Time for USA to be part of the world community..

July 18, 2010 - Now is the time..

On Monday, May 10, 2004, on behalf of the United States, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) at the United Nations. The FCTC is the first-ever global public health treaty negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO). (United States Signs Tobacco Control Treaty, Press Release, US DHHS, 5/11/2004).

The WHO FCTC Treaty was developed in response to the globalization of the tobacco epidemic and is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health.

The George W. Bush administration never forwarded the signed FCTC treaty to the U.S. Senate for ratification. A two-thirds majority approval by the Senate is required for the U.S. to ratify the treaty and become a voting member of the FCTC's international governing body. With the makeup of the present senate ratification should be readily accomplished. Recently, the senate unanimously passed the PACT act whose main goal is to protect our children by making it illegal to use the U.S. Postal Service to deliver cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

"It would be a tragedy for the United States not to join the FCTC. Our nation should be leading on this issue, not watching from the sidelines. We should ratify the convention, implement it, and help low-income nations do the same," said Stephen F. Sener, MD, national volunteer president, American Cancer Society.

Where the George W. Bush administration seemed to isolate itself from the rest of the world Obama pledged to be different. Reasoning in this day and age, no one country or leader can meet the world's most pressing challenges alone, but working together as one world in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation, yes we can bring real and lasting change. After Obama won the presidential election people from around the world expressed their eagerness for the United States to rejoin the world community.

Here's our chance..

Related news brief:
United States is now ready to ratify the WHO FCTC..