Beware
of tobacco industry interference
Muherman Harun ; A Doctor of Respiratory Medicine
SUMBER : JAKARTA
POST, 31 Mei 2012
On May 31 people across the globe commemorate
World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). This year WHO chose “tobacco industry interference” as its theme to highlight the need
to remain alert of any efforts by the tobacco industry to undermine control of
industry activities that negatively impact the anti-tobacco drive.
The following is just an example of a hidden advertorial: During the inauguration of a newly built section C at the School of Economics of Diponegoro University in Semarang on March 22, 2012, the company’s top executive, Michael Bambang Hartono, said the company had spent Rp 13.4 billion (US$1.5 million) on the building and supporting facilities for the university. This advertorial would prove Djarum’s “concern” and “commitment” to enhancing quality education in Indonesia.
The cigarette company also planted trees within the university’s campus in an apparent show of concern for the environment.
In his remarks of gratitude, the university’s rector, Sudharto P. Hadi, stated, “A concern for the environment is equal to the provision of good education facilities. When we are successful in providing both, the lives of human beings will become balanced.”
Consequently, the dean of the university’s School of Economics, Muhammad Nasir, presented Michael the Dedication in Education for Development award during the school’s alumni gathering.
The WNTD should focus on the need to expose and counter the tobacco industry’s blatant and increasingly aggressive efforts to deceive the public, particularly youths, students, teachers, instructors and those of academic supremacy on the serious health hazards of smoking.
It is true that contribution of Djarum and other giant tobacco companies is considerable in terms of money value. But proportionally, it may be not that much.
According to Forbes magazine, Djarum tycoons R. Budi and Michael Hartono have amassed $14 billion this year alone. The construction of the School of Economics building cost only one ten-thousandths of their wealth. This “advertisement” did not need to display the obligatory health warnings, but the company earned an “outstanding academic award” and gained wide public coverage (The Jakarta Post, March 28).
It has now become common knowledge that the tobacco epidemic is killing 6 million people a year. If unabated, by 2030 tobacco-related diseases will have claimed the lives of up to 8 million, with more than 80 percent from low and middle-income countries. According to the Indonesian Health Ministry, in 2010 some $229.99 million was spent on tobacco-related diseases.
Why are there so many victims? The answer is because smokers are hooked. Nicotine is a very addictive substance in tobacco. Due to addiction, all of the harmful and poisonous substances in tobacco are simultaneously inhaled.
Tobacco is very dangerous. Even the tobacco industry admits that, as shown in health warnings appearing in tobacco advertisements. Due to the addictive nature of tobacco, the manufacturers are growing stronger and richer than ever.
They become one of the most important sources of revenue to the state and the main sponsors of social events as well as providers of scholarships to students and promising athletes.
The earlier youngsters begin to smoke, the more difficult it is for them to quit the habit. The youths are the ones who would replace the elder people who succumb and breathe their last. In 2001, young smokers aged 10-14 years old accounted for 9.5 percent of smokers. The number rose to 17.5 percent by 2010, indicating the industry’s success in luring youths to smoke (Basic Health Survey 2010).
In our interaction with tobacco firms, anytime we receive funds, donations, scholarships, sponsorships, etc, there are three points we should always remember and would have others remember, lest we forget them.
First, the tobacco industries are cruel for producing and promoting deadly products that kill over 5 million people each year, smokers and non-smokers alike (WHO 2012). The fatalities prove tobacco has killed more people than “World War II, AIDS, cocaine, heroin, alcohol, vehicular accidents, homicide and suicide combined”.
Second, the tobacco industry is cunning for producing and promoting addictive products that are fatal and bring along toxic products contained in the cigarettes. Last, the tobacco industry pretends to be cool by way of targeting youths to replace older smokers once they pass away.
As tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of death, on World No Tobacco Day 2012, and throughout the following years, WHO will urge countries to put the fight against the tobacco industry interference at the heart of their efforts to control the global tobacco epidemic. ●
The following is just an example of a hidden advertorial: During the inauguration of a newly built section C at the School of Economics of Diponegoro University in Semarang on March 22, 2012, the company’s top executive, Michael Bambang Hartono, said the company had spent Rp 13.4 billion (US$1.5 million) on the building and supporting facilities for the university. This advertorial would prove Djarum’s “concern” and “commitment” to enhancing quality education in Indonesia.
The cigarette company also planted trees within the university’s campus in an apparent show of concern for the environment.
In his remarks of gratitude, the university’s rector, Sudharto P. Hadi, stated, “A concern for the environment is equal to the provision of good education facilities. When we are successful in providing both, the lives of human beings will become balanced.”
Consequently, the dean of the university’s School of Economics, Muhammad Nasir, presented Michael the Dedication in Education for Development award during the school’s alumni gathering.
The WNTD should focus on the need to expose and counter the tobacco industry’s blatant and increasingly aggressive efforts to deceive the public, particularly youths, students, teachers, instructors and those of academic supremacy on the serious health hazards of smoking.
It is true that contribution of Djarum and other giant tobacco companies is considerable in terms of money value. But proportionally, it may be not that much.
According to Forbes magazine, Djarum tycoons R. Budi and Michael Hartono have amassed $14 billion this year alone. The construction of the School of Economics building cost only one ten-thousandths of their wealth. This “advertisement” did not need to display the obligatory health warnings, but the company earned an “outstanding academic award” and gained wide public coverage (The Jakarta Post, March 28).
It has now become common knowledge that the tobacco epidemic is killing 6 million people a year. If unabated, by 2030 tobacco-related diseases will have claimed the lives of up to 8 million, with more than 80 percent from low and middle-income countries. According to the Indonesian Health Ministry, in 2010 some $229.99 million was spent on tobacco-related diseases.
Why are there so many victims? The answer is because smokers are hooked. Nicotine is a very addictive substance in tobacco. Due to addiction, all of the harmful and poisonous substances in tobacco are simultaneously inhaled.
Tobacco is very dangerous. Even the tobacco industry admits that, as shown in health warnings appearing in tobacco advertisements. Due to the addictive nature of tobacco, the manufacturers are growing stronger and richer than ever.
They become one of the most important sources of revenue to the state and the main sponsors of social events as well as providers of scholarships to students and promising athletes.
The earlier youngsters begin to smoke, the more difficult it is for them to quit the habit. The youths are the ones who would replace the elder people who succumb and breathe their last. In 2001, young smokers aged 10-14 years old accounted for 9.5 percent of smokers. The number rose to 17.5 percent by 2010, indicating the industry’s success in luring youths to smoke (Basic Health Survey 2010).
In our interaction with tobacco firms, anytime we receive funds, donations, scholarships, sponsorships, etc, there are three points we should always remember and would have others remember, lest we forget them.
First, the tobacco industries are cruel for producing and promoting deadly products that kill over 5 million people each year, smokers and non-smokers alike (WHO 2012). The fatalities prove tobacco has killed more people than “World War II, AIDS, cocaine, heroin, alcohol, vehicular accidents, homicide and suicide combined”.
Second, the tobacco industry is cunning for producing and promoting addictive products that are fatal and bring along toxic products contained in the cigarettes. Last, the tobacco industry pretends to be cool by way of targeting youths to replace older smokers once they pass away.
As tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of death, on World No Tobacco Day 2012, and throughout the following years, WHO will urge countries to put the fight against the tobacco industry interference at the heart of their efforts to control the global tobacco epidemic. ●
