May 31, 2013

Smoking not cool: Bollywood fraternity

Every Year, 31st May is globally observed as 'World No Tobacco Day' (WNTD). The main focus of this year's event is to create awareness about the ill effects of tobacco and influence tobacco control activities as well as raise funds for cancer patients. A press conference was held today to announce this year's theme for 'World No Tobacco day': this year's theme for WNTD is "Ban Tobacco Advertising Promotion and Sponsorship" Which focuses on tobacco industry tactics to shape and influence tobacco control policy.
Popular Bollywood
actor Vivek Oberoi, the brand ambassador for Tobacco Control Was present to support, the cause. Along with him the Tobacco control panel consisted of Dr.Sadanand Date-Jt C.P. (Law & Order), Salim-Sulaiman, Mahesh Bhatt, and the other guest present for the evening were Vishal Dadlani, Aakriti Kakkar, Shweta Pandit, Meiyang Chang, Mamta Sharma, Anusha Mani, Shilpa Rao & Shruti Pathak.
The Panel Consisted Of Dr. Sadanand Date (Jt.CP Law & Order), Y. K. Sapru- CPAA (Chairman), Vivek Oberoi , Mahesh Bhatt , Salim -Sulaiman.
Speaking on the initiative Vivek Oberoi commented, "Smoking and tobacco are not only in personal but social evils as well. I was extremely concerned to learn about the increase in tobacco use on all age groups which is a matter of great public health concern and I believe it is our collective moral duty to address this issue. I am proud to be tobacco free and pledge my whole-hearted support to this campaign". I realized the true meaning of surrogate advertising when I was given the Red & White bravery award, which I eventually returned back.
Speaking on the initiative director Mahesh Bhatt says, "We realize that the disease of cancer is a primary and growing area of concern afflicting humanity across the globe and in India, and entertainment industry is committed towards partnering and assisting CPAA in its endeavor towards creating mass awareness for the disease and thereby giving full support to this noble cause.
Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable cause of death. The global tobacco epidemic kills nearly.
6 million people each year.600,000 premature deaths can be attributed to exposure to second hand smoke. Unless we act, it will kill up to 8 million people by 2030, of which more than 80% will live in low and middle-income countries.
'World No Tobacco Day (WNTD)' was first held in 1988 and is observed annually on May 31.
This is a global event established to draw attention to the effects of tobacco use on public health and to help reduce individual tobacco dependence. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Ms Margaret Chan chose 'Ban Tobacco Advertising Promotion and Sponsorship' as the theme of World No Tobacco Day 2013 and the campaign this year is for a need to expose and counter the tobacco industry's brazen and increasingly aggressive attempts to undermine the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) because of the serious danger they pose to public health.
To increase awareness and reach a wider audience 'A Musical Evening' will be held at Rangsharda on Sunday, May 26th 2013. The Celebration of Life Concert is supported by the Film & Music Industry and this musical platform will be used to spread the message amongst the youth that "TOBACCO KILLS". This event will witness performances by eminent Bollywood Personalities and Music Professionals like Salim Sulaiman, Shaan, Vishal Dadlani, Aakriti Kakkar, Shrraddha Pandit, Shweta Pandit, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Shruti Pathak, Meiyang Chang, Shriram Iyer, Mamta Sharma, Shilpa Rao, and many more.

No comments:

Post a Comment