Question of the Month - October 2003

[Anna White]

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Question of the Month - October 2003
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Dear Friends,

This month, we would like to collect examples of creative events that
you've organized to counter the tobacco industry in your country or
state. It could be a press conference, a march, a rally, a seminar, or
something entirely different. The creativity could be in the strategy,
place, timing, visuals, and/or some other key aspect. For the purpose of
generating a wide variety of responses, feel free to interpret the
question broadly!

OCTOBER'S QUESTION: Has your organization ever organized an event to
promote a tobacco control campaign or to counter something that the
tobacco industry was up to in your country/state? If so, please share a
brief (1-3 paragraph) description of the event. Also send photos and
examples of media coverage, if available.

This month's question is inspired by an email Ehsan Latif (The Network
for Consumer Protection in Pakistan/TFI Pakistan) sent us recently
describing an event his group organized to counter a tobacco industry
"Stake Holders Dialogue" in his country. See below for more details!

As always, share your answer with your partner if you have one, and send
a copy to Essential Action. Deadline: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2003

Best wishes,
Anna

Global Partnerships for Tobacco Control
Essential Action
P.O. Box 19405
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: +1 202-387-8030
Fax: +1 202-234-5176
Email: tobacco@essential.org
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco

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"PRE-EMPTIVE" SEMINAR & DEMO: EXPOSING TOBACCO INDUSTRY TACTICS
The tobacco industry planned to hold a 'Stake Holders Dialogue' in
Islamabad, our Federal capital and invited different organizations to
take part in it, including our organization. We decided not to go this
dialogue and instead organized one of our own titled, 'Exposing Tobacco
Industry Tactics', a day earlier. For this we contacted all the
particpants on the Tobacco industry's invitees list and urged them not
to attend this dialogue and instead join us in our seminar and hold a
demonstration against the "corporate social resposibilty" tactics of the
tobacco industry. More than 150 people attended our seminar and held a
demonstartion outside the hotel. The events generated good media
coverage. We also issued a statement on this occasion signed by more
than a 100 people.

Photo of seminar:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/pk/seminar.jpg

Photos of demonstration:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/pk/demo.jpg
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/pk/demo2.jpg

Sample press coverage:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/pk/article.jpg

Statement:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/qofm/0310/pakistan.html