Worldwide massive protests lead to cancellation of Inter-tabac ASIA trade fair – more than 12,000 signatures on Change.org petition.
Two days ago the Westfalenhallen company informed the public on its homepage about the cancellation of the tobacco trade fair “Inter-tabac ASIA”, which was planned to be held on February 27th. and 28th: www.westfalenhallen.de/messen/intertabac-asia/en
The cancellation was preceded by worldwide massive protests. The governor of Bali had lately repeatedly announced, to stop the trade fair. The Westfalenhallen had praised Indonesia as “booming” tobacco market and at the same time completely ignored, that the extremely high number of adolescent smokers would rise even more due to the planned trade fair. The Westfalenhallen company is completely owned by the city of Dortmund.
Johannes Spatz, spokesman of Forum Rauchfrei (Smoke-free Forum), rejoices over the fact, that the tobacco trade fair could be successfully stopped. “The effective international opposition against the city of Dortmund’s tobacco trade fair gives reason for hope, that the tobacco industry will not be able to expand without limits and that a city must not push the tobacco industry’s business. We will keep on fighting, so that this tobacco trade fair does not stand a chance in Indonesia, Asia or elsewhere.”
Max Vollmer, chairman of Deutscher Jugendschutzverband (German Association for Youth Protection) based in Dortmund: “The mayor of Dortmund, who is politically responsible, was aware of the massive protests against the trade fair and still didn’t stop it. It is intolerable, that a mayor should rate profit higher than health.”
Yosef Rabindanata Nugraha, chairman of Indonesia Bebas Rokok (Smoke-free Indonesia) expresses his thankfulness: “Without our supporters from Indonesia and Germany we would not have succeeded. This victory belongs to all of us. To the Westfalenhallen: We do not want your tobacco trade fair in Indonesia. Get out of our country and all of Asia!”
Sonja von Eichborn, a representative of Unfairtobacco.org, interprets the trade fair’s cancellation also as a signal to the city of Dortmund, which was honoured with the title of fair trade-city. “In view of the exploitative child labour in tobacco growing, Dortmund must face the obligation, not longer to promote the sale of tobacco products This must also apply to affiliated companies.”
The alliance “Dortmund Kills” of Forum Rauchfrei (Smoke-free Forum), Indonesia Bebas Rokok (Smoke-free Indonesia), Deutscher Jugendschutzverband (German Association for Youth Protection), Unfairtobacco.org and Stiftung rauchfei leben (Foundation for a Smoke-free Life) has been fighting since November 2013 to stop Dortmund’s tobacco trade fair in Bali. The alliance considers the city-owned trade fair company’s bearings to be a violation of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention, which calls for a comprehensive ban of the promotion of tobacco products.
Contact:
Johannes Spatz (Forum Rauchfrei): +49 30 74755922; +49 176-24419964
Yosef Rabindanata Nugraha (Indonesia Bebas Rokok): +62 856-9114 6768, yosefrabindanata@gmail.com
Max Vollmer (Deutscher Jugendschutzverband): +49 231-2201901
Sonja von Eichborn (Unfairtobacco.org): +49 30-694 6101
Download: Press release as PDF file