco industry interests and expose them, and warn the ‘friends' that their goodwill was abused and that they are discredited. The tobacco industry allies can be tracked by getting information on the net, newspapers and other media. Event reporting with pictures often show people from the tobacco industry with Ministers, NGOs or the business community.

ViSa reacts by sending letters of protest, petitions, emails, information sheets and flyers to the concerned people or associations, enterprises, NGOs, to the Ministers, the media and to international agencies and Globalink, so that each one realize his share of responsibility in the tobacco epidemic and stop any further collaboration with the killer industry.

Results: ViSa-Mauritius found that the tobacco industry tried to infiltrate the Ministry of Health, the University of Mauritius, Hospitality Association, different enterprises and agencies, the NGOs for poverty alleviation, environment, women's rights etc. After ViSa intervention, the Mauritian public is sensitized and in many cases BAT's friends were asked to keep away.