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世卫组织：本世纪全球可能有10亿人因烟害而死E] 

世卫总干事陈冯富珍同纽约市长彭博近日联合召开记者会发表报告，公布了世界卫生组织的最新警告，如果各国政府和社会不加强对烟草销售的控制，本世纪内全球可能有10亿人因烟害而死亡。

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• Tobacco Health Threat Dwarfs International Terrorism Deaths 

The tobacco death burden in developed and Eastern European countries is equivalent to the impact of a 9/11-type terrorist attack every 14 hours, according to a newly published study by University of Otago public health researchers.

Estimated annual deaths from tobacco were approximately 5,700 times greater than those from international terrorist attacks, according to public health researchers Dr George Thomson and Dr Nick Wilson of the University’s Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The researchers compared the estimated 1.9 million people in developed and Eastern European countries who died from tobacco in the year 2000, with the 3298 lives lost in international terrorist attacks in these same countries between 1994 and 2003.

“We found that the absolute annual burden from tobacco use was highest for the United States at 514,000 deaths per year in 2000, which is equivalent to the impact of an 9/11 type terrorist attack every 2.1 days,” says Dr Thomson.

The study, which is published in the international journal Globalization and Health, is part of wider attempt by the researchers to put international terrorism into a public health context, by comparing its mortality burden with those of other preventable causes of premature death.

“In the last 20 or more years governments have spent considerable sums in attempts to combat international terrorism, as well as introducing new laws,” he says. “However, despite tobacco mortality’s far greater scale, the policy response by government on tobacco has been much weaker.”

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We found that the absolute annual burden from tobacco use was highest for the United States at 514,000 deaths per year in 2000, which is equivalent to the impact of an 9/11 type terrorist attack every 2.1 days
Dr George Thomson of the University of Otago's Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, in a study published in the international journal Globalization and Health.

In the last 20 or more years governments have spent considerable sums in attempts to combat international terrorism, as well as introducing new laws. However, despite tobacco mortality’s far greater scale, the policy response by government on tobacco has been much weaker.
Dr George Thomson of the University of Otago's Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, in a study published in the international journal Globalization and Health.

Restaurateurs take stand against no-smoking law 

The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners (BOC) may put a hold on enacting the recently approved no-smoking ordinance after a group of restaurant owners told them Friday that the law could run them out of business.

About 20 people, mostly restaurant owners, spoke during the BOC work session and told the commissioners the no-smoking ordinance could cut their business by 30-40 percent by driving smoking patrons to Newton County, where there is no ordinance against smoking in public places. The group framed its argument as a freedom of choice issue and asked the BOC to amend the ordinance.

One recommendation offered was to exempt restaurants from the law if 60 percent of revenue came from food and they meet clean air standards through the use and maintenance of air filtration systems. Another suggestion was posting notices outside of restaurants warning the public that tobacco products are used inside. . . .

"I'm a non-smoker, but I made my business decision to open as a smoke-free restaurant because of all of this data the hospital and Smoke-Free Rockdale provided," Jones said. "‘People want this, Bill, they're dying for it.' Well, I almost went under giving them what they were dying for."

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Smoking ban closer in American Samoa 

A bill to ban smoking in American Samoa's government buildings, restaurants and public transport has been approved in the lower house of parliament.

The bill now goes to the senate for review before being sent to the governor for a final decision.

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Pacific Islands Report: Anti-smoking bill rejected in American Samoa  

Representative Otomalesau John Ah Sue has vowed to continue his fight to curb smoking at schools, after the territory's Senate this week rejected a House of Representatives bill that would have implemented a ban. Ah Sue, who sponsored the bill in the House, said he will reintroduce the student-initiated proposal, which was rejected by nine votes to seven in the Senate. He said students had approached legislators in a bid to end smoking by both students and teachers, fearing the health effects of direct and passive smoke. This followed reports that both teachers and students have been allowed to smoke in classrooms throughout American Samoa. Otomalesau said the Senate's rejection of the bill is irresponsible, and is a response to an earlier rejection of an unrelated bill in the House of Representatives. [This graph only]

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American Samoa MP pushes anti-smoking bill 

A member of parliament in American Samoa has vowed to continue his fight to curb smoking, after the Senate this week rejected a bill which would have banned cigarettes in schools.

Otomalesau John Ah Sue, who sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives, says he will reintroduce the student-initiated proposal, which was rejected by nine votes to seven in the Senate.

Students had approached legislators in a bid to end smoking by both students and teachers in primary and high schools, fearing the health effects of direct and passive smoking.

This follows reports suggesting both teachers and students have been allowed to smoke in classrooms throughout American Samoa.

Otomalesau says the Senate's rejection of the bill is irresponsible, and is a response to an earlier rejection of an unrelated bill in the House of Representatives.

He says he is confident strong public support for the bill will force Senators to change their mind.

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Governor calls on Fono to take care of tobacco legislation 

The Governor has asked the Fono to pass legislation that brings American Samoa into full compliance with the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

The multi-billion dollar MSA was reached between attorneys general of 46 states and territories and tobacco companies in 1998.

Under the agreement each state and territory receives a certain amount of money every year. States and territories that participated in the MSA must also pass legislation that forces other tobacco companies not participating in the MSA to deposit money into a separate escrow account.

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