Tobacco.org

Puffy Duffy is smoking again  

The chart-topper gave up the habit after relocating from her native Wales to London, but started puffing away again as her career took off.

She told me: "Back home everybody smoked because there was nothing else to do.

"I started again because I just needed something to allow me to feel human again. It's a way of getting five minutes to yourself.

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Proponents call on New Albany mayor to sign smoking ban 

Enough is enough for smoke-free supporters in New Albany and they want the mayor to know that. Next week, Mayor Doug England decides if a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance takes effect. WAVE 3's Shayla Reaves reports that Friday proponents made their final push for support.

After 50 years, Jamey Aebersold is tired of the smoke and he is taking his message to the mayor. The New Albany resident wants to keep his passion for music in Indiana, but it's going to take Mayor England's signature to do it.

"If the mayor would sign, it would be a nice circle, it would complete a circle yes," said Aebersold at a press conference in front of New Albany City Hall. "Because I started out 50, 52 years ago playing in these places around here and to make them smoke free would really be something." . . .

For now, Aebersold says he is playing most of his gigs in Louisville, where a smoking ban passed last year. He wants to see New Albany do the same.

"My dream is smoke free Indiana, back home again in smoke-free Indiana," he said. "People shouldn't have to jeopardize their health just to play music."

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Eraserheads asked to make concert 'smoke-free' 

A tobacco control advocate group on Friday asked the Eraserheads to declare its reunion concert a "smoke-free" gig.

"We hope the concert will truly be smoke-free," said Dr. Maricar Limpin, executive director of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP).

The call was made as FCAP claimed victory in the Philippine Morris Philippines Manufacturing decision to pullout from the reunion concert's sponsorship.

"Now, we will all be able to watch the concert without fear of being polluted by advertising ploys of deadly products," Limpin added.

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• Philip Morris backs out of Eraserheads reunion concert 

Philip Morris announced Wednesday that it had backed out of its sponsorship of the much-awaited, one-night-only Eraserheads reunion concert on Saturday. . . .

Gomez gave no reason for its sponsorship withdrawal, but the move was reached after the Department of Health and tobacco control advocates accused the multinational cigarette firm that its sponsorship was a violation of Republic Act 9211 or Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. . . .

"I have a warning to the tobacco company. If we are able to prove that this concert is actually sponsored by you, Philip Morris, definitely we will train our guns on you for violating the law," Padilla announced at a press conference August 17 at the World Health Organization headquarters in Manila.

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Probe Sought Vs Philip Morris for ‘Organizing’ Eraserheads Concert 

Devious.

That's how tobacco control advocates today described the ploy of Philip Morris Incorporated (PMI) in sponsoring the upcoming Eraserheads Reunion Concert even as they call on the band to sacrifice for the sake of their multitude of non-smoking fans.

"Like millions of Filipinos, we want to watch the reunion concert. But when we look for ways to get the tickets, we are redirected to www.marlboro.ph. This is clearly tantamount to advertising," said Dr. Maricar Limpin, executive director of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP).

Amid this, FCAP asked the Inter-Agency Committee-Tobacco (IAC-T) to immediately investigate the tobacco company's "devious advertising tactics."

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The 'Red List' is dangerous to your health 

Don't get trapped in Philip Morris' "Red List". It's dangerous to your health, according to tobacco control advocates.

The "Red List" is cigarette manufacturing firm Philip Morris' new way of promoting their products through the Internet. Those who register on the "Red List" get invited to special events that give away cigarettes and drinks to guests.

"The lives of people, especially the youth who will sign up on the Red List will definitely be in the red, meaning stepping into the danger zone," Dr. Maricar Limpin, executive director of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP), told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

Limpin said getting your name on the "Red List" will make you "an easy target" of tobacco advertisements and promotional materials of Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing, Inc., manufacturer of Marlboro filter cigarettes.

The registration site is being used for the reunion concert of the Eraserheads this August. Fans who wants to get hold of free simply register on the "Red List".

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• Philip Morris' advertising tactics devious, says tobacco control group  

Philip Morris Philippines (PMI) is using "devious advertising tactics" to promote the Marlboro brand in the guise of organizing a reunion concert of Pinoy rock band legend Eraserheads, a tobacco control advocate group said Wednesday.

"Like millions of Filipinos, we want to watch the reunion concert. But when we look for ways to get the tickets, we are redirected to Marlboro.ph. This is clearly tantamount to advertising," said Dr. Maricar Limpin, executive director of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP).

The website www.marlboro.ph or ‘The Red List" was put up by Philip Morris only this year especially for the Eraserheads concert.

Fans who want to avail of tickets to the concert need to register on the website by providing PMI personal information including names, home address, email address, mobile phone and home phone numbers.

Limpin said the adults-only registration site will eventually be used by the tobacco company to promote its products through the Internet.

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CONDE: Why the Eraserheads’ Reunion Concert Sucks 

But my beef against their supposed Aug. 30 concert, however, is that it smacks of shrewd, even manipulative marketing, by ******, the makers of ******. The Internet is awash in stuff about this event. Not a few hinted that this is viral marketing at work. In fact, the buzz is so loud that ****** has earned so much marketing points already. It can actually cancel the event and still walk away happy.

My suspicion is that ****** is doing this because beginning this month, cigarette companies are no longer allowed to have advertisements in print, radio and television. And without advertisements, products like cigarettes would be nearly impossible to sell.

Although the new law explicitly prohibits cigarette companies from sponsoring events such as concerts, they can, however, still be part of the event. And this being the Philippines, it’s not so hard to imagine the many ways ****** can insinuate itself into events like this.

Indeed, I’m fairly sure that the buzz this concert has been getting on the Internet is part of ******’s strategy.

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• Anti-Tobacco Advocates’ Letter to DTI Asking Probe of Eraserheads Concert  

Undersecretary Zenaida Cuison Maglaya Department of Trade and Industry Inter-Agency Committee-Tobacco Makati City

Dear Madame,

Re: An Urgent Call for the IAC-T to Take Appropriate Legal and Enforcement Action regarding Philip Morris’ Sponsorship of the Eraserheads Reunion Concert Set on August 30, 2008, in violation of Sec. 26, RA 9211

I write to call your attention to a previous rumor making the rounds in the web but which has now been confirmed as true by no less than the President and CEO of tobacco industry giant Philip Morris International (PMI) – its sponsorship of the Eraserheads Reunion Concert slated on August 30, 2008. . . .

While admitting its involvement in the concert, PMI sought to gloss over any likely illegality which may arise from its sponsorship of the event by calling it a “promotional event” not open to the general public but restricted to trade partners and adult smokers who have to “obtain” an invitation by “registering” in PMI’s website.

R.A. 9211 has already imposed a total ban on tobacco sponsorships starting July 1, 2008, as follows: . . .

By reason of the foregoing, civil society calls on the IAC-T to immediately convene its members, conduct an immediate investigation and take the necessary action to ensure faithful observance and implementation of the provisions of RA 9211 on tobacco sponsorship and advertising.

We would request that any action of the IAC-T or its Secretariat on this matter be furnished to FCAP.

Thank you for your action on this matter.

Very truly yours,

Dr. Ma. Encarnita B. Limpin Executive Director

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Philip Morris International Caught in Philippines in Another Concert Sponsorship 

For the second time in recent weeks, international tobacco control advocates are calling on Philip Morris International to withdraw its sponsorship and promotion of a major concert, this time in the Philippines where the company's activities appear to violate national law.

Last month, Philip Morris International withdrew its sponsorship of singer Alicia Keys' concert in Jakarta, Indonesia, after the company was criticized for engaging in cigarette marketing that appealed to children and after Ms. Keys called for the sponsorship to be withdrawn.

Now health advocates are urging Philip Morris International to end its involvement in an August 30 reunion concert by the popular Filipino band Eraserheads, which has been called the "Beatles of the Philippines." Those seeking tickets to the concert are being directed to http://www.marlboro.ph, a web site run by Philip Morris International's Philippine subsidiary.

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Alicia Keys Sets Example for Entertainment Industry By Withdrawing Tobacco Sponsorship of Indonesia Concert  

U.S. singing star Alicia Keys has set a positive example that should be followed by musicians and entertainers worldwide by demanding the withdrawal of tobacco industry sponsorship of her July 31 concert in Jakarta, Indonesia. We applaud Ms. Keys for taking quick action to disassociate herself from the tobacco industry and to prevent her name, image and talent from continuing to be used to market cigarettes to children. It is critical that the tobacco company involved, Philip Morris International/Sampoerna, and concert promoters immediately end the sponsorship and all tobacco-related marketing and branding associated with the concert.

We call on all involved in the music and entertainment industry, including performers and promoters, to follow Alicia Keys' example and adopt policies of rejecting all tobacco sponsorship and other tobacco promotions. We also call on tobacco companies to immediately cease all such sponsorships and promotions. . . .

In the Philippines, those seeking tickets to an August 30 reunion concert of the famous Filipino band Eraserheads are being directed to www.marlboro.ph, a web site run by Philip Morris International's Philippines subsidiary. The Eraserheads have been called the "Beatles of the Philippines" and the reunion concert has generated enormous online buzz that often mentions the Marlboro web site, generating positive publicity for the world's best-selling cigarette brand. Philippines authorities should investigate whether marketing for this concert violates a national law that, as of July 1, 2008, bans tobacco sponsorships and all forms of tobacco advertising in mass media, including the Internet.

These concert sponsorships and promotions indicate that Philip Morris International continues to engage in cigarette marketing that attracts children, especially in developing countries where the company may think it can escape public scrutiny.

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Organist Rents Radio City to Play, Fulfilling Wish  

Col. Jack Moelmann, a retired Air Force officer from O'Fallon, Ill., blew $118,182.44 on a one-night stand in New York on Saturday. It was everything he had dreamed of, and more: three hours with the mightiest of the mighty Wurlitzers, the legendary pipe organ at Radio City Music Hall.

Colonel Moelmann, a retired Air Force officer, sold seats for $50, but had to spend almost $120,000 of his own to perform. . . .

The star seemed nervous, traipsing out to the Avenue of the Americas for a cigarette before the concert and another during intermission because no-smoking rules apply to headliners' dressing rooms.

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CONDE: Eraserheads Reunion Concert: An Apology  

Below is the email I posted today on the Eraserheads mailing list:

Guys,

I feel a bit like Daniel right now. But I feel I have to do this.

When I blogged about the Eraserheads reunion concert, I wasn't out looking for a fight. The rumors of the concert bothered me, so, like many bloggers, I blogged about it.

In hindsight, I admit that the tone of my post was judgmental on the Eraserheads. . . .

I also didn't set out to propagate my anti-smoking advocacy. Truth be told, I didn't have such an advocacy prior to this. (Four or five years ago, I tried smoking (Marlboro). Thankfully, the habit didn't stick.) I thought I was just blogging. I expected reactions, of course, but was befuddled by the level of vitriol that I got through the comments section of gmanews.tv and pinoypress.net.

In any case, because of this issue, I got interested even more in the behavior of tobacco companies. So now, I sound like an anti-tobacco advocate. Not that I'm apologizing for this position. I'm not. I still believe that Philip Morris is manipulating the public and I wish that the Eheads were in a position to ignore the company's offer.

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• CONDE: Eraserheads Concert: Who’s Wagging the Dog?  

Dave Gomez, the public affairs and communications manager of Philip Morris, was quoted in this report as saying that the Eraserheads reunion concert will push through. He revealed that Philip Morris is not sponsoring the event -- in fact, he said, the tobacco company is organizing it.

"We're not sponsoring the event. We organized it ourselves," Gomez was quoted as saying. "The event is free for our valued customers. This is a little something we do for them to show them our appreciation for their continued patronage of our products."

Gomez emphasized this because of a legal point that would seem to clear Philip Morris of accusations that it violated Republic Act 9211 (the Tobacco Regulation Act). Apparently, under this law, tobacco companies can organize events but they cannot sponsor it. Go figure. . . .

In other words, if I were Philip Morris, philmusic and Ayson's mailing list would be my logical target for planting information or tips that would generate the buzz. Now I'm not suggesting anything improper or unethical on Ayson's or philmusic's part. Anybody, after all, can join or post anything on the mailing list or that, knowing Ayson's clout in the local music scene, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that he has sources knowledgeable about the planned concert. In fact, it's very likely that, it being an extraordinary piece of news and buzz, philmusic just reported what it learned, not knowing perhaps that it was being manipulated by Philip Morris in what was turning out to be a terrific viral marketing campaign.

My point is that, tobacco companies will do anything to sell their products. The Internet, because of its freewheeling nature and its enormous audience composed of precisely the demographic tobacco companies have been targeting, holds huge potentials for the marketing of tobacco. If anything, the buzz that Philip Morris generated for the Eraserheads reunion concert only validated this.

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• Philip Morris won't postpone Eheads concert  

Philip Morris Philippines is organizing the Eraserheads reunion concert, not sponsoring it, a spokesman of the tobacco company said Friday, reiterating that it will not be violating the law if the event pushes through.

"We're not sponsoring the event. We organized it ourselves," said Dave Gomez, Philip Morris public affairs and communications manager.

He added: "The event is free for our valued customers. This is a little something we do for them to show them our appreciation for their continued patronage of our products."

He said the reunion concert will push through as he assured Eraserheads fans that the event is not a violation of the law. "We have no intention of violating the law. In fact, we supported the passage of the Tobacco Act."

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