Tobacco Counter-Marketing: Best Practices and Beyond
The American Legacy Foundation®, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are convening tobacco control and marketing experts from around the world for a two-day workshop to examine best practices in tobacco counter-marketing and to develop of a set of principles and practices on counter-marketing for tobacco control advocates worldwide. In addition, youth from around the world will participate in the workshop to lend their perspective on tobacco industry marketing to their demographic and to discuss their involvement in counter-marketing activities.

Focus areas of the workshop include:

• Current tobacco industry marketing practices
• Effectiveness of mass communications
• Policy and regulatory connections
• Targeting youth
• Counter-marketing messages

A keynote presentation is being given by Peter Zollo, founder of Teenage Research Unlimited (TRU), a U.S.-based youth-research firm. Mr. Zollo has worked on a number of youth social marketing issues and campaigns, including tobacco counter-marketing programs. His presentation is on U.S. teens with a focus on marketing to this demographic, and includes an overview of teen psyche, culture and lifestyle.

Among advertising being countered, include that being put out by brands such as: dutch masters, backwood cigars, phillie blunts, hav a tampa and other cheap cigars providers.

The workshop is being held in New York City at the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel from June 11-13, 2003. For more information on the workshop, please visit www.tobaccocountermarketing.org.

:: About the American Legacy Foundation
The American Legacy Foundation is dedicated to building a world where young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit. Located in Washington, DC, the foundation develops programs that address the health effects of tobacco use through grants, technical assistance and training, youth activism, strategic partnerships, counter-marketing and grass roots marketing campaigns, public relations, and outreach to populations disproportionately affected by the toll of tobacco. The foundation’s national programs include Circle of Friends, Great Start, a Priority Populations Initiative, Streetheory.org and truth®. The American Legacy Foundation was created as a result of the November 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) reached between attorneys general from 46 states and the tobacco industry. Visit www.americanlegacy.org.

:: About the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations. As the lead federal agency in the United States for comprehensive tobacco prevention and control, CDC's Office on Smoking and Health develops, conducts, and supports strategic efforts to protect the public's health from the harmful effects of tobacco use. Visit www.cdc.gov.

:: About the World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is the principal health arm of United Nations System. The objective of is 192 Member States is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health, as defined in the WHO Constitution, is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. In support of its main objective, the Organization has a wide range of functions, including the following:

• To act as the directing and co-ordinating authority on international health work;
• To promote technical co-operation;
• To assist Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services;
• To furnish appropriate technical assistance and, in emergencies, necessary aid, upon the request or acceptance of Governments;
• To stimulate and advance work on the prevention and control of epidemic, endemic and other diseases;
• To promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, the improvement of nutrition, housing, sanitation, recreation, economic or working conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene;
• To promote and co-ordinate biomedical and health services research;
• To promote improved standards of teaching and training in the health, medical and related professions;
• To establish and stimulate the establishment of international standards for biological, pharmaceutical and similar products, and to standardize diagnostic procedures;
• To foster activities in the field of mental health, especially those activities affecting the harmony of human relations.
  WHO also proposes conventions, agreements, regulations and makes recommendations about international nomenclature of diseases, causes of death and public health practices. It develops, establishes and promotes international standards concerning foods and biological, pharmaceutical and similar substances.

Tobacco control has been a priority for the last five years and WHO Member States have recently concluded negotiations on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a multilaterally negotiated set of global rules to curb the spread of tobacco and tobacco related diseases. When adopted, the FCTC will be the WHO's first public health treaty. Visit www.who.int.