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HOLY SMOKES: Biker John's ministry offers church, cigars and rock 'n' roll  

For those who find traditional church a little stifling, Sunday morning services at Cork's Cigar Bar at 425 Old Main St. in downtown Bradenton could be just the place to get a good shot of Christianity.

It's called the Church of the Faithful Few, and when the preaching is over, attendees can hang around and enjoy a cold one and a smoke, no questions asked.

"We do things a little different here," said Jim "Cork" Miller, co-owner of Cork's. "We're not judgmental."

Church of the Faithful Few was started by the Rev. John Rogers, the father of an acquaintance of Miller's.

Rogers got the idea for Church of the Faithful Few after a near-fatal motorcycle accident in New Hampshire. At the time, Rogers was with the International Evangelists for Heaven's Saints, a motorcycle ministry started by former Hell's Angel Charles "Barry" Mayson.

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• Govt strives to make Haj tobacco free 

The Ministry of Health has launched a campaign among pilgrims to make Makkah and Madinah completely tobacco free during this year’s Haj season.

“Under the ministry’s Tobacco Control Program (TCP), we have printed around 1.5 million leaflets in different languages for distribution among pilgrims — both smokers and nonsmokers,” said Majed Al-Munif, TCP’s supervisor-general.

He added that the brochures are available in languages such as Arabic, English, French, Persian, Urdu, Turkish, Indonesian and Swahili.

“We require the cooperation of pilgrims to make the two holy cities among those with the lowest tobacco consumption in the world,” he said, adding that the area within five-kilometers of the Holy Haram in Makkah and Madinah is tobacco-free with the sale of tobacco strictly banned.

Billboards and posters with anti-smoking messages, information regarding anti-smoking clinics and fatwas on the subject are on display in the two cities.

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Smoking ban debated 

On Oct. 6 the Aldermanic Human Services Committee approved the hospital’s request to ban smoking on the publicly owned sections of Chapel, Orchard and George streets and Sherman Avenue, and sent the request to the full Board of Aldermen, which will vote on it Nov. 5. At the same meeting, Ward 20 Alderman Charles Blango, who chairs the committee, decided to delay action on a similar request by Masjid al-Islam, a neighboring mosque on George Street, until the Board of Aldermen’s Nov. 5 meeting.

“I didn’t want to open up a Pandora’s Box,” Blango said of his decision, citing his reluctance to set a precedent for allowing non-medical, private institutions such as the mosque to restrict smoking on public property. When Ward 23 Alderman Yusuf Shah, who is a member of Masjid al-Islam, submitted in late September the original proposal to ban smoking around the hospital, the proposal banned smoking on the sidewalks around both the hospital and the mosque. In late September, the Board of Aldermen unanimously voted down the proposal because it wanted to hold a public hearing on the issue. The board sent the request to the Human Services Committee for review because it had done so for a similar proposal by Yale-New Haven Hospital earlier this year.

At the committee’s Oct. 6 meeting, a number of aldermen asked Shah why he had included the mosque in the proposal, and Shah said he feared the ban would deter smokers displaced from St. Raphael’s from smoking in front of the mosque.

But Blango introduced an amendment to separate the two areas because people on the committee said they had concerns about legal problems that could arise if the ban were approved, Blango said. Blango also asked to see a legal opinion from an outside expert on any potential legal problems that could arise from the mosque’s request.

The debate about the appropriateness of the city’s efforts to regulate smoking on public property is playing out on streets surrounding St. Raphael’s, where half a dozen employees and patients interviewed expressed mixed feelings about the pending ban.

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A Developmental Twin Study of Church Attendance and Alcohol and Nicotine Consumption: A Model for Analyzing the Changing Impact of Genes and Environment  

Conclusions: As individuals mature, they increasingly shape their own social environment in large part as a result of their genetically influenced temperament. When individuals are younger and living at home, frequent church attendance reflects a range of familial and social-environmental influences that reduce levels of substance use. In adulthood, by contrast, high levels of church attendance largely index genetically influenced temperamental factors that are protective against substance use. Using genetically informative designs such as twin studies, it is possible to show that the causes of the relationship between social risk factors and substance use can change dramatically over development.

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Genes may explain why churchgoers are teetotalers 

Churchgoers have been found to have lower rates of drinking and smoking than those who spend their Sundays elsewhere. Now a new study suggests that for adults, it may not be church attendance itself that explains much of the phenomenon. It might be genes.

The study, which included nearly 1,800 adult male twins, found that in adolescence, the relationship between church attendance and lower rates of drinking and smoking appeared largely a matter of "shared" environment -- those factors influencing both members of a twin pair.

That is, teenagers who attended church regularly were more likely to want to follow their parents' wishes and conform to community expectations.

By adulthood, however, those environmental influences had faded, the researchers found. Instead, genes seemed to account for the relationship between church-going and lesser alcohol and nicotine use. . . .

SOURCE: American Journal of Psychiatry, October 2009.

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• Hail envisages tobacco ban; airport complaints renewed 

The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs in Hail is considering banning the sale of tobacco products at food stores in residential areas of the city as part of plans to discourage young people from smoking.

The Chairman of the Municipal Council in Hail, Turki Al-Dhab’an, said the considerations come in the light of recommendations from a study proposing the designation of specific outlets and licenses for the sale of tobacco.

The move, which could be finalized at the council’s meeting before being referred to Prince Mit’eb Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and his Deputy Prince Mansour Bin Mit’eb Bin Abdul Aziz, would see strict regulations put in place on shopkeepers.

“Shops in breach of the regulations could be shut down by the Environmental Health Department and given large fines,” Al-Dhab’an said. . . .

Calls have been renewed, meanwhile, to enforce the smoking ban at the Kingdom’s airports, with pilgrims and doctors lamenting the failure to see laws that go back as far as 1973 in place on the ground.

Pilgrim Muhammed Al-Jahdli described the sight of tobacco advertising in public places as “annoying”.

“It’s particularly irritating for pilgrims who come from all over the world and the first thing they see when they come out of the airport is these adverts everywhere,” Al-Jahdali said.

“They have banned cigarettes in Makkah and the vicinity so they should also ban them in airports which receive millions of pilgrims,” he said.

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Study shows bans on tobacco curb heart attack rates  

New research claiming that smoking bans in public places cut heart attacks by a third offers further convincing proof of the dangers long associated with tobacco, Seventh-day Adventist health experts say. . . .

"As early as 1866, the fledgling Adventist church linked tobacco to poor health, and we were very vocal about something that wasn't accepted by the mainstream medical community until the '50s and '60s," said Dr. Peter Landless, a cardiologist and associate director for the world church's department of Health Ministries. . . .

Dewitt Williams, director of Health Ministries for the church in North America, agrees. "We're pleased to see that this study backs up what we've been saying for decades, that smoking -- even secondhand smoking -- leads to health problems," he said. "And we're always ready contribute to any means of reducing tobacco use."

Church-led efforts are intrinsic to the fight against tobacco, Landless said, and new findings such as the link between secondhand smoke and heart attacks should challenge the church to reclaim the forefront.

"Government and medical associations cannot do it alone," he said. . . .

Church efforts can particularly impact some developing countries, where smoking is often far more widespread, he said.

"We have an opportunity to be part of the groundswell of influence raising community awareness in these places," Landless said.

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Tim Giago: Here's another nail in your coffin 

Most Americans, and I am sure the chief executive officers of the major tobacco manufacturing plants, knew that smoking was not good for your health more than 50 years ago. . . .

50 - 60 years ago, no one in a position of authority, not doctors or the tobacco industry, told us that smoking could cause lung cancer and other deadly illnesses. There were television shows totally sponsored by cigarette companies. . . .

Tobacco was a crop cultivated by Native Americans centuries before the arrival of the white man. It was used primarily in spiritual gathering and was smoked in a ceremonial pipe, a pipe that was misnamed "Peace Pipe" . . .

Millions of Americans got hooked on smoking when they joined the U. S. Armed Forces. When I served, I could buy a pack of cigarettes at the PX for 10 cents. . . .

I give my employees at Native Sun News a smoke break in the morning and one in the afternoon. They have to smoke outside because it is not allowed in the office. And since I have been a non-smoker for a very long time, as I see them heading out for their smoke break, I cannot help but wonder if they realize the danger they are courting or I wonder what pleasure they can get from something that may eventually kill them. It's a curious thing.

But they won't quit.

Many states now have anti-smoking laws and we seem to be moving, as a Nation, in that direction. But we are facing the same situation confronting the gun lobby: "When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns." Can the same be said in defense of cigarettes? Here's another nail in your coffin!

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-giago/heres-another-nail-in-you_b_301160.html

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Public Health, Faith Leaders Call on DC Council to Renew Funding for Successful Tobacco Prevention Programs 

District public health and faith leaders today called on the DC Council to immediately renew funding for the DC Tobacco Free Families (DCTFF) Campaign, the District's highly successful tobacco prevention and cessation program.

Health advocates are urging the Council to maintain funding for DCTFF at its current level of $3.6 million annually so it can continue its effective work to prevent kids from smoking and help smokers quit. Unless the Council quickly renews funding, DCTFF will be forced to eliminate most of its activities by the end of the month - just as a 50-cent increase in DC's cigarette tax, which takes effect October 1, will encourage more smokers to seek help in quitting.

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Ramadan anti-tobacco campaign underway 

Dubai Health Authority on Sunday launched the Ramadan anti-tobacco campaign under the banner 'Together for a Smoke Free Society'.

Dr. Ahmad Ebrahim Bin Kalban, Executive Director of the Primary Health Care sector at the authority, said the campaign is the second phase of the Tobacco Free Dubai project. It aims to spread health awareness among all social sectors about the negative effects of smoking.

Bin Kalban urged smokers to quit starting from Ramadan, pointing out smoking-related diseases are the first cause of death.

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Holy month best time to quit smoking 

The fasting month of Ramadan offers the perfect chance to quit smoking, according to a consultant at a major hospital.

“Break your fast but not your will to quit smoking,” said Dr. Ashraf Ameer, chief medical officer and family medicine consultant at the International Medical Center. “Ramadan can be a hard time for smokers because of the withdrawal symptoms associated with nicotine addiction. Quitting smoking, however, is the best thing a person can do to improve their health and Ramadan offers a great opportunity for smokers to finally kick the habit,” he said.

There are a variety of treatment options available for smokers to help them quit smoking. “I encourage smokers to talk to their doctors even before Ramadan begins to learn about what might work for them.”

Tobacco harms nearly every organ in the body and is the cause of a wide variety of diseases, many of which are fatal including heart attacks, cancer, respiratory diseases, and strokes.

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BERNARD MADOFF IS SUFFERING FROM CANCER IN NORTH CAROLINA PRISON 

Bernie Madoff had little to lose by confessing to masterminding the world's biggest Ponzi scheme -- he's dying of cancer, sources told The Post.

Madoff, who is serving 150 years at a North Carolina federal lockup after pleading guilty to swindling more than $65 billion, has been telling fellow inmates he does not have much longer to live. . . .

Meanwhile, a bare-chested Bernie has been killing time at the prison participating in Native American religious purification ceremonies held at an on-grounds "sweat lodge," other sources said.

He accepted invitations from Native American inmates to join them at their weekly prayer services. The ceremonies involve praying, using heated rocks to induce sweat and smoking from a ceremonial pipe.

It is unclear whether the 71-year-old Madoff checked out the ceremony because of health reasons. For centuries, Native Americans have used sweat lodges to help detoxify the body mentally, spiritually and physically.

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AHMED: Fasting Helps Give Up Undesirable Habits 

It's a month when one can learn to eat healthy, exercise, connect with oneself and even quit smoking. Fasting during Ramadan, as experts put it, can help do away with unhealthy habits for a better life. . . .

Smokers need to wait for the sun to set before they can light up a cigarette. Those observing fast have to cut down the number of times they smoke and they will feel more energetic.

“A person manipulates his conduct during this month to abide by the rules of the religion. So a smoker will have to learn to manage his day differently, without the cigarettes. Thus if a person needs to change, he will be able to change,” said Dr. Ahmed Suliman, a volunteer scholar at the Department of Islamic Affairs in Dubai.

Harmony, tolerance and introspection are important virtues Muslims must uphold during the holy month.

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Smoking in Iraq: Butt out, please 

As soon as parliament ratifies the cabinet-imposed ban, Iraqi smokers will be forced to loiter on street corners exposed to car bombs and 45-degree heat in the summer. But according to a recent study, smoking kills an average of 55 Iraqis a day, compared to a current average of ten deaths daily from terrorist shootings or bombings. So the government argues that it is perfectly reasonable to outlaw smoking on public-health grounds.

Nonetheless, the ban has done nothing to improve the already low opinion many Iraqis have of their democratically elected government. "Bring back Saddam," says a cigarette vendor. "We were free to smoke anywhere then." Others link the ban to reports of torture in official detention. "Prisons are public buildings, right? So will they now prevent guards from stubbing out cigarettes on the arms, legs and backs of inmates?" asks one university student. . . .

In parliament though, the ban is popular. Islamists want to get rid of tobacco outright. Of course, many ministers and MPs smoke too, often in their offices. But, given their elevated positions, few rules apply to them.

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Sacred Breath fights commercial tobacco use 

Saturday's Sacred Breath Pow Wow at the Journey Museum honored those working to make South Dakota a smoke-free state.

About 300 partcipants gathered to enjoy a noon meal and a the powwow. And despite the rain threatening to turn everything to a soggy mess, the honoring ceremony went on as planned.

The purpose of the event carried an important cultural message, organizers said.

"We need to teach the ceremonial use of tobacco, which follows and maintains our cultural protocol," said Big Crow, Study Coordinator/Research Assistant at Black Hills Center for American Indian Health. "In our culture, the use of tobacco is very sacred. But we also support tobacco-free legislation and don't promote the social use of tobacco."

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