.... the brain is not a vessel to be filled,
It is something to be IGNITED

BURNING BRAIN NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY 2005

BURNING BRAIN
Newsletter 2, Volume - II
Feburary 2005

From the scene of action

Dear Members,

Last month saw some direct action by Burning Brain Society and result of some of our earlier efforts. On the positive side the Health Ministry asked ITC Limited to withdraw the greeting cards intended to promote their cigarette brand and on the negative, the Punjab Governor and Chandigarh's Administrator S. F. Rodrigues participated in the "Red & White" cigarette companies function under the guise of  honouring some brave people. It is a clear cut case of surrogate advertisement but year after year and Governor after Governor, the same act is repeated and the same story continues as an insipid soap-opera.

Though some of our associates feel that our aggressive direct action has made a difference as our continuous opposition to the "Red & White" cigarette companies functions resulted in the change of logo for the award ceremony, it also resulted in a hush-hush kind of function with little publicity before the so called award ceremony. There was also an incident in which a person refused to accept the awards from the tobacco company highlighting the fact that the awards promote tobacco. Many newspapers too avoided highlighting the "Red & White" activity as they used to do every year, though some media-people as usual appeared to work in league. If E-mails or the result of the BBS online poll is an indicator, we have been able to sensitize a sizeable number of people. After all if the cigarette company is forced to compromise on the publicity and propaganda, we are close to our target.

Some questions are often asked after any direct action activity, the most common one is; "Why are we against such-and-such person?" Let me clarify; "We are not against any individual, who-so-ever he/she may be." We work on serious issues and whenever we say or do anything it is not targeted against an individual but towards his/her role in the public office which a person is holding and representing. Individuals often have a false notion about their supremacy, we do not recognize supremacy of an individual, people come and go but the policies once made, remains there. When the office or the policies intended to benefit public gets corrupted or compromised, we oppose the act/action/inaction or omission and not any individual.

As individuals we all have equal rights and responsibilities but when any person among us choose to hold a public office, he by his own choice takes added responsibilities. Each public office comes with many added responsibilities, which a person is duty-bound to discharge to best of his/her abilities. If a person is not able to act responsibly and is unable to discharge his duties with the spirit of the public office he/she holds, then he must be ready to face the wrath for it. Relinquishing the office for bringing disrepute and acting against the spirit of the office is the first step which should be taken by any responsible and self-respecting person.

Recently the question was asked in reference to the Governor S. F. Rodrigues, so it brings us to a very basic question; Who is a Governor? Governor is a representative of the president not answerable to the public directly, his appointment is not as a result of public will. The Governor is the representative of the policies of the Government, beyond any political demarcations and has no right to go beyond or work against the constitution, law of the land or the public sentiments. The Governor as a person has no standing in his individual capacity, he is nothing without the office and the respect which a Governor enjoys is only because of the office.

If tomorrow the Governor accepts his mistake and takes action against the violations by tobacco companies; then we will be the first one to appreciate him. After-all to err is human but to understand that one has made a mistake is an indication of real bravery.

Thanking you,
yours from the heart

Hemant Goswami
Chairperson, Burning Brain Society

Some Recent Activities:

Support Burning Brain

Friends,

We also conduct workshops/seminars and sensitizing drives for young people, mostly for school and college students. Since about 80% of the tobacco users start by the age of 18 so sensitizing them at the right age can stop them from falling into the "Tobacco Trap" and also creates a positive pressure group in the society against the use of tobacco. All our activities are conducted on "Free of Cost" basis for the youngsters. We do not have any financial support from any quarter so continuing our activities is becoming very difficult.

Our cost is upward of Rs. 45/- (US 1$) for every youngster sensitized. For an activity involving 200 students the cost is approximately Rs. 9000/- In case your company/organization would like to support us, you can sponsor our seminars/workshops. You will get all the commercial mileage which you hope to get when you go through an event management company to promote your organization. While your organization benefits by making a contact with youngsters and their family, it will also help your community, society, country and the world to become a better place to live.

You can support as many activity as you want, we plan around 100 such drives this year. Help us meet our target. Get in touch at society@burningbrain. org

Regards
H.G.

How to Quit Tobacco

Please visit smokefree.net and join an online course. Ton's of tips and links to useful resources are available there.

Some TIPS from an e-member;

Hi All,

Want to give up smoking try this grand mothers recipe.

Take 45 leaves of the Tulsi plant add nine pieces of clove.

Grind it into a mixture

Whenever you have the urge to smoke take a small portion of this mixture and keep in mouth.

You will get results very fast

Try u it it is harmless and can only do you good.

From R. K. Caprihan of Kellon India

If not a member JOIN NOW
Link at http://www.burningbrain.org/joinBBS.htm
 

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