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

BURNING BRAIN NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2005

BURNING BRAIN
Newsletter 4, Volume - II
April 2005

FCTC will limit tobacco's flight:

Dear Members,

Recently all of us at Burning Brain Society (BBS) had a reason to be happy. I am sure it should be a reason for all other likeminded concerned people around the world to be jubilant too.

“Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)” comes into effect from 27th February 2005. The treaty now provides for binding obligation on all signatories. 168 countries have signed the FCTC, and 55 have already ratified the treaty. India being one of the first one to sign (on 10th Sep 2003) and ratify FCTC (on 5th Feb 2004).

With the FCTC coming into force; the cross-border promotion of tobacco products will also stop. Besides, all the signatories now have to restrict the tobacco advertisements, promotion and trade in a clearly defined time-bound phased manner, which is in the interest of the whole world. If we all work for an effective implementation of FCTC then the present phase of surrogate tobacco publicity and advertisement is going to be the final one.

It is a known fact and also finds a mention in the FCTC document that,  “Tobacco kills almost five million people each year and if the current trends continue, it is projected to kill 10 million people a year by 2020, with 70% of those deaths occurring in developing countries.” If we continue to act and react at the present pace then it is going to be our children who are going to suffer the gravest consequences. We have an obligation to pass on a healthier and happier world to them. The need for a stronger enforcement of laws made in this regard by the Indian Government is also needed for this.

The members of BBS resolve to continue fighting the tobacco menace for the rest of our life so that the future generation can live in a tobacco free and a (100% avoidable) disease free world. Would you like to join us?
 

Thanking you,
yours cordially

Hemant Goswami
Chairperson,
Burning Brain Society

Some Extracts from FCTC

What is FCTC: In May 2003, the member countries of the World Health Organization adopted an historic tobacco control treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which has the potential to reduce the death toll because of tobacco.
The Preamble of FCTC says: The member countries are determined to give priority to protect public health, recognizing that the spread of the tobacco epidemic is a global problem with serious consequences for public health that calls for the widest possible international cooperation and the participation of all countries in an effective, appropriate and comprehensive international response. The members are seriously concerned about the increase in the worldwide consumption and production of Cigarettes and other tobacco products, particularly in developing countries, as well as about the burden this places on families, on the poor, and on national health systems. Further recognizing that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke cause death, disease and disability, and that there is a time lag between the exposure to smoking and the other uses of tobacco products and the onset of tobacco-related diseases. The signatory countries recognize that cigarettes and some other products containing tobacco are highly engineered so as to create and maintain dependence, and that many of the compounds they contain and the smoke they produce are pharmacologically active, toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic, and that tobacco dependence is separately classified as a disorder in major international classifications of diseases. The signatories are also seriously concerned about the impact of all forms of advertising, promotion and sponsorship aimed at encouraging the use of tobacco products. The conventions recalls Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966, which states that it is the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Recalling also the preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization, which states that the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.
Article 3
Declares the objective of this Convention and its protocols is to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.
Article 4
Informs about the guiding principles which is among other is to inform every person of the health consequences, addictive nature and mortal threat posed by tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke and to protect all persons from exposure to tobacco smoke, and to decrease the consumption of tobacco products in all forms.
Article 5
Provides that it is the general obligations of each Party to develop, implement, periodically update and review comprehensive multi-sectoral national tobacco control strategies, plans and programmes in accordance with this convention and the protocols.
Article 6
Provides for price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco.
Article 8
Recognizes that scientific evidence has unequivocally established that exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability so every person must be provided protection from exposure to tobacco smoke.
Article 9
Provides for the regulation of the contents of tobacco product.
Article 10
Provides for regulation of tobacco product disclosures and in accordance with its national law, adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures.
Article 11
Provides for regulations regarding packaging and labeling of tobacco products so that tobacco product packaging and labeling do not promote a tobacco product by any means
that are false, misleading, deceptive or likely to create an erroneous impression about its characteristics, health effects, hazards or emissions, including any term, descriptor, trademark, figurative or any other sign that directly or indirectly creates the false impression that a particular tobacco product is less harmful than other tobacco products.
Article 13
Calls for strict commitments in for tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. The article provides for comprehensive ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship and shall include advertising, promotion and sponsorship originating from its territory.
Article 14
Requires that each Party shall develop and disseminate appropriate, comprehensive and integrated guidelines based on scientific evidence and best practices, taking into account national circumstances and priorities, and shall take effective measures to promote cessation of tobacco use and adequate treatment for tobacco dependence.
Article 16
Provides that each party shall adopt and implement effective legislative, executive, administrative or other measures at the appropriate government level to prohibit the sales of tobacco products to persons under the age set by domestic law, national law or eighteen.
Article 17
Provides for economically viable alternatives for tobacco workers, growers and, as the case may be, individual sellers.
Article 18
Calls for commitments for the protection of the environment and the health of persons in relation to the environment in respect of tobacco cultivation and manufacture within their respective territories.
Article 19
Provides that the Parties to the convention shall consider taking legislative action or promoting their existing laws, where necessary, to deal with criminal and civil liability, including compensation where appropriate.
 

FOLLOW UP:

Vivek Oberoi realizes his mistake:

The Burning Brain Society (BBS) made yet another difference in its fight against tobacco. The BBS protest and advocacy against Vivek Oberoi's acceptance of the tobacco "Red and White awards" bore the desired results.

Vivek Oberoi returned the tobacco named "Red and White prize" vide his letter dated March 28, 2005 to Godfrey Phillips India Limited. According to the telephonic conversation of Mr. Hemant Goswami with Mr. Vivek Oberoi's P.S., the tobacco company has received back the award as on March 30th 2005.

Ms. Kapadia, the secretary to Mr. Vivek Oberoi said that, "intimation about the tobacco companies' award and the final presentation all happened within 48 hours and owing to the tight assignments, the direct relation of the award with tobacco could not be comprehended immediately. When Burning Brain Society wrote and expressed its displeasure only then it was realized that we had blundered."

The Cancer Society which had nominated Vivek for the 2004 World No Tobacco Day award also acted on BBS communication which finally resulted in Vivek Oberoi returning the tobacco named prize.

Mr. Hemant Ramtirth Goswami, the chairperson of the Burning Brain Society said that realizing one's mistake and admitting it publicly requires real courage for which we appreciate Mr. Vivek Oberoi.

As for the tobacco company doing surrogate publicity of its brand on the sly, Mr. Goswami added that in this case the tactics of the tobacco company boomeranged and now it's only a matter of time before all such dishonest and illegal activities are kicked to their grave.

“Notices have been issued by the High Court on our Public Interest Petition against the tobacco awards and we are sure that the desired relief shall be there shortly.” Hemant added.

Download the letter written by Vivek Oberoi to the tobacco company

Burning Brain's letter to Vivek:

BBS/ML/0305/023
March 30, 2005

Mr. Vivek Oberoi,
Kartar Kunj,
5, Golden Beach Society,
Ruia Park, Juhu,
Mumbai 400 049

Dear Vivek, 

Burning Brain Society welcomes your decision to return the prize offered by the tobacco company. Burning Brain also appreciate the moral courage shown by you to publicly admit a mistake and to rectify it. 

As for your social work, the whole world appreciated the nice gesture shown by you towards the Tsunami victims which the undersigned believe is more than any physical award. We are sure that the good and the brave heart which Vivek possesses will result in many more such selfless act. 

We realize that we might have been a little harsh on you but that was a result of our commitment on the tobacco issue, hope you will appreciate that. With your act of returning the prize back to the tobacco company, our initial anger has now transformed into appreciation and admiration for you. 

Wish you a very eventful future and a spirited fight against tobacco. 

Yours truly,

Hemant Goswami
Chairperson; Burning Brain Society

REPORT:

Burning Brain Seminar

Avoid smoking and live long, healthy life: seminar

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
CHANDIGARH, April 5

An interactive seminar on the theme “The menace of tobacco” was conducted by “Burning Brain Society (BBS)” at Chandigarh College of Engineering (CCET) today.

The seminar was organised by BBS under its Young People Awareness Drive series of initiative. The program has been developed by BBS with active consultation with many health professionals headed by Dr. Rajesh Kashyap, professor of medicine at IGMC, Shimla.

The seminar moderated by Hemant Goswami, highlighted that each cigarette reduces the life span of a person by 11-20 minutes and a passive smoker by 3-7 minutes. The fact that tobacco is responsible for killing one person every five second and is directly responsible for the death of half of its lifelong users by reducing on an average the life of a smoker by 14 years astonished most of the youngsters attending the seminar.

The other astonishing facts discussed revealed that smoking is responsible for near 50 percent of all heart attacks and cardiovascular deaths; 30 percent of all cancer deaths and 87 percent of lung cancer deaths each year; 82 percent of deaths due to emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Over 90 per cent of patients with oral cancer use tobacco by either smoking or chewing it. Smokers have a 16 times greater risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (blocked blood vessels in the legs or feet) than people who have never smoked. Smokers are more likely to develop a cerebral thrombosis (stroke) than non-smokers.

About 20 per cent of all stroke deaths are estimated to be smoking related. The risk of dying among smokers from tuberculosis is about 400 percent higher than the non-smokers with tuberculosis. Contrary to the macho image projected by tobacco companies, research has showed that there is a 50 per cent increase in the risk of impotence among smokers compared with men who had never smoked. Tobacco user may damage their DNA too by a condition called chromosomal fragility in which certain regions of a chromosome, which contains the body's genetic material, in the form of DNA easily break or form gaps.
Interacting with the young people, Hemant Goswami said that there is no such thing as a safe cigarette or a mild or light cigarette. “Thinking of smoking a cigarette labelled as mild, light or smoking only 2, 3 or 4 cigarettes a day is like committing suicide by jumping from a 30 story building instead of 31.

It makes no real difference as the dangers and consequences are the same. All youngsters when they start tobacco, they start with one (harmless looking) puff; then one stick, followed by one more and then slowly and steadily it reaches a stage of addiction and habit formation. So the basic prevention step is never to consume tobacco and not allow any of your friends to consume any form of tobacco.”

Mr. Hemant Goswami concluded by appealing the youngsters to help the elders in the family who want to quit tobacco by creating a positive pressure and by providing the much needed support system for then.
 

CALL FOR SUPPORT:

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.

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Link at http://www.burningbrain.org/joinBBS.htm

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