Report: 2007 Intl Week of Action for Smokefree Movies

[Anna White]

Dear all,

Last week marked the 2007 International Week of Action for Smokefree
Movies. Here is a compilation of the short reports sent in so far from
around the world...

Table of Contents:
1. India: Youth Forum, March to Movie Theater & Much More!
2. India: Television Coverage
3. New Zealand: Media Coverage
4. Nigeria: Tobacco in "Nollywood" Movies Exposed!
5. Romania: Petition Campaign
6. USA: New York: Youth in Biohazard Suits Say No to "Toxic" Movies
7. USA: Washington, DC: Demonstration in Front of the MPAA
8. USA: Arkansas: An Encounter with MPAA CEO Glickman & Much More!

How did youth in Lucknow, India take part? What did our Nigerian
colleagues discover to their shock and surprise? And what was the Motion
Picture Association of America's response to IWA 2007? Read on to find
out...

Enjoy!
Anna

Global Partnerships for Tobacco Control
Essential Action

####

1) INDIA: YOUTH FORUM, MARCH TO MOVIE THEATER & MUCH MORE!

a) Yesterday we called a youth conclave of the 21 youth leaders from
different colleges in Lucknow, and had a good two hours session of
discussion and other information sharing on smokefree movies issue.
These youth leaders who come from different colleges, agreed to take
leadership in organizing a discussion on smokefree movies in their
colleges and hostels, and in coming months, we will be reaching out to
more youth college-wise, and seeking their support to campaign on
smokefree movies.
See photo:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photo/index.php?level=3Dpicture&id=
=3D8

b) We addressed the media. See media coverage:

Youth out to rub smoke off 'screen'!
Hindustan Times (India) - February 23, 2007
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5922_1935119,0015002500010002.htm

c) Then we released February issue of Monitor, in Hindi, entirely on
smokefree movies issue.

d) We circulated old Monitor issues which had a focus on smokefree
movies issue (two issues last year were focused on it)

e) We marched to the nearest multiplex cinema theatre, and distributed
photocopies of hindi Monitor - Feb issue, to cinema goers dissuading
them to see the movie "Don" - in which [popular Bollywood star] Shahrukh
Khan smokes. After about 30 minutes multiplex management/security
alerted the police and we were asked to move out otherwise face arrest -
because we were 'obstructing' law and order and had no permission from
district administration to do this. We continued doing it for about 15
more minutes after which the security and police combined made it very
difficult to continue and we did recede back.

Also, an article "Portrayal of tobacco use in films increases youth
tobacco use", an op-ed in the most circulated hindi newspaper in India -
Dainik Jagaran's Monthly Youth magazine.
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photo/index.php?level=3Dpicture&id=
=3D10

Lastly, I had the following article published in South Korea:

Link between Tobacco Use and Films
The Seoul (Korea) Times - February 23, 2007
http://theseoultimes.com/ST/?url=3D/ST/db/read.php?idx=3D4829

It is getting translated into Chinese and will be published by the end
of this week (Global Times), and then also appear in People's Daily of
China.

-- Bobby Ramakant (Indian Society Against Smoking)

####

2) INDIA: TELEVISION COVERAGE

Two television programmes on "Tobacco Free Movies" were recorded during
the week. The TV Channels which telecasted the programme are "PBC
Television" and "India TV." I will obtain the recordings and upload soon.

-- Hemant Goswami (Burning Brain Society)

####

3) NEW ZEALAND: MEDIA COVERAGE

ASH-New Zealand circulated a press release that was picked up by
multiple media outlets. Check out these links:

Films pose risk, ASH says
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/3969606a1870.html

Hollywood smoking 'endangers kids'
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=3D87&objectid=3D10424880

Smoking in movies is harmful to teens
http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/HOTP/02-07/20Feb07.html

####

4) NIGERIA: TOBACCO IN "NOLLYWOOD" MOVIES EXPOSED!

To mark the International Week of Action for Smoke Free Movies, the
Environmnetal Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth, Nigeria did a
critical screening of ten Nigerian movies.

The Nigerian film industry also called Nollywood, has grown
astronomically in just few years. It has become the world's third
largest. It is now very popular not only with Nigeria's 140 million
people but across Africa and the whole world.

SURVEY OF SMOKING IN NOLLYWOOD MOVIES

The movies were selected off the shelve randomly. During the screening
we deliberately look out for brand placements, products endorsement by
actors and how tobacco is being portrayed in the films.

The ten movies surveyed include: Million Dollar Sisters, Fatal
Seduction, Battle for Battle, Holy Warden, GL2, Virgin's Heart, Games
Angel Play, War Game, Living in Pain, My own Share.

PRESS BRIEFING ON FEBRUARY 22

The findings during the screening of the movies was one of the issues at
a press briefing organised on February 22. The event was attended by 23
journalists from both the print and electronic media. The press briefing
has within few days generated reports on Lagos Television, This Day
newspaper, The nation newspaper, PM News, Daily Independent.

Sample media coverage:

Promotion of Smoking... Nollywood=92s Bad Example
by Godwin Haruna, This Day
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=3D71534

View photos of the press briefing and sleeves of Nollywood movies that
feature smoking and tobacco product placement:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photo/index.php?level=3Dalbum&id=3D4

####

5) ROMANIA: PETITION CAMPAIGN

Adina and Daniel Mardare report that they conducted a smokefree movies
petition campaign in Iasi and collected many signatures from schools,
malls, and universities. They were impressed that so many people are
against tobacco in movies. The petition was sent to C.N.A (connected
with Audio and Visual Romania)

Check out photos:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photo/index.php?level=3Dalbum&id=3D2

####

6) USA: NEW YORK: YOUTH IN BIOHAZARD SUITS SAY NO TO "TOXIC" MOVIES

Ken Dahlgren and youth dressed up in biohazard suits to decry "toxic"
tobacco content in youth-rated films and got some good media coverage...

Teens Fight Tobacco in Movies
http://post-journal.com/articles.asp?articleID=3D12732

####

7) USA: WASHINGTON, DC: DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF THE MPAA

On February 20, we held a small demonstration in front of the MPAA's
headquarters in Washington, DC. We dressed up in white biohazard suits
and "toxic movies" logos, goggles, and doctor's masks (outfits courtesy
of Ken Dahlgren/NY) and carried a banner that read "MPAA: Stop Toxic
Movies!" to draw attention to the "toxic" tobacco content in youth-rated
films. We also carried a large Marlboro-style cigarette pack that read
"Toxic" and "MPAA Approved...for Kids!"

During the short 1/2 hour rally, we leafleted passers by, spoke briefly
about the global impact of tobacco in movies and the need for the MPAA
to get smoking out of youth-rated films, and did a few chants for the
media gathered.

We also had someone dress up as a representative of Licensed to Kill,
the world's first truthful tobacco company (www.licensedtokill.biz), and
attempt to deliver a "Golden Coffin" award to the MPAA in recognition of
its "steadfast commitment to helping the tobacco industry hook youth
worldwide". She was able to gain entry to the building, but not allowed
to deliver the coffin to MPAA CEO Dan Glickman. The person at the front
desk refused to accept the award, so we placed it directly outside of
the MPAA's front door instead.

We concluded the rally by placing a call to the MPAA. We were not able
to get through to Glickman, but left a message for him.

At this point, police officers showed up. Apparently the MPAA had called
them about the "coffin" we had left at their front door. The police
officers told us that if it was not removed within one minute they would
have no choice but to close off the street and call in a bomb squad. We
told them that we would save them the trouble and just take it back,
which we did. So, the second attempted delivery of the "Golden Coffin"
Award to the MPAA also failed (the first attempted delivery was the week
before at the Jack Valenti Humanitarian Award ceremony, following the
first MPAA-sponsored "Business of Show Business").

Four different television crews covered the rally, including Fox, CBS, a
Spanish station, and another of which I didn't have a chance to get the
identification (probably ABC or NBC).

Check out photos(more coming!):
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photo/index.php?level=3Dalbum&id=3D1

-- Anna White, Essential Action

####

8) USA: ARKANSAS: AN ENCOUNTER WITH MPAA CEO GLICKMAN & MUCH MORE!

Arkansas Tobacco Control Youth Board and YES Team preliminary email to
wrap up our 2007 Smoke Free Movies Initiative. (detailed info to follow
in the next week or so)

Over 500 youth signed the petition to keep smoking out G, PG, and PG-13
movies

Letters were written to the movie studios by elementary, middle, and
high school children in hopes that they will get the message.

Letters to the editor were mailed and emailed to different newspapers
and family magazines in Arkansas

Partnered with local media groups to help with facilitation of project
and dissemination of press release

Youth collaborated with national group to bring awareness to the smoke
free movies initiative (National Press Release)

Active participation with video forwards, online jamming, online
petitions, and emails

Distributed "post-its" in a flier blitz at local theatres locally and
across the state

Attended a public forum were Mr. Dan Glickman of the Movie Picture
Association of America was the guest speaker. Youth members were present
and addressed Mr. Glickman with our concerns and presented him with
petitions, letters, and our requests following the four principals
outlined for smoking in film. We extended our appreciation for his
comments related to the use of tobacco (smoking) in youth rated movies.
Mr. Glickman also shared that both his parents died of lung cancer and
that he himself was not a smoker.

Mr. Glickman said

1. He welcomes input from smoke free movies members before final ratings
changes are made
2. That we should expect an announcement about ratings changes in the
future regarding smoking
3. That gratuitous smoking should not appear in movies that children are
exposed to

A more detailed package will be emailed as we collect more information
from other youth across the state.

NOTE: The Tobacco Control Youth Board and Y.E.S. have agreed that this
will be one of their major projects throughout the year and not just in
February.

-- Genine Perez, Y.E.S. Team

Check out photos:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photo/index.php?level=3Dalbum&id=3D5