Ms. Kelly Clarkson c/o Mr. Narvel Blackstock Starstruck Entertainment 40 Music Sq W, Nashville, TN 37203, USA
Fax nos.: (615) 259-5222/ 259-5202
Dear Ms. Kelly Clarkson, We are a regional alliance working on reducing tobacco consumption in the South East Asian region. We support ASEAN countries in developing and putting in place effective tobacco control policies. We wish to raise an important issue with you about your up-coming concert in Indonesia. We are disappointed that your concert in Indonesia is being sponsored by a tobacco company – Djarum under the L.A. Lights brand name. The advertisements for your concert seem to also promote L.A. cigarettes. When you accept tobacco sponsorship you endorse cigarettes and smoking. We are aware that your other concerts in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Macau are without tobacco sponsorship and your fans will enjoy your show in a tobacco-free environment. Just as practiced in the US, tobacco-free concert is the trend in most parts of Asia. Hence we are puzzled as to why you chose to accept tobacco sponsorship for the Indonesian concert. Nearly 80% of Indonesian smokers start smoking before the age of 19 years. Two out of every three Indonesian males are smokers. You have many fans in Asia and hence your Asian Tour has generated great excitement among young people particularly young girls. The age of smoking initiation is getting younger and concerts sponsored by tobacco such as your concert in Indonesia is an effective way to promote smoking to the young. It is not too late to rectify the situation. We urge you to halt the tobacco sponsorship of your concert in Indonesia and pull back all promotional materials for your concert that carries the L.A. Lights brand. It is important that you and your music are not associated with cigarettes and ill health. We hope you and your management will give this immediate and serious attention. If you need further information on the harms caused by smoking in Indonesia or about tobacco control kindly contact us. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,
Ms. Bungon Rithhiphakdee Director CC: Mr. Arist Merdeka Sirait, National Commission for Child Protection, Indonesia Mr. Matt Myers, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, USA
