Tobacco.org

EDITORIAL: State ‘not worried’ about tobacco menace 

While about 40 per cent of health problems in the country are due to tobacco products and over 2,500 people loose their life everyday due to the consumption of tobacco, the state government continues with its lackadaisical attitude in preventing the menace, alleged Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI), Aparajita, an anti-tobacco campaigner.

Though the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 was notified in the state in 2004 and a notice published for the same in the Orissa Gazette No. 735 on 31 May 2004, nothing substantial has yet been done, it pointed out.

“Tobacco is a serious public health issue and the state must give utmost importance to this. When the law is already in place and the state has notified it, the department of health and family welfare should activate the process so that instructions can quickly be carried out,” urged Ms Itishree Kanungo, project manager, VHAI-Aparajita . . . .

Instead of keeping the act in pen and paper, voices should be raised from all the side and pressure should be put on the government to implement the act as soon as possible, the anti-tobacco brigade urged one and all.

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• Shura Council stubs out anti-smoking law 

A LAW aimed at combating smoking had some of the fire taken out of it by the Shura Council yesterday.

They approved a softened version, without jail sentences for people who sell tobacco products to children.

Councillors dropped parliament's proposed six-month jail sentence for those who sell them to children aged below 14, sticking instead to a maximum fine of BD100. . . .

They also decided to remove an article which stipulated that tax revenue from tobacco products would go to the Health Ministry, rather than the national budget.

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Majority Chinese applaud Beijing's smoking ban, some worry implementation_English_Xinhua 

As high as 90 percent of the Chinese public applauded Beijing's smoking ban in public places, to take effect on May 1, however some are concerned if the ban can be implemented effectively, a survey has shown.

The survey by the China Youth Daily and sina.com.cn, covering 5,482 netizens, also revealed that 52 percent of the smoking population agreed with the ban while 37 percent opposed it.

A student smoker at Beijing University said he was "certainly unhappy about the ban" but as the ban was to benefit others he would not strongly oppose it.

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Tobacco floors unlikely to open today 

THE official opening of the 2008 tobacco selling season could be delayed by another day amid indications that there is still no position on issues that were raised by tobacco farmers, especially the support price.

Sources close to negotiations that are taking place to resolve the issues said the selling season, which was deferred by a week, was unlikely to take off today as the matter was being dealt with at the highest level.

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Suspected Tobacco Mafia mastermind arrested 

Stanko Subotić, one of the key suspects in the 1990s cigarette smuggling case, has been arrested in Moscow.

Serbian police, MUP, today confirmed the news, and added that Subotić is now in detention pending his extradition to Serbia.

Subotić, a Serbian businessman, is charged with organizing a criminal group that in 1995 and 1996 illegally imported and sold cigarettes in the Serbian market.

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NGOs unite against tobacco smoking 

A coalition of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) working on environmental issues last week called for the review of Nigerian laws on the sale of cigarettes to minors with a view to protecting them and the larger Nigerian population from the deadly impact of tobacco smoking.

Also, the groups are campaigning that Nigerian lawmakers must ensure that existing laws on banning tobacco smoking in public places be extended to include restaurants, bars, hospitals, parks and other designated areas where children visit so that both minors and non-smokers are protected from passive smoke (secondhand smoke).

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Cigarette Smugglers Funnel Money to Terror Groups, Report Finds  

Cigarette smuggling is generating millions of dollars every year that can be reaching terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas and Al Qaeda, according to law enforcement sources. In a single case, $100,000 was sent to Hezbollah.

A 15-page report congressional report, obtained by FOX News, includes intelligence from law enforcement as well as New York State's Department of Taxation and Finance. . . .

"The State is losing hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue; and given the current budget shortfall, this would seem to be more than enough reason to put the so-called policy of forebearance out of its misery," King said.

"But this is more than just a matter of lost revenue. It is a matter of national security. Cigarette smuggling in New York State must be brought to an end immediately."

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Tobacco Mafia trial could be postponed 

BELGRADE -- The trial of Stanko Subotić and others suspected of participating in the cigarette smuggling ring of the 1990s, could be delayed.

Subotić was arrested in Moscow yesterday. The Special Sector of the Belgrade District Court stated that the trial, scheduled to begin on May 19, could be pushed back until Subotić is extradited.

The Special Organized Crimes Court stated that the trial, scheduled to begin on May 19, could be pushed back until Subotić is extradited.

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Tobacco farmers fuming over Finley's no-show 

Immigration Minister Diane Finley refused to attend a public meeting with more than 1,000 tobacco farmers - a constituency group with whom she has had considerable problems - because she felt it was an "inappropriate" forum to discuss the farmers' woes.

But organizers of the meeting were told she could not attend because of security concerns.

Ms. Finley was scheduled to speak at a meeting for tobacco farmers in Delhi, Ont., last Thursday. But meeting organizers say the minister's office told them she could not attend because of security issues.

When a reporter asked Ms. Finley yesterday why she didn't attend, she said: "The forum was inappropriate to get the message out, to hear from farmers in an appropriate circumstance. I did meet with the tobacco board later, one-on-one, so I could hear the concerns. We had a very constructive meeting - that was a much more appropriate venue."

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Diane Finley's statement to Tobacco Board 

To all tobacco producers:

I would like to apologize for not being able to address you in person this evening. I know how desperate things are and my heart goes out to each and everyone of you. I am doing everything in my power to try to get help for you folks.

I would like to let you know a couple of things about what is going on and the work that continues to go on to help tobacco farmers. . . .

You are a priority for me. As your Member of Parliament, even though we're not there yet, you still remain my number one priority. I and area MPs are doing everything in our power try to help you. I grew up in this area and I am proud to live here. I worked in those tobacco fields and I slugged away during harvest like many people around these parts. It has been a part of our life and identity. I know how important tobacco and tobacco producers have been and are to this region. I will continue to do my best and fight for you guys. So, these are the facts. I am not giving up.

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Smokers Interested In Smoking Less Needed For Harm Reduction Study, University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine 

Male and female smokers over the ages of 18 who would like to limit the amount they smoke are needed to participate in a smoking harm reduction research study at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Harm reduction, which involves limiting exposure to nicotine and tobacco, as opposed to quitting outright, is a fast-developing area of nicotine and tobacco research. Specifically, few treatment options have been tested for smokers who are not yet ready to quit, but who might consider cutting down.

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Board considers smoking ban at outdoor events in Charles City 

The Charles City Park and Recreation Board may recommend the City Council ban smoking during organized activities in public parks.

Steve Lindaman, park and recreation director, said the ban would help maintain "a healthy, clean park atmosphere."

Secondhand smoke is one concern, he added, but another is unsightly cigarette butts left on the ground during events, such as Party in the Park and the Fourth of July celebration.

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Now, smoking Buddha on Ramadoss radar 

After filmstars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, it is now West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's turn to face Health Minister A Ramadoss' ire (Watch) for smoking in public.

Reacting to Bhattacharjee's admission on Tuesday that he would continue to smoke in his office, despite a blanket ban on smoking at state secretariat, Ramadoss said, "As a leader, he should set an example for others."

Ramadoss added that about 70.2% of men in West Bengal smoke, with eastern India being one of the worst-hit regions as far as tobacco consumption was concerned.

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Man dies from house fire started by cigarette  

A 56-year-old Virginia Beach man died over the weekend, two weeks after he was admitted to an area hospital for injuries sustained in a house fire that investigators say he set off through careless smoking.

George Breiholz was pronounced dead on Sunday. Police spokesman Adam Bernstein said the medical examiner has not yet determined an exact cause of death, but Breiholz was admitted to the hospital after sustaining injuries in a fire at his home on Indian River Road on April 14.

Fire investigators determined that Breiholz accidentally started the fire by smoking a cigarette while breathing from an oxygen generator machine.

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Bar Guide: Smoking ban goes into effect July 1 

Amadeo Rossi, owner of The Lift, a smoke-free bar downtown, actively lobbied in favor of the ban. "It's unreasonable that a deadly carcinogen be allowed when we have innumerable laws on public safety," Rossi said. "A bar can't have exposed wiring." The Lift caters to a creative crowd and has a loyal following - one Rossi believes will increase following the ban. "I feel I have a competitive advantage on a level playing field."

Other owners of already smoke-free bars take the opposite side. Soon, walking into every sports bar will feel like walking into The Game in Urbandale. Smoke-free since it opened in August 2006, two big screen TVs dominate the enterance. There's a pool table, shuffleboard - but no ashtrays.

"When I opened, I knew that the trend was kind of going in that (smoke-free) direction," Jeff Fogelson said. Still, he wasn't a proponent of the ban. "I'm going to lose my edge."

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