Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(New York) – The World Lung Foundation released a new customizable video that will be used by non-profit organizations and government health ministries around the world to combat tobacco companies' tactics of marketing their products to children.
The video, which can be translated into dozens of languages, is available license-free to promote awareness of the impact tobacco youth marketing has on public health. Images were sourced from the World Lung Foundation Image Library, an online resource with artwork donated by amateur and professional photographers from around the world. The video may be viewed on the World Lung Foundation's website, beginning May 27, 2008 through July 1, 2008.
“To tobacco companies, children are seen as fresh, eager, and potentially life-long customers,” said Peter Baldini, Executive Director of the World Lung Foundation. “It is critical that organizations and governments work together to restrict the industry's ability to promote sponsorships, advertising images, jingles, and other tactics that captivate young minds, and get them to start smoking.”
The video reinforces this year's World No Tobacco Daytheme, which is “Tobacco-Free Youth.” It will appear on the websites of a wide range of organizations, including:
- Ministries of Health
- NGOs
- Tobacco control organizations
- World Lung Foundation grantees
- World Lung Foundations partners, including the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease; Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization