Last but not least: Away with mobile advertising
In Switzerland, there are recurring discussions about advertising bans. While the focus here is usually on alcohol or candy, in Tajikistan the issue is restrictions on cell phone advertising. Of course, this is being done without any public debate, but at the request of President Emomali Rahmon.
Since Tuesday, advertising posters for cell phones have been torn down in the ex-Soviet republic. The reason: The president considers cell phones to be harmful. Not because of the radiation. The - primarily rural - population spends too much time chatting on their cell phones. This destroys families because they spend far too much money on their phones. It is questionable whether the advertising restrictions will really achieve their goal and whether the population's affection for their cell phones will decrease as a result. But it is certainly worth a try, as advertising bans are considered a universal remedy.
