The New Straits Times, December 31, 2000
By Prof Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
FOR the past 12 months Poison Control has taken up a number of issues, including ecological destruction, environmental pollution, drug abuse and safety, tobacco dependence, emerging communicable diseases, and health-cum-trade conflicts.
These are but some of the major issues that are confronting humankind with unparalleled urgency. What is apparent is that none of these issues can be single-handedly solved by any individual community or nation. They are a global problem and demand a global solution through a truly global partnership.
While there are many global negotiations said to be hanging in the limbo, the most recent is perhaps a classic success story of collective political will involving a number of interested parties.
This refers to an agreement to do away with the use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) achieved early this month in Johannesburg, South Africa (NST, Poison Control, Dec 3).
Reportedly, almost against all odds, an eleventh hour miracle was pulled off.
Now there is "a complete, bracket-free text" agreement to be put forth for endorsement at the coming Stockholm Convention on POPs.
The agreement can be regarded as comprehensive in that it mentions names of POPs to be eliminated such as PCBs, DDT and other by-products of POPs. It also mentions precautions and preventive measures to be taken, including prohibiting the development of new POPs.
The agreement is exemplary in that it can form the basis of future negotiations to forestall the production and release of the many thousands of chemicals for which the hazards are poorly understood.
This a much lauded move since for too long there seems to have beeen a complete failure in terms of controlling the use of such chemicals, and its threatening effects on health and the environment.
Another example of successful collective political will is the even more recent regulation requiring photographic health warnings to be placed on all cigarette packs sold in Canada.
Almost like a Christmas gift for the anti-tobacco advocate movements, the Canadian Government approved the world’s first photographic warning labels under tough new rules.
A variety of vivid illustrations of lung cancers, bleeding gums, mouth diseases, congested blood vessels, damaged brains appeared on as much as 50 per cent of the front panel of cigarette packs.
This is to be complemented by any one of the 16 written warnings such as: "Cigarettes cause strokes", "Tobacco smoke hurts babies", "Don’t poison us" and "Tobacco can make you impotent."
In addition, cigarette packs must also carry information on the quantity of poisonous substances emitted by a cigarette as it is smoked - not only nicotine, but also tar, formaldehyde, benzene and so on.
The new regulations are aimed at scaring smokers into greater awareness about smoking hazards, making full use of the adage "a picture is worth a thousand words".
They highlight four main themes - tobacco-related diseases, tobacco dependence, passive smoking and health hazards for children.
According to the Canadian Health Minister: "Studies have shown that these warnings are 60 times more persuasive when they are accompanied by photographs."
"Canadians who use tobacco products need to fully understand the serious health hazards inherent in this lethal product, which has been scientifically linked to more than 20 specific cancers and diseases," the Health Minister adds.
For many developing countries where literacy can be a big obstacle to understanding health messages, photographic information such as that adopted by the Canadians is certainly a creative and much awaited move.
The basic premise in all these actions is of course to promote the culture of thinking about health among citizens and nations of the entire planet.
While this is not always easy when it is beset by technological and financial difficulties, it can be more than compensated for when there is enough collective political will as illustrated above.
It is therefore imperative that people and nations should learn to collaborate through a policy of co-existence to save the ailing Mother Earth and its threatened population.
This must cut across all sectors - private and public, governmental and non-governmental - for it to be relevant, encompassing and effective.
In a limited way, the past 12 months have seen some encouraging response in this respect. But there is room for improvement in bridging a number of knowledge and policy gaps. We need more partners and commitment.
In the year 2001 and beyond we must therefore strive even harder to realise a broader framework of success based on greater commitment from all parties through even more co-operation and collaboration.
We must reach to the level of school-going age as well as consistently engaging the ever busy government and business people whose organisational policies often impinge on the immediate future of our planet.
All of them must be made aware as to how each could use their resources well in making the difference.
As the sense of crisis regarding the global environment and public health gains currency we need to demonstrate greater determination in protecting both.
The Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 must serve as a beacon and constant reminder for many more to rally around the environmental and public health cause.
Yet one other powerful reminder is that at this same time last year, the world was anxiously waiting for the impact of the socalled Y2K problem. For months before some had predicted a catastrophic disaster for all.
Even the United Nations took keen interest in monitoring the situation, and offering solutions to the problems. Billions were spent on resolving the problem.
However, when the New Year arrived, the situation was somewhat deemed as an anti-climax for most. Except for some localised glitches, there was no major world-wide untoward event. While some are quick to label the Y2K problem as a hoax, the anti-climax might well be the outcome of a worldwide collaborative effort forged well ahead of its time.
Whatever the situation, it is worthwhile noting a long-term view of an impending global problem could be a good starting point, but taking positive actions collaboratively is much more assuring.
This is an important lesson to keep in mind as we move into the New Year. We hope we have set the stage to start thinking in terms of a long-term view in attempting a long lasting solution.
If so, it is now time to move ahead by taking that extra step in setting up networks for collaborative action. Only then can we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel and look forward to an even better future.
