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The combined revenues of the world's 6 largest tobacco companies in 2016 were more than $346 Billion — 122,411% larger than the Gross National Income of Palau.

Tobacco Industry Interference in Palau is an ambiguous problem. No one wants to be the first to resist Industry Interference when the gains are imperceptible and the costs are immediate. The costs to Palauans are diffuse while the benefits to public servants are concentrated on their immediate needs, namely the ever-present need for funding. This makes it very difficult to change behavior, especially when so many local businesses are profiting too. It’s like trying to get people to quit smoking only if smoking had no immediate downside (smell, cough), everyone else was doing it, and cigarettes paid you.

We helped launch a campaign to increase awareness of tobacco Industry Interference and the overall understanding of why this is harmful to Palauan communities.