Report Aired on Senegalese National Television
May 3, 2001 after the evening news broadcast

by Generation TV Systems

Image: Poster reading "Beating Tobacco"

Subtitle reads: "May 31, National Anti-Tobacco Day - Second Hand Smoke Kills"

Image: Poster of child asking, "Hey, Why do you smoke?"

Image: Poster of Saint Sebastian killed by cigarettes; headline reads, "Ads kill"

Subtitle reads: "a Production of the American Cultural Center, Dakar"

Narrator: "For many years now, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the 31st of May as "World No-Tobacco Day". This year's theme, "Second hand smoke kills", is designed to open our eyes and encourage us to reflect on the medical consequences of smoking and to think about steps we can take to protect the health of Senegalese, especially the young.

Today Cigarettes are the number one cause of premature death, yet this avoidable disease is found throughout the world. It kills half of those who began smoking in their adolescence. According to the WHO, between now and 2025 10 million people will die from diseases related to smoking, 70 percent of these deaths will occur in developing countries."

Dr. Ali Badredine, Lung specialist: "Smokers are even responsible for respiratory infections among non-smokers. It's what we call 'passive smoking'. This is where you have someone living in a smoking environment and who has a risk of developing lung diseases linked to tobacco use whithout ever having smoked. More than anything I would insist on prevention. It's the goal of our operation. Prevention among the youth, among women who are smoking more and more and above all among pregnant women. They must know the risks they are running when smoking while pregnant, the risk of birth defects in the child, of miscarriage, of lung disease in their newborn infant."

Narrator: "In the United States, land of the Marlboro Cowboy, Philip Morris and Joe Camel, authorities have seen the damaging effect tobacco can have on public health and have reacted. After having seen how the tobacco industry targets youth, the American Government has instituted a number of measures designed to fight tobacco usage."

Ambassador Harriet L. Elam-Thomas: "Over the past 15-20 years people have become aware that it is dangerous. Now there are places, such as restaurants in California, for example, where it is completely forbidden to smoke. Even in wide open areas, in malls, you know, where people do their shopping, where it is absolutely forbidden to smoke. Even in public and private buildings people are obliged to not smoke. They have to go outside to do it, in winter when it's very cold. It is a very strong addiction."

Narractor: "Nowadays it is illegal to smoke in federal buildings or to sell cigarettes to minors. Cigarette companies must put large warning labels on cigarette packets informing people of the dangers of smoking. Result - statistics now say that today only 25 percent of Americans smoke."

Ambassador Harriet L. Elam-Thomas: "I can honestly tell you that in the United States we are always thinking about the future. To live a better life many young persons are engaging in exercise, sports. People are living a longer life, some as long as 100 years. It's no longer rare. Every year we hear about families who have members older than 100 years. I can tell you that I have a personal experience with this. I have a brother who died from cigarette smoking at the age of 60 while I was in Greece. It was the only reason for his cancer; he had smoked for 40 years of his life. He wasn't aware of the dangers because in his day, during the First and Second World Wars, the government used to give cigarettes to young soldiers. We have made great progress and we no longer do that. I can say that I hope that young Senegalese realize the dangers of smoking, that it's a very strong addiction and that it is not all that easy to quit. If you truly want to have "SOPI" (=change) in this country you have to start by convincing yourselves to live a clean life without cigarettes."

Narrator: "And yet here advertisers are out in full force to promote smoking. The message of advertisers is 'Live the American dream by buying cigarettes'. If current numbers of smokers continues to rise, 200 million of today's children, 2/3 of which are in the developing world, will die of diseases related to tobacco."

Mr. Latif Gueye, President of the NGO "JAMIRA": "The greatest danger of our situation here in Senegal is the banalization of the phenomenon of smoking. You might know that Senegal has one of the highest rates of tobacco usage in West Africa. And yet, for those with short memories, just a few years ago we had a law forbidding the advertising of cigarettes. If we have a 'World No-Tobacco Day' we need to reflect on this questions. Today there will be a lot of talk but we must continue to act after today if we are to rid ourselves of this plague. The worst thing is that here in Senegal we see incredible things. I was just in Amsterdam where it's not even thinkable to smoke in public places. Here in Senegal we smoke on public transportation, we even smoke in hospitals. What we need is for the state to enforce these laws, to stop people from smoking in places marked "No Smoking". Not only do we need to mobilize public opinion but we need the state to take charge and pass stronger laws to protect its citizens. I think that "World Anti-Tobacco Day" is a good way to show how smoking affects those who don't smoke.

Mr. Jean Pierre Dione (man on the street): "When you think about tobacco companies sponsoring sporting events like football or basketball for example, it's just a way for them to entice kids to start smoking, something which will endanger their health."

Mr. Latif Gueye: "It is inconceivable in England for cigarette companies to create ads without some connection to youth, in the US as well. I'll tell you something that came straight from the mouth of tobacco traffickers, in a document of theirs. It says 'if we want to increase our sales over the long term we must penetrate the youth market'. A marketer added that 'we should create a brand specifically aimed at that market'"

Ambassador Elam-Thomas: "It is forbidden in the United States. Over the pas 30 years the government has encouraged tobacco companies to reduce and even eliminate advertising. Now that they know they cannot do it in the US they have looked to Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa and they encourage those kids to smoke. That is wrong in my opinion. They shouldn't do it."

Mr. Latif Gueye: "It's necessary for opinion leaders, most notably artists, join us in our fight to eliminate the negative consequences of tobacco and to show that it is an example of "globalization". It's time that the Senegalese mobilize to rid themselves of the this curse"

Big D., Rap Artist: "You know, life is really beautiful. Let's stop ruining our health with tobacco. There is still a lot to do. We are young and if we smoke too much we will die too soon. If you want to be like me, Big D., on state and everywhere, stop wasting you life away with smoking. Do like me, top with the tobacco and quit smoking. I'm fighting for you because we have to stay alive! Peace y'all!"

Narrator: "If we can prevent the youth of today from taking up smoking we will also be able to prevent a future where a generation of people with sickness and fragile health will be the greatest handicap to our development"