[Intl-tobacco] Report on Int'l Day of Action for Smokefree Movies
robert weissman
rob@essential.org
Wed, 16 Mar 2005 13:29:50 -0500
Dear Friends,
On February 22, groups around the U.S. and world =96 from Argentina to
India, New Zealand to Senegal -- participated in the first International
Day of Action for smokefree movies. Activities included film screenings,
press conferences, letter campaigns, exhibits, discussions, and
demonstrations. While the focus of the day was on Hollywood, many groups
used the opportunity to put pressure on the movie industries in their
own countries, e.g. India, Nigeria, Sri Lanka. Below is a full report on
events that groups involved with GPTC organized in different countries,
complete with photos and examples of press coverage. Thanks to all who
took part!
Best wishes,
Anna
Global Partnerships for Tobacco Control
Essential Action
***************************
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
for Smokefree Movies
February 22, 2005
***************************
SUMMARY OF CONTENTS:
1. ARGENTINA: Press & Radio Coverage
2. INDIA (Mumbai): Press Coverage
3. INDIA (New Delhi): Letter Campaign
4. MALAYSIA: Press Conference and Petition Campaign
5. NEW ZEALAND: Release of Research Findings
6. NIGERIA (Ibadan): Exhibition, Forum, & Media Coverage
7. NIGERIA (Lagos): Press Coverage
8. SENEGAL: Film Screening & Radio Coverage
9. SRI LANKA: News Briefing w/ Actors
10. US (Overview): Mobile Billboards, Press Events, & Newspaper Ads
11. US (DC): Demonstration in Front of the MPAA
12. US: Philip Morris USA Responds
####
1) ARGENTINA: PRESS & RADIO COVERAGE
Here=92s an article about the International Day of Action (featuring a
picture of Brad Pitt smoking) that was published by an important
newspaper in Bahia Blanca:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/arart1.jpg
A message about the International Day of Action was also sent to the
following tobacco networks: CLACCTA (Latin America), Tabacozero
(Brazil), Vivirsintabaco (Argentina), as well as ten radio stations in
Bahia Blanca, two of which made a report.
-- Gabriela Regueira, Asociacion Argentina de Educacion y Prevencion del
Cancer
####
2) INDIA (Mumbai): PRESS COVERAGE
After some back and forth, we got a great cover story =96 a series
actually. The first started with a visit by Prof Stan Glantz (Smokefree
Movies Action Network) to Mumbai leading up to the International Day of
Action:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/inart1.pdf
...a second focused on our research of recent Bollywood films:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/inart2.pdf
-- Padmini Somani, Salaam Bombay Foundation
####
3) INDIA (New Delhi): LETTER CAMPAIGN
Here is a press release we distributed for the International Day of Action=
=85
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/inpr.pdf
=85as well as a letter we sent to the Central Board of Film Certification
to mark the day.
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/inltr.pdf
-- Monika Arora, HRIDAY-SHAN
####
4) MALAYSIA: PRESS CONFERENCE & PETITION CAMPAIGN
C-Tob held a press conference yesterday with Prof. Rahmat Awang and his
deputy Mr Razak Lajis. Mr Razak is known for his activities for youth
and his presence really lended a major support in the press conference.
Prof. Awang explained about the International Day of Action held in line
with the nearing 77th Academy Awards on February 27, 2005. He expressed
his dissatisfaction that many movies had cigarette smoking scenes. He
added that perhaps officers in the information department may not be
aware of the impact smoking can have on viewers.
In relation to that and to provide a local touch to the story, Prof.
Awang said on behalf of Malaysia, C-Tob will undertake a signature
campaign to the National Censorship Board and the National Film
Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) to implement the blurring of
cigarettes in all movies. This idea was mooted after Thailand=92s
successful implementation in that direction. See press release:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/mypr.pdf
We also distributed a factsheet on health related to smoking:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/myfs.pdf
Apart from this, we presented the video clip of interviews with youth
around the world. The reporters were impressed and commended us on the
video clip. We also showed a PowerPoint presentation of the smoking
scenes of the movie industry, e.g. smoking idols like Michael Landon and
Sylvester Stallone, as well as Malaysian movie icon. View presentation
(5.4 MB): http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/myss.pps
And lastly, we used a visual prop, a movie clap board, during the
photography session:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/ida05/my01.jpg
We are now carrying out a petition campaign to submit to the National
Censorship Board and National Film Development Corporation Malaysia
(FINAS) so that they will block all smoking scenes, be it from
Hollywood, Bollywood or Chinese. Over 200 signatures have been collected
so far.
Here=92s some of the excellent press coverage we generated:
Star Newspaper (largest circulation and readership of all English
newspapers in Malaysia)
http://penang.thestar.com.my/content/news/2005/2/25/10246967.asp
The New Straits Times
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/myart2.jpg
The Sun
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/myart4.jpg
And two Chinese newspapers, the Guan Ming Daily News and the Sin Chew
Jit Poh
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/myart1.jpg
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/myart3.jpg
-- Kalei Joethi Sahadevan, Clearinghouse for Tobacco Control
(C-Tob)National Poison Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.
####
5) NEW ZEALAND: RELEASE OF RESEARCH FINDINGS
We at ASH New Zealand promoted the event by sending information to the
press about the International Day of Action. The press release we sent
was titled, =93Hollywood must take more responsibility in creating healthy
kiwi teens.=94 Our director Becky Freeman did two interviews on radio
(Radio New Zealand=92s Morning report and NIU FM). We also got coverage in
the print media. View press release:
http://www.ash.org.nz/news.php?sid=3D11&id=3DCon890
We tied the International Day of Action with informing about the
research ASH NZ did in conjunction with the University of Auckland that
recommended screening of anti-smoking advertisements should be screened
before movies to counter smoking promotion in movies. View research
summary: http://www.ash.org.nz/pdf/NewsandPress/moviesA4.pdf
-- Sneha Paul, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) New Zealand
####
6) NIGERIA (Ibadan): EXHIBITION, FORUM, & MEDIA COVERAGE
Educare Trust youth on Tuesday February 22, 2005 joined the global fight
against Hollywood movies pushing tobacco. The International Day of
Action was marked by the youth with three major activities:
1. EXHIBITION: This was opened to the general public between 10:00 am
and 4:00 pm. The exhibits were posters, leaflets, two 'Dummy Long'
Cigarettes and an environmental giant sculpture (10 feet tall and made
of 250 empty plastic bottles). Materials, on the theme, made available
by Essential Action were printed, photocopied and freely distributed to
the visitors and participants. The participants, totaling 24, included
representatives of the media, members of the Association of Nigerian
Authors, Oyo State Chapter and Educare Trust youth members. The
exhibition took place at Educare Trust Exhibition Centre
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/ida05/ngoyo2.jpg
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/ida05/ngoyo3.jpg
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/ida05/ngoyo4.jpg
2. PRESS RELEASE: Copies of the Press Release were given to eight media
houses in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, including 4 radio and television
outlets, and 4 print media. Some of the media houses challenged tobacco
control advocates to organize a similar event focused on Nollywood
(Nigerian version of Hollywood). Nigerian Television Authority (NTA),
Ibadan and Galaxy Television Oke-Are, Ibadan read the Release as part of
their news items on that day. And on February 28, 2005, The Punch
Newspaper published the Release (edited) under this caption:
ANTI-TOBACCO CAMPAIGNERS TARGET MEDIA, MOVIE OPERATORS.
3. DISCUSSION: The topic of this discussion, which was participatory in
nature, was "The Impact of Tobacco Smoking in Movies to the Youth.=94 The
discussion drew its analysis from both Hollywood and Nollywood. The data
supplied by Essential Action was helpful. It aided the flow of the
discussion. It was unanimously agreed by the discussants that the
Nigerian child just like his/her counterparts all over the world likes
watching movies. He or she would like to imbibe any doctrine or
behaviour such movies are set out to teach, most especially if such
doctrine or behaviour is being perpetrated by star actors or actresses
like Clint Eastwood, Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone etc from Hollywood
and Richard Mofe Damijo, Saint Obi and Genevieve Nnaji etc from
Nollywood. The discussants totally condemned Tobacco Advertisement in
any form or by any means in movies be it in Hollywood or in Nollywood.
The discussion considered it as an act of social irresponsibility for
any producer to advertise a dangerous habit to the youth using movies.
View photo: http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/ida05/ngoyo1.jpg
-- Folorunsho Moshood, Educare Trust
####
7) NIGERIA (Lagos): PRESS COVERAGE
We issued a press statement. It was used by the Daily Independent. The
Guardian also ran a story:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/ngart1.html
-- Akinbode Oluwafemi, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth,
Nigeria
####
8) SENEGAL: FILM SCREENING & RADIO COVERAGE
On February 23, we held a screening of the movie =93Die Another Day=94 for
200 youth at the Serigne Ameth Sy Malick school. The event was used to
raise awareness of smoking in Hollywood movies (the movie, which is
youth-rated by the Motion Picture Association of America, has a =93black
lung=94 rating from SceneSmoking.org for 50+ smoking incidents, involving
6 different actors/actresses including star Pierce Brosnan).
A press release was sent to over a dozen print and radio media outlets.
We got excellent radio coverage of the event thanks to Radio Future
M=E9dia (RFM). They gave us an interview, made a report on tobacco in
general, and did a half hour segment on their talkshow =93Waax xaa xalaat
ou Caddu Askan Wi=94 (Wolof) (=93La parole aux auditeurs=94 in French).
Seventeen people called in from all over the world, including France,
U.S., Italy, and Senegal (Dakar & Koalack)
-- Pascal Didier Mandiamy, Mouvement Anti-Tabac du Senegal
####
9) SRI LANKA: NEWS BRIEFING W/ ACTORS & PRESS COVERAGE
A news briefing on tobacco promotions through films and tele dramas was
held on February 22 at the Government Information Department, in
Colombo. The event was organized by the Alcohol & Drug Information
Centre (ADIC). Eight people involved with the film/tele industry
participated. Some of the media conference=92s objectives:
* To get movie makers to take up the problem seriously.
* To stimulate a debate within Sri Lanka film industry.
* To encourage the removal of scenes that depict smoking in films as
much as possible.
Mr. Ravindra Randeniya, actor and film director said: =93Even after giving
up of smoking, at times I had to use cigarettes to play my roles in
certain films. But now I never use it to portray even a character. I did
not know that portrayal of smoking scenes in films was a subtle strategy
behind the industry=85I promise that I will never use cigarettes even in
films to portray a character. Also I will give my fullest cooperation to
carry out this mission."
Another actor, Buddhadasa Vithanachchi, said, "In the past people used
to smoke even in public transport. I got used to smoking having had
watched cartoons - Cowboy. From 15 to 30 years I smoked, but I stopped
smoking 30 years ago=85Even after quitting smoking I have appeared for a
few portrayals of smoking. But now I reject such portrayals.=94
Read more at: http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/lkrpt.html
Article about the International Day of Action:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/lkart1.html
-- Manjari Peiris, journalist
Here is a report (with photos) on our activities for the International
Day of Action for tobaccofree movies. This activity was a continuation
of the activities we have carried out on the issue during the last 4
years. http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/lkrpt.pdf
-- Kumari, Alcohol and Drug Information Center
####
10) US (Overview): MOBILE BILLBOARDS, PRESS EVENTS, & NEWSPAPER ADS
Across the U.S., Smokefree Movies Action Network members held dozens of
press events and ran =93The Whole World is Watching=94 advertisements in a
variety of media, including the New York Times.
In California, mobile billboards cruised Los Angeles for a week, showing
up at the Oscars and Oscar events, outside movie studios, etc. See photos:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/ida05/usca01.jpg
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/ida05/usca01.jpg
A photo of the mobile billboard in front of the Walt Disney studio is on
the International Day of Action website:
http://smokefreemovies.ucsf.edu/international
In New Mexico, the New Mexico Media Literacy Project released a DVD
called =93Something Stinks in Hollywood=94
http://www.nmmlp.org/somethingstinks.htm
The actions generated significant press, radio, and television coverage,
including this Voice of America which mentions events in other countries:
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-01-voa33.cfm
####
11) US - DC: DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF MPAA
Essential Action organized a demonstration in front of the Motion
Picture Association of America, which administers the movie rating
system and has thus far refused to take smoking and tobacco product
placement out of youth-rated films. Here are some photos of the event:
Demonstrators next to large inflatable Marlboro cigarette pack with
=93MPAA Pack of Lies=94 banner:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/mpaa05/sh08.JPG
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/mpaa05/rw05.jpg
=93Hollywood Helps Big Tobacco Hook Youth Worldwide=94 sign featuring 4
youth-rated films with smoking in the Top Ten (and the youngest
participant in the demonstration)
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/mpaa05/rw14.jpg
=93The Whole World is Watching=94 and =93MPAA: Keep Smoking out of Kid-Rate=
d
films!=94 signs
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/mpaa05/sh02.JPG
Youth hold signs =93The =91F=92 word never gave anyone cancer=94 and =93Why=
isn=92t
smoking treated just as seriously?=94
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/mpaa05/sh05.JPG
Throughout the event, local high school students led a variety of
chants: http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ida05/chants.pdf
At the close of the event, local high school students tried to deliver a
letter addressed to MPAA President Daniel Glickman and past President
Jack Valenti (who still controls the rating system). They were blocked
from entering the building by a man who treated them in an extremely
rude manner. After a short period of negotiation, he agreed to deliver
the letter for the youth.
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/mpaa05/sh01.JPG
More photos are online at:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/mpaa05/
Three AFP and 5 Getty Images photos of the International Day of Action
event in front of the Motion Picture Association (DC). You can access
them by going to http://www.gettyimages.com Click on "Editorial" then
"News". Do a search for "movies dc=94
-- Anna White, Essential Action
####
13) US: PHILIP MORRIS RESPONDS
In response to all the media coverage around the International Day of
Action, Philip Morris USA took it upon itself to issue a press release
denying that it is involved in tobacco product placement in the movies.
The release fails to address whether or not Philip Morris International
is involved with the practice. In the informal survey of 800 youth
worldwide, 51% said that they had seen Marlboro product placement in
Hollywood movies. Marlboro product placement also appears to be rampant
in non-Hollywood movies, such as the recent Bollywood hit "Swades."
Philip Morris USA Denies Requests for Product Placement (February 25, 2005)
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=3Dnews_=
view&newsId=3D20050225005568&newsLang=3Den
---------------------------------------
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