LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY 2012 5375 SW 7TH Street, Ste. 100 Phone: 785/272-8396 Topeka, KS 66606 Fax: 785/272-5870 E-mail: [email protected]. WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR THAT IN- SPIRES ACTION by Ann Mason Writing letters to the editor can be an effective way of sharing your opinion and inspiring others to take positive action on issues that are of concern to you. Political leaders and other policy makers rely upon the editorials in newspapers to gauge the views of their constituents. The philanthropic actions of civic organizations are often inspired by issues facing the community that were initially inspired by letters to the editor. A letter to the editor, an op-ed piece, or a posting to a blog website may inspire everyday citizens to take action that truly makes a difference, and it even may inspire a reporter to pursue the issue fur- ther with a more in-depth article focusing on your issue. Have you ever heard someone tell a story or read something that immediately in- spired you to take action? Maybe you heard about a family who lost all of their pos- sessions in a fire, or you read about the imminent cancellation of a valuable communi- ty program due to funding cuts. Without the effort of another person bringing these issues to your attention, you never would have been in a position to help. Writing a letter to the editor is a way that you, too, can inspire others to take action and make a difference in countless areas. So, when you read about an issue that moves you, or see a story on television that makes you want to get involved, don't just sit there. Writing a letter to the editor gives you a chance to inspire action in people whom you will probably never meet. The key to getting your message out is to write a letter that has a chance to be pub- lished. Newspapers and other media receive many more letters than they have room to publish. So, ensure that your letter is concise, makes one simple point or deals with one basic issue, and follows the policies set forth by the media outlet. That way, you strengthen your chances of seeing your letter in print and of inspiring others to take action on your issue. Step 1: Choose an issue. The newspaper is filled each day with potential topics for your letter. Just pick something that moves you to share your opinion and your call-to-action with an audience. Step 2: Choose an outlet for your editorial. Newspapers are the traditional recipients of letters to the editor. Lists of newspapers all over the world and links to their websites can be found at RefDesk.com and the Internet Public Library. You also might consider sending your letter to a blog, where people discuss their views on issues, or to television and radio news programs that may not read your letter on the air but may be inspired to take action of their own and follow- up with a more in-depth story on your issue. Step 3: Write your letter. Don't worry about making it perfect. You won't be receiving a grade from your high school English teacher. Just try to keep it brief (150-200 words) and to the point. You might want to read some sample letters to the editor to get a feel for the standard format. Be sure to run spelling and grammar checks. Step 4: Proofread your letter, but not immediately after writing it. Set the letter aside for a while and come back to look it over with fresh eyes. When you read it, consider the reader. Does your letter communicate your point clearly? Do your words inspire action? If you're not sure, ask a friend or family member to read your editorial before you send it. Step 5: Send your letter to the editor. You can do this by email, fax or standard mail. Check with the recipient organization on the preferred method. If you are sending a letter to a newspa- per, be sure to sign your letter and provide your name printed clearly along with your address and telephone number. Newspapers will not publish anonymous letters, and although the newspaper will not share your address and phone number with its readers, someone from the paper may call you to confirm your identity. Template: Letter to the Editor <Name of Media Outlet or Publication> <Attention: > <Address 1> < Address 2> <City>, <State> <Zip or Postal Code> Dear Editor: <State your reason for writing here. If you are responding to articles or editorials by the media outlet, use the first sentence to reference the title of the article, name of the publication, and date it appeared.> <State your case here. Include facts, references, or research here to establish credibility. [Keep length in mind though. Acceptable letter length will vary from periodical to periodical. Look at their letters section to get a feel for an appropriate length.]> < Include a call to action, asking readers to follow up with some activity, such as joining in calling on policymak- ers to address the issue. > <End with a strong, positive statement in support of your case. > Sincerely, <Writer’s Signature> <Printed Name of Writer> <Address> <Telephone Number> Points to consider making in your letter to the editor WHO = World Health Organization World No Tobacco Day, 2012 (Thursday, May 31, 2012) World No Tobacco Day of 2012 will educate policy-makers and the general public about the tobacco industry’s nefarious and harmful tactics. Tobacco use is the world’s leading cause of death. Tobacco use kills up to half of its users. Tobacco use kills nearly six million people each year. More than 5 million are users and ex-users and more than 600,000 are nonsmok- ers exposed to e second-hand smoke. Unless urgent action is taken, the annual death toll could rise to more than eight million by 2030. Nearly 80% of the more than one billion smokers worldwide live in low-and middle-income country, where the burden of tobacco-related illness and death is heaviest. Approximately one person dies every six seconds due to tobacco and this accounts for one in 10 adult deaths. Consumption of tobacco products is increasingly globally, though it is decreasing in some high- income and upper middle-income countries. In some countries, children from poor households are frequently employed in tobacco farming to provide family income. They are vulnerable to “green tobacco sickness” which is caused by nicotine that is absorbed through the skin from the handling of wet tobacco leaves. WHO is committed to fight the global tobacco epidemic. Since 2005, The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has become one of the most widely embraced treating in the history of the United Nations with more than 170 parties covering 87% of the world’s population. The WHO Framework Convention is one of the most important tobacco control tool and a milestone in the promotion of public health. Known by the acronym MPOWER= 1) Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; 2) Protect people from tobacco use; 3) Offer help to quit tobacco use; 4) warn about the dangers of tobacco; 5) Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; 6) Raise taxes on to- bacco. Every day 80,000 to 100,000 young people around the world become addicted to tobacco. If trends continue, 250 million children and young people alive today will die from tobacco-related diseases. Secondhand smokes kills more than 600,000 people worldwide each year, including 165,000 children. EXAMPLES: On May 31, 2012 join thousands worldwide in raising awareness about the dangers of tobacco use, secondhand smoke, and the tobacco industry interference with public health. World Health Organization (WHO) member states created World No Tobacco Day in 1987. Tobacco use is the world’s leading cause of death, killing up to half of its users (nearly six million people) each year. More than 5 million are users and ex-users and more than 600,000 are nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke. Unless urgent action is taken, the annual world death toll could rise to more than eight million by 2030. WHO promoted a widely embraced treaty (MPOWER) in the United Nations, covering 87% of the world popula- tion. The tobacco industry’s brazen and increasingly aggressive attempt to undermine the treaty causes a seri- ous danger to public health. Effective tobacco control and commercial success of the tobacco industry are incompatible; but quite frankly, I’d rather be on the side of savings lives. (158 words) The World Health Organization (WHO) adopted “Tobacco Industry Interference” for the World No Tobacco Day theme on May 31, 2012. Interference? Is it like the chess term when a piece is sacrificially interposed between the attacker and defender? In this case the sacrificial piece between the attacker (Tobacco Industry) and the defender (WHO) are youth and low to middle-income countries (tobacco industry’s targets). Nearly 80% of the more than one billion smokers worldwide live where the burden of tobacco-related illness and death is heaviest. Every day 80,000 to 100,00 young people around the world become addicted to tobacco. If trends continue, 250 million children and young people alive today will die from tobacco-related diseases. Secondhand smokes kills more than 600,000 people worldwide each year, including 165,000 children. WHO is committed to fight the global tobacco epidemic and has promoted a widely embraced treaty (MPOWER) in the United Nations, covering 87% of the world population.