Take Action: Ban Tobacco Ads at Shanghai Formula 1 Race!

[Anna White]

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Take Action: Ban Tobacco Ads at Shanghai Formula 1 Race!
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Dear Friends,

This is a very important issue, with implications not only for other
countries that are fighting tobacco industry sponsorship of Formula 1
races in their countries, but for public health in all countries that
air Formula 1 races on television. We urge you to: 1) Take a moment to
click on the link below, fill in your name, and hit "Send my letter!"
(letter is pre-written). 2) Forward this alert to your local tobacco
control email lists, colleagues, family, and friends.

     http://petition.globalink.org/view.php?code=shanghai

Brief background: The World Health Organisation has called for a
worldwide ban on tobacco sponsorship to be introduced in international
law by 2006, which has the backing of Formula 1 racing's governing body,
the International Motoring Federation (FIA). As many governments have
already banned tobacco promotion, events are no longer possible in
western countries*, and F1 racing is currently planned for Shanghai and
Bahrain. Many are concerned that tobacco advertising would be beamed
throughout China and worldwide on television from the races if tobacco
advertising is allowed. The event will take place, but there is a window
of opportunity for damage limitation. For more info, click on the link
above.

Thanks for taking action!
Anna
Global Partnerships for Tobacco Control
Essential Action

* read below for the latest news from Canada on the Formula 1 issue (and
a good laugh)

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RECENT NEWS FROM CANADA RE: FORMULA 1
(thanks to Louis Gauvin, Coalition quebecoise pour le controle du tabac,
for sharing)

In August, Formula 1 announced it would cut the Montreal Grand Prix from
its calendar, as a result of tough Canadian legislation which bans
tobacco sponsorship of the event and tobacco advertising on race cars.
Formula 1 has lobbied the Canadian government to make a special
exemption for the race, but so far to no avail. At the height of the
controversy over the matter, a humoristic radio personality made a prank
phone call to Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone -- pretending to be
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. The transcript is a must read!

Transcript of prank call to Bernie Ecclestone.
http://www.cqct.qc.ca/Documents_docs/DOCU-03-08-11-VerbatimBernieEcclestone.pdf

Article about the prank
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_809068.html?menu=

Article about Canadian case
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/030811/6/u911.html