A stern letter has been sent to Dr Christopher Russell, a behavioural psychologist and senior research fellow at the Centre for Substance Use Research in Glasgow.
Co-signed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in the United States and the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP), the letter urges Dr Russell to withdraw from next week's Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum in Brussels (an event I wrote about here):
When informed about the direct links between the tobacco industry and this particular event, some initial presenters have immediately cancelled their participation. Now that the connection is clearly established and brought to your attention, we call on you to do the same and disengage with this event.
I've been writing about GTNF for at least five years and to the best of my knowledge no-one has ever hidden the fact that it's supported by tobacco companies, who also provide several speakers. The company names and logos are on the website.
It's completely open and transparent, unlike many tobacco control events, notably the World Health Organisation's seventh Conference of the Parties (COP7) that takes place in India in November. Now that really is an event shrouded in secrecy.
To read the full letter to Christopher Russell click here.
Forest gets a mention, for which I'm grateful. That alone justifies the small amount of money we are paying to 'sponsor' a networking reception before the gala dinner on Wednesday.
See also: Conference calls.
