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ETRA Association
PL 94
33101 TAMPERE
tel. +358-50-3743 893
fax +358-3-3600454
www.etra-liitto.fi
etra@sdafin.org
Copyright 2009 ETRA-liitto ry
ETRA Association
ETRA-liitto ry (ETRA Association) is a Finnish temperance NGO with several local branches all over the country. Its goal is to promote healthy and temperate lifestyle habits by health education, lectures, seminars, booklets, health papers and vegetarian restaurants etc. It is a SDA Temperance Organization.
1956
ETRA Association is established with the name Elämäntavat Raittiiksi - Liitto r.y. The first chairman was Ph.D. Henning Karström. He was an well-known biochemist and had been working together with A. I. Virtanen, when this received his Nobel prize in biochemistry. Karström's studies in entzyms are still highly values as a pioneer work in the area.
Professor Henning Karström was interested in vegetarian diet and wrote about the benefits of using vegetables and fruits. He also wrote againt the use of coffee and how the diet can influence the use of alcohol.
1957
The first film against tobacco smoking "One in 20.000" is ordered to Finland and it is shown in schools. By the year 1991 ETRA Association has the largest temperance film and video loan service center in Finland.
Dr. Leo Hirvonen was chosen as a chairman. He will lead the organization for about 40 years. His work as a Professor of Physiology in the University of Turku and in the University of Oulu and as an editor of Terveys (Health) magazine has been valued. He was among the first pioneers talking against tobacco in Finland and and among the main authorities when planning the first tobacco laws to Finland.
1960
Road to health -correspondence course is planned together with the Bible Corresponce School.
The first vegetarian cooking course is arranged during the camp for mothers.
1961
Smoke Signals -paper is established. During the next three decades 30.000 - 100.000 copies of this paper planned for the school kids was delivered to the students in the schools each year. The reprints were largest (90.000-100.000) in the beginning of 1970s just before the first tobacco laws were given in Finland.
1964
The first Stop Smoking in Five Days -course is arranged in Helsinki in Finland.
1967
The first time the shortening ETRA is used with the name of the association: Elämäntavat raittiiksi -liitto ETRA ry.
Tauno A. Luukkanen is chosen as a managing leader. He was a man of great plans and deeds. Together with Leo Hirvonen he succeeded to draw the ETRA Association among the leading temperance associations in Finland.
1969
Savu-Sirkku (Smoking Susan) is introduced to the Finnish public during the Finlands 50 year Fair.
The project continues and had by the turn of the century reached about 900.000 Finnish young people in the schools and fairs. Smoking Susan was a mannekine doll which could smoke and had lungs of glass with white fiber that became dark because of smoking. Later the lungs of a pig has been used to show how dark the lungs can become because of smoking.
1970
The first temperance poster "Money and Life" (Heikki O. Jokinen) was published by ETRA Association. Later the posters and their message was changed more positive: "Young, healthy, smokefree" (HOJ). The poster which has has been sold most was "Your cigarrette distroys the lungs of the earth" (HOJ).
1971
A large torch march against smoking was arranged in Tampere. Several similar marches were arranged later in other cities.
1973
Stop Smoking in Five Days -course material was translated and published in Finnish. The layout was made by H.O.Jokinen.
All over Finland large Stop Smoking -courses are arranged, the largest 1975 in Helsinki in Alvar Aalto's recently built Finlandia-house and in another larger facility in the town.
1975
ETRA Association got a new logo.
1980
The name of the organization was changed to ETRA-liitto ry.
In Helsinki many temperance organizations are marching against free selling of beer with the theme "Keskiolut Alkoon".
1986
The Smoking Intervention program began in Tanzania. It continued to 1993, when the film "Tobacco in Tanzania" by Kai Kalima and Finnish Radio became ready. The film has been shown several times in Finnish and Swedish TV.
Tobacco in Tazania -video
1993
Interactive computer program Aikapommi (Time Bomp) against Tobacco Smoking is planned. 1998 it was made as CD.
The tobacco intervention project as WHO:s consult began in Tiantsin in China.
1994
The temperance work in Finland was rearranged and ETRA-liitto chooses to work with Raittiuden Ystävät, the oldest temperance organization in Finland established in 1853. As an another partner to ETRA-liitto the Christian Blue Ribbon -organization is chosen.
1995
The booklet Vine in the Bible is published.
1997
Parents with Responsibility -program is planned together with Raittiuden Ystävät. It is found to be uptodate topic. The booklet is chosen the best health booklet of the year. Later to the same Responsibility topic is added Grandparents with responsibility (1999), Youth leaders with responsibility (2000) and The parents of the first year baby (2003) -materials.
1999
Breath Free material is used to write a new handbook for Stop Smoking -courses.
"Health Education and Tobacco Intervention Program" begins in Nepal as a pilot project. Scheer Memorial Hospital and its health education leader Sundar Thapa has carried the reponsibility of the project in Nepal. By the end of the year 2008 the two day health course has been attended by more 200.000 students and teachers and the street dramas have reached more than 300.000 students and parents. The program has also been working together with the Nepalese TV and radio. A film "Request" has been shown several times in Nepalese TV.
2003
Raittiuden Ystävät publishes the booklet "Who decides... about smoking" written by Aune Greggas with pictures by Julius Mylius.
The booklet can be bouth from Raittiuden Ystävät.
2004
The first evaluation trip to Nepal to check the Health Education and Tobacco Intervention Program (HETIP) in Nepal. All the schools which are visited are absolutely interested of the program. Both smoking teachers, students and the parents say, they would stop smoking, and those who do not smoke, say they will never begin.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Finland gives money to continue the Health Eduction and Tobacco Intervention -program in Nepal in the years 2004-2006 (40.000 eur/year). The plan is that all the school attended will declare as Smokefree schools.
2005
Health EXPO is arranged for the first time in Finland. It has a poster exhibition with 16 different health topics and several health measurement tests, blood pressure, PEF, body fat, health age etc.
2006
Association of Adventist Women gives Woman-of-the-Year-Award to Aune Greggas for the Health Education and Tobacco Intervention Program and ESA&EVA School Project in Nepal in Seattle (WA) 14.10.2006. By the end of the year about 150.000 young people from classes 5.-10. and about 200.000 Nepalese have followed the street dramas on different health topics.
Evaluation trip to Nepal is made by Ari Mönttinen, the chairman of ETRA-liitto as a leader. With him there were Kari Karanko and Matti Lahtinen from the Ministry for Foreing Affairs in Finland. In Surkhet the group is welcomed with hundreds of flowers.
The ministry for Foreign Affairs in Finland continues the support to the Health Education and Tobacco Intervention Program in Nepal in the years 2007-2009 (68.000 eur/year). According to the plans the program will reach each year 42.000 students and their teachers and arrange a street drama on health topics. The 2-day health course helps the schools to become Smokefree. 
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