Thank you to Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg

A combination effort from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as Bloomberg Philanthropies has lead to launching a fund to help low and middle-income countries fight legal battles with the tobacco industry. Around the world smaller, developing countries cannot afford to fight long, expensive legal battles with the wealthy tobacco companies and have to abandon their efforts to warn the public of the health concerns involved with tobacco products.

According to the World Health Organization, 80% of the world’s 1 billion smokers live in low to middle income countries. Over 5 million people die each year due to tobacco related illnesses. While some developed countries have made major progress in recent years in decreasing smoking rates, percentages in developing countries are on the rise. Now more than ever we need to try and halt the growth. The two foundations are taking a stand and it is just the beginning.

In an interview with Bloomberg, he explained their plan of action. Finding and directing legal help for these countries to fight the battles they cannot fight by themselves. In addition, they expect a number of other groups to join their cause. Their initial starting sum is at $4 million, but he said that is merely a number.

“We just picked $4 million just to say, ‘O.K., here, let’s start it.” He later said, “The fact that there is a fund dedicated to taking on the tobacco companies in court sends a message that they are not going to get a free ride,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “If they say that’s not a lot of money — yes, well, take a look at who’s behind it.”

When Bill Gates is part of a philanthropic effort, people don’t see lack of funding as an issue. At the same time Bloomberg has attributed $600 million to fighting tobacco since 2007. They are acknowledging that, and using it to their advantage to try and push back at the tobacco companies. An additional part of their work is supplying discounted or even free lawyers to help combat the companies and helping draft laws to avoid further challenge.

This foundation is giving a countries a way to fight back against trade litigation where they otherwise could not. I think it is really important to challenge these companies power where smaller countries cannot afford to defend themselves and have their major legislation directed by international corporations. Hopefully the promised funding will be able to make substantial impact, and achieve the overlying goal of educating the public and checking the power of these tobacco companies .