Tobacco.org

Smokefree Innotec Names Belgian Group for Packaging Design 

Smokefree Innotec, Inc. (Pink Sheets: SFIO) (www.smokefree-innotec.com) announced today that it has entered into an alliance with Guy Bout and Olaf Cornelis, partners in The Funbox Company, a Brussels, Belgium-based group, for the packaging design of the Smokefree Innotec products. The Funbox Company design will feature a revolutionary packaging of the filters, which will have the same dimensions of a standard pack of cigarettes, but having been adapted to blister pack the mouthpieces. The package will be easy in use, attractive in design and an eye-catcher on the shelf. Perhaps more importantly, all packaging will be manufactured out of recycled paper product and, therefore, environmentally friendly, just like the Company's "tobacco innovation" itself.

The Funbox Company will also play a pivotal role in introducing, distributing and marketing the Smokefree Innotec product in the Benelux countries (The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg) later this year.

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Between a cough and a wheeze: dendritic cells at the nexus of tobacco smoke-induced allergic airway sensitization 

Exposure to cigarette smoke represents a major risk factor for the development of asthma. Enhanced sensitization toward allergens has been observed in humans and laboratory animals exposed to cigarette smoke. Pulmonary dendritic cells (DCs) are crucially involved in sensitization toward allergens and play an important role in the development of T helper (Th)2-mediated allergic airway inflammation. We propose the concept that aberrant DC activation forms the basis for the deviation of the lung's default tolerogenic response toward allergic inflammation when harmless antigens are concomittantly inhaled with tobacco smoke. This review will summarize evidence suggesting that tobacco smoke can achieve this effect by providing numerous triggers of innate immunity, which can profoundly modulate airway DC biology. Tobacco smoke can affect the airway DC network either directly or indirectly by causing the release of DC-targeted mediators from the pulmonary tissue environment, resulting in the induction of a Th2-oriented pathological immune response. A thorough knowledge of the molecular pathways involved may open the door to novel approaches in the treatment of asthma.

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The International Coalition Against Prohibition. 

The anti smokers are already planning to distrupt the conference by using well funded demonstrations outside the parliament building. This they hope will draw media attention away from the subject matter of the conference, the lies used to introduce smoking bans.

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1st World Conference Against Prohibition:"Smoking Bans And Lies"  

27.01.2009 - 28.01.2009

1st World Conference Against Prohibition:"Smoking Bans And Lies"

TICAP - The International Coalition Against Prohibition C.P. 2501 - 16100 Genova,Italy Phone: +39 339 4563 4051 Email: info@antiprohibition.org . . .

Type of Event

Health . . .

Conference Topics:

• Impact of Smoking Bans

• Epidemiology and passive smoking fraud

• Toxicology and ventilation

• Public health ideology and the pharmaceutical industry

• Political fight against tobacco prohibition

Conference Aims:

Development of methods and strategies to achieve:

Reduction of job losses and economic damage to industry and trade

Legislative solutions that respect people’s lifestyle

Promotion of active and effective political participation of business and consumers, in political decisions that affect them

Ending the use of pseudo-science to establish and justify policies, political actions and laws

Curtailing the influence of pharmaceutical and other commercial lobbies on political decision-making

Reestablishment of the fundamental principle that the body belongs solely to the individual and not the state, and that longevity of life should not compromise quality of life

By attending to this Conference YOU can make the difference!

Simultaneous translations into French, Dutch and English will be available at the Conference.

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• Attempt To Silence Freedom Of Speech In The Heart Of The EU 

The 1st international conference against prohibition which was scheduled for the 27/28th January in the EU parliament, Brussels, was blocked on the 15th January following a letter to the EU president from the anti smoking organisation, The Smokefree Partnership.

The conference had gathered a great deal of interest and support due to the fact that eminent scientists from around the world, including some from within tobacco control, were attending to give speeches regarding the passive smoke fraud.

Fortunately the organisers of the event, TICAP, anticipated underhand tactics by the anti smoking industry to prevent the conference from happening, and a contingency within a separate venue right opposite the EU parliament has now been put into place. All scientists and other participants along with live satellite links for those unable to attend in person are available in the alternate building.

In the letter that resulted in the EU venue being withdrawn Florence Berteletti Kemp, Director of the Smoke Free Partnership, falsely claims a commercial interest for financial sponsors of the conference offering no factual evidence to back up her allegation. She also states that - the event goes 'against all of Parliament's adopted reports and the European Community's legislation and commitments on this topic', and that 'it violates the spirit of the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.'

This is clearly a demand to prevent the freedom of speech of some of the most highly recognised scientists in the field; a demand that was upheld by the EU Bureau and hidden from the parliamentary sponsor of the conference, Godfrey Bloom MEP. . . .

In an unprecedented move, the EU Bureau cancelled the conference with no record on their meeting agenda and without communication or right of reply to the sponsoring MEP, who was left to discover the truth by rumours almost a week later. These astonishingly undemocratic revelations were based upon unsubstantiated false claims and a demand that no debate should be allowed, and were submitted by an anti smoking group opposed to the content of the event.

For decades the anti smoking industry has grossly perverted science for their own ideology; it comes as no surprise to us whatsoever that they are now perverting democracy and freedom in the very heart of the EU.

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Why I cannot attend  

Günter Ropohl, Professor Emeritus of General Technology at the University of Frankfurt on Main, Germany, explains to TICAP why he will not be able to attend to the international Conference Against Prohibition. . . .

As far as I enjoy smoking I am not allowed to travel by plane or railway, and I am not allowed to visit public facilities for eating and drinking unless I am willing to forsake smoking. If I want to travel I am prevented from smoking by excessive bans. So while I would like to support my right to continue smoking by attending the conference, I would be forced to give up this right just at this very occasion. This is a fundamental contradiction in terms, terms which have been established violently by the anti-tobacco movement.

The tobacco prohibitionists are engaging in structural violence as they impede the efforts of defenders of smoking to assert their human rights, the freedom of lifestyle and the freedom of assembly (including the unhindered access to public rallies and meetings). Smoking bans reduce the ability of smoking people to resist effectively against these inhuman machinations. That is what I call the structural inequality of weapons. . . .

It is high time for the Supreme Courts of nations everywhere to wrest these weapons of structural violence from that militant and intolerant minority.

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1st WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST PROHIBITION: "SMOKING BANS AND LIES" (PDF) 

Brussels, 27/28 January, 2009

European Parliament, ASP A1E-2

Under the patronage of Godfrey Bloom MEP

Conference Topics:

• Impact of Smoking Bans

• Epidemiology and passive smoking fraud

• Toxicology and ventilation

• Public health ideology and the pharmaceutical industry

• Political fight against tobacco prohibition

Conference Aims:

Development of methods and strategies to achieve:

Reduction of job losses and economic damage to industry and trade

Legislative solutions that respect people’s lifestyle

Promotion of active and effective political participation of business and consumers, in political decisions that affect them

Ending the use of pseudo-science to establish and justify policies, political actions and laws

Curtailing the influence of pharmaceutical and other commercial lobbies on political decision-making

Reestablishment of the fundamental principle that the body belongs solely to the individual and not the state, and that longevity of life should not compromise quality of life

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1st WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST PROHIBITION 

At the beginning of May 2008 an important meeting took place in Holland (click here and here for further information). The meeting ended with the signing of the Aldebaran Treaty.

For the first time in history the Treaty sealed the alliance of a number of regional and national organizations that, up to that point, were acting independently and locally against Tobacco Control in particular and against Prohibition in general. Subsequently, that resulted in the creation of TICAP (The International Coalition Against Prohibition), incorporated in the United Kingdom but with a truly international scope in action and participation.

The TICAP organization has been working long and hard to create a milestone conference: the 1st International Conference Against Prohibition, by the title "Smoking Bans and Lies". This conference - hopefully the first one of a triad that will concern food control and the upcoming alcohol repression - is the beginning of a properly organized, funded and structured political action - stemming from grass-root instead of special commercial interests, such as those of Big Tobacco - to oppose the otherwise inevitable outcome of the current international historical trend: the prohibition of tobacco and the full criminalization of its users. . . .

Those are the reasons why this conference is exceedingly important. Those are the reasons why YOU must participate. Click here and subscribe. Click here and sponsor. Click here and donate (we will turn your donation to TICAP). We must restore institutions to their original mandates and integrity, so that we can live in freedom and peace. We must do that for ourselves and for future generations. You can afford to ignore this conference only if you think that it is right that, one day soon, the lifestyle police will knock at your door (or smash it open!) to check your fridge for the proper food and your place for illegal alcohol and tobacco - and even to check if your dog is too fat and has been walked "property", and that's no joke.

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• Tobacco farmers burn crops in protest at EU subsidy cut  

Thousands of raucous tobacco farmers from across Europe mounted a demonstration in the EU capital on Wednesday (19 November), setting alight a bonfire of tobacco leaves outside the European Council building in protest at changes to EU subsidies.

Claiming a crowd of 10,000 tobacco growers and workers from processing factories, organisers had called the day of action in Brussels to coincide with a meeting of EU agriculture ministers on the Common Agricultural Policy "health check."

The farmers and workers say the proposed cut of half their subsidies from 2010 will result in massive job losses across the industry.

The protesters demanded that existing subsidies, which link the money to production volumes, be extended to 2013 to give them more time to adjust to EU agricultural sector reforms and said they were hoping for a favourable decision from the agriculture ministers meeting today.

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• Thousands Of Tobacco Workers Protest Against EU Subsidy Cuts 

Almost 10,000 tobacco and farm workers descended on Brussels Wednesday to protest against plans to cut back their subsidies from the European Union.

The demonstrators, many from Italy, France and Poland, gathered outside the European Council building, as the E.U.'s 27 farm ministers met inside to discuss the agriculture budget.

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EU farm ministers mull farm subsidy reforms  

As thousands of farmers protested vehemently outside, European Union agriculture ministers mulled changes Wednesday to the EU's euro53 billion ($67 billion) farm support program. . . .

In front of EU headquarters, several thousand tobacco producers from France, Poland, Greece and Spain demanded more protection for their threatened sector. And in Greece, tobacco farmers blocked two highways to protest planned cuts in crop subsidies.

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Belgian smokers go for cheaper cigarettes  

More smokers in Belgium are buying cheap cigarettes from the Value for Money segment.

According to the dailies Gazet Van Antwerpen and Belang Van Limburg on Tuesday, more smokers have discovered a recipe to escape the rising cost of cigarettes by going for cheaper brands.

The cheaper cigarettes fall under the Value for Money segment and include brands such as Pall Mall Blue and Austin Blue which sell 19 cigarettes for EUR 3.50.

In 2006, this segment made up 10 percent of the market, but now boosts a market share of 17 percent, says Cimabel, the federation of the six largest tobacco manufacturers. . . .

The sale of cigarettes has dropped in Belgium since 2007.

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Belgium's cigarette sales dip 12%  

Sales of lose tobacco reportedly decreased by 8.5%. According to Belgium's health minister, this drop in sales is primarily due to a price rise in 2007 and a legislation prohibiting smoking in public places.

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• Belgians buy 750 million fewer cigarettes  

Sales in cigarettes were down by 12 percent or 750 million cigarettes during the first half of 2008.

This is the first significant drop in cigarette sales in Belgium.

There has also been a decrease in tobacco sales. Nearly 3,400 tonnes of tobacco were sold during the first six months of 2008. Tobacco sales are down 8.5 percent in comparison with 2007.

This is good news for Belgians' health but bad news for the treasury as they will lose out on VAT and duty worth EUR 35 million.

The Health Ministry identifies several factors that triggered the fall in sales: legislation banning smoking in restaurants and public places and 2007's price rise.

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101 million smuggled cigarettes seized in Belgian raid 

Customs seized 101 million smuggled cigarettes destined for Britain yesterday in a raid that highlights the huge black market in contraband tobacco driven by the highest price of smoking in Europe.

The cigarettes were recovered from three warehouses in Liège in eastern Belgium in a coup described as one of the largest in a single operation in the European Union.

It will, however, make only a small dent in the ten billion cigarettes estimated to be slipped into Britain every year, which Revenue & Customs believes cost the Treasury up to 2.5 billion annually in lost tax.

“This is a record haul and a significant breakthrough,” said a spokesman for Belgian Customs. Five men were arrested in the raid.

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