IOGT International News Briefing Spring 2011
IOGT International sent a Press release on World Health Day concerning decision-makers showing political will to fight against non-communicable diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners use this opportunity to both cherish the advances made in world health and to gather momentum for tackling existing problems.
IOGT International strongly participates in the commemoration as Mr Sven-Olov Carlsson, President of IOGT International, points out: “IOGT International has for more than 160 years been part of the global efforts to promote development by improving public health. Therefore World Health Day is important to reflect what is left to do: still today we face major threats to global health and positive societal development. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are one such key issue because they kill three out of five humans in the world. It is crucial on World Health Day, that decision-makers get the facts right. We urge ministers from all over the world to show political will to take clear measures in a coherent approach for reducing NCDs. To reach the Millennium Development goals and to foster social development all over the world we need clear, binding commitments from governments.”
EUCAM report on the “Seven Key Messages of the Alcohol Industry”
EUCAM (The European Centre for Monitoring Alcohol Marketing) has published a report called "‘Seven Key Messages of the Alcohol Industry”. They address how the Alcohol Industry resists legal restrictions and how companies profit from governments with a policy that legally restricts them as little as possible.
Worldwide, the Alcohol Industry takes a stand against measures such as the raising of excise-duty, the introduction of minimum prizes for cheap booze, raising the minimum age for buying alcoholic beverages, restricting the number of outlet points, putting warning labels on products and restricting advertisement.
Policy restrictions in South Africa
Adrian Botha, director of the Association for Responsible Alcohol Use, told media representatives attending the Audit Bureau of Circulations' presentation in Cape Town, that South Africa had been singled out by the World Health Organisation as a country that has a high growth in binge drinking.
He said that the Department of Health had expressed its concerns and was already talking about health warnings on labels. The minister of health was considering advertising bans and banning the sale of alcohol on Sundays. The City of Cape Town's liquor by-laws proposed a levy on alcohol as well as reduced availability.
Botha also said that the WHO's Resolution WHA 61.4 was being described as "the most significant review of alcohol policy in 25 years".
ACTIVE Europe
Active's upcoming seminar has the title "Speak up for the environment". It will give the participants tool and knowledge on how to improve the situation around them. They will get facts, debate techniques, and practice on the topic. They will also find out how environmental issues are linked to alcohol policy and the vision Active has. The seminar takes place from May 15th to 21st of May 2011 in Kiev, Ukraine.
Read about other ACTIVE activities on their website www.activeeurope.org<http://
News from India
IOGT International new member ITYF has launched their website. Indian Temperance Youth Federation (ITYF) is a national level temperance movement, working for the promotion of “Living Drug Free” lifestyle among adolescent children and youths. Amardeep, Brain Society, the MSSG, Nada India Foundation and Temperence Association Orissa are among the members.
As a part of their rehabilitation work Brain Society conducted one training programme on Shell Work on Sarees. Under this programme 30 women were trained shell work on sarees. The duration of the training was 13 days. The women selected for this training were rural women from addicted families. After the training they will receive help to get bank loans and to start micro level production units in their own houses.
Alcohol and violence among the Indegenious population of Australia
Australian aboriginee population suffer from a high crime rate and violence. In an article Senior legal aid lawyer Russell Goldflam from Alice Springs claims that alcohol needs to be tackled in order to get to the root of the problem. The front bar at Alice Springs’ most famous drinking hole, the Todd Tavern, has long been called the Animal Bar. Along with a couple of other outlets, it operates from 10am until 2pm, when it shuts. 2pm is the opening time of the takeaway bottleshop next door.
In Alice Springs we drink about 20 litres of pure alcohol per person per year, twice the national average, and four times the planet’s average. Police records show that between 70 and 90 per cent of our assaults are alcohol related. Most of the victims are women, and almost all of them are Aboriginal.
From the office
Annual report 2010
For those of you who still have not sent in your annual report for 2010 please open the attached Annual report form 2010 and return the filled in form by email to iogti@iogt.se or by fax to 0046 31 3380450 or by post to IOGT International, Granviksliden 2,
435 35 Mölnlycke, Sweden.
Report from the latest Board Acting Committee-meeting in March in Vienna, Austria
At the meeting there was a presentation by Andres Pihlström, responsible for the Branding process of IOGT International, concerning the issues of creating a new website and starting to use social media as well as formulating a profile document.
The financial report said that there was a deficit in 2010 due to the International Congress and that the Branding process is costing more than originally budgeted for.
The International President Sven-Olov Carlsson and the International Deputy President Kristina Sperkova had met for a discussion concerning finding external funding for IOGT International and after Mr Carlsson’s suggestion it was decided that IOGT International, together with ACTIVE, will use the services of European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) to come up with suggestions of suitable funding opportunities at a workshop in May.
The International President reported on Eurocare’s collaboration with HAPI on an EU funded project “EU/US civil society dialogue”. HAPI is an international health partnership and the purpose of the project is to develop an understanding of the situation and key issues relating to underage drinking control in the EU and US, and the key routes for influencing alcohol policy.
IOGT Poland has had a new start thanks to new members and the support of IOGT-NTO in Sweden who has had collaboration for several years with youth camps and exchanges. You can visit the IOGT Poland webpage here: www.iogt.pl<http://www.iogt.
Rolf Hüllinghorst informed about an Autumn Festival of IOGT Global Circle in Brandenburg, Germany, 17 -24 September 2011.
Special guest Rachanikorn Sarasiri from IOGT Thailand gave a presentation of the area of Hua Hin, Thailand which is the suggested site for the next International Congress in 2014. It was also discussed how ACTIVE can take part even if their Congress will be held in Europe. The dates suggested are the 27-31 of October 2014.
Regional Conference
IOGT International will host a Regional Conference together with GAPA, International Institute of the IOGT-NTO movement, Forut Norway and the Thai Health Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand on the 28-30 of November 2011. More information onwww.gapc2011.com<http://www.
Upcoming meetings:
AC-meeting on the 4th September in Stockholm, Sweden
Board meeting on the 27th November in Bangkok, Thailand