[Intl-tobacco] Urgent: Send support to Indian Health Minister!

[Robert Weissman]

Dear Friends,

Many of our recent letter writing campaigns have focused on things that
people, institutions and governments are doing that are bad for tobacco
control. We shouldn't forget, however, that it is often just as
important to write letters of appreciation and support to those who have
championed tobacco control.  Such support is vital to successfully
counteracting the tobacco industry's efforts to derail effective tobacco
control measures (as we've recently seen examples of in Lithuania and
elsewhere).

Our friends in India have presented us with such an opportunity. Two
weeks ago, the Indian government decided to introduce a far-reaching
tobacco control bill at the beginning of the Parliament's next budget
session (which starts February 28th). The bill, if enacted into law,
would become one of the most comprehensive tobacco control legislations
in the world.  Specifically, it would:

* ban smoking in public places
* ban sale of cigrettes to under people under 18 years of age
* ban all kinds of advertising, promotion and sponsorships of sports and
cultural events - direct and indirect
* have direct warnings on cigarette packets Hindi, English and one
regional language that are clearly visible

A day after this announcement by the government, the Indian Tobacco
Company, a subsidiary of BAT, announced to the media that it is
voluntarily ending its sponsorship of all sports and cultural events.
This is a huge victory! The bigger victory will be when the bill is
passed by the Indian Parliament. If it does, it will be a historic
moment for tobacco control efforts worldwide, India being the second
most populous country in the world!

Taposh Roy of the Volunteer Health Association of India reports that
Indian tobacco control groups are currently networking in India and
abroad, meeting government officials, talking with the press, and
lobbying Parliamentarians. While there appears to be strong political
will, the tobacco industry is already planting stories in the press in
an attempt to create controversy and confusion on the issue, leading up
to the Parliament debate. In the last week, five tobacco advertising
firms have joined forces and are frantically approaching the media and
MPs.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Our Indian friends stress that it is vitally important that we send
letters of encouragement and solidarity to the Indian Health Minister
and his colleages. If they know the international tobacco control
community is behind them, they will be less likely to give in to the
industry pressure. In your emails you should:

* Congratulate the Health Minister and his colleagues for taking this
bold step in spite of the stiff resistance they will face from the
tobacco industry
* Briefly describe the tobacco control work your group does and your
interest in international tobacco control
* Emphasize the international importance of India passing strong tobacco
control legislation
* Include your name, organization, and geographic location -- this will
underline the broad international solidarity on this issue.

Send emails to:

*Dr C.P.Thakur, Honorable Minister of Health and Family Welfare
<prakash@nb.nic.in>
Please indicate in the subject heading "Attn: Dr C.P.Thakur, Honorable
Minister of Health and Family Welfare"

*Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister <pmosb.pmosb.nic.in> [don't
worry, there is no @]

*Mr. Javed Choudhary, Secretary of Health <secyhlth@nb.nic.in>

*Please bcc your emails to <awhite@essential.org>,  <vhai@vsnl.com>, and
<aprajita@dte.vsnl.net.in>

If you want to go a step farther, you can fax your letters to the
following Indian newspapers (if you cannot send international faxes,
please email your letters to Essential Action and we will fax them for
you).

*The Hindustan Times :  +91 0522  - 271116
*The Pioneer:  +91 0522 - 345582
*The Times of India:  +91 0522- 206094
*Dainik Jagaran: +91 0522 - 209480
*Hindustan Dainik: +91 0522 - 205701
*Rashtriya Sahara: +91 0522 - 370380

Thanks in advance for supporting tobacco control in India!
Anna

Anna White
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: awhite@essential.org