<br><span class="gmail_quote">From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Kireen Marion</b> <<a href="mailto:kireenmm@tm.net.my">kireenmm@tm.net.my</a>><br>and Mohamed Idris <a href="mailto:idrismd@tm.net.my">idrismd@tm.net.my</a> Consumer Associatin of Penang<br>
<br></span>
<div lang="EN-MY" vlink="blue" link="blue">
<div>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">CAP came across an article which appeared in the December 6, 2008 issue of the Lancet, Vol. 372 entitled, “<i><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Corporate capture and Coca-Cola</span></i>”. It was written by Mr. Ian Roberts of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The writer describes how an arrangement was made by World Health Organization (WHO) staff for him to meet with representatives from Coca-Cola regarding the company’s proposal to fund research on physical activity. The proposal was subsequently forwarded from this company to the writer. </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Apparently, according to the Coca-Cola people, this proposal was the culmination of discussions that they had been having with WHO over the past few months and where a keen interest was collectively expressed in understanding better the potential relationship between physical activity, as active transport – walking, cycling, etc, health and potential environmental benefits, that is carbon emissions. The proposal indicated a desire to get people active. </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mr Roberts points out that it is not surprising that a company selling an energy-dense soft drink might want to focus attention on the output side of the personal energy-balance equation, and that it would be more convenient to blame people’s fatness on “<i><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">a lack of cycle paths paths, than on the 35 g of sugar contained in a 330 ml Coke can</span></i>” (emphasis CAP’s).</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The writer believes that there must be many private contract-research organizations that would be able to do Coca-Cola’s research for them, and that sending him a research proposal which he was then expected to send back to them for funding seemed to him like an insensitive attempt at “corporate capture”. He felt sure that Coca-Cola would find other universities eager to avail themselves of industry-sponsored research. He then laments the “<i><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">sad abuse of the rare freedom granted to publicly funded academics to seek answers to socially important questions</span></i><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">”.</span></b> (emphasis CAP’s)</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The writer goes on to postulate what this episode actually says about WHO, and queries, “What benefits are there to public health from brokering research deals between the beverage industry and a university school of public health?”</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The writer also informs readers that Derek Yach, the former director of non-communicable diseases and mental health at WHO is now Director of Global Health Policy for PepsiCo. Yach, has apparently stated, referring to policies on nutrition and physical activity, that “work with colleagues while at the WHO convinced me that such policies need to be developed and implemented in partnership with the corporate food sector if they are to achieve maximum impact”.</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mr Robert ends the article expressing his concern that close links with the industry could influence the extent to which WHO pursues public health objectives when these objectives come up against corporate interests. </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Referring to this article in the Lancet, we at CAP are surprised that Mr. Derek Yach, formerly a key staff of WHO, and well-known worldwide, has joined PepsiCo. This means that while in jobs at WHO, such staff are probably already being influenced by these companies; and once they retire they jump to these companies. </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> W</span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">e have written to the Director General of WHO, Madam Margaret Chan, expressing our concern regarding the fact that WHO staff are apparently brokering deals between the industry and public institutions; and that key staff are also probably being influenced by the industry while in office. We have queried on the action that will be taken to address the situation.</span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> W</span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">e believe that the scenario we have summarized above is not unique to WHO and the fizzy drinks industry, but is rampant – where public health institutions, including government agencies and public universities, collaborate with the various industries (whose products have an adverse impact on health) for research and other joint ventures. </span></font></p>
<p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Perhaps you might like to refer to the full article in the Lancet, plus take some individual action – including perhaps writing to WHO; or identifying similar patterns locally where your concerns can be raised. </span></font></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">We look forward to hearing about any action you have taken, or even just a short comment on your views.</span></font></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><span lang="EN-US" style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> </span></font></p></div></div>