National level meeting on total withdrawal of Coca-Cola in Plachimada

National level meeting on total withdrawal of Coca-Cola in Plachimada
Kerala, India
22 April 2008

'We demand total withdrawal of Coca-Cola from Plachimada'


Dear friends,

The historic struggle of the adivasis and peasants of Plachimada against the multinational soft drink giant Coca-cola is entering into its 7th year on 22 April 2008.

The struggle is now facing a very serious challenge that, as contrary to the expectations, the ruling LDF Government in Kerala is doing nothing to take punitive actions against the polluter company though mounting evidences are available with them regarding hazardous chemical waste dumping, ground water pollution, excess water depletion and serious violations of law by the company.

An expert team of the Kerala Ground water department submitted a study report to the government in which they revealed that pollutants like Cadmium and lead are spreading to other places through under ground water flow channels. Instead of taking legal actions on this the ground water authority (one which constituted by the government by nomination) tried to nullify the report and foreclose further actions and studies by conducting an urgent one hour visit to Plachimada. The two member (non-expert) team submitted some recommendations-'made only for coca-cola'.

The state pollution control board also is sleeping on the show cause notice given by them to Coca-cola, though the company had responded to that without any delay.

All these developments are pointing to the fact that justice to the people of Plachimada will be delayed, further even though it is a left front government in power in the state.

In these circumstances the people of Plachimada have no other way but to intensify the agitation.

The Plachimada anti-coca-cola struggle committee has decided to strengthen the agitation by drawing more support from all the people's movements doing similar struggles across the country.

On 22 April 2008 a national level meeting will be conducted at Plachimada to decide and declare the future agitation plans.

We request you to participate in this programme with your co-workers and friends.

With regards

Vilayodi Venugopalan Chairman
Plachimada Anti Coca-cola Struggle Committee
Kannimari PO
Palakkadakil, Kerala (India)
Tel: (+91) 9946373474
Email: plachimada2002@rediffmail.com

NP Johnson Chairman
Plachimada Struugle Solidarity Committee
Tel: (+91) 9447019546
Email: harithamythri@gmail.com

Film Stars to not endorse tobacco, junk foods and alcohol on-screen: Ramadoss

Film Stars to not endorse tobacco, junk foods and alcohol on-screen: Ramadoss

"Most importantly, is it going to hold tobacco corporations accountable and put a check on misleading, surreptitious and deceitful tobacco promotions they unabashedly indulge in?"


Portrayal of tobacco use in Indian cinema has been on the rise. Despite of The cigarette and other tobacco products Act (2003), repeated requests and appeals by health activists and India’s Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss to film stars to desist from smoking on screen and also from brand placement, the incidence of tobacco use in films is only rising.

Dr Ramadoss again appealed to the film-stars to be socially responsible and not smoke on-screen in the larger interest of the youth of the nation. He made a “passionate request” to film stars and other celebrities to stop endorsing cigarettes and other tobacco products on-screen.

“Eighty percent of movies have smoking scenes and studies show that majority of the youngsters take up smoking under the influence of celebrities,” said Dr Ramadoss.

Just last week, the legal proceeding against Amitabh Bachchan, was quashed by a session's court in Goa. Indian film superstar Amitabh Bachchan had smoked a cigar in FAMILY film and the posters of which were splashed all across India. NOTE India, a Goa based NGO and Indian Society Against Smoking, a Lucknow based voluntary group had issued legal notices to Amitabh Bachchan then, and NOTE India had taken Amitabh to court. But court quashed the legal proceedings against the Bollywood film icon Amitabh.

Filmstars should also desist from endorsing junk food and alcohol, added Dr Ramadoss.

He agreed that although India had one of the best tobacco control laws but the problem lies with the implementation. The implementation agencies in India are themselves deep rooted in tobacco addiction. For example the level of tobacco consumption in healthcare workers is alarmingly high in India, and so is for police and judiciary. Moreover the facilities for tobacco cessation are too few, and the success-rate of tobacco quitting at these expert centres is not very encouraging broadly speaking. World Health Organization (WHO) has been supporting a nation-wide network of tobacco cessation clinics (TCC) but the number of such TCC is very limited considering the number of people who use tobacco and may eventually need tobacco cessation services.

“We will try and bring in school teachers, NCC cadets and various NGOs as legal enforcers,” Ramadoss said. “We are planning to introduce tobacco control at the school level also”, he added.

Apart from this, the ministry would launch a host of commercial spots and advertisements in print as well as the electronic media, he said.

But is this enough? Is it going to be effective in controlling tobacco use in India? Will it desist youth to take up the deadly addiction? Most importantly, is it going to hold tobacco corporations accountable and put a check on misleading, surreptitious and deceitful tobacco promotions they unabashedly indulge in?


Published in:

Scoop Independent News, New Zealand

Central Chronicle, India

Orissa: An Economic Scam Coming?

Orissa: An Economic Scam Coming?

Sandip Dasverma and Sanat Mohanty

While the Government of Orissa (India) ostensibly fights opposition to the POSCO project from human rights activists and environmentalists, is there a gargantuan economic scam playing out?

The second statement in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between POSCO and Orissa state government states:

“The Government of Orissa, desirous of utilizing its natural resources and rapidly industrializing the State, so as to bring prosperity and wellbeing to its people, has been making determined efforts to establish new industries in different locations. In this context, the Government of Orissa have been seeking to identify suitable promoters to establish new Integrated Steel Plants in view of the rich iron ore and coal deposits in the State.”

We must look at the impact of this economic venture on Orissa from a social and environmental perspective but most importantly from an economic perspective.

In the MoU, POSCO plans investment of approximately USD 12 Billion or Rs 48,000 crores. The numbers are awesome. Rs 48,000 crores could do much for a state that is faced with one of the poorest social and economic indices in the nation – in terms of literacy, health care, nutrition and mortality, earning power, etc. As part of Phase I, POSCO plans on setting up projects worth Rs 21,900 crores by 2012 and projects worth 21,500 crores as part of Phase II by 2016.

POSCO will set up an Indian subsidiary headquartered in Bhubaneswar for this effort based on 20-25 acres of land. In addition, POSCO will require 6000 acres of land for the steel project and associated facilities as well as for township development. In addition, other land may be acquired for infrastructure to transport goods between plants and to the port, for water treatment, etc. The Government of Orissa has undertaken to provide this land to the company.

In a show of good intentions, the MoU also notes that:

“The Government of Orissa appreciates that the Company will be a responsible corporate house with a high involvement in employees' welfare and social development.”

The Oriya community is thus thrilled at the prospect of a major multinational investing in setting up the biggest iron and steel project in Orissa which will not only bring in an unheard amount of investment into the state but also provide for jobs and townships to help develop the people of the state. The Government of Orissa must be proud for having pulled this off.

And yet, there has been significant hue and cry on this deal. Environmentalist crying about a waterfall that could die – who cares about it when people are dying from starvation! Hills and scenic beauty will disappear – who cares if it provides stable livelihoods to a significant fraction or Orissa's people. Even the discussion on the Ridley turtles seems ridiculous from this perspective. The people of Orissa seem justified in arguing that similar penalties were paid in the development of Maharashtra, Karnataka or other more developed parts of India or the world – so why complain now that we are doing the same. And that is a fair argument.

It is also fair to truly understand the details of this economic benefit that Government of Orissa believes will come to Orissa.

The Direct Economic Component

As part of the initial deal, POSCO has promised a flat rate of royalty at Rs 27/tonne of iron ore to the Government of Orissa (for ore with at least 62% iron content). This results in less than Rs 1620 crores to Government of Orissa over time of the contract of 600 Million Tonnes.

The current global market rate of iron ore is over USD100/tonne. In December 2007, the market was at USD 120/tonne. By this rate, 600 million tonnes of iron ore (that POSCO would mine) at greater than 62% iron content would result in Rs 240,000 crores. Wow! We suddenly realize that POSCO has effectively been given this ore free. Accounting for mining costs and the total investment package (less than 10% of the costs) the people and the state of Orissa are getting less than 1% of open market price of iron ore.

This is not a special deal for POSCO – similar (though smaller) deals are in the works with Tatas, Vedanta, Jindal, etc. Why is the Government of Orissa (and the Central Government) pursuing such deals? People in the business point to the strength of special interest groups and the mining lobby and that all political parties have received their dues from the lobby. Processes are encumbered with corruption – every truck load mined needs to pay the local MLA Rs 500 and a similar amount goes to the party coffers.

For all the excitement among the Oriya community, there have been few demanding accountability from Government of Orissa - why is the Government of Orissa is selling the ores at less than 1% of the global price. Surely, more money coming into the state coffer will be more helpful for people, will lead to more development?

After detailed analysis, some groups have demanded that the Government of Orissa set the royalty at 50% of market price, and that if the iron ore were to be converted to steel outside the state, the royalty be 80%. Even at this high a royalty, POSCO will be profitable. While Government of Orissa argued that this would allow other states to undercut Orissa and get a better deal, critics have suggested that these states form a coalition, like Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), to set prices. Such a coalition including the 5 states of Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Karnataka and Rajasthan is underway. Chief Ministers from these states met with the Prime Minister of India, on 19th of December and demanded a 20% royalty down from public demand of 50%. The Central Government of India haggled and is considering a royalty of 7.5-10%. The Government of Orissa seems too readily satisfied with this suggestion.

Such pressure does make the state respond. Now the state of Orissa will receive Rs 18,000 to 24,000 Crore in royalty (if this is made binding) as opposed to 1620 crores as per the earlier plan.

What reasons force these governments to undersell minerals at >90% below market prices? The state government has been very unwilling to provide details of the transactions, with the Government of Orissa initially claiming that disclosing such details of public funds went against confidentiality agreements (unless there are security threats, democratic governments globally have provided details of deals with private agencies). Why should Government of Orissa, with an annual budget of 4500 crores, let go 108,000 crores or 3600 crores per year for next 30 years and be satisfied with 600 crores/ year? (50% of 216,000 crores the price of 600 MT of Iron Ore at last year's prices)

Sandip Dasverma and Sanat Mohanty

Published in:

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India (29 March 2008)

The Seoul Times, South Korea (29 March 2008)

Scoop Independent News, New Zealand (29 March 2008)

Can we stop drug-resistant TB too?

Can we stop drug-resistant TB too?

Listen to the audio podcast of this article here


This World Tuberculosis (TB) Day (24 March) is another opportunity for the people to review their TB responses. Drug susceptible TB is treatable, curable and with proper programme interventions, it is possible to say ‘I can stop TB’ on World TB Day. Can we say the same for drug-resistant TB?

Drug-resistant TB has been recorded in the world at the highest levels ever according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report (Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance in the World, February 2008).

DOTS (directly-observed treatment short-course), is the internationally recommended TB control strategy that includes standardized case detection, treatment and patient support. It requires consistent drug supply and effective monitoring systems. According to WHO, drug resistant TB is a symptom of poor programme performance. If we hope to change the outcome, and decrease the proportion of drug resistant TB, doesn't the DOTS model need to be adapted or its implementation improved? More of the same might only compound the TB drug resistance threat.

The African, South-East Asian and Western pacific regions account for 83% of total TB case notifications according to the Global Tuberculosis Control report of WHO (March 2008). China, India and Indonesia are home to two-in-three of the world's TB cases. The Africa region has the highest TB incidence rate. These countries are expanding coverage of its TB programme at record-breaking speed. In its shadow, drug resistance is also upping the pace.

The proportion of resistance to at least one anti-TB drug (any resistance) was found to be as high as 56.3% in Azerbaijan.

Multi drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is defined as TB with resistance to isoniazid and rifampicin, the two most powerful first line anti-TB drugs. MDR-TB patients have significantly poor outcomes than patients with drug susceptible TB.

Global estimates indicate that 4.8% of TB cases were of MDR-TB (about half a million MDR-TB patients). Currently treatment is available only to one out of ten MDR-TB patients and 90% of MDR-TB patients cannot have access to treatment they need today.

About 50% of MDR-TB cases are in India and China because of large population. In Africa, hard-hit by HIV, the proportion of TB drug-resistance is no less alarming. In former Soviet Union, almost half of all TB cases are resistant to at least one anti-TB drug and every fifth case of TB will be of MDR-TB.

Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is virtually untreatable and likely to emerge where second-line anti-TB drugs are widely and inappropriately used. XDR-TB is more expensive and difficult to treat than MDR-TB and outcomes for patients are much worse with mortality rates very high. So far 46 countries have reported XDR-TB with UK reporting the first XDR-TB case last week.

Studies suggest that transmission of TB, especially the drug-resistant strains is more likely to take place where people living with HIV (PLHIV) congregate. Healthcare settings, for example those for anti-retroviral (ARV) delivery, is one such place where improper infection control can put PLHIV at risk of contracting TB. TB is the most common opportunistic infection and leading cause of death for PLHIV. Improving infection control in healthcare settings is clearly vital, doable and potentially life saving.

In many countries insufficient laboratory capacity to test drug-resistance is a serious impediment in scaling up TB programmes. Even the new WHO report on TB drug-resistance had data only from 6 African countries because other countries had no laboratory capacity to provide data on anti-TB drug-resistance. Developing laboratories to provide rapid diagnosis of anti-TB drug-resistance, particularly for PLHIV, is of utmost importance to improve TB responses.

Not only more and better TB drugs and diagnostics in the public sector are urgently needed but also better strategies to make TB control programmes work more effectively for the most vulnerable and hard to reach communities are essential to improving treatment adherence and, as a consequence, reducing drug resistance.

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Media for Freedom, Nepal


Who will pay US$ 80 billion to halve the no. of people without basic sanitation?

Special article on
World Water Day, 22 March 2008

Who will pay US$ 80 billion to halve the no. of people without basic sanitation?

To listen to the audio podcast of this article, click here

How will we achieve the millennium development goal (MDG) target to reduce by half the proportion of 2.6 billion people who have no access to basic sanitation by 2015?

On this year’s World Water Day (22 March 2008), to put the spotlight on sanitation the United Nations General Assembly declared the year 2008 as the International Year of Sanitation. The goal is to raise awareness and to accelerate progress towards the MDG targets to halve the number of people without access to basic sanitation by 2015.

Where is the estimated US$ 10 billion annual cost to achieve this MDG target by 2015 going to come from? From 2008-2015, we will need US$ 80 billion to achieve this target which will halve the number of 2.6 billion people who presently have no access to basic sanitation (and even if we achieve this MDG target it will still leave the other half (1.3 billion people) without access to basic sanitation in 2015!).


This amount is less than 1% of world military spending in 2005, one-third of the estimated global spending on bottled water, or about as much as Europeans spend on ice cream each year.

Private corporations, including the bottled water companies, who have largely demonstrated ruthless capital-intensive approach with blatant disregard to environmental or ecological aspects depriving local communities from access to natural resources, should be the ones to foot this bill. Not the public sector or governments of developing countries” says Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay awardee (2002) and Convener of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM).

Aggressive marketing targeted at those ‘who-have-money-to-pay’ has contributed extensively to exacerbate the gap between the rich and poor communities. This has not only jeopardized basic human rights to life and dignity of the underserved communities, but also left the ‘rich’ with a mountainous burden of lifestyle diseases to deal with.

Water is a public good, not a commodity to be bought and sold. Increasing corporate control of water is undoubtedly alarming.

“Corporations are contributing to, and then profiting from, the global water crisis,” had said Kathryn Mulvey, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability International. She stressed further that “One of the greatest threats to people’s access to water today is that corporate use of water is often prioritized over people’s daily use.”

The money required to achieve MDG goals by halving the number of people who don’t have access to basic sanitation is ONE-THIRD of the global spending on bottled water. “If one-third of the profits from bottled water companies can help 1.3 billion people to get access to basic sanitation, not doing that and letting bottled water companies mint money is outrageous” asserts Dr Pandey.

As water becomes more precious, corporations like Coke, Pepsi, Nestlé, Suez and Veolia are increasingly trying to control and profit from it. Ironically enough, at the same time, these corporations are trying to position themselves as ‘improving’ people’s access to water.

As natural rights, water rights are usufructuary rights (water can be used but not owned). People have a right to life and the resources that sustain it, such as water. The necessity of water to life is why, under customary laws, the right to water has been accepted as a natural, social fact.

That is why governments and corporations cannot alienate people of their water rights. On this World Water Day and beyond, not only we need to challenge the alarming corporate control of water, but also stake a claim to financial and natural resources that rightfully should be utilized to provide access to basic sanitation to all.

Published so far in:

The Japan Times, Japan

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Not cancer, but TB is the major cause of smoking-related deaths in India

Not cancer, but TB is the major cause of smoking-related deaths in India

To read this posting in hindi language, click here


Contrary to the popular belief, it is not cancer but tuberculosis which is the major cause of smoking-related deaths in India. 38 per cent of deaths are due to TB, cancer is second at 32 per cent in India. The new study by the Centre for Global Health Research at the University of Toronto is the most comprehensive study ever done on the impact of smoking in India.

Currently about 104 deaths are attributed to smoking every hour in India. If the smoking levels continue to rise as today, by 2010, 114 people will be dieing every hour in India due to smoking.

Another major finding of this study is that 70% of people who will die due to smoking will be between the ages of 30 and 69 years - the most productive age group in any population.

In India the smoking quit rate remains the lowest in the world. Only two per cent adults have quit smoking often only after falling ill.

Experts say it's even more critical to use pictures in India given that 50 per cent of those smoking can't read and many are unaware of the harmful effects of tobacco.

In the age group of 13-15 years, 17.3 per cent are male smokers and 9.7 per cent are female smokers in India.

# But in the age group of 18 to 49, 32.7 per cent are male smokers whereas only 1.4 per cent of women contribute to smoking in India.

To read the study in english, click here

To read the study in hindi, click here

To read this posting in hindi language, click here

Photo credit: NDTV


Government notification banning surrogate advertising of tobacco and alcohol products

Government notification
BANNING surrogate advertising of
tobacco and alcohol products

(To read it in hindi language, click here)

Although parliamentary Acts like The Cigarette and other tobacco Products Act (2003) and similar provisions banning direct, indirect and surrogate advertising of tobacco and alcohol products in India exist, the recent notification from Government of India has further reinforced the need to implement these pro-people policies in the very interest of the country.

Please read The Hindu (18 March 2008) news below:

Govt. issues notification banning surrogate liquor ads

The Hindu/ PTI, 18 March 2008

NEW DELHI: The government has issued a notification banning surrogate advertising of liquor companies in print, electronic and outdoor media.

"The notification was issued on February 25, 2008, amending the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994 to the effect that no advertisement shall be permitted which promotes directly or indirectly, sale or consumption of cigarettes, tobacco products, wine, alcohol or liquor," Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

He said "failure to comply will entail action as per the provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and rules framed thereunder".

The minister also added that even the Press Council of India, a statutory autonomous body, has laid down the norms for journalistic conduct under Article 13 (2)(b) of the Press Council Act 1987, stating that "no advertisement shall be published, which promotes directly or indirectly production, sale or consumption of cigarettes, tobacco products and other intoxicants"

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To read The Hindu (18 March 2008) click here

World Tobacco Conference Accused of Prostitution

World Tobacco Conference Accused of Prostitution

by

John R. Polito


Boston University School of Public Health professor Michael Siegel today accused the 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health of selling the scientific integrity of the global tobacco control movement to pharmaceutical influence.


The conference is scheduled for Mumbai, India in March 2009. Its website indicates that Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline, makers of a growing array of quit smoking "medicines" will serve as conference sponsors.

14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health "How can you objectively discuss the population impact of NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) use at a conference sponsored by two of the leading nicotine replacement therapy drug companies," asks Dr. Michael Siegel, a preventive medicine physician who has been active in tobacco control for 20 years?

"How can you objectively discuss effective national strategies for smoking cessation," or "all aspects of individual and population-based approaches to helping people quit smoking at a conference sponsored by two of the leading nicotine replacement therapy drug companies." "You can't," he asserts.

There is growing awareness that while pharmaceutical quitting products consistently produce victories over placebo users in clinical trials, that those trials were not blind as claimed. Every cessation pharmacology product to date has fallen flat on its face in real-world use, and new evidence suggests that Champix and Chantix (varenicline) may be joining them.

"The drugs are approved because they've shown in FDA studies that they're better than placebo," says Dr. Edward Levin, a psychopharmacological researcher at Duke University Medical Center in Raleigh, N.C., as quoted yesterday in a CNN Money Chantix article. "But being better than placebo doesn't take a whole lot."

As early as 1984 the U.S. FDA was aware that the scientific foundation of clinical trials, placebo group comparisons, was shaky and in trouble. It was then that researchers resorted to the extreme of using small amounts of nicotine in placebo gum as a masking agent, a practice that continued in nicotine patch studies.

Could it be that drug addiction is the only pharmacology research area where comparisons with placebo control groups is actually a license to steal? Is it possible to hide from the average quitter the fact that placebo group assignment has thrown them into full-blown nicotine withdrawal, or hide active group assignment when chemically elevated dopamine output is providing a noticeable reduction in withdrawal intensity from prior quitting attempts?

While promising to double cessation rates, in October 2006 the CDC was forced to report that decline in the U.S. smoking rate had ground to a halt. Is cessation pharmacology actually undercutting worldwide cessation? Is toying with lengthy replacement nicotine weaning schemes actually costing smokers their lives?

Is it realistic to think that such concerns can be openly discussed and debated at a conference where those sponsoring the conference could potentially lose billions in profits if blinding concerns and real-world use findings were granted full and fair hearings?

Whether looking at National Cancer Institute survey data or data following smoking patients of Australian family practice physicians, real-world quitting method studies continue to find that those quitting "on their own" have higher long-term success rates than those using replacement nicotine or bupropion (Zyban).

Since September 11, 2002, industry consultants have countered with a wide range of theories and excuses that all miss one central point, that the continuing blanket marketing representation that these products will increase a smoker's chances of quitting is false.

"The preoccupation with nicotine replacement therapy, spurred on by the infusion of pharmaceutical dollars into the tobacco control field, is causing us to lose sight of the actual root of the problem: the addictive state itself," writes Dr. Siegel. "And that is a shame, because it may be severely hampering our efforts to help smokers quit."

A 2004 study by GlaxoSmithKline consultants found that, then, 37% of nicotine gum users were hooked on the cure. U.S. Presidential candidate Senator Barak Obama admits having been on nicotine gum for more than a year. During varenicline (Chantix/Champix) clinical trials the FDA permitted those who started using replacement nicotine after ending 12 weeks of varenicline use to be counted as successful varenicline quitters at long-term follow-up.

While replacement nicotine clearly poses far less health risk than smoking, it is just as obvious that those dependent upon it have not arrested their chemical dependency, and remain extremely vulnerable to returning to smoking.

Has the pharmaceutical industry invented a new definition of quitting, one that only refers to quitting one form of nicotine delivery, smoke? Why in nearly all clinical trials did it fail to examine nicotine levels in blood, urine or saliva of those declared to have successfully quit? Is the industry's lack of regard for whether a smoker arrests their chemical dependency closer to public health interests or those of the tobacco industry?

But concerns about taking our eye off the ball may be too late. At this moment the FDA is being petitioned to allow pharmaceutical nicotine to invade neighborhood convenience stores, to do open battle against tobacco, by being sold in daily-dose packs beside cigarettes.

While cleaner delivery and harm reduction make sense, intensifying an already ragging battle at the neighborhood candy, chip and soda store does not. Until now, youth were taught that NRT was for quitting. What consequences will flow when an ocean of NRT signs start screaming messages about fast, clean, safe, pleasure, flavor and taste? Should the initial experiment be upon an entire nation?

Are pharmaceutical industry chemical enslavement objectives really any different from the tobacco industry's? Is the 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health being played like a fiddle?

A once secret 1972 R.J. Reynolds document states, "In a sense, the tobacco industry may be thought of as being a specialized, highly ritualized and stylized segment of the pharmaceutical industry. Tobacco products, uniquely, contain and deliver nicotine, a potent drug with a variety of physiological effects." "If nicotine is the sine qua non of tobacco products and tobacco products are recognized as being attractive dosage forms of nicotine, then it is logical to design our products -- and where possible, our advertising -- around nicotine delivery rather than "tar" delivery or flavor." "Hopefully, with time we will be able to develop sophisticated and improved minimum dosage forms for nicotine which will be more satisfying to the user and free of alleged health hazards."

"To prostitute oneself is defined as 'selling one's abilities, talent, or name for an unworthy purpose,'" writes Dr. Siegel. "By accepting Big Pharma money in order to fund its symposium, the World Conference on Tobacco OR Health, in my opinion, is selling its name for what I consider to be an unworthy purpose. The Conference is allowing itself to be used as a pharmaceutical marketing agent, simply to make money, when the over-reliance on pharmaceutical agents is in my opinion one of the main reasons why smoking cessation efforts and policies have been so ineffective."


To read the original aricle, click here

Parliamentarians extend support to the students fasting against Indo-US Nuclear deal

Parliamentarians extend support to the students fasting against Indo-US Nuclear deal

Students Against Nuclear Power (SANP) are on the 6th day of the indefinite hunger strike (since 10 March 2008).


The students are demanding that the Government of India must not sign the Indo-US Nuclear deal, because of the harmful effects it bears not only for the present generation, but also for the future generations.


People from different walks have already declared support to the struggle by the students and are visiting the struggle at Jantar Mantar. The following Members of Parliament visited the struggle and expressed their solidarity and agreed to raise the issue with the Prime Minster and President of India:


- Panyan Raveendran

- P Karunakaran
- CK Chandrappan
- PP Koya (Lakhshdweep)
- PC Thomas

Various students from Delhi colleges including Delhi University, Jawaharlal University, Jamia Milia University, and others visited the struggle and declared solidarity.

These students who are in Delhi from Kozhikode district of Kerala are on the indefinite hunger strike against the Indo-US Nuclear Deal and India opting for Nuclear Power.

Those on fast are braving hunger, unfamiliar territory, hostile climatic conditions and neglect from the local police and government/s. The students on indefinite fast include: Saji Mathew, Ramzia Rehmat, Abdu Rahman, Divya K and Tommy Jacob. The others who are here with them are: Shobhraj TP, Sabina M, Kripa Varrier, Nirmal P C, Subeesh T, Jiji E, Aswathy TP and Ranjit K.

Several people including Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey, Narmada Bachao Andolan's leader Medha Patkar, Bhupendra Rawat, Gabriela, Celia and several other leaders of people's movements also participated in this fast and declared support.

Sangharsh 2007, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), Delhi Solidarity Group, Asha parivar, Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), etc have declared support to the students' struggle.


Shobhraj PK
On Behalf of SANP
STUDENTS AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER
Kozhikode, Kerala
Camp: Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
Contacts: 09990166975 / 9868019509
dforum@bol.net.in / delhiforum@gmail.com

Urgent appeal: Students Against Nuclear Power on 5th day of fast

Urgent appeal: Students Against Nuclear Power on 5th day of fast

Solidarity with students on fast against nuclear power

This is an appeal to extend our solidarity with the youth of Kerala who are on an indefinite fast since the 10th of March at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi demanding that the Indo-U.S. Nuclear Deal be completely rejected and also demanding that nuclear power, which is a destructive means of energy generation, be abandoned.

We would all recall that the framework for a Nuclear Deal between India and the United States of America was laid down during the BJP-led NDA Government, but the specifics of the deal were rigorously worked out and pursued by the Congress-led UPA Government, though the deal has been postponed temporarily, due to resistance from various fronts and in particular from the political left.

The Indo-US Deal more commonly referred to as the 123 Deal is at a critical stage especially since Mr. George Bush is keen to see it finalized before he goes out of power. The International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) negotiations with the UPA Govt. seeking the support of the NDA leaders indicate that the deal is being pushed by our leaders in spite of mass and public protests and demonstrations at various levels including from large numbers of youth and students.

Nuclear Power has proved to be destructive of natural resources right from the Uranium Mining in Jaduguda or Kota to plants elsewhere, is also economically unviable. The deal, which has major ramifications for the sovereignty of the sub-continent and would bring in foreign powers and forces in critical areas, is being pushed through without any public debate. It is therefore commendable that the students and youth are demonstrating against the deal, more particularly in a fast-changing politically hostile climate wherein the State seems to be showing little concern for basic issues of peace, sovereignty and resisting imperialism.

Divya, Krupa, Tomy Jacob, Abdul Rehman, Saji Mathew and Ramziya Rehmat are on their 5th day of fast. Let us all join these youth and extend our solidarity in whatever way we can. Please write letters to the honorable President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil, honorable Prime Minister of India, Mr. Manmohan Singh and the honorable Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and others in this regard, expressing your opposition to the deal and nuclear power. Let us also demand that no oppressive measures are resorted to by the State to end the fast of the youth.

You can write to them at sanpindia@gmail.com or call 09990166975 expressing your solidarity and support.

In Solidarity

Medha Patkar, Ashish Mandloi, Kamala Yadav, Yogini Khanolkar, Kailash Awasya


Write to:

Smt Pratibha Patil
The President of India
Rashtrapati Bhavan
New Delhi - 110 004
+91-11-23017290, +91-11-23017824
presssecy@alpha.nic.in (Press Secretary of the President)
Write to the president at presidentofindia@rb.nic.in

The Prime Minister of India
Fax: 011 23019817, 23016996 (Res)
Off: +91-11-2301-6857, Res: +91-11-23015603
E-Mail pmosb@pmo.nic.in , http://pmindia.nic.in/write.htm

Ms. Sonia Gandhi
Chairperson, Indian National Congress
Fax: 011 23018651
Email: 10janpath@vsnl.net, soniagandhi@sansad.nic.in

People's movements condemn fascist violence

People's movements condemn fascist violence

People's movements sternly condemned the violent attack on the national office of Communist Party of India (Marxist) - CPI (M) - on 9 March 2008 while national executive meeting was going inside in New Delhi. This was followed by a series of attacks on state CPI - M offices in many states of India.

"We demand stern action against the political organisations that attacked CPI-M office in Delhi and other cities" said the activists.

People's movements that have come together under the banner of Sangharsh (since 2007) along with its major constituents, the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and National Forum of Forest Peoples and Forest Dwellers (NFFPFW) along with supporters, have condemned the dastardly attack on the headquarters and national office of the CPI-M.

"We are shocked by the fact that the attack was carried out in a planned manner by parliamentary parties and their senior leadership, who claim to be working within the democratic fabric of India. It is all the more shocking that the attack on a parliamentary party like the CPI-M was allowed to happen in broad daylight, when the party's National Executive was meeting inside the office" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and National Convener of NAPM.

"While upholding the democratic right to dissent and protest, we denounce and condemn this effort by BJP and RSS to intimidate political rivals by use of violence and muscle power. We denounce use of violence by all political parties that believe in democracy and demand that election commission take action against those found breaching the moral code of conduct for political parties by indulging in violence and murders. We also reiterate that no government in power should use political and money power to suppress political dissent and opposition" said noted social activist Medha Patkar in a statement released today.
Activists demand that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) should immediately stop the attacks on CPI-M in Delhi and other states wherever it has happened. Also the Central Government and the respective state governments in Delhi, Uttarakand, Andhra Pradesh, etc "should take stern criminal action against the political hooligans allegedly members of BJP and RSS who have dared to attack India's democratic decorum" said Dr Pandey.

Activists also have demanded that the Kerala Government should take strong action against all the political activists and parties that have indulged in violence in Thalasserry, Kannoore (District), where violence and political murders have unfortunately become synonymous with politics.

"We appeal to all political forces to show restraint and mutual respect. We also appeal to all political parties to respect ideological dialogue, dissent and right to democratic protest" said Medha Patkar.


Published in:


Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India (14 March 2008)

People’s Movements condemn fascist violence;

People’s Movements condemn fascist violence;

Demand stern action against the political organisations that attacked CPI-M office in Delhi and other cities


People’s movements that have come together under the banner of Sangharsh (since 2007) along with its major constituents, the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) and National Forum of Forest Peoples and Forest Dwellers (NFFPFW) along with supporters, condemn the dastardly attack on the headquarters and national office of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday, 9th March 2008.


We are shocked by the fact that the attack was carried out in a planned manner by parliamentary parties and their senior leadership, who claim to be working within the democratic fabric of India.

It is all the more shocking that the attack on a parliamentary party like the CPI-M was allowed to happen in broad daylight, when the party’s National Executive was meeting inside the office. While upholding the democratic right to dissent and protest, we denounce and condemn this effort by BJP and RSS to intimidate political rivals by use of violence and muscle power. We denounce use of violence by all political parties that believe in democracy and demand that election commission take action against those found breaching the moral code of conduct for political parties by indulging in violence and murders. We also reiterate that no government in power should use political and money power to suppress political dissent and opposition.

We demand that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) immediately stop the attacks on CPI-M in Delhi and other states wherever it has happened. We demand the Central Government and the respective state governments in Delhi, Uttarakand, Andhra Pradesh, etc to take stern criminal action against the political hooligans of BJP and RSS who have dared to attack India’s democratic decorum.

We demand the Kerala Government to take strong action against all the political activists and parties that have indulged in violence in Thalasserry, Kannoore (District), where violence and political murders have unfortunately become synonymous with politics. We hope that the state government and all political parties involved will take necessary measures to step-up the peace process and bring back normalcy in the region.

We appeal to all political forces to show restraint and mutual respect. We also appeal to all political parties to respect ideological dialogue, dissent and right to democratic protest.


Medha Patkar Ashok Chowdhury Aruna Roy
Thomas Kocherry Sandeep Pandey
Gautam Bandopadhyay Sandhya Devi
Gabriela Dietrich Anil Chaudhary Bhupendra Rawat
Simpreet Singh Anuradha Talwar Arun Khote
Ashish Mondoloi Vimalbhai Johnson PJ
CR Neelakandan Bijay Panda Manju Gardia
Ulka Mahajan Roma Rajendra Ravi Prafulla Samantra
Swapan Ganguly Mukta Srivastava Prashant Bhushan
Joe Athyali Bijulal MV Vijayan MJ Sridevi Panikkar

Rising tobacco use among women: International Women’s Day

Rising tobacco use among women: International Women’s Day


100 years ago in 1908, more than 15,000 women marched in New York demanding equal pay and voting rights. This day is commemorated as International Women’s Day (8 March). This year the theme is: Shaping progress.

It is not very encouraging to see organizations and individuals working on specific issues are so compartmentalized that it is difficult to bring them together even on cross-cutting issues and opportunities for enhanced advocacy.

For instance on International Women’s Day, raising awareness about rising tobacco use among women, especially young girls in developing countries, is so apt.

Tobacco use among women has been on a rise, particularly in developing countries, says the new World Health Organization (WHO)’s report on Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008.

Late in February 2008, researchers have released the results of the first-ever international study of the tobacco use habits of pregnant women. Investigators say the rates of smoking, use of smokeless tobacco and exposure to secondhand smoke during pregnancy are higher than expected in developing and middle income countries, and pose an emerging threat to the health of women and their children.

Investigators found smokeless tobacco was popular among up to one-third of pregnant women in some parts of India.

The highest levels of secondhand smoke exposure were found in Pakistan, where nearly half of all pregnant women reported that both they and their children were regularly exposed to someone else's smoke.

Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to go into labor prematurely and give birth to low weight babies. Experts say smoking in pregnancy can also cause sudden infant death syndrome after the baby is born.

Greater female autonomy and changes in women’s roles are associated with smoking uptake. Depression is strongly associated with smoking, and women have about twice the rate of depression than men.

Through comprehensive social research, the tobacco industry understands popular culture and psycho-social aspirations, and it incorporates this knowledge within massive promotional eff orts to seek new markets and sustain existing ones. Prevailing gender norms are a key feature within promotion for both sexes.

Using seductive but false images of vitality, slimness, emancipation, sophistication, and sexual allure, the industry targets women.

Liberation, autonomy, and even female friendship feature in developed countries advertising, and, increasingly, in regions where female roles have begun to change.

The Tobacco Reporter, an industry document, optimistically discussed its prospects in Asia in 1998:

“Rising per capita consumption…and an increasing acceptance of women smoking continue to generate new demand”.

Slender, so-called “light”, cigarettes packaged in pastel colours convey femininity and slimness in Japan and industrialized countries.

Tobacco causes similar health problems for men and women, including lung cancer, upper aerodigestive cancer, several other cancers, heart disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Tobacco poses additional specific threats for men and women. Men risk declines

in fertility and sexual potency, and female smokers risk increased cardiovascular disease, in particular while using oral contraceptives, and higher rates of infertility, premature labour, low birth-weight infants, cervical cancer, early menopause, and bone fractures. Smoking during pregnancy adversely aff ects foetal development.

Female non-smokers are more likely to be exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, with its elevated risks of lung cancer and heart disease.

Lung cancer death rates in the European Union are nearly three times higher for female compared to male non-smokers, which researchers attribute to exposure to spouse smoking.

A recent meta-analysis found women develop lung cancer with lower levels of smoking compared to men, and are more at risk of contracting the (more aggressive) small cell lung cancer.

Among non-small cell cancer types, adenocarcinoma is more common among women. Explanations centre on women’s greater use of low -tar cigarettes and more “compensatory” smoking (deeper inhalation), and faster smoking in response to workplace bans.

It appears women are most at risk of lung cancer if they begin smoking by age 25, six years later than for men.

It is imperative not only to raise awareness about tobacco hazards, but also to hold tobacco corporations accountable for the misleading and surreptitious tobacco promotion, and strengthening the implementation of existing tobacco control policies.

In India, the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (2003) and the global tobacco treaty (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, FCTC) both have strongly endorsed tobacco advertising restrictions, ban to sale to minors, effective warnings on tobacco products and ban on use of misleading terms like ‘mild’, ‘low tar’ or ‘slim’ on tobacco packs. But implementing such effective public health measures is indeed a huge challenge confronting us in present times.

Recently the group of ministers in India which was mandated to review the warning labels on tobacco packs, has actually reduced the size of the pictorial warnings from 50% to 30-40% and opted for less-effective pictorial warnings disapproving the more strong ones earlier approved to be effective in dissuading people especially young people from initiating tobacco use.

Let’s hope, the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day (8 March) – SHAPING PROGRESS – will also mobilize women and men to shape progress on neglected public health measures as well.



Published in:


Media for Freedom, Nepal (10 March 2008)

My News, India (10 March 2008)

The Seoul Times, Seoul, South Korea (10 March 2008)

Scoop Independent News, New Zealand (10 March 2008)