Anti-tobacco campaign in schools in major cities
Anti-tobacco campaign in schools in major cities
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of National Education launched on
Thursday an anti-tobacco campaign in five of the country's major
cities in a bid to reduce the number of smokers below 18 years of
age.
What is most notable about the campaign is that it is being
sponsored by several cigarette companies.
"With this event we also declare that schools are non-smoking
areas," Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin said during
the opening ceremony on Thursday.
"Teachers, many of whom are also smokers, must set proper
examples of healthy living habits for their students by not
lighting up at school or in classes," Yahya said.
The Rp 450 million campaign called "Catch A Star" is sponsored
by the Indonesian White Cigarette Producer Association
(Gaprindo), which is comprised of the country's 12 major
cigarettes producers.
White cigarettes in Indonesia is the usual reference to non
clove cigarettes.
The campaign, aimed at raising awareness among junior and
senior high school students of the dangers of smoking, will last
for six months from October until March 2001 in the cities of
Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Yogyakarta and Medan.
"Lets not be prejudiced about the fact that this event is
sponsored by cigarettes producers. We believe that their
participation is sincere in building a young generation who are
free from tobbaco.
"Anyway, I think the tobacco industry will never die so we
have to change the approach by protecting the young," Yahya said.
The campaign will feature two young Indonesian athletes --
badminton star Taufik Hidayat and basketball player Rommy
Chandra.
Gaprindo chairman Muhaimin Moeftie said the association is
being candid about the fact that the young generation should be
free from smoking.
"Basically, we believe that the cigarette industry will not
lose its market (because of the campaign). We also believe that
smoking is a matter of choice," Muhaimin said.
"So when they grow up, in this case after they reach the age
of 18, these students can decide whether they want to start
smoking or not," he said.
Minister Yahya, however, quickly replied: "Lets hope that by
the time they reach 18, the students are feeling so good with
their health that they never want to touch cigarettes".
The campaign will involve a direct approach to schools as well
as the launch of an advertising program with slogan "Be Cool,
Don't Smoke".
The ministry's Director of Physical Health Soeharto also
pointed out that the temptation to smoke usually starts in junior
and senior highschool.
"They think smoking is cool and trendy. We want to alter that
image through this campaign that you can be cool and stylish
without cigarettes," Soeharto said, adding that smoking often
leads to the use of other addictive substances. (edt)