Earlier this year Essential Action promoted a partnership activity on the tobacco industry's "anti-tobacco" youth programs worldwide (see http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/aofm/0103.html). Here are some examples of how several GPTC groups have addressed the issue:

TURKEY
Earlier this year Physicians for a Smokefree Canada arranged to have an intern, Sue Lawrence, do research in Turkey with the organization's global partner, Dr. Elif Dagli of the National Committee on Tobacco and Health. One of the topics Sue investigated was tobacco industry youth programs. To read a short report by Sue and Elif on the "The Power is Yours" program that Philip Morris tried to establish with a well-respected university in Istanbul, and how Turkish activists successfully campaign against it, see
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/aofm/0103/turkey.html

CANADA
The Coalition Quebecoise pour le Controle du Tabac recently released two excellent short reports on tobacco industry "youth prevention" programs. "Operation ID School Zone" examines the industry campaign of the same name, which distributes posters, pamphlets and stickers to stores, often with the endorsement of local community groups and leaders. Six Quebec tobacco control groups have called for a boycott of the program. The second report exposes the real purpose of "Wise Decisions," a program designed for students in grades 6-8 that the tobacco industry plans to distribute free of charge to teachers across Canada. The report draws upon industry documents and examples from around the world. Reports are available in both English and French. Contact The Coalition Quebecoise pour le Controle du Tabac for copies. ** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

BANGLADESH
Work for a Better Bangladesh, PATH Canada, and the Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance recently issued a superb report "British American Tobacco's Youth Smoking Prevention Campaign: What are its actual objectives?" to counter the "Youth Smoking Prevention Campaign" that BAT launched in July 2001. The report analyzes the BAT campaign, using internal industry documents, student focus groups, and a survey of over 300 male students aged 12-15. A press conference was held to release the report. For a copy of the report, contact <[email protected]> (English) or <[email protected]> (Bengali). ** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

UKRAINE
Lisa Houston, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nikolayev, reports that signs have recently appeared in stores forbidding store owners to sell cigarettes to those under 18. "Anti-smoking" billboards on busstops are also spreading throughout the country. Lisa notes that they usually depict kids involved in some sort of extra-curricular activity (sports, singing, etc.), with the phrase "Smoking? I don't have the time!" superimposed. For an example see: http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/photos/uk/youth.jpg

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Colin Richardson, Adventist Health, reports that British American Tobacco (BAT), which has a monopoly in the country, announced last week that it will begin a media campaign to encourage children and youth under 18 not to smoke. As Colin notes, "This strategy is a very cynical one, used in other parts of the world, to try and polish a very tarnished image while at the same time sponsoring measures they know have little impact. Indeed, the key approach (however disguised) is that smoking is an adult choice, not for kids. Of course, we can all predict the outcome! There is no challenge greater to an adolescent than to prove his/her virtual adulthood." In response, Colin quickly penned and sent letters-to-the-editor of two local newspapers. See: http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/aofm/0103/PapuaNG.html

Other youth-related items GPTC participants may want to check out:

TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW WITH PM EUROPE'S SENIOR VP
Transcript of BBC's 'Hard Talk' interview with Davies Davies, Senior VP for Europe Philip Morris International (21 March 2001). Interviewer does an good job confronting Davies over internal PM documents which outline the company's youth strategy, noting that the authors of the documents are still at PM!
http://www.ash.org.uk/html/conduct/html/daviesfull.html

BIG TOBACCO AND THE YOUTH TARGET: BAT CAVE INC.
For an example of how the tobacco industry is still targeting young customers, check out the Bat Cave Inc website, which claims: "We use our extensive knowledge of Youth Culture and apply it to creating
unforgettable brand experiences that make a difference" at http://www.batcaveinc.com/ Under "clients," they proudly list a large, well-financed project they did for tobacco:
http://www.batcaveinc.com/bensonhedges.html

BAT-RUSSIA "YOUTH SMOKING PREVENTION" WEBSITE
A large-scale campaign "against the sale of cigarettes to minors" conducted by the four biggest tobacco companies operating in Russia, BAT Russia, JRI, Reemtsma and Philip Morris is underway in 63 Russian largest cities.
http://www.english.batrussia.ru/principles/restrictions/

Is Philip Morris or BAT conducting a "youth smoking prevention" program in your or your partner's country? Investigate! If so, we encourage you to prepare a short joint report to share with other GPTC participants -- and to use as a basis for further action.

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