Michael Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg-Wikipedia ex-Mayor of New York, has devoted much of his time and fortune to anti-smoking campaigns. In September 2019, his philanthropic arm made a $160 million three-year commitment to anti-vaping campaigns with goals including enacting bans of all flavored e-cigarettes. While this endeavour is led by Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, his funding and influence are not confined to the United States alone.

Nicotine Products

India

2020 Oct 15 - Bloomberg’s War Chest Probed

• Association Vapers India (AVI) said: “These international NGOs directly fund government departments and state tobacco control programs, which shouldn't be allowed as receiving money directly from private entities creates massive conflict. “While India moves to tighten FCRA laws, these foreign NGOs and their local grantees have broken and continue to break laws - one of them, Burning Brain Society, is filing court cases with this money which violates FCRA norms. So entrenched is this cartel that when a government official questioned this foreign funding, he was promptly booted out and the bar on the errant NGO quickly lifted. Emboldened, these foreign NGOs are now proposing highly discriminatory policies like banning less harmful alternatives in developing nations but not in the West -- yes, in countries where harm prevention is vital as people have low access to healthcare.”

2007 - Burning Brain Society

• Bloomberg Initiative To Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program
  • Monitoring and Exposing Tobacco Industry Malpractice and disseminating that information to the media, law-enforcers and decision-makers in India. Oct 2007 - Dec 2008

Latin America (Mexico, Central America, South America, Caribbean)

2021 Mar 25 - Scandal in Mexico

• In addition to the arbitrariness in the legislative process, it was discovered thanks to the document metadata that a prediction of the Mexican Parliament that proposes bans on vaping was written by an Argentine lawyer advising the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) , an anti-vaping NGO financed by Michael Bloomberg. In the metadata of the official document, the Argentine lawyer Gianella Severini, appears as the author of the PDF, who is the legal advisor for Latin America of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) and Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) for the “Promotion of public health policies for the prevention of obesity and tobacco control.”
• For many years, the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) , a US transnational organization with strong operations in Latin America, has based its actions on a clear and manifest incitement for governments to establish public policies based on their spectrum of interests and within their ideological field.
• “It is curious that in the metadata of said document, a person named Gianella Severini appears as its author, the legal advisor for Latin America for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) , which, together with The Union, both financed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, have its parameters of action influence the public policies of third world countries to seek laws that prohibit the use of said alternatives. These NGOs have also put money in Conadic, the INSP and different state health secretariats. It is worth mentioning that some time ago Undersecretary López Gatell has been linked to these positions and financing.

2021 Mar 16 - Interests behind Lopez-Gatell and Medel would attack e-cigarette

• Carmen Medel, president of the Health Committee of the Chamber of Deputies wishes to impose a bill that seeks to ban e-cigarettes when the overwhelming majority of lawmakers who have put forward initiatives in this regard propose otherwise. Undersecretary of Health, Hugo López-Gatell, supports this prohibition bill. It is interesting that the opinion of law was drafted by Gianella Severini, Argentina, who works for the organization Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) , anchored with money from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Foundation. This is not the first time Lopez-Gatell has been related to this organization even though he denies the bond.

2020 Dec 18 Censorship and exclusion: the real situation of vaping in Mexico

• Congresswoman Medel never explained the reasons for this exclusion. However, SS officials have been known to consistently claim (privately and online) that those who oppose or disagree with their position on vaporizers are agents of the tobacco companies. With this argument they argue that article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) prohibits any dialogue with them.
• In the forum in question, Mr. Erick Antonio Ochoa, director of the Salud Justa civil association, linked to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) and the Bloomberg Foundation, emphasized this idea. He dedicated himself to slander Pro Vapeo México as the “front” of the tobacco industry, without providing any proof of his accusations. It is curious that Salud Justa accuses an association like Pro Vapeo México, which lacks a bank account, of having conflicts of interest, while Mr. Ochoa does not declare his sources of financing and the conflicts of interest of his own association.
• There is no doubt that Dr. López-Gatell follows the agenda suggested by the document "When Banning Is Better" of the Union Against Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (The Union). It instructs the governments of low- and middle-income countries (PIMBs) to ban rather than regulate "SEAN" (electronic nicotine delivery systems).

2020 Oct 1 - Roberto Sussman (GTNF) Global Tobacco Nicotine Forum

• These are nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies and associated charities like the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) , acting in synergy with small but influential groups of health professionals clustered in the tobacco control sections of government public health institutions.
• One of the most powerful officials in the government of Lopez Obrador is Dr. Hugo Lopez-Gatell. He’s an epidemiologist, and he has strong links with the Pan American Health Organization and with Bloomberg Philanthropies. He’s also the health minister. And at the same time, together with this appointment was a massive increase of lobbing activity by Bloomberg Philanthropies in the whole region,” says Sussman. “This [is] how Bloomberg works in our countries. First, they set up NGOs that they use as lobbying machines. This lobbying is done through the WHO or the Pan American Health Organization. Now, health ministries and government, they get grants from Bloomberg, but they will never say [that].”

2020 Jun 17 - Bloomberg’s War on Vaping Expands to Latin America and Beyond

• Billionaire Michael Bloomberg is a well known public figure in the U.S. However, most Americans are unaware of the overwhelming influence of his philanthropy on public health policies (sugar, food and tobacco/nicotine) in Latin America and in LMICs elsewhere in the world. This influence is exerted through the political framework of the World Health Organization (WHO), either directly or indirectly via various Bloomberg-funded NGOs.
• There are structural reasons for Bloomberg’s philanthropy to focus its efforts on LMICs: (1) these countries often welcome external private funds given the chronic lack of resources and personnel in their health ministries and public health institutions, and (2) most governments of LMICs are non-democratic regimes, with vertical, non-transparent public health bureaucracies always ready for wheeling and dealing. Thus, all it takes for a policy to be officially enacted is to lobby and convince the head of government, or a sufficiently influential group among high-ranking health officials.
• Spanish version available here

2020 Feb 24 - Mexico Bans Import of All Vaping Products, Cites WHO Guidance

• However, the primary reason cited for the ban is the ideology of the World Health Organization (WHO) and its Bloomberg-funded tobacco control arm the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC).
• The bottom line for Mexico is that WHO/FCTC recommends prohibition when possible, and the government thinks it’s possible. Countries that follow WHO dogma on e-cigarette policy are rewarded with huge grants for public health programs that employ many people. Much of the funding for the WHO’s tobacco control programs is provided by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.

2015 Nov - Tobacco control in Mexico

• WHO Bloomberg Initiative work in Mexico - The MPOWER measures that Mexico is implementing at the highest level of achievement are: implementing health warnings to warn people about the dangers of tobacco use and offering help to quit tobacco use (cessation programmes).
• In working with the Ministry of Health and other partners, the overall goal of the WHO-BI work in Mexico was to support the government to strengthen country’s capacity for tobacco control and run sustainable tobacco control programmes that have an immediate impact on Mexico’s tobacco epidemic.

2012 FIC Argentina

• See photo of financial supporters in the photo section at the bottom of the section on Nicotine / Tobacco. Note Bloomberg under the graphic for Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK)

LMIC's / "Philanthropic Colonialism" (General / Multiple Countries)

2021 Feb 2 - Bloomberg’s Philanthro-Colonialism: A Threat to Global Health and Science

• For years, Bloomberg has dedicated considerable amounts to fund a web of financially-linked nonprofits, universities, and activists, coordinating their international effort to foment panic over vaping and coerce governments into adopting rules that get as close to prohibition as possible.
• In accordance with Bloomberg’s agenda, these groups have directed a significant amount of their energy on low- and middle-income countries. Using their money, clout, and connections, they impose their views and will on these nations, without the input of local populations and with little or no regard for their specific circumstances, needs, and values. In the midst of a wave of interest in “decolonializing” public health, this sort of patronizing interference, well-intentioned though it may be, deserves scrutiny.
• In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, for which the international health community was woefully unprepared, it has become clearer than ever how important it is that health policies be based on evidence rather than politics. That an individual like Bloomberg can co-opt governments, health organizations, and institutions into supporting his agenda despite the evidence should alarm everyone, no matter where they live.
• Spanish Translation
• Bloomberg Initiative, The Union, Bloomberg Foundation, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, World Health Organization (WHO)

Philippines

2021, Mar 3 - Philippine government warned against NGOs banned by India

• Consumer groups warned the Philippine government against non-government organizations (NGOs) such as those linked to Bloomberg Philanthropies that were banned by India for providing grants to lobby for local policies.
• The Union, which has co-managed the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program, confirmed on its website that it has been working with the DOH since July, 2010

Vaccine Scandal - Unintended Consequences

• A law from 2010 would have banned several large companies, including the tobacco industry, from procuring Covid-19 vaccinations. 1/2 of those were to be administered to employees and 1/2 to the public.
• 2021 Mar 26 - Grubby Money Corrupts Vape Legislation
• 2021 Mar 23 - Lawmakers ask gov’t to repeal ‘unlawful’ CSC circular against tobacco companies
  • Several lawmakers pushed for the immediate repeal of a controversial joint memorandum circular issued by then Civil Service Commission chair Francisco Duque in 2010 following the receipt of grant money from a US lobby group that is now being used as the basis to prohibit tobacco companies from purchasing vaccines for their employees and dependents.
  • JMC 2010-01, which prohibits government officials and employees from interacting with the tobacco industry, was issued in the same year the DOH and the CSC received massive grants from the anti-tobacco NGO Bloomberg Initiative. It was the basis of the DOH’s initial draft regulation barring tobacco companies from obtaining and donating COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Nograles, in a public hearing last week, revealed that JMC 2010-01 was issued by the CSC and the DOH in 2010, the same year the DOH received a huge financial grant from the anti-tobacco NGO Bloomberg Initiative. Secretary Francisco Duque III was the chairman of the CSC, after his tenure as DOH secretary, when the JMC was issued. “It has been revealed that foreign money has been influencing policy making in the DOH for quite some time. In fact, the Congressional hearing revealed at least $2 million in lobby money that has influenced policy coming from Bloomberg alone,” Nograles said. Nograles said the proposed restriction was obviously pushed on the basis of Duque’s deal with Bloomberg and it showed that DOH policies “have already been compromised by foreign money.”
  • “We should not be misdirected by these interest-groups that instead of helping our country in our time of need, work to set us against each other,” Barbers said.
• 2021 Mar 22 - Lobby money linked to DOH order excluding tobacco firms from vaccination

FDA Scandal (Philippine)

• 2021 Mar 26 - Grubby Money Corrupts Vape Legislation
• Last year, the FDA was cast under a cloud when it emerged it had already received “questionable” Bloomberg money, after first denying they had received funds with an agreement to implement certain policies against tobacco harm reduction products. They didn't admit it until after being called out and presented with the evidence. They admitted to actively seeking funding from out of the country NGO's. An investigation was called. None of this made any difference as the Administration decided to plough on with its proposals despite the public consultation remaining unfinished. Representitive Estrellita Suansing called the move “premature” and “deplorable”. The FDA said the NTCP which is under the Department of Health is also receiving grants for the project. The FDA received a grant from Bloomberg with regards to strengthening its regulatory functions on tobacco control. The articles and blogs below tell the story...
  • Keywords from the linked articles: The Union, Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program, Global Implementation Programme (by The Union), STOP, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK)
  • 2021 Mar 19 - FDA admits hiring people to draft regulations on vapes using anti-tobacco money
  • 2021 Mar 17 - Foreign NGO pushing for ban of cigarette alternatives funded drafting of PH regulations
  • 2021 Mar 17 - Total ban on flavored vapor products pushed
  • 2021 Mar 10 - Suansing calls ‘deplorable’ FDA’s premature issuance of vape, HTP regulations
  • 2021 Feb 2 - Bloomberg’s Philanthro-Colonialism: A Threat to Global Health and Science
  • 2021 Jan 27 - Bloomberg faces mounting pressure to explain FDA funding
  • 2020 Oct 23 - Philippines: Public Consultations on Vapes Halted as FDA Hid Funding
  • 2020 Oct 20 - Consumer group eyes filing graft charges against FDA
  • 2020 Oct 15 - Bloomberg’s War Chest Probed
  • 2020 Oct 11 - House leader seeks probe on grants given to FDA by anti-tobacco groups

2012 Mar 23 - Why Mike Bloomberg loves this Pinoy group

• Health Justice (Philippines) gets a grant from Mike Bloomberg to implement its tobacco control plans
• This same night that philanthropist and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced giving US$220M more for the global work on eliminating tobacco use --bringing his total commitment to $600 million -- he recognized HealthJustice Philippines for its contribution to the cause.
• The Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use is the world's largest coordinated effort to reduce harm caused by tobacco globally. The MMDA smoking ban program is, in fact, a recipient of a P9.5-M grant from the Bloomberg Initiative.
• Bloomberg, since he became mayor of New York in 2002, has implemented strict tobacco control laws. In 2007, he launched the Bloomberg Initiative, as part of the Bloomberg Philanthrophies, and has since supported tobacco control work in 38 countries.

Funding Anti-Nicotine NGO's, Organizations, Groups, Projects, Causes, etc.

Burning Brain Society

• Bloomberg Initiative To Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program
  • Monitoring and Exposing Tobacco Industry Malpractice and disseminating that information to the media, law-enforcers and decision-makers in India. Oct 2007 - Dec 2008

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK)

2019, Sep 10 - A New Effort to End an E-Cigarette 'Epidemic'

• Bloomberg Philanthropies announced Tuesday it is joining forces with the nonprofit Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) on a $160 million initiative.

Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI)

• The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), a program of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) , draws on lessons from tobacco control and its growing experience on other public health issues to support policy change campaigns around the globe to improve health. To date, that work includes food policy and cardiovascular health, road safety, drowning prevention, preventing epidemics, and vital statistics.
• As part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Food Policy Program (FPP), GHAI supports civil society organizations to pass and implement key policies to develop healthier food environments, including: taxes on unhealthy food and beverage products; mandatory front-of-package nutrition warning labels; restrictions on marketing of unhealthy food products to children; and regulating the supply of unhealthy products in public sector environments, particularly schools. GHAI is also a partner on Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), an initiative of Vital Strategies that seeks to prevent millions of deaths from cardiovascular disease through regulations to ban industrially produced trans-fatty acides (TFA), sodium reduction strategies, and other policies.

P.S. What about Hale and investors in the project?

2021 Feb 9 - ¿Qué se Esconde Tras la Vapeo-Fobia de Michael Bloomberg?

• What's Hiding Behind Michael Bloomberg's Vaping-Phobia? (Used Google Translate to convert from Spanish to English)
• The problem is that one of the investors in the company is none other than Michael Bloomberg himself . Through a venture capital consortium called Village Global , which is also made up of Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, Bloomberg has provided seed capital to Hava, the creator of Hale.

Cities / Roads

GRSP partners with Bloomberg Advocacy incubator

• As a component within the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Road Safety Programme, GRSP is partnering with the Bloomberg Advocacy Incubator to build the capacity of grantees of the Road Safety Grants Programme, as well as on-the-ground partner organizations such as Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies, to effectively advocate for the passage and implementation of evidence-based road safety policies.
• The Bloomberg Advocacy Incubator is a partnership between the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) and Consumers International, and will draw on its teams’ vast experience in providing training and support to civil society organizations, and in the development and management of institutional and individual capacity building initiatives with grassroots associations, NGOs, media organizations and government agencies.

Suggestions to add to this page

Bloomberg Initiative To Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program

• Previously Funded Projects

2021: Bloomberg’s Millions Funded an Effective Campaign Against Vaping. Could It Do More Harm Than Good?

• Public-health experts say that e-cigarettes play an important role in getting people to stop smoking.

2021: We're not impressed Mr. B

• Collection on Facebook about M. Bloomberg. The majority of the posts have something to do with nicotine.

2019: Michael Bloombergs anti-vaping crusade is objectively pro tobacco

• The billionaire busybody is pushing bans on flavored e-cigarettes that offer a harm-reducing alternative to smoking.

Highlight Guide

• Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK)
• The Union
• MPOWER