Tobacco.org

• Government's anti-tobacco efforts go up in smoke 

Experts estimate that smoking in Egypt costs around 8 million pounds annually as around 85 billion cigarettes are smoked per year. Salah is one of nearly 13 million Egyptian smokers, who have been the target of a high-profile anti-smoking campaign launched over recent years.

More than two years ago, the health authorities made it obligatory for tobacco manufacturers to print an image of a sickly man living on an artificial ventilation machine, on packets of cigarettes.

But soon, the warning image became a funny public issue as the man in the picture sued the authorities for "tampering" with his features without his consent.

Last month, another controversy erupted when a new illustration was printed on tobacco products linking smoking to male impotency. . . .

The increase in the numbers of smokers is not limited to Egypt, however.

According to a recent study in Yemen, people there smoke around 6.4 billion cigarettes per year, i.e. 317.5 million packets. "The magnitude of tobacco use can be perceived when we imagine that if cigarettes used annually are arranged in one line, they would stretch for around 508,000 kilometres," said Ahmad Hussain Al Hada, an ex-executive of the Youngsters Welfare Fund, who conducted the study.

The numbers of smokers in Yemen are among the highest in the world

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Experts say 40 percent of cancers could be prevented  

Forty percent of the 12 million people diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year could avert the killer disease by protecting themselves against infections and changing their lifestyles, experts said Tuesday.

A report by the Geneva-based International Union Against Cancer (UICC) highlighted nine infections that can lead to cancer and urged health officials to drive home the importance of vaccines and lifestyle changes in fighting the disease.

"If there was an announcement that somebody had discovered a cure for 40 percent of the world's cancers, there would quite justifiably be huge jubilation," UICC president David Hill told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"But the fact is that we have, now, the knowledge to prevent 40 percent of cancers. The tragedy is, we're not using it."

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Proposal Would Ban Smoking Outside On Vermont City Street  

A controversial smoking ban proposed in Burlington could snuff out smokers outside -- not inside.

The proposed ban would prohibit smoking outside on Church Street and at parks and beaches. The issue drew mixed sentiment from a crowd at a City Council meeting Tuesday night.

The group of City Council members that proposed the ban said it's all about keeping people healthy, but some business owners said their bottom line could go up in smoke. Tom Miller, the owner of Ken's Pizza on Church Street, said he is not happy about the idea of banning smoking on Church Street and parks.

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• T.F. Council rejects smoking ban 

Smoke easy, Twin Falls residents.

The Twin Falls City Council rejected a proposed smoking ban in city bars by a 6-1 vote Monday night after an hour of testimony from bar owners, bar employees and residents of both Twin Falls and nearby towns. . . .

Most public comment, however, centered around concerns of the economic harm a ban would do to local business and about the city meddling with private property rights. Some said any changes should be made statewide, and noted that nonsmoking bar patrons have several establishments in town to choose from.

Several nonsmokers objected to the ban on principle, while employees from two city bars supported opposite sides — one embracing her work as a choice and another saying he hated putting up with smoke. . . .

C.R. Larsen, owner of the Ground Round, disputed many American Cancer Society statistics, including that second-hand smoke causes cancer — though studies have shown a correlation between the two and the U.S. Surgeon General, National Cancer Institute and other federal agencies classify it as a carcinogen.

“There’s no concrete proof among any of it,” Larsen said.

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VIDEO: Proposed TF smoking ban snuffed  

In a highly debated topic, the Twin Falls City Council voted to kill the proposed smoking ban. Only one councilman, Lee Heider, voted in favor of the ordinance that would have banned smoking inside bars and clubs.

Several council members agreed smoking is bad for a person; however, some felt it infringed on the private property owners rights.

A number of bar owners, smokers, and non–smokers spoke up against the ban.

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• UICC | World Cancer Campaign 

World Cancer Day 2010, led by UICC, its members and with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), will raise awareness of cancer prevention.

Each year, over 12 million people receive a cancer diagnosis and 7.6 million die of the disease.

The good news is that approximately 40% of cancers are potentially preventable. We invite you to join us in marking World Cancer Day on 4 February by promoting our exciting new campaign and spreading the message that cancer can be prevented too. This coming February, UICC will launch the campaign "Cancer can be prevented too", focussing on how the risk of developing cancer can significantly be reduced through simple measures:

* Stop tobacco use and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke

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• World Cancer Day 2010 - "Cancer Can Be Prevented Too" 

At a time when Cancer still remains a feared and dreaded disease, our headline - "Cancer can be prevented too" may sound a bit incredible, and clichéd, more so as cancer still remains theleading cause of death worldwide. For this reason, it has been a constant endeavor by the WHO and the International Union against Cancer to address ways to reduce the burden of cancer, and the (4th of February) each year is dedicated as World Cancer Day. The theme for 2010 looks at a key facet - Prevention of Cancer. . . .

The WHO makes no qualms about the fact that in the absence of timely intervention, cancer can claim the lives of 84 million people worldwide between 2005 and 2015, with the low and middle-income countries bearing the brunt as compared to the industrialized ones. If that's not all, the burden of cancer is estimated to double by 2020 and nearly triple by 2030. According to the forecasted figures for 2030, there are likely to be 20-26 million fresh cancer diagnoses and 13-17 million cancer related deaths. China, Russia, and India need to watch out and tackle the growing burden of cancer, attributed mainly to increase in use of tobacco, fatty diets, adoption of western habits, and demographic changes.

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WHO predicts drastic rise in cancer deathes in next 20 years 

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Tuesday that without urgent action, global cancer deaths would increase from 7.6 million this year to 17 million by 2030.

Cancer is a major killer in both developed and developing countries, and accounts for one eighth of deaths worldwide, more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, Manila-based Regional Office of Western Pacific said on the eve of the World Cancer Day, which falls on Feb. 4 each year.

But, WHO said, more than 30 percent of all cancers can be prevented through simple measures such as no tobacco use, a healthy diet and exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, and protection against cancer-causing infections. Some cancers can be detected early, treated and cured.

The campaign slogan for this year is "Cancer can be prevented too" . . . .

In the Western Pacific region, it is estimated that in 2008 close to 3.7 million new cases occurred--2.2 million in men and 1. 5 million in women. Nearly 2.6 million people in the Region died from cancer that year.

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FACTBOX: Some facts about cancer around the world 

Forty percent of the 12 million people diagnosed with cancer each year could avert the killer disease with protection against infections and lifestyle changes, experts said Tuesday ahead of World Cancer Day on February 4.

The number of global cancer deaths is projected to increase by 45 percent from 2007 to 2030 (from 7.9 million to 11.5 million deaths), influenced in part by an increasing and aging global population.

Here are some facts about cancer: . . .

-- The main types of cancer leading to overall cancer mortality each year are:

Lung (1.3 million deaths/year):

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WHO: Cancer deaths to rise 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that without urgent action, global cancer deaths will dramatically increase from 7.6 million this year to 17 million by 2030.

Each year, more than 12 million people were diagnosed with cancer.

In a statement to the New Straits Times, WHO said cancer was a major killer in both developed and developing countries. . . .

In Peninsular Malaysia, nearly 70,000 new cases were reported over a two-year period between 2003 and 2005, with breast cancer as the biggest threat.

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WHO warns cancer deaths may reach 17 million by 2030 

The World Health Organizations (WHO) warned yesterday that the global deaths from cancer will rise from 7.6 million this year to 17 million by 2030 if no "urgent action" is taken soon.

"There is a universal fear of cancer. But with the right frame of mind and by taking appropriate action, some cancers can be averted or cured," said Dr. Shin Young-soo, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific.

WHO describes cancer as a "major killer" in the developed and developing nations, accounting for one in eight deaths worldwide -- more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

The global agency is drumming up awareness against cancer in line with today's global celebration of World Cancer Day.

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Columbia may exempt cigar bars from ban  

A month ago, Columbia officials were ready to take a local business to court for violating the city's smoking ban - a first for a Midlands local government.

Now, City Council members are poised to change the law Wednesday to exempt the business from the smoking ban.

The amendment to the city's smoking ban would exempt cigar bars - defined as a bar that "generates 35 percent or more of its annual gross income from the sale on the premises of cigars, tobacco products and other paraphernalia."

The amendment would apply only to cigars and pipes - not cigarettes - and the city's business license division would have to determine a cigar bar's eligibility by reviewing the bar's financial documents, which must first be approved by a certified public accountant.

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City Council discusses smoking amendment 

City Council met this morning and discussed a proposed smoking amendment. If council members approve the amendment, cigar bars would have to show their business generates at least 35% of its annual gross income from cigars, tobacco products and other smoking materials.

Citizens and a lawyer on behalf of the Tobacco Merchant spoke about the proposed amendment to the city smoking ban. City council members voiced concern that allowing this exception would "open a door" allowing other establishments to take advantage of what could be considered a loophole.

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City considers tobacco ban 

The Roanoke City Council will consider a no smoking, dipping or chewing ordinance on all city owned property at the Feb. 8 council meeting.

Mayor Mike Fisher said he had received a letter from the State Department of Public Health applauding the city for steps it had taken and mentioned some cities are making everything 100 percent tobacco free.

The mayor said he called people around town asking their thoughts about this. He said he would like to make all city property smoke free without smoking designated areas.

There had been an incident or two at high school games where there was smoking but the State Board of Education prohibits smoking where any students are, he said.

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Report: About 40 per cent of cancers can be prevented with lifestyle changes, vaccines 

About 40 per cent of cancers could be prevented if people stopped smoking and overeating, limited their alcohol, exercised regularly and got vaccines targeting cancer-causing infections, experts say.

To mark World Cancer day on Thursday, officials at the International Union Against Cancer released a report focused on steps that governments and the public can take to avoid the disease.

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is responsible for one out of every eight deaths worldwide - more than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. WHO warned that without major changes, global cancer deaths will jump from about 7.6 million this year to 17 million by 2030.

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