Abstract
In September of 1981, tobacco industry public relations consultant Leonard Zahn infiltrated and recorded the proceedings of a tobacco control conference held in Sri Lanka. In his report on the conference, Zahn offers a dismal portrayal of the conference, saying:
"The overwhelming poverty of Sri Lanka seemed somehow to be reflected in the poor organization, management and quality of the conference. The oppressive heat in Colombo and the background of current racial tensions, which had resulted in several deaths just before the conference opened, undoubtedly were responsible for the failure of many scheduled speakers to show up."
However, Zahn highlighted an effort by the regional tobacco company to put a beneficial PR face on itself during the time the conference was ongoing:
"During the conference, the Ceylon Tobacco Company ran a full-page ad in a local newspaper on its expanding and profitable orchid growing project. The ad noted the company's "application of our vast agricultural experience to fields other than tobacco cultivation." The project was begun in 1979; more than 1500 growers are now raising orchids for export..."
This indicates how tobacco companies (especially in poorer countries) attempt to improve public opinion about their companies while not actually changing their corporate behavior with regard to public health.
Fields
- Quotes
The overwhelming poverty of Sri Laruka seemed somehow-to be
reflected in the poor organization, management and quality of the conference. The oppressive heat in Colombo and the background of current racial tensions, which had resulted in several deaths just before the conference opened, undoubtedly were responsible for the failure of many scheduled speakers to show up. This led to unannounced program changes and shifts that added to the confusion.
It was, in short, a rather unproductive meeting, and many
who came from the Japanese meetings expressed disappointment.
The organizers, supported by WHO and UICC, may have felt
that two sessions on smoking would spark a little interest. But these sessions, one on smoking control, were dull and dispirited. The speakers were repetitive, uninspired and uninspiring, and the audience, containing mostly volunteers and school teachers, was only politely attentive. An expected antismoking resolution was proposed and adopted.
Perhaps the most interesting non-event of the meeting was
the non-appearance of Jesse Steinfeld, who was scheduled to
lead off a session on "Smoking Control in Relation to Cancer." No explanation was given for his absence; his place on the program was taken by Michael Kunze of Vienna, a UICC consultant in smoking matters. Kunze spoke on "Progress in the fight against cancer," the subject listed for Steinfeld. It was the same old material, similar to what Kunze deliveredat the Nagoya workshop a few weeks earlier...
[From Page 2, Bates No. 2026255372]:
Sri Lanka Health Minister Gamani Jayasuriya, in a wel-
coming speech, said cancer in his country and in other developing countries was increasing...Governments everywhere know that tobacco "kills," Jayasuriya said, but little is done because of tax revenues. It would be
"virtually impossible and perhaps socially disastrous"
to ban tobacco, he continued, but people should be encouraged to smoke in moderation...
[From Page 4, Bates No. 2026255374]:
During thebconference, the Ceylon Tobacco Company ran a
full-page ad in a local newspaper on its expanding and profitable orchid growing project. The ad noted the company's "application of our vast agricultural experience to fields other than tobacco cultivation." The project was begun in 1979; more than 1500 growers are now raising orchids for export..."
- Company
- Philip Morris
- Author
- Zahn, Leonard S. (CTR Public Relations consultant)
Leonard Zahn & Associates, Public Relations consultant to the tobacco industry
- Recipient
- Hoyt, Willson Thomas (W. Thomas) (CTR, President, Executive Director 1954-1984)
Previously with Hill & Knowlton
RegionSri Lanka
Named OrganizationASH, Action on Smoking & Health
Asia Pacific Cancer Conference
Asia Pacific Cancer Group
Ceylon Tobacco
Smoking Control Workshop
International Union Against Cancer
World Health Organization (Concerned with global public health)International organization concered with public health worldwide
American Cancer Society
LitigationStmn/Produced
Named PersonUragoda, C.G.
Bass, F.
Ganeshananthan, N.
#24887 (Hirayama)
Jayasuriya, G.
Kunze, M.
Scanlon, E.
Simpson, D.
Steinfeld, Jesse Leonard, M.D. (Oncologist, Retired, Med. College of Georgia, Anti-Tobacco E)Plaintiff
Stephen, S.J.
Stjernsward, J.
TypeMEMO, MEMORANDUM
CHAR, CHART, GRAPH, TABLE, MAPS
REPT, REPORT, OTHER
Subjectpromotions
corporate intelligence
Document Images
Page 1: ydu25e00
October 23, 1981
AIEMORANDUM
TO: W. T. Hoyt CC: WDH
RG
FROM: Leonard and Hilda Zahn SCS
. RCH
SUBJECT: Asia-Pacific Cancer Conference
Colombo, Sri Lanka,'Sept. 1-4, 1981
NOTEWORTHY ITEM:
UICC sponsored "Smoking Control Workshops" are to be held
in Singapore, Pakistan and Kuwait.
-0-
The overwhelming poverty of Sri Lanka seemed somehow-to be
reflected in the poor organization, management and quality of
the conference. The oppressive heat in Colombo and the background
of current racial tensions, which had resulted in several deaths
just before the conference opened, undoubtedly were responsible
for the failure.of many scheduled speakers to show up. This led
to unannounced program changes and shifts that added to the con-
fusion.
. It was, in short, a rather unproductive meeting, and many
who came from the Japanese meetings expressed disappointment,
The organizers, supported by WHO and UICC, may have felt
that two sessions on smoking would spark a little interest. But
these sessions, one on smoking control, were dull and dispirited.
The speakers were repetitive, uninspired and uninspiring, and
the audience, containing mostly volunteers and school teachers,
was only politely attentive. An expected antismoking resolution
was proposed and adopted.
Perhaps the most interesting non-event of the meeting was
the non-appearance of Jesse Steinfeld, who was scheduled to
lead off a session on "Smoking Control in Relation to Cancer."
No explanation was given for his absence; his place on the pro-
gram was taken by Michael Kunze of Vienna, a UICC consultant in
smoking matters. Kunze spoke on "Progress in the fight against
cancer," the subject listed for Steinfeld. It was the same old
material, similar to what Kunze delivered'at the Nagoya work-
shop a few_weeks earlier.
Some highlights:
1, Takeshi Hirayama,.an officer of the Asia-Pacific cancer
group, was on the program here too, speaking on "Recent epi- _
demiologic evidence of the cancer problem related to smoking.."
It was pretty much the same story, this time with a little more.
eonard
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)_ M PUBLIC RELATIONS COUNSEL
La4nhn
2dlAssociatesInc
(P. O. BOX 223) 13 LINCOLN ROAD GREAT NECK, N.Y. 11021 (212) 895-7445
Page 2: ydu25e00
2.
His data, he said, suggest a trend between smoking and breast
cancer, but it's not statistically significant. He finds no re-
lationship between smoking and cancer of th e prostate and kidney,
but he linked almost every other cancer to smoking, including
cancer of the cervix.
He said data from Nagasaki and Hiroshima show the importance
of radiation in cancer. One cigarette, he said, contains (emits)
1-4 millirads.
Hirayama showed a slide that, he said, summarized his evid-
ence of the effects of direct and indirect smoking. A copy is
reproduced at the end of this memo.
2. By a voice vote, those present adopted a resolution that
began: "It is the view of this conference that smoking poses the
greatest public health problem of this century and that a major
reduction in smoking could do more to reduce deaths from cancer,
heart and respiratory disease than any other single measure that
might be taken. It accordingly calls upon all government to take
appropriate steps to discourage smoking by all means available."
The steps included: prohibition of tobacco advertising and
promotion, prohibition of sales to minors, a "health tax" on
tobacco products, restrictions on smoking in public places, in-
creased public education and information programs, warning labels,
and nonsmokers rights.
3. Sri Lanka Health Minister Gamani Jayasuriya, in a wel-
coming speech, said cancer in his country and in other develop-
ing countries was increasing. (Cancer ranks seventh as a cause
of death in Sri Lanka.) A WHO-supported program in Sri Lanka is
aimed at lowering the incidence of oral cancer which, he said,
is caused by betel-tobaco chewing and smoking. The program also
seeks to improve overall cancer prevention and control.
Oral cancer is the leading cancer in his country, the min-
ister said. Health professionals are trying to get people to
chew betel without adding tobacco to the quid, to remove the
quid at night and to rinse t.heir mouths thoroughly. In addition
to chewing, he also included food additives, poor diet and en-
vironmental chemicals.
Cxovernments everywhere know that tobacco "kills," Jaya-
suriya said, but little is done because of tax revenues. It
would be "virtually impossible and perhaps socially disastrous"
to ban tobacco, he continued, but people should be encouraged
to smoke in moderation.
4. J.oStjernsward, head of WHO's cancer unit, gave some de-
tails of the anticancer program in Sri Lanka. The pilot aspect
should be completed by 1982, he said, and if the results are
good, a long-term program will be put into effect.
Page 3: ydu25e00
5. In a report on esophageal cancer in Sri Lanka, N: Ganesha-
nanthan said the incidence of the disease in women was greater
than in men (1:0.55). Standardized rates per 100,000 population
were g-iven as 8.6 for men; 159 for women.
Of 510 cases seen between 1968 and 1981, about 40% were in
women under age 49. A total of 47% occurred in women of Indian
Tamil extraction (recent origin, as contrasted with Tamils who
came from India a long time ago). This was considered to be
highly unusual.
6. Colombo thoracic physician S.J. Ste hen said lung cancer
incidence in Sri Lanka was low. An 1-year period turned up
184 cases, 78 of whoai were nonsmokers (including 36 women).
The country has a population of some 14-million.
Another study (1964-69) found 5 lung cancers in more than
2000 autopsies. X-rays of 65,000 patients disclosed only 13 cases,
he said.
Smoking by:Sri Lankan women is nonsignificant, Stephen said,
adding that it was an important factor in male lung cancers.
A high incident of adenocarcinoma of the lung was found in
both sexes, About 70% of the cancers found were in the periphery
of the lung.
7. Discussing smoking and lung cancer in Sri Lanka, C.G.
Uragoda of Colombo said women smoke very little and that cig-
arette smoking itself was low because of the cost of cigarettes.
Sri Lankans smoke cigarettes and also bidis and cheroots, he
said. The latest survey of smoking habits was done in 1969 in
the city of Kandy: 264 of 548 men smoked and only 9 of 579 women.
Kandy is a town that broadly represents the entire country,
Uragoda said.
While lung cancer is not'a problem, he said, cigarette con-
sumption has been rising steadily since 1961. More women than
men chew betel leaves but not all add tobacco to the chew.
Esophageal cancer is commoner in women than in men. .
Uragoda talked on esophageal cancer at another session,
saying that the disease occurs because chewers swallow the
saliva that contains betel juice. Lime, which often is added
to the betel-tobacco quid, may be a factor also, but this is
not known.
The chewing habits is picked up early -- by 7- and 8-year-
old children -- especially in the rural areas (most of Sri Lanka
is rural).
8. A two-hour, UICC-sponsored "Smoking Control Workshop"
Page 4: ydu25e00
4.
was held one afternoon under the guidance of David Simpson, who
heads up "Action on Smoking and Health" in England, and Frederick
Bass,_a Vancouver, B.C., Can., physician who has appeared at
other'such workshops. Their comments were as expected.
Stjernsward, also in attendance,.proposed that Sir Lanka be-
come a "target-directed" country, with help from WHO and UICC,
to serve as the first major "battleground" against the tobacco
industry.
(The antismoking resolution later adopted at the conference
was proposed at the workshop by some Sri Lankan doctors.)
-0-
Miscellany:
American Cancer Society president Edward Scanlon was at the
conference to chair a session on oral cancer. In a newspaper in-
terview he included the standard ACS comments on smoking.
During the conference, the Ceylon Tobacco Company ran a
full-page ad in a local newspaper on its expanding and profitable
orchid growing project. The ad noted the company's "application
of our vast agricultural experience to fields other than tobacco
cultivation." The project was begun in 1979; more than 1500
growers are now raising orchids for export.
Page 5: ydu25e00
Takeshi Hirayama
Asia-Pacific Cancer Conference
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Sept. 1-4, 1981
Tar (Carcinogens,
Promoter)
:I icotine
Carbon Monoxide
r.itrogen Dioxide
Hydrogen Cyanide
etc.
Tobacco
Disease
Main stream smoke
Tobacco cancers (Ca. Larynx, Lung, Mouth, Pgarynx,
Esophagus, Stomach, Liver,;Pancreas,
Bladder, Cervix, etc.)
Respiritory Tobacco Disease (Emphysema, Asthma,
Direct Smoking Chronic bronchitis, etc.)
Tobacco Disease Circulatory Tobacco Disease (Ischemic Heart Disease,
Aneurysm, Thromboangiitis
obliterans, etc.)
Digestive Tobacco Disease (Peptic Ulcer,
Liver Cirrhosis, etc.)
Psycho-Neuro Tobacco Disease (Insomnia, Neurosis, etc.)
Others (Tobacco Amblyopia)
(Secondhand Smoke)
Side stream smoke
s~~ssz9zaz
Indirect Smoking
Tobacco Disease4
Air pollution (Urban Tobacco disease) vi
Tobacco Disease Asbests, Chromium etc. (Occupational
combined with ~Tobacco Disease), Pills (Myocardial
Infarction), Alcoho2s (Ca: Esophagus
Mouth, Pharynx, Liver), High Fat Diet
(Cdronary Heart Disease, Ca. Pancreas)
Fetal Tobacco Disease (Stillbirth, Premature Birth,
Congenital Anomaly, SFD, etc.)
Infant Tobacco Disease (Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Asthma,
Cancer)
Adult Tobacco Disease
Tobacco Allergie
Respiratory Tobacco Disease (Respiratory
Malfunction -~ )
Circulatory Tobacco Disease (Circulatory
Malfunction --~ )
Tobacco Cancer (Lung cancer, etc.)
Others
