In the first decade of the 21st century the International Campaign vs second hand smoking in public, hence in- and outside was started upon the publication of a Dutch paperarticle: 'Less heartattacks in a smokefree town': the city being Helena in Montana.
The protection vs second hand smoke can ofcourse only be achieved through a prohibition of smoking in public.
Unnecessary to say that besides the majority of non-smokers, also a number of smokers is very happy with the campaign: it helps us to get rid of our addiction, they say.
At first, the campaign was conducted through a petition. Later the strategy was changed into the approach of Dutch and other prominent individuals and organizations, representing a variety of backgrounds: from Olympic champs to the president of the Dutch Central bank and pianist Wibi Soerjadi.
So far about a hundred and forty prominents sent a letter of recommendation.
Upon seeing in 2012 the 6 minute internetreport Malawi's tobacco-children, concerning childslavery on tobacco-plantations, in the Belgian news, their shocking situation was added as second issue.
Who is part of the group of prominents?
Dutch individuals:
A. Adank LLM
Frédérique Ankoné
prof dr Bernard Bichakjian
Peter Blangé
drs Harry van Bommel
Richard Bottram
John van den Brom
prof dr Hans Büller
prof dr Erik Buskens
prof dr Hans Clevers
drs Victor DeConinck
prof dr José van Dijck
prof dr Robbert Dijkgraaf
Pieter van Elteren
Bas van de Goor
prof dr Hans Grobbée
dr Michal Heger
Wouter Olde Heuvel
Ria Olde Heuvel
prof dr Leonard Hofstra
prof dr Maria Hopman
drs Jérôme de Jong van Lier LLM
prof dr Herre Kingma
Annemarie Klostermann LLM
prof dr Klaas Knot
Victoria Koblenko
Jan Koehorst
Ronald Koeman
Antoon Kox
Chjanoy Kromowidjojo
Netty Kromowidjojo
Ranomi Kromowidjojo
Rudi Kromowidjojo
drs Björn Kuipers
drs Gerd Leers
Josine Leers LLM
dr Pim van Lommel
drs Roy Martina
drs Marcel Messing
Babette Meulenbelt
Jan Herman Mogendorff
dr J. Molema
drs Jan Nieuwenhuis
Nanny Nooijen
Tom Okker
Miriam Oremans
Jan Paalman
prof dr Mark Post
prof dr Dirkje Postma
drs Gustave Raaijmakers
prof dr Lucas Reijnders
dr Alexander Rinnooy Kan
Lone van Roosendaal
Charl de Roy van Zuydewijn
Dorian van Rijsselberghe
prof dr Onno van Schaijck
prof dr Erik Scherder
drs Leon van Schie LLM
Jan Schinkelshoek
prof dr Ton Schoffelmeer
drs Ignace Schretlen
prof dr Guus Schrijvers
Joyce Schulte LLM
drs Martin Sitalsing
Jan Smeets
Wibi Soerjadi
drs Paul van Spiegel
Gerard Spong LLM
Roeland Storm LLM
prof dr Dick Swaab
drs R. Trossèl
Jan van der Valk LLM
dr P. van der Valk
drs J. Vellenga
dr Mirjam van Velthoven
dr Jacques Vink
Jeanne Vink
Simon Vroemen
prof dr Leo Wetzels
Frans Willeme LLM
Rob Witschge
Ron Zwerver
Dutch organizations:
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital / René Medema
Astmafonds Twente
de Biltstars
Drieeenheidsschool
Gerrit Komrijcollege
FC Twente / Joop Munsterman
I Care productions/Jeroen Plemp
KBO
KNMG
KNVB/Michael van Praag
KWF/Jeroen Meerburg
NOC-NSF/André Bolhuis
Ohra
Players United
PSV/Toon Gerbrands
RvB Radboud hospital
Sap advocaten
Ski-vereniging Nederland
Solfilm produkties
Thialfstadion
UMC Utrecht/prof dr J. Kimpen
Dutch Association of medical specialists
Zorgverzekeraars NL
International individuals:
prof dr Roger Blanpain
Rev. Marc Blessing
prof dr Allan Brandt
dr Patricia Daly
Richard Davies
dr Ronny Dharmawan
dr Hans Diehl
Sandra Gittleman
Stuart Gittleman
dr Hans Grönefeld
prof dr Steven Gundry
dr Hermann Heeger
dr Eric Heiden
Dan Jansen
dr A. Keivanjah
drs Rollo Koevoet
dr Stuart Kreisman
Jos Lansink
drs Kok Lo
Ruth Munn
dr Volker Pannen
Derek Parra
Errol Povah
dr dr Friedrich Portheine
dr Rhodes Rigsby
dr Jacques Rogge
dr Amrane Rouar
Andrea Scholand
Phil Shaw
dr Max Testa
dr Heiko de Vries
drs Ben van der Weiden LLM and colleagues
International organizations
Church of the Seventh Day AdventistsEuregiokliniek
Europian Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
Loma Linda University
Paulinen hospital
Physicians for a smokefree Canada
In October 2015 a highly unexpected and remarkable meeting took place: Nobelpeaceprizelaureate 2014 mr Kailash Satyarthi and his spouse paid a visit to a longtime befriended couple in Europe. In connection with the campaign I was invited to assist their public presentation.
During the event I even was able to speak briefly to both husband and wife, which made me feel very privileged. His reaction to the campaign was very positive: 'very good. I never smoked in my whole life'.
The couple did not show any diva behavior.