Women's group takes up anti-smoking cause<\/p>\n
By Stevie Emilia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): We have heard of a number of movements to fight
\nfor or defend women's rights, ranging from women against
\nviolence, women for justice, to women for reproductive rights and
\nwomen for the reinterpretation of Islamic laws.<\/p>\n
Now Indonesia can add one more to the list: The Indonesian Women
\nAgainst Tobacco or WITT for short.<\/p>\n
But why tobacco?<\/p>\n
\"If we look at the number of smoking women now, I believe the
\nnumber will increase in the coming years,\" Tuti Nusandari
\nRoosdiono, the chairperson of the movement, said.<\/p>\n
Tuti, an activist and mother of two who spends her spare time
\npainting, said her organization is not only seeking to protect
\nwomen against the ills of tobacco, but also the country's
\nteenagers, who seem to be the prime target of big-money cigarette
\ncompanies.<\/p>\n
Indonesia can take some little comfort in the fact that only
\nfive percent of adult women smoke, according to a 1991 World
\nHealth Organization report, compared to a staggering 61 percent
\nof adult men who have picked up the habit. Worldwide, according
\nto the WHO's 1985-1990 survey, 52 percent of adult men and 10
\npercent of adult women smoked.<\/p>\n
\"Many women are drawn into smoking because of advertisements
\ndisplaying beautiful and successful women with cigarettes in
\ntheir hands,\" Tuti said.<\/p>\n
Usually, they began trying during their teens. But then they
\nbecame addicted and later found it difficult to quit, she said.<\/p>\n
One of the main programs of WITT when it was established last
\nAugust was to counter the aggressive advertising launched by
\ncigarette producers with an equally aggressive anti-smoking
\ncampaign to alert the public in general, and women in particular,
\nof the health hazards of smoking, Tuti said in an interview.<\/p>\n
One of the first activities WITT organized was a seminar on
\nDec. 19 entitled Women's Awareness over Cigarette Problems. The
\nseminar, which drew about 50 people, presented women doctors such
\nas Yetty Sedyawan and Titi Daniati who discussed the health
\neffects of smoking, and Martha Tilaar, owner of a huge cosmetic
\nenterprise, who discussed the impact of smoking on women's
\nbeauty.<\/p>\n
Soon, the group plans more activities such as a discussion on
\nhealth matters, counseling, a film about the effects of smoking
\non health, and taking out advertisement in mass media.<\/p>\n
Tuti said WITT was established to pursue four objectives.<\/p>\n
The first is to develop programs to encourage women and
\nteenagers to refrain from ever smoking their first cigarette, and
\nalso to make those who had already picked up the habit quit.<\/p>\n
The second is to increase the role of women in combating the
\ndangers of smoking or tobacco.<\/p>\n
The third is to increase people's awareness -- especially women
\n-- to the dangers of passive smoking.<\/p>\n
And fourth is to match aggressive cigarette advertising and
\npromotion with an aggressive information campaign.<\/p>\n
Tuti said WITT's approach is persuasion and not force.<\/p>\n
\"If people want to quit smoking, they can, especially if they
\nrealize that smoking affects their health. But, we hope that they
\ndon't wait until they get sick to quit smoking,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"We don't hate smokers. On the contrary, we will try to bring
\nsmokers together, find out what their problems are, and inform
\nthem of the hazards. If they decide to quit later, we feel we
\nhave accomplished out job,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"If they continue to smoke, there is nothing we can do. It's
\ntheir choice,\" she said, adding that she fully realized the
\ndifficulties for smokers to kick the habit.<\/p>\n
WITT, which was established as a foundation, is also
\nrecruiting women to join in anti-smoking campaigns, Tuti said.<\/p>\n
\"Women can have a very great roles in the fight against
\ntobacco because they can be more forceful than men when it comes
\nto persuading people to quit smoking,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Tuti has been an activist before setting up WITT. She had been
\na member of the Indonesian Heart Foundation (YJI) and WITT then
\nwas a unit of the foundation.<\/p>\n
But in August, at the suggestion of the YJI itself, she
\ndecided to found WITT as a separate organization. \"This way,
\nwe can concentrate more on our anti-smoking campaigns,\" Tuti
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
WITT is a member of the United States-based International
\nNetwork for Women Against Tobacco (INWAT) which is represented in
\n56 other countries.<\/p>\n
Barely four months since its founding, WITT has enlisted 100
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Granted they are all in Jakarta but WITT has recruited a
\nnumber of leading public figures who are expected to send across
\nits message effectively to the public. They include businesswoman
\nDewi Motik, model Enny Sukamto Hehuwat, Bianti Soedradjad
\nDjiwandono (wife of Bank Indonesia governor), Nina Akbar Tanjung
\n(wife of state minister for people's housing), Poppy Hayono Isman
\n(wife of state minister for youths affairs and sports), Mrs.
\nBustanil Arifin, Mrs. Soepardjo Rustam and Suratmi Purbonegoro.<\/p>\n
WITT is open to men although it has not recruited any males
\nyet. \"Our organization is not only for women. If men are willing
\nto join, they are welcome. Our membership is free of charge,\"
\nTuti said.<\/p>\n
She is also under no pretension that her mission will be plain
\nsailing, especially in view of the economic clout that the
\nIndonesian tobacco industry wields. \"Many people earn their
\nliving from the industry, and even the government is dependent on
\ncigarette money,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Officials estimate that as many as five million Indonesians
\ndepend on the tobacco and cigarette industries for their
\nlivelihood. About 20 million people are either directly or
\nindirectly dependent on the tobacco industry, if retailing,
\ntransportation, advertising and others sectors are considered.<\/p>\n
The government also receives in excess of Rp 3 trillion
\n($1.4 billion) in revenues from cigarette excise taxes each year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/womens-group-takes-up-anti-smoking-cause-1447893297",
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