BTL:Bush Administration May Reject Ratification of...

...International Tobacco Control Treaty ~ Interview with Derek Yach, one of the principle drafters of the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, conducted by Between the Lines' Melinda Tuhus <!--break--> <p>Bush Administration May Reject Ratification of International Tobacco Control Treaty</p><p>Interview with Derek Yach, one of the principle drafters of the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, conducted by Melinda Tuhus</p><p>An international anti-tobacco treaty went into effect on Feb. 27th that aims to reduce smoking-related disease and death around the world. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was signed by 168 countries, but so far ratified by only 57, including some of the largest nations such as India, Japan and Germany. Two major countries that have not yet ratified the treaty are China, which is expected to, and the United States, where Senate ratification is uncertain.</p><p>Ratifying nations must set targets for imposing price and tax increases on cigarettes, enact laws to protect the public from second-hand smoke, and enforce restrictions on the sale of tobacco products to minors, among other things. The World Heatlh Organization estimates that tobacco-related illnesses kill one smoker every 6.5 seconds around the globe.</p><p>Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Derek Yach, the official from the World Health Organization in charge of drafting the treaty, which was completed in 2003. He now heads the Division of Global Health at Yale University's School of Public Health. He says in order to be effective, the treaty needs protocols that set up specific reduction targets. And, he explains that while the U.S. Justice Department has taken a strong stand against abuses by tobacco companies, the Bush administration may still oppose ratification of this treaty.</p><p>For more information, visit the World Health Organization's website at <a href="http://www.who.int">www.who.int</a></p><p>LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:</p><p><a href="http://www.btlonline.org">http://www.btlonline.org</a><br />*<br />&quot;Between The Lines&quot; is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because &quot;Between The Lines&quot; is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: <a href="http://www.btlonline.org">http://www.btlonline.org</a><br />*<br />&quot;Between the Lines,&quot; WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising  months of April and October).<br />*<br />For an email subscription of &quot;Between The Lines Weekly Summary&quot; which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to <a href="mailto:btlsummary-subscribe@lists.riseup.net">btlsummary-subscribe@lists.riseup.net</a><br />*<br />For an email subscription of &quot;Between The Lines Q&amp;A&quot; which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to <a href="mailto:btlqa-subscribe@lists.riseup.net">btlqa-subscribe@lists.riseup.net</a><br />*<br /><a href="mailto:betweenthelines@snet.net">betweenthelines@snet.net</a><br />*<br /><a href="http://www.squeakywheel.net/">http://www.squeakywheel.net/</a><br />*<br />Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions<br />©2005 Between The Lines. All Rights Reserved.<br /></p>

<p>...International Tobacco Control Treaty ~ Interview with Derek Yach, one of the principle drafters of the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, conducted by Between the Lines' Melinda Tuhus</p> <!--break--><p>Bush Administration May Reject Ratification of International Tobacco Control Treaty</p> <p>Interview with Derek Yach, one of the principle drafters of the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, conducted by Melinda Tuhus</p> <p>An international anti-tobacco treaty went into effect on Feb. 27th that aims to reduce smoking-related disease and death around the world. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was signed by 168 countries, but so far ratified by only 57, including some of the largest nations such as India, Japan and Germany. Two major countries that have not yet ratified the treaty are China, which is expected to, and the United States, where Senate ratification is uncertain.</p> <p>Ratifying nations must set targets for imposing price and tax increases on cigarettes, enact laws to protect the public from second-hand smoke, and enforce restrictions on the sale of tobacco products to minors, among other things. The World Heatlh Organization estimates that tobacco-related illnesses kill one smoker every 6.5 seconds around the globe.</p> <p>Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Derek Yach, the official from the World Health Organization in charge of drafting the treaty, which was completed in 2003. He now heads the Division of Global Health at Yale University's School of Public Health. He says in order to be effective, the treaty needs protocols that set up specific reduction targets. And, he explains that while the U.S. Justice Department has taken a strong stand against abuses by tobacco companies, the Bush administration may still oppose ratification of this treaty.</p> <p>For more information, visit the World Health Organization's website at <a href="http://www.who.int">www.who.int</a></p> <p>LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:</p> <p><a href="http://www.btlonline.org">http://www.btlonline.org</a><br />*<br />"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: <a href="http://www.btlonline.org">http://www.btlonline.org</a><br />*<br />"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising  months of April and October).<br />*<br />For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to <a href="mailto:btlsummary-subscribe@lists.riseup.net">btlsummary-subscribe@lists.riseup.net</a><br />*<br />For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&amp;A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to <a href="mailto:btlqa-subscribe@lists.riseup.net">btlqa-subscribe@lists.riseup.net</a><br />*<br /><a href="mailto:betweenthelines@snet.net">betweenthelines@snet.net</a><br />*<br /><a href="http://www.squeakywheel.net/">http://www.squeakywheel.net/</a><br />*<br />Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions<br />©2005 Between The Lines. All Rights Reserved.</p>