consumptions of tobacco and Tobacco Products is an integral part of  Indian Traditions and Customs. It is a problem that needs to be tackled seriously, And so I , Nimit jain want to draw your attention to a f ew of these traditions.( Please leave some suggestions on How to tackle the Problem as comments for the post.)

The Ruling class, and upper classes give Paan (a form of tobacco) to guests .

Hukka, beedi, tambaku etc. are being consumed since early times.

Smoking of cigars is taken as a SYMBOL OF POWER.

Hello again. Now I will post about the industry estrategies in Brazil and our efforts to face it. Brazil has 183,987,291 inhabitants (IBGE, 2007), and presents an enormous young population - 51.1 million people aged between 15 and 29 years, which corresponds to 27.4% of the total population (IBGE, 2006). Considering this significant part of young people with own source of income, the tobacco industry has permanently invested in marketing and political strategies to conquer them: the 6th cheapest cigarettes of the world; the great smuggled cigarette availability; the diversity of sale’s points, where the marketing is still permitted and the social and environment corporative responsibility like Cultural and Environment Dialogues and the University Dialogues are examples. These ones happens in partnership with universities and students’ representative entities, bringing to the university public free lectures with sports celebrities, intellectuals and so on that are usually well known personalities, with great credibility among the youth segment. Since its creation in 2005, they already had been in universities of all the five regions of Brazil, reaching more than 23,000 young and constructing strong bonds with the students’ management companies. The conquest of an ample students’ social acceptance is expressed in the evaluation they have made, available in the company’s site: 97% had evaluated the Program as good or very good and 99% had considered the discussed subjects as interesting or very interesting. These all explain how still 3.7% of the Brazilian population between 12 and 17 years are smokers. This percentage grows for 16% considering the population between 18 and 24 years. These strategies shock with the National Tobacco Control Program, that has been facing Industry since the decade of 1980, having as one of its more significant conquests the total smoking products advertising ban in the television, Internet, and others, besides the sports, artistic and cultural events sponsorship’s banishment, through Federal Law nº10.167/00. This important conquers has been a cause of litigation for the Industry, having Souza Cruz petitioned against the federal law with an Unconstitutionality Direct Action (ADIN) to cancel the ban. The National Cancer Institute - INCA, an office of the Health Ministery, where the National coordination is located, has already subsidized the Federal Government that has already gone to justice with a contrary legal action. The same has done the Brasilian Alliance for Tobacco Control - ACTBr, that represents the social control of the tobacco control policy in Brazil. To face this offensive we need to extend social mobilization to maintain the advertising prohibition and also to extend it to 100% of prohibiton, that is also in the points of sale. We need also to foment a critical attitude by the youngsters collectively building up strategies for the creation of a National Young Net for Tobacco Control in Brazil linked with LA RED – “Latinoamerica Respira Diferente” (THE NET) that is a net of youth for advocacy to tobacco control, composed of 50 youngsters of 06 Latin American countries - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay, that assumed the role of national leaderships to trace action in their nations. Currently Brazil is represented only by a technician assessor of our Coordination,that is Evandro. For its democratic, equality, multiplying and participative nature, the social networks are presented as the most adequate channels to improve the youthful enrollment. The possibility of creation of young net for tobacco control from the human and social capital preexisting in the youth movements and organizations opens new possibilities and would set fire a significant social and political pressure to deep the restrictions to the industry. We are sure this meeting will certainly promote this. Thats all for now. Hope to see you soon. Evandro Alves and Maristela Menezes. Recife/PE/Brazil.

PROMOTED ARE THOSE THINGS WHICH DESERVE BUT MATTERS LIKE THESE THINGS SHOULD BE BANED INSPITE OF GETTING PROMOTIONS

TODAY EVEN WHEN WE ARE SUFFERING FROM FINANCIAL CRISIS THEN ALSO THESE THINGS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CORNERS OF EVERY STREET.EVEN THE POOREST PERSON CAN AFFORD PRODUCTS OF TOBACCO.

THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF THE SPONSORS’ SUPPORT AND HELP.TESE INDUSTRIES ARE DWELLING AND GROWING AND IF SERIOUSLY NOT TAKEN THEN THOSE WOULD SURELY BE A MATTER OF STRESS AND PROBLEMS SOON.

THE BEST WAY TO REMOVE THIS IS TO STOP THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO .

 THERE MAY BE SOME OPPOSITIONS AT SOME PLACES BUT IF THOSE CAN BE NEGLECTED THEN THERE WOULD BE AN ENVIRONMENT OF SMOKE FREE EVERYWHERE 

^^ $$ COME LETS START THE NEW ERA OF SMOKE FREE EARTH $$^^

Dear Delegates,

I am Ajith N, working as Manager-Research and Development in a teaching medical institution in Kerala, India.

Regarding the theme ‘Ban on tobacco advertisement and promotion’, I think, we tobacco control activists have to vigilant about the newer strategies of the tobacco industry. Now instead of big national level marketing tactics, they are concentrating on small regional level programmes. They are sponsoring cultural/ political events and are very keen to ensure the presence of local politicians and other influential figures on the same platform. The tobacco industry is supplying large display boards to rural shop vendors, depicting the brand names on it and no warning boards are displayed on the shops regarding the prohibition of sales to minors.

The need of the hour is to initiate local level advocacy programs. After implementing the Panchayath Raj Administrative System in India, the Local Self Government Institutions (LSGI) exercise considerable authority in matters of grass root level public health issues. However, our experience with these local leaders indicates that they are surprisingly unaware of the dimensions of economic, social and health consequences of tobacco use. Their active involvement in implementation of the provisions of National Tobacco Control Law will help considerably in promoting newly initiated tobacco control measures by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

My appeal to the conference delegates who are representing various States of India is summarized below:

1. Take the Mumbai conference as a platform for coordinated action.
2. Establish an informal network of tobacco control activists within the State.
3. Plan an advocacy programme on law enforcement targeting grass root level politicians and other stakeholders like local NGO personnel, school teachers, police officials, community workers, leaders of shop-vendor associations etc..
4. Prepare a project proposal on advocacy as per the situation prevail in the respective States.
5. But, the PRIMARY OBJECTIVES of the proposal has to be same for all the projects.
6. For example; as a representative of the State of Kerala, my project title may be (tentative) “An advocacy programme for the enforcement of national tobacco control legislation at grass root level through local self government institutions in Kerala, India.” And the objectives may be set as;

a)      To get commitment from the people’s representatives of Local Self Government Institutions in enforcing the provisions of national tobacco control law.

b)      To develop a written protocol for local level tobacco control law enforcement.

c)      To identify the enforcement officers of that local area.

d)      To sensitize the people’s representatives about the diverse promotional tactics employed by the tobacco industry.

e)      To create a supportive environment at the grass root level towards the law enforcement.

1. We will discuss together and fine tune the project proposal during the conference. (there may be a scope of 25 projects from various States)
2. In each step, the involvement of youth has to be ensured.
3. The end goal is a nation wide advocacy campaign of the same nature, immediately after the World Conference.
4. Funding: “If there is a will there is a way!!!!!!!”

If idea finds worth, please respond to ajithndd@gmail.com

Looking forward to meeting you all,

Warm regards,

Ajith N

Manager-Research & Development

Sree Gokulam Medical College & Research Foundation

M C Road, Venjaramoodu, Trivandrum-695 607, Kerala, India

Mobile: 09895425130/ 09495153653

Up in Smoke: Tobacco Advertising – NBC January 9, 2009In 1998, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company was one of many that agreed to a settlement, essentially removing its creative marketing arm. The idea was to stop companies from distributing promotional materials often aimed at kids. But Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said Santa Fe has been violating that agreement. At issue - tin signs the company has been giving out featuring its “Natural American Spirit” cigarette brand. ?These promotional signs are both a symbol and a symptom of slick pitches that show the tobacco industry unrepentant, still relying on marketing tactics to sell death and addiction,? Blumenthal said. ?This legal action demonstrates our undiminished determination to fight tobacco — hopefully now a battle joined by a new president committed to public health.? As a result, Connecticut is one of 41 states to reach a settlement with the company. Santa Fe will stop handing out the signs and has also agreed to pay a $250 fine for each future violation. The 1998 settlement prohibits tobacco companies from dispensing certain types of promotional materials, including decorative signs. Since that agreement was signed, Americans have smoked more than 100 billion fewer cigarettes, according on data from the American Lung Association. Under the agreement, which was announced Wednesday, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco has agreed not to hand out such signs or other promotional materials including: toys, games, fashion accessories, CDs, DVDS, video games, clothing, athletic equipment, outdoor gear, luggage, stationery items, housewares and paintings and plaques intended for the home. “This historic agreement bans slick signs and other pernicious promotions intended to make cigarettes seem cool,” he said.  “These merchants of death and disease depend on marketing to hook a new generation, enticing children and young adults with hip merchandise. Blocking distribution of signs, CDs, DVDS, clothing and other items hyping cigarettes is vital to reducing the appeal and incidence of smoking, especially among youth.

Source: NBC

Shanghai lawmakers call for ban of “Love China” tobacco ads – Xinhua January 18, 2009Li Zhihui Lawmakers in Shanghai are moving to ban billboards urging people to “Love China”, which were put up to promote one of the country’s major cigarette brands, Chung Hua. “Chung Hua” in Chinese also means China. The slogan of four Chinese characters “Ai Wo Chung Hua” (Love China) is emblazoned on bright red billboards featuring a picture of Beijing’s landmark Tian’anmen Gate at the entrance to the former Imperial Palace. The billboards also have the Chinese for “Smoking can damage your health”. “The slogan ‘Love China’ is good, but when producers put ‘Smoking can damage your health’ beside it, the slogan becomes an advertisement,” said Li Ming, a deputy to the on-going Shanghai People’s Congress. “All advertising related to tobacco or tobacco companies must be banned in line with the law,” said Li, who is also vice head of Shanghai Lawyers Association. Such covert advertising is also used for other tobacco brands, including Huangshan, produced by Bengbu Cigarette Factory, and Baisha, made by Baisha Group, Li said. Wu Zhenwei, a congress deputy from the Shanghai Administration of Work Safety, has submitted to the congress a motion to decide whether “Love China (Chung Hua)” is tobacco advertising. The Shanghai Tobacco (Group) Corporation (STC), producer of the Chunghua brand, said the slogan promoted patriotism and was therefore a public service campaign, said Wu. Attempts to contact the company for comment on Sunday went unanswered. During the Beijing Olympics, the Shanghai government abolished all the tobacco billboards, including “Love China”, but the advertising reappeared after the Games, said an official of Shanghai Health Education Institute. Shanghai should take initiatives in tobacco control as it would host the World Expo in 2010, they said. The world’s largest tobacco producer and consumer, China signed in 2003 the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which commits it to banning all types of tobacco advertising and promotion by 2011. At present, smoking is banned in cinemas, libraries and conference rooms. Beijing banned smoking in most public places, including hotels, schools, cinemas, and offices in May last year. Smoking in the city’s taxis is also banned.

Source: Xinhua

Shock factor raised in anti-smoking ads - WAtodayFebruary 23, 2009Graphic images of the diseased organs of a smoker will be used in a confronting anti-smoking ad campaign to screen in NSW from tonight. The campaign, called Cigarettes Are Eating You Alive, shows the effects of cigarettes on a smoker’s internal organs using real and computer-generated images. NSW Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), Jodi McKay, said the same campaign was used in New York with great success. There was a 400 per cent call increase to their quit hotline and over 240,000 US smokers have quit since its 2006 launch, Ms McKay said in a statement. The ad campaign is part of the government’s commitment to reduce smoking-related illnesses and deaths, Ms McKay said.

Source: WA today

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for your health, and tobacco prevention efforts are everywhere. So why do so many teens continue to do it? Tobacco advertising may impact that decision more than we realize. We know that kids feel peer pressure from other kids in their everyday lives. But the teens and adults in cigarette advertising may be one of the most influential peer groups of all.

Targeting Teens

As they move into their teens, kids often feel insecure about their appearance and their popularity. Cigarette ads use these insecurities to make empty promises. Ads give teens the message that smoking can help them become attractive, desirable, and independent when the reality is quite different. Smoking can cause bad breath and yellow teeth, isolate teens from largely non-smoking peers, and possibly lead to a deadly, lifelong habit.

Toughness and Masculinity

Images such as the Marlboro Man equate smoking with a macho ruggedness that is appealing to men and boys. This theme mirrors the pressures many boys face to be “tough”. Boys may believe that smoking will give them the aura of coolness they are searching for.

Body Image and Femininity

Tobacco companies have specifically targeted women and girls for many years by associating specific brands with slimness. In fact, cigarette advertising often depicts smoking as a weight management tool. This plays into the cultural pressures to be thin that many girls and women experience.

Tobacco Companies Need Kids

There are several reasons why tobacco companies target children and teenagers. In order to keep profits up, new customers need to be recruited to replace the thousands of smokers that die each day. Tobacco companies know that very few people begin smoking as adults; therefore, their best bets for these new customers are kids.

Ads are often geared specifically for teens. They use colorful graphics and images that catch their attention. They run in magazines that have a large teen readership. In stores, cigarettes are often placed close to candy displays and other products popular with kids. Promotional giveaways and tie-ins to sports and music events also increase young people’s exposure to tobacco products.

All of this advertising seems to work. According to The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, most teenagers who smoke use one of the three most heavily advertised brands. Tobacco companies realize that once a teen smokes their brand, they are likely to remain loyal to that brand for the rest of their lives.

Check out the tobacco industry’s latest shameful attempt in New Cigarette Targets Girls, and check out ways that you can help in the blog Kick Butts Day is Coming. Also see Teens and Alcopops for information on promoting alcohol to kids.

In 2005, the then I&B Minister, Jaipal Reddy, said, “A cinematic classic like Shatranj ke Khiladi cannot be made without the hookah,” proposing an exemption for films based on literary classics.

This was followed by the health ministry’s proposal to ban smoking in films by notifying the Cigarette and Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Rules 2005.

Despite, evoking the much debate on creative expression, the central government notified the ban in October 2006. But, director Mahesh Bhatt challenged the ruling in Delhi High court, and he was supported by many filmmakers. 

And, to their relief, in January 2009, the Delhi High Court quashed the central government’s notification banning on-screen smoking on grounds that it violates the fundamental rights of filmmakers. 

A single judge bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, said, “Banning smoking in films violated filmmakers’ fundamental rights of freedom of expression and speech as enshrined in the Constitution of India. Also, the film directors should not have multifarious authorities breathing down their necks when indulging in a creative act.” 

It is felt that in addition to creative expression, films depict reality of life and smoking plays a vital role in our daily lives. However, if there is a fear that such films will have a negative impact on young minds, then the decision to allow smoking or not in certain films, should be left to the Censor board. This clearly calls for responsible display of smoking and tobacco consumption in films.

Besides, constitutional or not, one cannot make Devdas without a bottle of alcohol in his hands or the modern day Dev D, without a puff of smoke. But, yes the ministry is not completely wrong with it tries to urge all of us to kick the butt on a more personal front. 

Lets take a look at some popular actresses smoking in Hollywood movies. This is not just used as advertisement techniques for a particular brand but to lure teenagers to this vice.