Smoking in Indonesia--Targeting Children--Are celebrities taking "Blood Money?"

Smoking in Indonesia--Targeting Children--Are celebrities taking "Blood Money?"

The future of 80 million Indonesian children is at stake as the cigarette producers are intentionally aiming 14+ year old children as their future market through massive TV advertisements and sponsorships on activities in which teenagers are involved. Indonesia is the fifth largest tobacco market in the world. The world watched horrified several years ago when they saw:



Major tobacco companies dominating the market in Indonesia include Gudang Garam, Sampoerna (Philip Morris International), Djarum, and Bentoel (British American Tobacco).[1] The World Health Organization (WHO) has ranked Indonesia third in terms of the number of smokers in the world.[3] [link to en.wikipedia.org]

In the United States, Philip Morris USA and other tobacco companies are prohibited from engaging in cigarette brand sponsorships of concerts under a 1998 legal settlement. However, in Indonesia and other developing countries, Philip Morris International and other tobacco companies continue to sponsor concerts by famous musicians, which health experts have condemned as a means to market cigarettes to children and to circumvent restrictions on more traditional tobacco advertising. [link to tobaccofreecenter.org]

CELEBRITIES THAT TOOK THE TOBACCO SPONSORED MONEY:

Per the movie, Sex, Lies and Cigarettes, such American celebrities as: Flo Rida, Slash, Smashing Pumpkins, and Muse have all made money from tobacco-sponsored concerts in Indonesia.

In 2011, Jared Leto (30 Second to Mars), The Cranberries, and Joel Madden played in concern, even though they were urged not to [link to www.change.org]


Here is a link for celebrity concerts in Jakarta, Indonisia in 2012 which includes Katy Perry, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Evanescence, Roxette, Joe Satriani, Sum 41, New Kids on the Block & Backstreet Boys. [link to www.songkick.com]


SHOW SUPPORT FOR CELEBRITIES THAT REFUSED TO TAKE THE TOBACCO-SPONSORED MONEY:


In 2008, Alicia Keyes has rejected Phillip Morris sponsorship [link to www.takingontobacco.org]

In 2010 Kelly Clarkson rejected cigarette sponsorship [link to articles.nydailynews.com]



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Last Edited by * Dawn * on 01/11/2012 01:37 PM