We sincerely thank Mr François Barras, Swiss Ambassador in Beirut and the Swiss Duo of violinists Zuber-Meyer for their contribution to the fundraising concert organized on April 1st 2008 at Mr Barras' residence.

Creating a tobacco control law in Lebanon (places, advertising, taxes…) was the main subject of the meeting held on October 14th at the Interior Ministry between Minister Ziad Baroud and representatives of WHO, the Ministry of Health and TFI.
The Interior Minister proposed to present the existing project of law (to be adapted to the new FCTC) to the Administration and Justice Commission in the Parliament to open the path on a real tobacco control law. While the process is on its way, Minister Baroud proposes to work on the implementation of the existing ministerial decision (that forbids tobacco consumption in public places…). Minister Baroud promised to work on a decree to be issued by the Minister’s Council, as far as public administrations are concerned. A commission including WHO, Ministry of Health and TFI representatives will be formed to work on the new legislation. Then the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Health and eventually the Minister of Education will study it, sign it and propose it to the Ministers’ Council before sending it to the Parliament. Minister Ziad Baroud declared being very determined to help on this issue.
To follow-up!

Il y a quelques années, la société Obegi Consumer Products a decide de transformer ses bureaux en espaces non fumeurs afin de réduire la nuisance occasionnée aux non-fumeurs ainsi qu’aux fumeurs. Evidemment, cette décision n’a pas fait que des heureux, certains collaborateurs ayant même eu beaucoup de mal à l’appliquer. Il a fallu utiliser la diplomatie et l’effet de surprise. La diplomatie pour faire comprendre aux fumeurs qu’ils gênent les autres et aux non-fumeurs, qu’ils ont le droit, et le devoir de se plaindre auprès d’eux. L’effet de surprise par des visites impromptus dans les étages, et spécialement chez les fumeurs ; de nombreux paquets de cigarettes et briquets ont été ainsi «saisis» et jetés pêle-mêle à la poubelle. Les fumeurs ont donc pris l’habitude de fumer dans la cage d’escalier, ce qui était autorisé. Quelque temps plus tard, à ma grande surprise, ceux-là même qui étaient les plus réticents à se conformer à l’interdiction de fumer dans les bureaux ont contribute à faire interdire la cigarette dans la cage d’escalier !! J’ai été ravi de constater que certains fumeurs ont d’eux-mêmes pris cette initiative.
Georges Obegi

GOING SMOKE-FREE FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR AT BLF

In an attempt to ensure a clean and healthy atmosphere, protect our staff members and clients from the harmful effects of passive smoking, we have opted for a smoke-free workplace in June 2005. Realizing that many of our employees were suffering in silence while exposing their health to major risks, we responded to their suggestions and reacted by producing a policy banning indoor smoking, namely smoking in all company premises except in those enclosed areas designated as smoking areas by the management. The ban was smoothly introduced and accompanied by the launch of an internal campaign covering issues such as the dangers of second hand smoking. We are constantly using our internal communication tools to preserve a healthy atmosphere and maintain awareness on the issue. We sent for instance thank you cards to all the smokers at BLF in order to thank them for their continuous efforts to refrain from smoking indoors and protect their colleagues from the harmful effects of second hand smoking. Some of the many other initiatives include the production of posters, stickers, screensavers and internal Quiz about the bad effects of smoking to reinforce our indoor ban on smoking. Being one of the first and few institutions in the country to have converted all of our premises into non-smoking areas, we took our initiative a step further by partnering with TFI, the only Lebanese non-governmental organization specialized in the fight against tobacco. Within the framework of our partnership with TFI we sponsor and support the fundraising process of the association in order to finance their various awareness activities.
Our social engagement stands particularly out in an unstable country like Lebanon, where the fight against tobacco consumption is not a priority on the Lebanese minds.