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==Armenia== | ==Armenia== | ||
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==Australia== | |||
===2023: [https://www.openphilanthropy.org/research/tobacco-control/ Open Philanthropy - Tobacco Control ]=== | |||
*"Legal aid. One strategy outside the MPOWER framework is training legal experts to write better policies and fight against the tobacco industry lobby. There are some organizations working on this. The Anti-Tobacco Trade Litigation Fund, which is funded by both Bloomberg and Gates, provides resources to LMICs to pass tobacco control laws. The McCabe Centre in Australia trains government lawyers and policymakers to advance tobacco control laws. I did not find any estimates of how much funding is spent on legal aid, so I am unsure how much this space would benefit from additional funding." | |||
*"The Gates Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies are two of the largest funders in this space. Gates mainly funds tobacco control in Africa, while Bloomberg focuses on large, mainly Asian countries." | |||
===2015: [https://www.bbc.com/news/health-31944575 New global fund to help countries defend tobacco control]=== | |||
===2014: [https://www.uicc.org/news/law-and-cancer-workshop-big-success Law and Cancer workshop a big success]=== | |||
*"...with a focus on regulating risk factors, particularly tobacco use through the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control." | |||
*"The workshop was primarily supported by grants from...and the Bloomberg Philanthropies." | |||
===2008 - 2013: [https://www.cancervic.org.au/research/behavioural/major-topics-projects/tobacco/pre-testing-and-evaluation-of-mass-media-communications-in-low-and-middle-income-countries.html Pre-testing and evaluation of mass media communications in low and middle income countries]=== | |||
*Funding: Bloomberg Philanthropies via the World Lung Foundation | |||
==Bangladesh== | ==Bangladesh== | ||
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==[https://www.bloomberg.org/public-health/reducing-tobacco-use/anti-tobacco-trade-litigation-fund/ Anti-Tobacco Trade Litigation Fund]== | ==[https://www.bloomberg.org/public-health/reducing-tobacco-use/anti-tobacco-trade-litigation-fund/ Anti-Tobacco Trade Litigation Fund]== | ||
===2017 - <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" data-mce-style="background-color: #ffff00;">('''CTFK''')</span>: [https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/what-we-do/us/trade EXCLUDE TOBACCO PRODUCTS FROM TRADE AGREEMENTS]=== | |||
*In March 2015, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced the Anti-Tobacco Trade Litigation Fund, a joint venture managed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. This initiative provides financial and technical legal support to low- and middle-income countries that are facing claims, or threats of claims, against their tobacco control laws by the tobacco industry under international trade and investment agreements. | |||
===2015: [https://www.bloomberg.org/press/bloomberg-philanthropies-bill-melinda-gates-foundation-launch-anti-tobacco-trade-litigation-fund/ Bloomberg Philanthropies & The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Launch Anti-Tobacco Trade Litigation Fund]=== | |||
==[http://www.burningbrain.org/ Burning Brain Society] (India)== | ==[http://www.burningbrain.org/ Burning Brain Society] (India)== | ||
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*Did a [https://www.taxjustice.net/reports/ashes-to-ashes-how-british-american-tobacco-avoids-taxes-in-low-and-middle-income-countries/ report] with them in 2019 | *Did a [https://www.taxjustice.net/reports/ashes-to-ashes-how-british-american-tobacco-avoids-taxes-in-low-and-middle-income-countries/ report] with them in 2019 | ||
===2017 - CTFK: [https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/what-we-do/us/trade EXCLUDE TOBACCO PRODUCTS FROM TRADE AGREEMENTS]=== | |||
*In March 2015, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced the Anti-Tobacco Trade Litigation Fund, a joint venture managed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. This initiative provides financial and technical legal support to low- and middle-income countries that are facing claims, or threats of claims, against their tobacco control laws by the tobacco industry under international trade and investment agreements. | |||
===[https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/what-we-do/global/bloomberg Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use]=== | ===[https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/what-we-do/global/bloomberg Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use]=== | ||
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*[https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/major-funding-announcement-puts-bath-tcrg-at-centre-of-new-20-million-global-industry-watchdog/ Major funding announcement puts Bath TCRG at centre of new $20 million global industry watchdog] | *[https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/major-funding-announcement-puts-bath-tcrg-at-centre-of-new-20-million-global-industry-watchdog/ Major funding announcement puts Bath TCRG at centre of new $20 million global industry watchdog] | ||
**With significant funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, our Tobacco Control Research Group will spearhead a brand new global tobacco industry watchdog. | **With significant funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, our Tobacco Control Research Group will spearhead a brand new global tobacco industry watchdog. | ||
===2021 [https://www.uicc.org/blog/addressing-industry-profits-part-tobacco-control Dr Rob Branston]=== | |||
*Dr Rob Branston is Associate Professor in Business Economics in the School of Management and part of the Tobacco Control Research Group, at the University of Bath(link is external) in the UK. His primary research interests surround the governance and regulation of organisations, with a particular focus on the regulation and taxation of the global tobacco industry. Disclaimer: Dr Branston is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products. The funder had no role in the preparation of or decision to publish this editorial. | |||
===2019 Dec 17: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hEmrH6kiszY0WOhvN73Q-xoD1Vb6Y0Vd/view Supplementary Terms and Conditions of Contract]=== | ===2019 Dec 17: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hEmrH6kiszY0WOhvN73Q-xoD1Vb6Y0Vd/view Supplementary Terms and Conditions of Contract]=== | ||
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='''Attorney General Offices'''= | ='''Attorney General Offices'''= | ||
*Left off here on research https://climatelitigationwatch.org/page/2/?s=Bloomberg | |||
==Background - Start Here== | ==AG Background - Start Here== | ||
==='''2018 Aug 28 - [https://cei.org/studies/law-enforcement-for-rent/ Law Enforcement for Rent]''' (thorough report)=== | ==='''2018 Aug 28 - [https://cei.org/studies/law-enforcement-for-rent/ Law Enforcement for Rent]''' (thorough report)=== | ||
*Author’s Note: This paper is based on documents obtained over two and a half years from open records requests and, in some cases, subsequent litigation. Due to the volume of records, not all cited records are included in the body of this paper. Key documents are provided in the paper’s appendix, which can be accessed at CEI.org. The complete collection of documents cited in this paper is available at ClimateLitigationWatch.org, a project of the nonprofit public interest law firm Government Accountability & Oversight. | *Author’s Note: This paper is based on documents obtained over two and a half years from open records requests and, in some cases, subsequent litigation. Due to the volume of records, not all cited records are included in the body of this paper. Key documents are provided in the paper’s appendix, which can be accessed at CEI.org. The complete collection of documents cited in this paper is available at ClimateLitigationWatch.org, a project of the nonprofit public interest law firm Government Accountability & Oversight. | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
==General / Multiple States== | ==AG General / Multiple States== | ||
===2021 Apr 25 - [https://insidesources.com/bloomberg-blasted-for-using-billions-to-block-vaccines-for-tobacco-company-workers/ Bloomberg Blasted for Using Billions to Block Vaccines for Tobacco Company Workers]=== | ===2021 Apr 25 - [https://insidesources.com/bloomberg-blasted-for-using-billions-to-block-vaccines-for-tobacco-company-workers/ Bloomberg Blasted for Using Billions to Block Vaccines for Tobacco Company Workers]=== | ||
*Since at least 2017, Bloomberg has funneled money to attorneys general offices in nine states and the District of Columbia to essentially underwrite government lawsuits against oil companies. Much of that funding came through New York University law school’s State Energy and Environmental Impact Center. It used a $6 million Bloomberg Philanthropies grant to fund the hiring of “special assistant attorneys general” to help states sue oil companies for their alleged culpability for climate change. | *Since at least 2017, Bloomberg has funneled money to attorneys general offices in nine states and the District of Columbia to essentially underwrite government lawsuits against oil companies. Much of that funding came through New York University law school’s State Energy and Environmental Impact Center. It used a $6 million Bloomberg Philanthropies grant to fund the hiring of “special assistant attorneys general” to help states sue oil companies for their alleged culpability for climate change. | ||
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*Although many government agencies have employees funded by outside sources, critics say using special interest money for targeted government action is inappropriate. Christopher Horner, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, who wrote a report on the NYU center, said the fellowships come with specific strings attached. “[AG] offices must agree to use prosecutors to ‘advance progressive clean energy, climate change, and environmental legal positions,’” Horner said. | *Although many government agencies have employees funded by outside sources, critics say using special interest money for targeted government action is inappropriate. Christopher Horner, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, who wrote a report on the NYU center, said the fellowships come with specific strings attached. “[AG] offices must agree to use prosecutors to ‘advance progressive clean energy, climate change, and environmental legal positions,’” Horner said. | ||
*Personally and through his political groups, Bloomberg has also donated millions of dollars to Democratic attorneys general campaigns in this midterm election cycle. For Democratic campaigns in general, he has announced plans to spend $80 million this year. | *Personally and through his political groups, Bloomberg has also donated millions of dollars to Democratic attorneys general campaigns in this midterm election cycle. For Democratic campaigns in general, he has announced plans to spend $80 million this year. | ||
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==AG Minnesota== | |||
==Minnesota== | |||
===2022 Apr 04 - [https://climatelitigationwatch.org/minnesota-ag-race-becomes-interesting-thanks-to-participation-in-bloomberg-saags-scheme/ Minnesota AG Race Becomes Interesting Thanks to Participation in Bloomberg “SAAGs” Scheme]=== | ===2022 Apr 04 - [https://climatelitigationwatch.org/minnesota-ag-race-becomes-interesting-thanks-to-participation-in-bloomberg-saags-scheme/ Minnesota AG Race Becomes Interesting Thanks to Participation in Bloomberg “SAAGs” Scheme]=== | ||
*Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, a bit less popular now in that rather chaotic state than four years ago, has three Republicans vying for their party’s nomination to take him on. Apparently all of them are committed, if elected, to firing the “Special Assistant Attorneys General” provided Ellison by billionaire climate activist Michael Bloomberg | *Minnesota AG Keith Ellison, a bit less popular now in that rather chaotic state than four years ago, has three Republicans vying for their party’s nomination to take him on. Apparently all of them are committed, if elected, to firing the “Special Assistant Attorneys General” provided Ellison by billionaire climate activist Michael Bloomberg | ||
*Lots of links in this article to investigate! | *Lots of links in this article to investigate! | ||
===2022 Feb 25 - [https://climatelitigationwatch.org/bloomberg-saag-withdraws-from-ellison-climate-case-she-filed/ Bloomberg “SAAG” Withdraws from Ellison “Climate” Case She Filed]=== | |||
*That SAAG is Leigh Currie (the remaining SAAG is Peter Surdo, who boasted on his LinkedIn site he had been “embedded” in Ellison’s Office). That suit is the one that we now know was orchestrated by the Rockefeller Family Fund using local cutout greens — and a UMinn academic who rather incredibly put a memo pushing the suit, ghost co-written by “the lawyers advising Rockefeller family fund,” on University stationery — and which was held until the Bloomberg group provided the Office with the lawyers who, yes, did in fact file the suit. | |||
===2022 Feb 10 - [https://eidclimate.org/minnesota-considers-legislation-to-block-attorney-general-from-accepting-bloomberg-attorneys/ MINNESOTA CONSIDERS LEGISLATION TO BLOCK ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM ACCEPTING BLOOMBERG ATTORNEYS]=== | ===2022 Feb 10 - [https://eidclimate.org/minnesota-considers-legislation-to-block-attorney-general-from-accepting-bloomberg-attorneys/ MINNESOTA CONSIDERS LEGISLATION TO BLOCK ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM ACCEPTING BLOOMBERG ATTORNEYS]=== | ||
*As EID Climate has noted before, Attorney General Keith Ellison currently employees two Special Assistant Attorneys General (SAAGs) who are not Minnesota state government employees, but rather have been placed in the Ellison’s office by the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at the NYU Law School, which also pays their salaries. The center was started in 2017 thanks to a $5.6 million grant from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the arrangement has drawn intense criticism for allowing privately-funded organizations to gain a foothold in taxpayer-funded state government offices to carry out particular agenda. | *As EID Climate has noted before, Attorney General Keith Ellison currently employees two Special Assistant Attorneys General (SAAGs) who are not Minnesota state government employees, but rather have been placed in the Ellison’s office by the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at the NYU Law School, which also pays their salaries. The center was started in 2017 thanks to a $5.6 million grant from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the arrangement has drawn intense criticism for allowing privately-funded organizations to gain a foothold in taxpayer-funded state government offices to carry out particular agenda. | ||
===2021 Nov 11 - [https://climatelitigationwatch.org/amicus-brief-mn-ag-ellisons-troubling-position-to-keep-bloomberg-related-records-secret/ Amicus Brief: MN AG Ellison’s “Troubling Position” to Keep Bloomberg-Related Records Secret]=== | |||
*Non-profit transparency groups Public Records Media and the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information held a press conference Wednesday to announce they filed an amicus brief with the Minnesota State Supreme Court in Energy Policy Advocates v. Ellison, a Government Data Practices Act (open records) case over emails pertaining to Ellison’s involvement in the climate litigation industry. | |||
*That case addresses Ellison’s move to expand Minnesota law, claiming a sweeping version of “common interest” exemption to the waiver of privilege, in order to keep from the public his Office’s correspondence pertaining to multi-state progressive AG efforts to impose the climate agenda through the courts, to bring on privately hired, Michael Bloomberg financed attorneys to assist with that campaign, and to work with other third parties toward the same end. | |||
===2021 Jun 21 - [https://climatelitigationwatch.org/mn-oag-used-bloomberg-provided-attorney-in-coordinating-with-outside-activists-to-tout-climate-suit/ MN OAG Used Bloomberg-provided Attorney in Coordinating with Outside-Activists to Tout Climate Suit]=== | |||
*From records produced by the Minnesota Office of the Attorney General, Leigh Currie — an outside activist and one of two lawyers provided by a Michael Bloomberg group to file a lawsuit against energy companies — was also tasked with helping the Office’s “outreach” and media folks prep surrogates to promote the filing of that suit. | |||
===2021 May 18 - '''[https://climatelitigationwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GAO-EPA-CCI-RFF-Climate-Paper.pdf Private Funders, Public Institutions: ‘Climate’ Litigation and a Crisis of Integrity (Report)]'''=== | |||
*Extensive Report | |||
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*Michael Bloomberg’s billions aren’t just buying ads. In at least two Super Tuesday states, his money funds private lawyers working inside attorneys general offices, advancing his political agenda on the environment. | *Michael Bloomberg’s billions aren’t just buying ads. In at least two Super Tuesday states, his money funds private lawyers working inside attorneys general offices, advancing his political agenda on the environment. | ||
*Massachusetts and Minnesota, whose Democratic voters will go to the polls on Super Tuesday, are among at least 10 states where activist attorneys are working for the state AGs offices but are paid through the Impact Center. Their mission is to promote state legal action to advance Bloomberg’s political views, such as lawsuits against energy companies. | *Massachusetts and Minnesota, whose Democratic voters will go to the polls on Super Tuesday, are among at least 10 states where activist attorneys are working for the state AGs offices but are paid through the Impact Center. Their mission is to promote state legal action to advance Bloomberg’s political views, such as lawsuits against energy companies. | ||
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==AG Oregon== | |||
===2020 Dec 16 - [https://climatelitigationwatch.org/new-records-suit-re-climate-litigation-industry-oregon-ag-sued-for-improperly-hiding-calendar-entries-for-bloomberg-provided-special-assistant-attorney-general/ New Records Suit re Climate Litigation Industry: Oregon AG Sued for Improperly Hiding Calendar Entries for Bloomberg-provided “Special Assistant Attorney General”]=== | |||
*The public interest law firm Government Accountability & Oversight, P.C. (GAO) has filed suit under Oregon’s Public Records Law against Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and the State Department of Justice (DoJ), on behalf of the nonprofit transparency group Energy Policy Advocates, seeking to compel release of scores of hidden calendar entries of “Special Assistant Attorney General” (or SAAG) Steve Novick. | |||
*Mr. Novick was hired and provided to DoJ as a “SAAG” by a group created by billionaire, major Democratic party donor and climate activist Michael Bloomberg to support AGs to pursue a political agenda — “advancing progressive clean energy, climate change, and environmental legal positions”. | |||
*These heavily redacted records are records of a precise class that the Department of Justice has previously released with few redactions. Indeed, cross-referencing the Department of Justice’s release of, e.g., Mr. Novick’s colleague Paul Garrahan’s calendar plainly documents the improper withholding and secrecy with which the Department of Justice treats this privately hired attorney’s calendar, both generally and regarding specific withholdings | |||
<br> | |||
==Virginia== | ==AG Virginia== | ||
===2022 Apr 20 - [https://climatelitigationwatch.org/climate-foia-public-prevails-court-orders-virginia-ag-office-to-comply-with-the-law-re-bloomberg-docs/ Climate FOIA: Public Prevails, Court Orders Virginia AG Office to Comply With the Law Re Bloomberg Docs]=== | ===2022 Apr 20 - [https://climatelitigationwatch.org/climate-foia-public-prevails-court-orders-virginia-ag-office-to-comply-with-the-law-re-bloomberg-docs/ Climate FOIA: Public Prevails, Court Orders Virginia AG Office to Comply With the Law Re Bloomberg Docs]=== | ||
*Long dragged-out case, filed in 2018, takes major step toward educating further on Bloomberg “SAAGs” scheme, and aborted (by phone) Virginia AG participation | *Long dragged-out case, filed in 2018, takes major step toward educating further on Bloomberg “SAAGs” scheme, and aborted (by phone) Virginia AG participation | ||
*Virginia citizen Christopher Horner and the free-market public policy group Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) prevailed yet again yesterday in their lawsuit against Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares under Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act. | *Virginia citizen Christopher Horner and the free-market public policy group Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) prevailed yet again yesterday in their lawsuit against Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares under Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act. | ||
===2021 Jan 21 - [https://climatelitigationwatch.org/court-again-orders-virginia-ag-to-answer-foia-suit-seeking-bloomberg-related-records/ Court (Again) Orders Virginia AG to Answer FOIA Suit Seeking Bloomberg-related Records]=== | |||
*At a hearing in Richmond, Virginia on Tuesday — the third hearing in a (so far) two-and-a-quarter year saga to obtain records that previously did not exist but now magically do — the Office of the Virginia Attorney General was ordered to file an answer in a November 2018 VFOIA lawsuit by Government Accountability & Oversight board member Chris Horner and the Competitive Enterprise Institute. | |||
*That suit requested records related to AG Mark Herring’s rather fevered, successful — and then suddenly dropped — pursuit of Michael Bloomberg-funded “Special Assistant Attorneys General” “to advance the agenda represented by” Bloomberg’s climate group. | |||
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='''Suggestions to add to this page'''= | ='''Suggestions to add to this page'''= | ||
=== [https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/3-40/v1 Balancing science and political economy: Tobacco control and global health]=== | |||
===2022: [https://medium.com/the-great-vape-debate/the-unchecked-power-of-philanthropy-e71e426b91b8 The unchecked power of philanthropy]=== | ===2022: [https://medium.com/the-great-vape-debate/the-unchecked-power-of-philanthropy-e71e426b91b8 The unchecked power of philanthropy]=== | ||
edits