Perceiving Risks proceedings at national level (45), while many risks related to international trade may come under the jurisdiction of the disputes procedure of the World Trade Organization By comparison, public health interest groups have the difficult task of trying to achieve greater consensus in society in order to make government risk control policies more acceptable. These groups tend to communicate and frame risks by emphasizing their harm and hence encourage policies and strategies that aim to reduce risk, including better regulation. Although public health groups tend to act independently, they are often less well coordinated at national and international levels than corporate groups; they are also more accountable to the public than are private businesses. In addition, they usually have fewer financial resources to support their activities The tobacco industry is a prime example of how global business operations can be pro moting cigarette consumption while at the same time distorting public perceptions of the risks involved(42, 46). However, many anti-smoking groups also oppose both the tobacco industry and the coordinated international action contained in the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control(FCTO) promoted by the World Health Organization(see Box 3.7) Besides private industry and public health campaigning groups, there are many other kinds of special interest groups that aim to influence policies to control risks With the rapid growth in global media and communications, particularly those using the Internet, many informal global networks now exist, including links between specialist groups and community-based organizations. A constant danger is that private organizations may attempt to coopt and divert such public groups and networks. Although special interest groups are often better organized in industrialized countries, similar groups in developing countries can now benefit from faster international links, easier access to published information, and membership of related trade or professional organizations. For instance, the multinational pharmaceutical companies attempt to control the development, licensing availability and costs of many patented drugs; national family planning associations and the International Planned Parenthood Federation(IPPF)disseminate information on risks to reproductive health and promote modern methods to control fertility, special groups exist to protect people with particular diseases, such those suffering from HIVAIDS, diabetes and cancers; and other special groups aim to avoid new risks, such as those from greatly increased global trade in manufactured products, for example, food and pesticides Another important aspect of policy-making occurs at the international level. Besides special interest groups that can operate on a global basis, there are a number of Box 3. 7 Junking science to promote tobacco "The goal of the tobacco industrys"scientific scenario is changing as the negotiations for the demand complete transparency about strategy "was not to reveal the truth but to Framework Convention on Tobacco Control affiliations and linkages between allegedly protect the industry from loss of revenue and to continue to advance. The convention marks the independent scientists and tobacco companies. prevent governments from establishing effective first time that WHO has used its treaty-making Academic naivety about tobacco companies' tobacco control measures. The industry's goals right to support Member States in developing a intentions is no longer excusable. The extent of of creating doubt and controversy and placing legally binding instrument in the service of public the tobacco companies manipulations needs to the burden of proof on the public health health. Negotiations are progressing well, and it is be thoroughly exposed, and students of many community in policy forums have, therefore, met likely that Member States will vote on ratification disciplines(public health, public policy, ethics with a certain degree of success. Tobacco control of the convention in mid-2003 and law, to name a few)should be provided with olicies are not being implemented worldwide"What do the revelations about tobacco the evidence that is increasingly available at the rate that current scientific knowledge company actions mean for public health policy? through the tobacco industry documents [in the about the dangers of tobacco warrants. But this In general terms, they call for policy-makers to Minnesota and Guildford archives] Source: (46). p 1747Perceiving Risks 41 proceedings at national level (45), while many risks related to international trade may come under the jurisdiction of the disputes procedure of the World Trade Organization. By comparison, public health interest groups have the difficult task of trying to achieve greater consensus in society in order to make government risk control policies more acceptable. These groups tend to communicate and frame risks by emphasizing their harm and hence encourage policies and strategies that aim to reduce risk, including better regulation. Although public health groups tend to act independently, they are often less well coordinated at national and international levels than corporate groups; they are also more accountable to the public than are private businesses. In addition, they usually have fewer financial resources to support their activities. The tobacco industry is a prime example of how global business operations can be pro￾moting cigarette consumption while at the same time distorting public perceptions of the risks involved (42, 46). However, many anti-smoking groups also oppose both the tobacco industry and the coordinated international action contained in the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) promoted by the World Health Organization (see Box 3.7). Besides private industry and public health campaigning groups, there are many other kinds of special interest groups that aim to influence policies to control risks. With the rapid growth in global media and communications, particularly those using the Internet, many informal global networks now exist, including links between specialist groups and community-based organizations. A constant danger is that private organizations may attempt to coopt and divert such public groups and networks. Although special interest groups are often better organized in industrialized countries, similar groups in developing countries can now benefit from faster international links, easier access to published information, and membership of related trade or professional organizations. For instance, the multinational pharmaceutical companies attempt to control the development, licensing, availability and costs of many patented drugs; national family planning associations and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) disseminate information on risks to reproductive health and promote modern methods to control fertility; special groups exist to protect people with particular diseases, such those suffering from HIV/AIDS, diabetes and cancers; and other special groups aim to avoid new risks, such as those from greatly increased global trade in manufactured products, for example, food and pesticides. Another important aspect of policy-making occurs at the international level. Besides special interest groups that can operate on a global basis, there are a number of Box 3.7 Junking science to promote tobacco “The goal of the tobacco industry’s “scientific strategy” was not to reveal the truth but to protect the industry from loss of revenue and to prevent governments from establishing effective tobacco control measures. The industry’s goals of creating doubt and controversy and placing the burden of proof on the public health community in policy forums have, therefore, met with a certain degree of success. Tobacco control policies are not being implemented worldwide at the rate that current scientific knowledge about the dangers of tobacco warrants. But this demand complete transparency about affiliations and linkages between allegedly independent scientists and tobacco companies. Academic naivety about tobacco companies’ intentions is no longer excusable. The extent of the tobacco companies’ manipulations needs to be thoroughly exposed, and students of many disciplines (public health, public policy, ethics, and law, to name a few) should be provided with the evidence that is increasingly available through the tobacco industry documents [in the Minnesota and Guildford archives].” scenario is changing as the negotiations for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control continue to advance. The convention marks the first time that WHO has used its treaty-making right to support Member States in developing a legally binding instrument in the service of public health. Negotiations are progressing well, and it is likely that Member States will vote on ratification of the convention in mid-2003. “What do the revelations about tobacco company actions mean for public health policy? In general terms, they call for policy-makers to Source: (46). p.1747