Wednesday, June 4, 2008
"Kick The Butt" - Short Film by Sharad Haksar
As part of our World No Tobacco Day campaign for 2008,renowned photographer Sharad Haksar prepared this visual short to accompany our Photo Exhibition. For those of you in Chennai catch it at Sathyam Cinema's shortly as well as at other theatre venues.
The pictures speak for themselves.
Smoke Signals - Ergo
The evening of May 30 was truly an inspirational one for smokers and non-smokers alike. CanStop organised a play reading, ‘Smoke Signals’ by Madras Players and a photo exhibition headed by Sharad Haksar to commemorate World No-Tobacco Day (May 31).
“There are 184 million tobacco consumers in India,” said Vijaya Bharati, Chairperson of CanStop. “And tobacco kills 50 per cent of its users.” “It is shocking to see children as young as 10 and 12 smoking up to 20 cigarettes a day,” Hemalini Mehta, a volunteer for CanStop, said.
“Nicotine is the most addictive substance,” Mithran Devanesan, an ex-smoker himself, explained. “There are different patterns of smoking that need to be identified and monitored. Support groups are essential if you want to quit.”
As a matter of fact, the Quitters Club does just that. Working along the same lines as the Alcoholics Anonymous Groups, the Club gets together once or twice a week to counsel and help its members.
According to Hemalini Mehta, if a person wants to quit and wants the help of a counsellor to do so, all they had to do was to fill in the Quit Line Entry Form distributed to the audience at the Heritage Centre. “We will contact that person and help them out.”
Directed by Mithran Devanesan, ‘Smoke Signals’ consisted of a series of rib-tickling quotes, songs, and extracts from novels read by P.C. Ramaswamy, Vishalam Ekambaram, Freddy Koikaran, Mithran Devanesan and Sharanya Nair.
Among the most memorable were the Caterpillar and the hookah scene in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Gum,” a short story about a piece of bubblegum that began chewing its chewer.
Though the pieces were light, the gravity of the underlining message was pretty clear by the end of the evening. After all, as Hemmingway once said, “Cigarette smell is awful if you have a nose that can truly smell.”
“There are 184 million tobacco consumers in India,” said Vijaya Bharati, Chairperson of CanStop. “And tobacco kills 50 per cent of its users.” “It is shocking to see children as young as 10 and 12 smoking up to 20 cigarettes a day,” Hemalini Mehta, a volunteer for CanStop, said.
“Nicotine is the most addictive substance,” Mithran Devanesan, an ex-smoker himself, explained. “There are different patterns of smoking that need to be identified and monitored. Support groups are essential if you want to quit.”
As a matter of fact, the Quitters Club does just that. Working along the same lines as the Alcoholics Anonymous Groups, the Club gets together once or twice a week to counsel and help its members.
According to Hemalini Mehta, if a person wants to quit and wants the help of a counsellor to do so, all they had to do was to fill in the Quit Line Entry Form distributed to the audience at the Heritage Centre. “We will contact that person and help them out.”
Directed by Mithran Devanesan, ‘Smoke Signals’ consisted of a series of rib-tickling quotes, songs, and extracts from novels read by P.C. Ramaswamy, Vishalam Ekambaram, Freddy Koikaran, Mithran Devanesan and Sharanya Nair.
Among the most memorable were the Caterpillar and the hookah scene in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Gum,” a short story about a piece of bubblegum that began chewing its chewer.
Though the pieces were light, the gravity of the underlining message was pretty clear by the end of the evening. After all, as Hemmingway once said, “Cigarette smell is awful if you have a nose that can truly smell.”
Saturday, May 31, 2008
"Join the Quitters Club" - The Hindu Metro Plus Weekend
It’s like being ruled by an exceptionally smelly little wand. It dictates where you go, what you do, who you hang out with.
Being a smoker must be exhausting. Tearing off every long flight, so you can charge into one of those dreadful little gas chambers to get your fix. Or sneaking out of the office at regular intervals to smoke in the traffic. Or being unable to enjoy a party without lighting up.
Fortunately you can always quit. With ‘World No Tobacco Day’, which is on May 31, just around the corner, this might be a good time to literally kick butt. Arjun Rangarajan, co-ordinator of Can Stop’s anti-smoking campaign, says research has shown that most smokers really do want to quit. “Right now everybody who smokes is at least thinking about quitting,” he says, “I think there’s a lot more awareness, there’s more of a social stigma attached to smoking, and attitudes are definitely changing.”
It helps that it’s getting tougher and tougher to light up, with smoking banned in public places, and most restaurants and coffee shops discouraging smokers. “It makes it harder for people to smoke: giving them less room,” says Arjun, adding, “At the end of the day you can’t pull a cigarette out of their mouths. People should realise that their smoking affects everyone around them.”
As part of Can Stop’s campaign, Chennai photographer Sunder, will be participating in a photo exhibition alongside Sharad Haksar. “For my series for the exhibition I decided to go with pictures of an extremely fit and inspirational, non smoking dancer in his forties, jumping above cigarette smoke and beating age and time,” he says, adding that he doesn’t want to just scare people into giving up smoking, but would much rather try a more positive route.
The photo exhibition will be on at the Sathyam Cinemas on May 31 and June 1, after which it will move around the city as a travelling exhibition.
Meanwhile Can Stop is launching the ‘Quitter’s Club.’ Stating that the idea behind it is to put people who want to quit smoking in touch with each other, Arjun says that a recent survey they did at a rock concert indicated that about 90 per cent of the 200 people who filled their forms were smokers, out of which a large number said they wanted to quit. About 25 actually signed up for the club.
“It’s going to be need based,” he says, “There’s no point just giving lectures.” They’ll help with strategies, motivation and technical needs such as procuring nicotine patches, or gum. (For more details call the Can Stop helpline 26284256.)
SHONALI MUTHALALY
IQ - I Quit! - Mithran Devanesen ( Appeared in The Hindu NXG)
“A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure. It is exquisite and leaves one unsatisfied. What more can one want?” Oscar Wilde in “The Picture of Dorian Grey”
A slave to tobacco myself for over 40 years, I worshipped at the altar of tobacco, like Wilde, smoking 40 cigarettes a day (on a good day and more on a bad day). When you are a smoker, somehow you manage to avoid reading all those articles in the press and the Reader’s Digest on the dangers of smoking.
My two brothers — both doctors — stopped sending me birthday cards. Instead they sent cuttings on cancer; to no avail. Those just landed in the wastepaper basket. The only respite in reducing the number of cigarettes was when I travelled to the U.K., the U.S. and Canada where they slammed a ’sin tax’ on cigarettes and the cost puts a huge dent in your pocket.
I did quit many years ago for two years. I was at a cocktail party and I thought, *It’s been two years; I’ve kicked the habit. So let me have a drag.” By the end of the evening, I had smoked four cigarettes; by the end of the week I was back at 40!
Nicotine is highly addictive but pressure from my brothers and my family doctor drove me to try to quit. I tried The Gum, The Patch, Holistic Healing, Reiki, Ayurveda and even Hypnosis. With each try, my smoking was like a yo-yo. Down on the first day of treatment and up again two days later. I used to dread long-distance flights but smokers are a crafty lot and will sniff out a smoking area even in the strictest airports at home and abroad.
Finally it was the US of A and my sense of pride that made me quit. I was visiting my daughter in Denver and she took me out to lunch at a very fancy Italian restaurant — fine Irish linen tablecloths and napkins, pure silver cutlery, crystal glasses and fine bone china.
After one of the finest meals I’ve ever eaten (I am bit of an epicure), I wanted to smoke and was told the only place I could do so was at the back of the restaurant. I went there, lit up and looked around at my surroundings — rotting garbage with accompanying aroma. I thought to myself , “You have really debased yourself coming here for a smoke after the plush ambience of the restaurant.”
I stubbed out my cigarette and threw the pack and lighter into the garbage can. And that was it. IQ and have stayed quit. Today I can sit in a room full of smokers and the thought of a cigarette does not even cross my mind. I went through no withdrawals, no case of the heebie-jeebies ;just sheer determination.
So if you want to quit and stay quit you can do it. Join the Quitters Club and, as the Beatles said, “You can get by with a little help from your friends.”
A slave to tobacco myself for over 40 years, I worshipped at the altar of tobacco, like Wilde, smoking 40 cigarettes a day (on a good day and more on a bad day). When you are a smoker, somehow you manage to avoid reading all those articles in the press and the Reader’s Digest on the dangers of smoking.
My two brothers — both doctors — stopped sending me birthday cards. Instead they sent cuttings on cancer; to no avail. Those just landed in the wastepaper basket. The only respite in reducing the number of cigarettes was when I travelled to the U.K., the U.S. and Canada where they slammed a ’sin tax’ on cigarettes and the cost puts a huge dent in your pocket.
I did quit many years ago for two years. I was at a cocktail party and I thought, *It’s been two years; I’ve kicked the habit. So let me have a drag.” By the end of the evening, I had smoked four cigarettes; by the end of the week I was back at 40!
Nicotine is highly addictive but pressure from my brothers and my family doctor drove me to try to quit. I tried The Gum, The Patch, Holistic Healing, Reiki, Ayurveda and even Hypnosis. With each try, my smoking was like a yo-yo. Down on the first day of treatment and up again two days later. I used to dread long-distance flights but smokers are a crafty lot and will sniff out a smoking area even in the strictest airports at home and abroad.
Finally it was the US of A and my sense of pride that made me quit. I was visiting my daughter in Denver and she took me out to lunch at a very fancy Italian restaurant — fine Irish linen tablecloths and napkins, pure silver cutlery, crystal glasses and fine bone china.
After one of the finest meals I’ve ever eaten (I am bit of an epicure), I wanted to smoke and was told the only place I could do so was at the back of the restaurant. I went there, lit up and looked around at my surroundings — rotting garbage with accompanying aroma. I thought to myself , “You have really debased yourself coming here for a smoke after the plush ambience of the restaurant.”
I stubbed out my cigarette and threw the pack and lighter into the garbage can. And that was it. IQ and have stayed quit. Today I can sit in a room full of smokers and the thought of a cigarette does not even cross my mind. I went through no withdrawals, no case of the heebie-jeebies ;just sheer determination.
So if you want to quit and stay quit you can do it. Join the Quitters Club and, as the Beatles said, “You can get by with a little help from your friends.”
Stay Away From a KIller - The Hindu NXG
It’s not stylish, it’s not cool: that’s the message as this year’s World No Tobacco Day on on May 31 works for a Tobacco Free Youth . R. KRITHIKA
It’s a familiar enough sight: “C’mon, I dare you! Take a puff. Don’t be a sissy; it’s not going to hurt…” And nine out of 10 youngsters fall a prey to their friend’s machinations. But you know it’s that Lone Ranger, the one that didn’t pick up the killer stick, who deserves the rounds of applause. ‘Cos it takes guts to stand up to your peers and say, “No, I won’t.”
Everyone’s read reams about killer tobacco and its effects on the human system but it doesn’t seem to have any impact. “That’s because of the ads,” says Dr. Vijaya Bharati Rangarajan of the NGO Can-Stop, a cancer support group that also works to spread the word about the ill-effects of tobacco. “Just look at those obviously fit and healthy people taking a puff. The message — the wrong one — is that smoking doesn’t affect you.” And then goes on to ask rhetorically, “Do you think anyone would pick up a cigarette if they saw these wasted and diseased bodies smoking?”
Even as the incidence of smoking falls in the developed countries, it’s on the rise in developing countries like India. Obviously the tobacco lobby doesn’t give up easy. There are laws against sale of tobacco products to minors, against smoking in public places … but who’s enforcing these. Kids are picking up the habit at a younger age today; as low as six or seven.
And there’s now way you can walk away and say, “it’s not my problem”. If you’re around a smoker, it is your problem. The smoke you inhale will cause as much damage to you as it does to smoker. The World Health Organisation estimates that at least 700 million people will die of second-hand smoke, most of them being children. If that’s the amount of damage second-hand smoke, think of the figures for smokers!
Taxes and bans may help deal with this but there’s something you can do as well: Quit or help others to quit. We know that smoking is contagious, but guess what quitting is contagious too. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine says that those who’re promising never to pick up another one influence friends, co-workers and relations. This study followed 12,000 people over three decades from 1971 to 2003 — many friends, relatives and colleagues of those studied also joined making the final tally 53,228 relationships — and found that people tend to quit in clusters.
Now, I don’t know if this info influenced Can-Stop but they’re beginning a Quitter’s Club on the lines of Smokers Anonymous. This self-help group with a difference is meant to motivate those treading that slippery path to Quitdom. Those who’ve kicked the habit can give pep talks and encourage their less-fortunate friends. Others will pitch in medical advice, strategies and whatever else the quitters need to stay away from the butt.
And, of course, there’s a lot for the youth. The rock show last Saturday should have sent home the “say no to cigarettes” message quite effectively. There’s more this week: a photo exhibition, which sees Chennai’s well known photographer Sharad Haksar exhibiting his take on the issue. Then the Madras Players, Chennai’s and India’s oldest English theatre group, will use drama to tell you all about tobacco (they’ve gone all the way back to King James I of England to get their matter). Look out for the sticker campaign from May 31, screening and counselling sessions, talks and much more.
If you want to get personally involved, then join Youth Can, the youth wing of Can-Stop. There’re no age limits or criterion. You get to help organise Can-Stop’s events, spread awareness in schools and colleges, talk to your peers and parents aboput the perils of smoking. So what’re you waiting for?
Want to join Can-Stop’s Quitters Club or Youth Can? Call their helpline 26284256 between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. or e-mail canstop@smfhospital.org Can-Stop functions from Dr. Rangarajan Memorial Hospital, Shanti Colony, 4th Avenue, Anna Nagar West, Chennai 40. Website: www.canstop.org The Quitters Club will function at from their Resource Centre at 20A, D’Silva Road, Mylapore, Chennai 04. Ph: 24993515
About Can-Stop
* Can-Stop (Cancer Support Therapy to Overcome Pain) is a community-based, voluntary oragnisation dedeciated to helping cancer-affected people by offering counselling, information, advice, consolation and listening to not just the patients but also their families and friends.
* Can-Stop works with patients at the Institute of Child Health and Children’s Hospital, Egmore; Government Hospital for Women and Children; and the Government General Hospital.
* The projects include educational therapy for children, occupational therapy for the mothers and women, counselling and awareness and screening camps; nutrition projects, blood bank and drug bank.
* Can-Wish tries to fulfil the wishes of critically-ill children up to six years.
* Sponsor A Child helps children with a good prognosis by supplying them essential drugs for one year through individual sponsors.
Why you should say no
* No form of tobacco is safe: not cigarettes, cigars, gutka or pipes.
* Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It kills up to 50 per cent of its regular users.
* India has 184 million consumers with 55,000 children falling prey to it every year. Each year, 8,00,000 people in India die due to tobacco-related diseases.
* Smoking harms not only the smoker but also those around him/her who breathe the cigarette smoke.Second-hand smoke causes as many as 3,00,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia among infants each year.
* Second-hand smoke increases a child’s chances of middle ear problem, causes wheezing and coughing and worsens asthma conditions.
* Second-hand smoke causes heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory problems among other non-smokers.
It’s a familiar enough sight: “C’mon, I dare you! Take a puff. Don’t be a sissy; it’s not going to hurt…” And nine out of 10 youngsters fall a prey to their friend’s machinations. But you know it’s that Lone Ranger, the one that didn’t pick up the killer stick, who deserves the rounds of applause. ‘Cos it takes guts to stand up to your peers and say, “No, I won’t.”
Everyone’s read reams about killer tobacco and its effects on the human system but it doesn’t seem to have any impact. “That’s because of the ads,” says Dr. Vijaya Bharati Rangarajan of the NGO Can-Stop, a cancer support group that also works to spread the word about the ill-effects of tobacco. “Just look at those obviously fit and healthy people taking a puff. The message — the wrong one — is that smoking doesn’t affect you.” And then goes on to ask rhetorically, “Do you think anyone would pick up a cigarette if they saw these wasted and diseased bodies smoking?”
Even as the incidence of smoking falls in the developed countries, it’s on the rise in developing countries like India. Obviously the tobacco lobby doesn’t give up easy. There are laws against sale of tobacco products to minors, against smoking in public places … but who’s enforcing these. Kids are picking up the habit at a younger age today; as low as six or seven.
And there’s now way you can walk away and say, “it’s not my problem”. If you’re around a smoker, it is your problem. The smoke you inhale will cause as much damage to you as it does to smoker. The World Health Organisation estimates that at least 700 million people will die of second-hand smoke, most of them being children. If that’s the amount of damage second-hand smoke, think of the figures for smokers!
Taxes and bans may help deal with this but there’s something you can do as well: Quit or help others to quit. We know that smoking is contagious, but guess what quitting is contagious too. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine says that those who’re promising never to pick up another one influence friends, co-workers and relations. This study followed 12,000 people over three decades from 1971 to 2003 — many friends, relatives and colleagues of those studied also joined making the final tally 53,228 relationships — and found that people tend to quit in clusters.
Now, I don’t know if this info influenced Can-Stop but they’re beginning a Quitter’s Club on the lines of Smokers Anonymous. This self-help group with a difference is meant to motivate those treading that slippery path to Quitdom. Those who’ve kicked the habit can give pep talks and encourage their less-fortunate friends. Others will pitch in medical advice, strategies and whatever else the quitters need to stay away from the butt.
And, of course, there’s a lot for the youth. The rock show last Saturday should have sent home the “say no to cigarettes” message quite effectively. There’s more this week: a photo exhibition, which sees Chennai’s well known photographer Sharad Haksar exhibiting his take on the issue. Then the Madras Players, Chennai’s and India’s oldest English theatre group, will use drama to tell you all about tobacco (they’ve gone all the way back to King James I of England to get their matter). Look out for the sticker campaign from May 31, screening and counselling sessions, talks and much more.
If you want to get personally involved, then join Youth Can, the youth wing of Can-Stop. There’re no age limits or criterion. You get to help organise Can-Stop’s events, spread awareness in schools and colleges, talk to your peers and parents aboput the perils of smoking. So what’re you waiting for?
Want to join Can-Stop’s Quitters Club or Youth Can? Call their helpline 26284256 between 10.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. or e-mail canstop@smfhospital.org Can-Stop functions from Dr. Rangarajan Memorial Hospital, Shanti Colony, 4th Avenue, Anna Nagar West, Chennai 40. Website: www.canstop.org The Quitters Club will function at from their Resource Centre at 20A, D’Silva Road, Mylapore, Chennai 04. Ph: 24993515
About Can-Stop
* Can-Stop (Cancer Support Therapy to Overcome Pain) is a community-based, voluntary oragnisation dedeciated to helping cancer-affected people by offering counselling, information, advice, consolation and listening to not just the patients but also their families and friends.
* Can-Stop works with patients at the Institute of Child Health and Children’s Hospital, Egmore; Government Hospital for Women and Children; and the Government General Hospital.
* The projects include educational therapy for children, occupational therapy for the mothers and women, counselling and awareness and screening camps; nutrition projects, blood bank and drug bank.
* Can-Wish tries to fulfil the wishes of critically-ill children up to six years.
* Sponsor A Child helps children with a good prognosis by supplying them essential drugs for one year through individual sponsors.
Why you should say no
* No form of tobacco is safe: not cigarettes, cigars, gutka or pipes.
* Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It kills up to 50 per cent of its regular users.
* India has 184 million consumers with 55,000 children falling prey to it every year. Each year, 8,00,000 people in India die due to tobacco-related diseases.
* Smoking harms not only the smoker but also those around him/her who breathe the cigarette smoke.Second-hand smoke causes as many as 3,00,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia among infants each year.
* Second-hand smoke increases a child’s chances of middle ear problem, causes wheezing and coughing and worsens asthma conditions.
* Second-hand smoke causes heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory problems among other non-smokers.
' A Rocking Message' - The HIndu NXG
The World No Tobacco Day Rock Show was great as far as music went. But did the audience go home with the right message? HUDSTIN FERNANDEZ
The younger generation are the ones more into smoking today, says Arjun Rangarajan, one of the organisers of the rock show from Can-Stop”. The only way to get them to quit is through music. A similar event last year saw a fairly good response and so this year’s show was even bigger.
Can Stop’s holding a series of events to commemorate World No Tobacco Day on May 31 and the event that kicked off the series was “The World No Tobacco Day Rock Show”. May 24 saw three bands take the stage: Grey Shack, Panatella and Junkyard Groove.Grey Shack opened their show with their “Plastic Skin”. A few more originals later they launched into the Beatles’ cover “Day Tripper.
Up next was Panatella who proved themselves energetic although they were without their keyboardist. They brought energy into the crowd with their originals “Bend Over” and “205”. They also went on to play covers by the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.
The last band that evening was Junkyard Groove, who got the crowd on their feet with their favourite originals like “It’s Ok, Folk”, “You and Rock and Roll”. When they finished the crowd was singing one of their originals “Say Goodbye”, (hopefully to smoking as well)
Sunder, the bass guitarist of Panatella, felt that while the idea behind the show was good it is for the audience to pick the right message. Most of them were there to watch their favourite bands play, if they really got the message, then the event would be more successful, he said.
About 70 per cent of the crowd were youngsters from schools and colleges. A few even resolved to quit smoking by signing on the board placed at the entrance. A few said that at least a handful would go back with a resolution to stop smoking
The younger generation are the ones more into smoking today, says Arjun Rangarajan, one of the organisers of the rock show from Can-Stop”. The only way to get them to quit is through music. A similar event last year saw a fairly good response and so this year’s show was even bigger.
Can Stop’s holding a series of events to commemorate World No Tobacco Day on May 31 and the event that kicked off the series was “The World No Tobacco Day Rock Show”. May 24 saw three bands take the stage: Grey Shack, Panatella and Junkyard Groove.Grey Shack opened their show with their “Plastic Skin”. A few more originals later they launched into the Beatles’ cover “Day Tripper.
Up next was Panatella who proved themselves energetic although they were without their keyboardist. They brought energy into the crowd with their originals “Bend Over” and “205”. They also went on to play covers by the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.
The last band that evening was Junkyard Groove, who got the crowd on their feet with their favourite originals like “It’s Ok, Folk”, “You and Rock and Roll”. When they finished the crowd was singing one of their originals “Say Goodbye”, (hopefully to smoking as well)
Sunder, the bass guitarist of Panatella, felt that while the idea behind the show was good it is for the audience to pick the right message. Most of them were there to watch their favourite bands play, if they really got the message, then the event would be more successful, he said.
About 70 per cent of the crowd were youngsters from schools and colleges. A few even resolved to quit smoking by signing on the board placed at the entrance. A few said that at least a handful would go back with a resolution to stop smoking
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Smoke Signals - Play Reading & Photo Exhibition
Hey everyone, here's inviting you to Phase 2 of World No Tobacco Day!
Canstop in association with Madras Players Present 'Smoke Signals' . A humorous take on the smoking debate featuring quotes and extracts from Lewis Carrol, Joyce, Longfellow and Oscar Wilde.
No lectures or sermons,just humour alone :) Written and directed by Mithran Devanesen and featuring P.C.Ramakrishna,Freddy Koikaran,Vishalam Ekambaram amongst others.
Also be witness to a selection of Canstop's first photo exhibition, featuring the works of premier photgraphers Sharad Haksar, Satyajit Dhananjayan and Sunder.
Time: 7 pm on May 30th (fri) @ Chinmaya Heritage Centre , Harrington Road.
Donor Passes : Rs.100 (available at Landmark and Casa Picola)
Enquiries : 98410-61578
Monday, May 26, 2008
We Don't Want No Cigarettes - Ergo
We don’t want no cigarettes
May 25, 2008
In a lead up to World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) which falls on May 31, CanStop organised a rock show at the YMCA grounds on Saturday to campaign cancer care, and to get to the bottom of it all, spread the word about smoking and its ill effects.
This year, particularly because the 2008 theme for WNTD is Tobacco-free Youth, CanStop is interested in targeting ‘the same crowd that would turn up for a rock show’, therefore the 16-30 age group. Dr. Arjun Rangarajan, coordinator for tobacco control, CanStop says “Individuals in this age group are constantly on the move, and it is easy to develop a habit at a juncture in their career or relationships.
This leads to peer pressure, which shows in smoke breaks at work or commencing smoking after a relationship break-up.”
Which is why, Dr. Arjun explains, that a band like Junkyard Groove (JYG) was called to spread the word on smoking and its dangers. “We all know that the band smokes openly at other venues, but they’re an icon in the city, and they’ll draw in the target crowd.”
In fact, there was a pledge board just outside the venue, where concert-goers were asked to sign to show support. Siddharth Srinivasan, lead guitarist for JYG also signed the pledge, not confirming if he would give up smoking, but is ‘trying’.
The two other bands who played funk rock bands Panatella and Gray Shack, who drew in their fan base, and surprisingly although JYG is the bigger band of the three, in terms of gigs and visibility, there weren’t many who remained for the latter’s performance. The moshpit had all but 25 fans, which brings us to the question – was the campaign a success?
Dr. Arjun says “Numbers don’t count. Tobacco cessation programmes abroad are tailored to an individual’s needs, and even if we get 1 person thinking about quitting, we’re happy.” CanStop helpline: 26284256
May 25, 2008
In a lead up to World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) which falls on May 31, CanStop organised a rock show at the YMCA grounds on Saturday to campaign cancer care, and to get to the bottom of it all, spread the word about smoking and its ill effects.
This year, particularly because the 2008 theme for WNTD is Tobacco-free Youth, CanStop is interested in targeting ‘the same crowd that would turn up for a rock show’, therefore the 16-30 age group. Dr. Arjun Rangarajan, coordinator for tobacco control, CanStop says “Individuals in this age group are constantly on the move, and it is easy to develop a habit at a juncture in their career or relationships.
This leads to peer pressure, which shows in smoke breaks at work or commencing smoking after a relationship break-up.”
Which is why, Dr. Arjun explains, that a band like Junkyard Groove (JYG) was called to spread the word on smoking and its dangers. “We all know that the band smokes openly at other venues, but they’re an icon in the city, and they’ll draw in the target crowd.”
In fact, there was a pledge board just outside the venue, where concert-goers were asked to sign to show support. Siddharth Srinivasan, lead guitarist for JYG also signed the pledge, not confirming if he would give up smoking, but is ‘trying’.
The two other bands who played funk rock bands Panatella and Gray Shack, who drew in their fan base, and surprisingly although JYG is the bigger band of the three, in terms of gigs and visibility, there weren’t many who remained for the latter’s performance. The moshpit had all but 25 fans, which brings us to the question – was the campaign a success?
Dr. Arjun says “Numbers don’t count. Tobacco cessation programmes abroad are tailored to an individual’s needs, and even if we get 1 person thinking about quitting, we’re happy.” CanStop helpline: 26284256
"No Smoke Without Fire " - Indian Express
No smoke without fire
Saturday May 24 2008 13:16 IST
Saranya Chakrapani
"KIDS as young as three recognise cigarette ads. India and China that are the easiest targets of tobacco companies, owing to the massive chunk of teenage population,” said Dr Vijaya Bharathi Rangarajan, Trustee and Director- Community Services, Sundaram Medical Foundation, Dr Rangarajan Memorial Hospital.
On the eve of `World no-tobacco Day’, Canstop, a registered charitable organisation providing cancer support therapy has lined up a series of events to spread awareness on the hazards of the tobacco epidemic and this year, their main target is the youth.
This is in sync with the World Health Organisation’s theme for the World no-Tobacco Day : `Tobacco Free Youth’.
A press brief to launch the events, held in the city on Thursday, was attended by photographer/cinematographer Sharad Haksar, Mithran Devanesen of MTC Productions and VJ Paloma.
Sharad Haksar, who will be displaying his photographs at the exhibition, revealed that he is working on a series of five images.
“All the photographs have only cigarettes. I’m trying to convey the dangers of smoking through this,” he said.
Mithran Devanesen, who would be directing the play reading said, “Smoking is one of the hardest addictions, I know, because I was a chain smoker myself. Now I’ve quit. The first half of the play would be pro-smoking, and the second half anti-smoking.” VJ Paloma from SS Music said, “Smoking is the biggest waste of time. I’ve done quite a bit of research on it and the statistics are shocking.”
Canstop,which is now completing ten years, organises regular programmes on a daily basis, including counselling for patients and family members, home visits, referrals, nutritional supplement schemes, a Can-wish project (a project in aid of underpriviledged children), Sponsor a Child project, blood bank and Drug bank.
“The main idea behind the project this year is to de-glamourise smoking from the way it is projected as ‘cool’ by the media,” Dr Vijaya added.
Saturday May 24 2008 13:16 IST
Saranya Chakrapani
"KIDS as young as three recognise cigarette ads. India and China that are the easiest targets of tobacco companies, owing to the massive chunk of teenage population,” said Dr Vijaya Bharathi Rangarajan, Trustee and Director- Community Services, Sundaram Medical Foundation, Dr Rangarajan Memorial Hospital.
On the eve of `World no-tobacco Day’, Canstop, a registered charitable organisation providing cancer support therapy has lined up a series of events to spread awareness on the hazards of the tobacco epidemic and this year, their main target is the youth.
This is in sync with the World Health Organisation’s theme for the World no-Tobacco Day : `Tobacco Free Youth’.
A press brief to launch the events, held in the city on Thursday, was attended by photographer/cinematographer Sharad Haksar, Mithran Devanesen of MTC Productions and VJ Paloma.
Sharad Haksar, who will be displaying his photographs at the exhibition, revealed that he is working on a series of five images.
“All the photographs have only cigarettes. I’m trying to convey the dangers of smoking through this,” he said.
Mithran Devanesen, who would be directing the play reading said, “Smoking is one of the hardest addictions, I know, because I was a chain smoker myself. Now I’ve quit. The first half of the play would be pro-smoking, and the second half anti-smoking.” VJ Paloma from SS Music said, “Smoking is the biggest waste of time. I’ve done quite a bit of research on it and the statistics are shocking.”
Canstop,which is now completing ten years, organises regular programmes on a daily basis, including counselling for patients and family members, home visits, referrals, nutritional supplement schemes, a Can-wish project (a project in aid of underpriviledged children), Sponsor a Child project, blood bank and Drug bank.
“The main idea behind the project this year is to de-glamourise smoking from the way it is projected as ‘cool’ by the media,” Dr Vijaya added.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
" Stub It Out " - The Hindu Metro Plus
It’s World No Tobacco Day on May 31 and Canstop has several events lined-up to create awareness about the hazards of smoking. The first is a Rock Show that will be held on May 24 where Chennai’s foremost international band Junkyard Groove , apart from popular bands such as Panatella and Gray Shack, will perform. Another major event for this year’s WNTD is a Photo Exhibition — something that hasn’t been done in Chennai before, but a great way of drawing attention to an issue that concerns everyone. The exhibition will feature Chennai’s leading photographers, including Sharad Haksar, Satyajit Dhananjayan and Sunder and will run for a week from May 30 to June 6. After this, the idea is to make it a travelling exhibition which will visit corporate venues, schools, colleges and exhibition spaces around the city. The exhibition venue is the Alliance Francaise.
Coinciding with it, Canstop plans to organise a theatre evening, titled ‘Smoke Signals’, featuring a play reading presented by the Madras Players. It will have tobacco awareness and advocacy as its core themes against a humorous background. It will incorporate excerpts from Longfellow, Wilde, Joyce and Lewis Carroll among others and is directed by Mithran Devanesan. Theatre personalities such as Freddie Koikaran and P. C. Ramakrishna will participate in the event which will be held on May 30 at the Chinmaya Heritage Centre auditorium.
Apart from these Canstop’s regular programmes include cancer screening camps, a sticker campaign against smoking which will be launched on May 31, and installing of anti-smoking visuals on buses. Counselling and screening services are also available for employees of various organisations on the need to kick the smoking habit. Those who are interested can also join Canstop’s soon-to-be-launched Quitters Club or youth league, Youth Can.
For more details contact the Canstop Helpline at 26284256 or visist www.canstop.org
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The World No Tobacco Day Rock Show
All right boys and girls, so here it is.Our first event for World No Tobacco Day 2008. More details to follow. We have play readings and photo exhibitions up our sleeve.
Canstop Presents Junkyard Groove,Panatella and Gray Shack live in concert for World No Tobacco Day.
Invite all your friends and bring them along..'No smoker should be left behind'.. :)
Be there!
If your on facebook here's the event invite.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
World No Tobacco Day
A random assortment of images from all over on 'World No Tobacco Day' (May 31). This years theme is Tobacco Free Youth. More on that soon.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Who we are..
CAN-STOP is a registered charitable organization, now completing 10 years of service extended to patients belonging to the lower socio-economic strata in five government hospitals: Institute of Child Health, Govt. Women’s Hospital, Govt. General Hospital, Govt. Royapettah Hospital and the Arignar Anna Govt. Cancer Hospital (Kanchipuram). CAN-STOP continues to evolve as an advocate for cancer care.
Regular programs provided on a daily basis include counseling to patients and family members, home visits, referrals, nutritional supplement schemes, CAN-Wish project, Sponsor a Child project, Blood bank and Drug bank. Can-Stop places a major emphasis on organizing awareness camps for the community and screening camps for oral, cervical and breast cancers.
Regular programs provided on a daily basis include counseling to patients and family members, home visits, referrals, nutritional supplement schemes, CAN-Wish project, Sponsor a Child project, Blood bank and Drug bank. Can-Stop places a major emphasis on organizing awareness camps for the community and screening camps for oral, cervical and breast cancers.
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