Tobacco.org

Shocking pictures on cigarette packs in Mauritius soon 

New cigarette packs with shocking pictures of some diseases related to tobacco use will soon appear on the Mauritian market, official sources in Port-Louis told PANA Sunday.

These pictures, according to Mauritian Minister of Health, Rajesh Jeetah, represent the various tobacco-related diseases, including oral and lung cancers.

The decision to emblazon cigarette packs with such pictures are consistent with the new legislation on tobacco in force since 1 March 2008, Jeetah said.

"We have adopted a zero tolerance policy on smoking, which affects the health of the population with adverse effects on vital organs such the lung, the heart, the kidney, promoting cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, kidney failure, among others," he added.

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Smoking can be fatal 

Many teenagers start smoking due to peer pressure. Actually, this is quite common in Mauritius. In the desire to gain acceptance from their peers, many youngsters do not think twice before giving themselves to cigarettes. Other youngsters, mistaking cigarette smoking as a sign of adulthood and maturity start to smoke. . . .

Keeping in mind the protection of non-smokers' health, the government of Mauritius has put restrictions on the consumption of tobacco products in public. This law came in force as from March 1, 2009. Smoking is prohibited in indoor areas (that is, any space with a roof and /or more walls), in public transport, outdoor premises of health, educational and sport institutions, recreational places including public gardens and excluding beaches; cafes, bars, nightclubs and restaurants; bus stands, bus stations; while preparing, serving or selling foods in public places; while driving or traveling in a private vehicle carrying passengers. . . .

With the aim of seconding the government in its endeavours, the Ligue Vie et Sante (ViSa Association), presided by Veronique Le Clezio, has organised a series of activities to mark the World Anti-Tobacco Day celebrated on May 31. Additionally, all public places where smoking is prohibited should be equipped with a "No Smoking" sign.

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TV programme: “Bannatyne takes on big tobacco” 

A BBC TV programme on 1 July 2008, called ‘Bannatyne takes on big tobacco’, painted a very negative picture of our business in three countries in Africa, including alleging that we target children to sell cigarettes and break our own strict International Marketing Standards.

Viewers who trust the BBC to be fair, impartial and balanced should know that this was not a BBC news documentary, governed by BBC rules obliging news reporters to be fair, impartial and balanced. By the producers’ own admission, it was “a personal view”, putting across very strong opinions, subjective views and judgements made by one individual, a TV personality called Duncan Bannatyne, who has a campaigning anti-tobacco stance.

We don’t want children to smoke.

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Mauritius-tobacco-study Canadian experts to study tobacco consumption in Mauritius 

The International Tobacco Control (ITC) of the Canadian University of Waterloo starts on Tuesday a month-long study on the consumption of tobacco and behaviour linked to it in Mauritius.

A statement from the Ministry of Health, which is collaborating in the project, said the study will be carried out on a house-to-house basis.

The objectives of the study will be to evaluate the impact of anti-tobacco initiatives in public and work places and of the new laws on tobacco smoking which came in force on March 1, the statement said.

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AKINREMI: The People v. Big Tobacco 

How many people are we willing to sacrifice as a nation to continue to keep the tobacco industry in business? Since the Senate pushed the National Tobacco Bill 2009 through Second Reading in February and mandating Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-led Senate Health Committee to finalise work on the Bill and re-present to the National Assembly for enactment into law, the tobacco industry has become more aggressive in its usual tactics of distorting the truth both in the public places and at the chambers of the National Assembly.

The issue is what does regulation of tobacco product seeks to address in Nigeria. The bill at the Senate would mandate a total reformation and restructuring of how tobacco products are manufactured, marketed and distributed in this country. . . .

According to the WHO, “Incorporation of Pictorial Warning on tobacco product packets is important as majority of the tobacco users in this country will be able to have informed choice.”

The Senate will therefore be doing this nation a lot of good by passing this bill on time because the burden of cancer in Nigeria is appreciable and tobacco contributes a lot to this.

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Japan Tobacco FDI deal hits Mauritius tax controversy 

The government might put on hold foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals routed through Mauritius pending the revision of the current double taxation avoidance treaty with India.

This became evident after the department of revenue advised the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) last week to reject a proposal by Japan Tobacco International (JTIL) Mauritius Pvt Ltd, a unit of the world's third largest tobacco company, to raise its stake in its Indian venture from 50 to 74 per cent on grounds that it comes under "treaty shopping".

"Treaty shopping" refers to the practice of routing investments by companies through a country like Mauritius that has a tax agreement with India. In this case, JTI Mauritius is looking to infuse $100 million in JTI India by increasing its stake.

A memorandum from the finance ministry to FIPB said if JTIL's foreign investment proposal is routed through the Mauritius unit, future capital gains, should JTI Mauritius sell its shares, will not be taxed under the provisions of India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Convention (DTAC).

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• L’ÉVÊQUE: Anti-tobacco hysteria kills free choice  

they’ve surfaced in Rodrigues. Of late, anti-tobacco lobbyists are pressing for a blanket ban on all tobacco-growing on the island. Or more precisely, they want a right possessed and exercised by people throughout recorded human history, taken away from hand-to-mouth dirt farmers. Lobbyists reckon tobacco damages health, and growing it on their doorstep only encourages Rodriguans to smoke. . . .

Will our crusading idéologues also picket fast-food outlets and rally to outlaw rum, phoenix beer, and salt? . . .

Let’s zoom in on a few realities. Once harvested, tobacco is dried and cured, then sold and shipped to Mauritius. As there are no tobacco factories in Rodrigues, all cigarettes must be imported. Not exactly on our doorstep, is it? . . .

800,000 people in Brazil, 16 million in India, 22 million in China, countless millions in Russia, Europe, America, Malawi, and in 120 other countries produce 7 million tonnes of tobacco a year. But lo and behold, it is the poverty-stricken farmers of this small country that zealots want sacrificed on the altar of health evangelism. Simply put: Business as usual for Big Tobacco but bridle the little guy with chains of steel. . . .

The free individual is not accountable to society for his actions in so far as these concern the interests of no person but himself. Advice, instruction, persuasion and avoidance by other people, if thought necessary by them for their own good, are the only measures by which society can justifiably express its dislike or disapprobation of his conduct.

Education to dissuade children from taking up smoking, and support for smokers wanting to quit or manage their habits may help – stunts won’t.

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TV Pick of the Day: Duncan Bannatyne Takes On Tobacco 

1st July 2008

By BBC2, 9pm

Duncan Bannatyne is on the warpath tonight in a special BBC2 documentary.

In DUNCAN BANNATYNE TAKES ON TOBACCO, the Scottish entrepreneur reveals the alarming rise in under-age smoking amongst kids in Africa - and points the finger of blame directly at British American Tobacco and their marketing tactics.

In one primary school class that Duncan visits in Mauritius, non-smokers are actually in the minority.

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• Critic's choice - This World: Duncan Bannatyne Takes on Tobacco (BBC2) 

Entrepreneur and Dragons' Den hardman Duncan Bannatyne explores the lamentable world of tobacco advertising in the developing world.

He visits Mauritius, Nigeria and Malawi, investigating the sales strategy of British American Tobacco - a company which made a £2.1billion profit last year.

Bannatyne believes he's found evidence that suggests BAT is breaking its own code of conduct about the accessibility of cigarettes to children, and after researching the situation in each of the three African countries, he returns to London to confront BAT with his findings.

However, Bannatyne fails to create a sense of urgency, even though he talks to people who started smoking at the age of nine.

The programme looks at length at what young Africans know about the dangers of smoking, and finds that some schoolchildren smoke because they believe it "makes them wise".

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• British American Tobacco denies breaking youth code on cigarette sales 

Tobacco giant British American Tobacco PLC has denied claims made by a BBC investigation that it is breaking its code regarding the sale of single cigarettes, seen as more attractive to child smokers.

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• Tobacco giant 'breaks youth code' 

covering the sale of cigarettes to young people in Africa.

An investigation for the BBC has found evidence in Nigeria, Malawi and Mauritius of rules being broken.

In particular, BBC Two's This World found single cigarettes - which campaigners say are attractive to young people - were being promoted and sold.

The company involved, British American Tobacco (BAT), says it does not encourage the sale of single "sticks".

During the investigation carried out for BBC Two's This World programme, British businessman Duncan Bannatyne also discovers tactics used by BAT which circumvent bans on advertising and raise the profile of cigarettes in countries where doctors are warning of a potential epidemic of smoking-related diseases.

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BHOOKUN: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes  

I have two questions for you.

First, do you really believe that smokers endanger the health of non-smokers? The "ayes" would undoubtedly "have it" as they say there, where they vote the laws.

But do you know that this has never been proved true?

You are not to be blamed though - a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth, it's well known. . . .

It seems it doesn't matter what the answers to these questions are because, you see, "developed countries" have introduced this repressive law, so that makes it right.

Well that's utter nonsense; developed countries do act stupidly as well, you know. Besides the fact that this measure is phenomenally ridiculous, it poses the problem of expediency; how on earth will the authorities ever be able to control smoking in closed areas? . . .

We vote laws because we have to be seen to be politically correct but who cares that they're not enforced? Who cares that we are making a mockery of the rule of law? On top of being a pain in people's backside, that is.

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Mauritius moves against tobacco addiction 

Health minister Satish Faugoo of Mauritius Thursday launched a plan of action against tobacco addiction, while attending a workshop at the Rajiv Ghandi Scientific Centre, in Bill Village, near Pourt-Louis, to celebrate World No Tobacco Day.

This plan of action will serve as an efficient tool for eradicating smoking and its related-devastating effects on the Mauritian population, the minister said.

This concerted first step towards eradicating smoking will help to reduce the number of tobacco-related deaths and other diseases, while also rolling passive tobacco addiction back, he observed.

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• Authorities in Mauritian capital go tough on smoking 

Reza Issack, Mayor of Mauritian capital Port-Louis City Council, announced Thursday that public places under the Council`s jurisdiction would soon be declared non-smoking areas for three months as part of a non-smoking campaign.

He said the campaign was aimed at increasing public awareness on the right to health and the dangers of air pollution caused by cigarette smoking in public and work places.

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JEANNOT: LETTER TO MY KIDS Tobacco: dump the smoky killer 

The Red Indians believed that clouds floating in the sky were a result of gods smoking the prized leaves, which until the 'discovery' of America by Columbus was unknown to the rest of the world. The use of this almost worshipped plant was controlled by religious rituals. The Indians had tamed a killer, which now claims a human life every 6.5 seconds, around 5 million lives annually.

Tobacco was never meant to be used on a regular basis as a pastime, a meal, an inseparable friend holding a dagger behind its back. In fact, tobacco smoking is a dangerous habit. . . .

While we cannot turn back the clock and ask the explorers of the New World to dump the pungent smelling plants in the sea for good instead of bringing them back home where their wrong use has developed into a dangerous yet lucrative industry, we still can dump the habit and any temptation to give into it. Your body is not meant to be a dumping ground for poisonous smoke, why not choose to be healthy, save money, be free and choke the deadly industry?

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