Big Tobacco expands in West Africa
Jump to full article: San Francisco Bay View, 2007-05-09
Author: Carol McGruder
Intro: It appears that the tried and true aggressive marketing tactics of American owned multi-national tobacco companies are working in developing nations. For the past few years, Philip Morris and its cohorts have stepped up the aggressive marketing of their deadly products to African youth and young women.
The billboard in Senegal shown in the photo entices the young to smoke and send in their proof of purchase seals to enter into a drawing to �win a trip to America.� Unfortunately, few if any would be granted an appointment to even request a visa to the U.S. if they were ever lucky enough to �win� the contest.
But the true winner in this scenario is of course big tobacco; they are simply playing a numbers game knowing that for every hundred youth who are enticed to smoke, a certain percentage will become addicted to cigarettes and thus lifelong contributors to their billion dollar coffers. . . .
As Africa deals with economic development, the crisis of AIDS and the specter of war and civil strife, it does not need the added burden of the death and sickness of tobacco related diseases. Our brothers and sisters in Africa need the protection of a strong framework. To find out how you and your organizations can help support the FCTC contact, email me at cmcgruder@usa.net.
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