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July 8th, 2009:

West Vancouver looks to tighten outdoor smoking regulations

Jul 8th, 2009
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By Rebecca Aldous – North Shore Outlook

With the District of West Vancouver’s new bylaw, the North Shore is moving towards more stringent smoking bylaws than those introduced by the provincial government in 2009.


The North Shore may soon be butting out more outdoor smoking.

With West Vancouver leading the charge, the districts and city east of the Lions Gate Bridge, along with the help of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, aim to introduce stricter regulations on top of the provincial government’s 2008 outdoor smoking laws.

The new bylaws, which must be approved by the province’s Ministry of Health, would ban smoking on patios, swimming beaches, athletic fields and children’s playgrounds.

They will also further extend B.C.’s three- metre rule for smoking next to building entrances or air ducts to six metres. “I think essentially it will eliminate smoking on outdoor patios at restaurants,” West Vancouver Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones said.“That is the biggest thing that people will notice.”

Sailor Hagar’s Brew Pub owner Brian Riedlinger said his business will be negatively impacted financially by the move.A lot of the pub’s patrons smoke and currently use the outdoor patio. Eliminating that area will force them onto streets and into alleys, which in turn will create more work for his staff, he said.

“We’ll have to start monitoring they don’t take their drinks out there,” Riedlinger said.

Already the provincial regulations mandating smoking three metres from doorways or air ducts are not being complied throughout Greater Vancouver, he said noting the regulation just pushes people further into sideway traffic.

In B.C. less than 20 per cent of the population smokes, reports Perry Kendall, B.C.’s public health officer.

In West Vancouver this number is further reduced to 6 per cent and predicted to diminish as demographic changes occur, stated the district report.

West Vancouver has sent the bylaw to the health minister for approval. Once it returns, the bylaw will be put to a final vote by council, likely in September, said Liz Holitzki, West Vancouver’s manager of permits, inspections and bylaws.

Steve Feenstra, District of North Vancouver assistant chief of fire prevention, said the district is currently working on a new smoking bylaw that could have a far reaching effect.

One major area the bylaw would tackle would be smoking in the district’s parks and forests, he said.

“The fire chief has the ability to enforce a smoking ban any time he sees fit,” Feenstra explained but added the bylaw could outright ban smoking from parks instead.

“We haven’t quite nailed (the ban) down to six months or year round.”

Earlier in June, the DNV Fire Rescue Service reported it had fought 25 wildfires as of June 5. In 2008, district firefighters fought 62 brush or grass fires.

“It’s looking like we’ll be somewhere in the 60 to 80 (brush/grass fire) range,” deputy fire chief Victor Penman told The Outlook in June.

On Monday, City of North Vancouver council asked its staff to look into the possibility of banning smoking in multi-unit dwellings.

The decision followed a presentation by resident Sean Soper, who argued for the ban due to health concerns and fire hazard.

While Soper acknowledged that a smoking ban can be implemented by an individual building, he claimed it is a difficult process particularly if a strata is involved.

“It’s a matter of principal, I don’t think people in the city should be exposed to second-hand smoke,” Soper told The Outlook. “I think the city should try to keep citizens away from known hazards.”

Mayor Darrell Mussatto said staff have been asked to look into whether it would be legal for the city to enact such a bylaw and what options it has.

“Once we know what our legalities are we can have the discussion about what we can do about this,” Mussatto said.

Malibu posed to say yes to smoking ban

Jul 8th, 2009
by AdminCTA.
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Malibu Times

The city received an “F” rating from the American Lung Association earlier this year for its smoking policies.

By Olivia Damavandi / Staff Writer

The Malibu City Council at its upcoming Monday night meeting will vote on whether to adopt the ordinance that would prohibit smoking in outdoor dining areas and at public events within the City of Malibu beginning July 31.

The ordinance would ban smoking within 20 feet of a public event, such as a farmers’ market. It would also ban smoking within 20 feet of outdoor dining areas on public or private property, such as hotels and supermarkets. Businesses with outdoor dining areas would be also required to conspicuously post and maintain “no smoking” signs within the area.

The council last month voted to adopt the ordinance but decided to make further revisions, which now require the implementation of smoking waste receptacles, or freestanding ashtrays, at least 24 feet from business entrances. Where this is not possible, the waste receptacles must be located at the furthest points from the entrances.

The revisions were made at the request of Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Barovsky, who last month argued that while banning smoking in dining areas and at public events would improve air quality, it would actually increase pollution. People would smoke outside the prohibited area and drop their cigarette butts on the ground when they are finished, she said. Furthermore, she said, the purpose of the city’s ban on smoking at the beach would be defeated, as littered cigarettes would ultimately end up there.

The council had listed the smoking ordinance as one of its top priorities in May, after the American Lung Association’s annual report card gave Malibu an “F” grade along with 60 percent of cities within Los Angeles County for its smoking policies.

The report assesses each state’s efforts in four key tobacco control policy areas.

When broken down into individual municipalities Malibu scored an “F” for overall tobacco control, a “D” for smokefree outdoor air, an “F” for smokefree housing and another “F” for reducing sales of tobacco products.

Those opposed to the ordinance say smoking is their individual right, while supporters applaud the ordinance not only for its health benefits, but for environmental ones as well.

The cost to implement the ordinance has not yet been determined, but will be based on the amount of public outreach and level of enforcement, a city report states.

LIVESTRONG(R) Global Cancer Campaign Spurs Major New Global Commitments to Tobacco Control

Jul 8th, 2009
by AdminCTA.
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Lance Armstrong Foundation

AUSTIN, TX — 07/08/09 — Today the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) announced outstanding new commitments to control the use of tobacco in Senegal, Nepal, Argentina, China and Canada as part of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, an initiative to address the global cancer burden. These commitments will be highlighted at the Campaign’s landmark event, the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit, in Dublin, Ireland, Aug. 24-26. A map featuring these commitments, along with all commitments made to date, can be viewed at www.livestrong.org.

Tobacco use is the single greatest risk factor for cancer. Cigarette smoking alone is the second major cause of death in the world. Tobacco harms nearly every major organ of the body, as the risk of disease amplifies with prolonged exposure. Tobacco users have significantly increased risks of multiple cancers, particularly lung cancer, and are at further risk for heart disease, strokes, emphysema and many other fatal diseases. If tobacco patterns continue, half of 650 million smokers worldwide will likely be killed by tobacco-related diseases, at a rate of ten million deaths each year.

“Millions of lives have already been lost needlessly because of tobacco. These groundbreaking commitments to tobacco control will spur significant progress in reducing the world’s cancer incidences and deaths,” said Lance Armstrong, chairman and founder of the LAF.

“Tobacco control policies must be an urgent priority,” said Doug Ulman, president and CEO of the LAF. “As governments take action, cancer rates will dramatically fall and the quality of life will rise as communities work together to spread positive health messages.”

Abdoul Aziz Kasse, a surgical oncologist and epidemiologist at Accueil Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal, founded PREVENIR, an organization dedicated to eradicating tobacco use in young adults. His studies show that 90 percent of Senegalese smokers begin between the ages of 18 to 24. PREVENIR will establish support programs at universities to help students quit smoking tobacco. Young adults will be educated on the connection between smoking and cancer-related diseases, empowering these future leaders of Senegal to change health policy and the public’s perception of cancer.
PREVENIR’s advocacy in recent years has worked to reduce stigma and lack of awareness associated with cancer. Kasse recalls, “The word cancer was so frightening in Senegal that people didn’t dare pronounce it.” Continuing with their commitment, PREVENIR will recruit young activists and urge government leaders to implement a national cancer plan in Senegal.

Hom Shrestha, Founder of Non-Smokers’ Rights Association of Nepal (NOSMORAN) in Kathmandu, Nepal, wrote the goal of their commitment is to facilitate early detection of lung cancers, especially in Nepal’s mountainous regions where tobacco is most prevalent. Free screenings will increase the survival rates of lung cancer patients, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women of Nepal.

Shtrestha’s commitment concludes that an anti-tobacco media campaign will build grassroots awareness and pressure government to establish smoke-free public places and a ban on tobacco sales to minors by 2015.

Raúl Pitarque, a professor in the Health Science School at Universidad Nacional del Centro of Buenos Aires, Argentina, sees a generation of young adults who do not understand the risks of tobacco. As CEO of Escuela Superior de Ciencias de la Salud (ESCS), a partnership of anti-tobacco universities and organizations, his commitment will unify the voices of cancer patients and families to raise awareness.

Pitarque wrote the goal of his commitment is to “achieve 100 percent smoke-free public places in the Buenos Aires province, where tobacco-related cancers claim the life of one in ten people. We hope to build partnerships with other cancer associations and create a strong community forum. Together, we will work for a higher health objective: a better future, without related tobacco diseases.”

Guihua Xu, CEO of the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control, has made a commitment to equip hospitals with the knowledge and resources to establish “anti-smoking clinics.” The organization will train nearly 8,000 doctors at 2,800 hospitals to offer interventions and programs to educate the public on the dangers of tobacco.

“Approximately 36 percent of civilians smoke in the People’s Republic of China, causing one million tobacco-related deaths each year,” reports Xu. “Providing medical services to help people quit smoking effectively will be an important initial step of action in tobacco control.”

For the first time, the Canadian Cancer Society made a commitment of $70,000 to the Framework Convention Alliance. This commitment supports the current battle to pass the Illicit Trade Protocol, the World Health Organization’s international treaty on tobacco control. If passed, the treaty will reduce tobacco contraband, in turn reducing smoking and other forms of tobacco abuse. In addition, the Canadian Cancer Society is concerned with tobacco’s role in exacerbating global poverty. Tobacco abuse causes malnutrition and premature death at the height of one’s productivity, often depriving communities of a healthy workforce.

Dan Demers, an employee at the Canadian Cancer Society, recognizes that a global challenge like cancer required a global movement. In the organization’s commitment he writes, “Because contraband crosses international borders, effective action by one country will have important benefits for many other countries in the same region and indeed worldwide.”
These advocates will join 250 attendees representing more than 60 countries around the world in an unprecedented show of solidarity against the global cancer epidemic at the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland, August 24 – 26. The Summit will make the case for urgent action to address the global cancer burden and introduce new commitments for cancer control by bringing together key stakeholders from all parts of the world. The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit will ignite a unified global movement while providing attendees the opportunity to connect with other advocates, network, gain media exposure and access tools and resources to help them mobilize in their own communities. Speakers include honorary Summit chair and former Irish President Mary Robinson, Irish Cancer Chief Professor Tom Keane, CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, as well as representatives from the World Health Organization and other global bodies.

In September 2008, Lance Armstrong, LAF founder and chairman, cancer survivor and champion cyclist, announced the Foundation’s commitment to making cancer a global priority at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York. The LAF made this commitment after its worldwide research, conducted over 18 months, revealed widespread misconceptions, stigma and lack of awareness associated with cancer. In response, the LAF established the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign to urgently address the burden of cancer worldwide and support the 28 million people living with cancer around the globe. Cancer kills more people every year than AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. It is estimated that cancer will be the leading cause of death worldwide by 2010. With such staggering statistics, the LAF recognized that a global challenge like cancer required a global movement. And so it began urging world leaders, leading cancer organizations and cancer survivors to join together by making commitments to take action in their communities to reduce the burden of cancer.

The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign has broken new ground with successes to date in Australia, California, Mexico and, most recently, Italy, where its corporate partner Nike helped build grassroots awareness of the burden of cancer through visibility efforts including its Open Roads project, in which Hope Rides Again yellow boxes of chalk and cheer cards were given to fans who lined the tour route in support of Armstrong. The LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign will head to the Tour de France (July 4-26), the Tour of Ireland (Aug. 19-23) and the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Ireland (Aug. 24-26), as well as other locations to be announced. For more information on the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, please visit www.LIVESTRONGblog.org.

About the Lance Armstrong Foundation
At the Lance Armstrong Foundation, we fight for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. There can be — and should be — life after cancer for more people. That’s why we kick in at the moment of diagnosis, giving people the resources and support they need to fight cancer head-on. We find innovative ways to raise awareness, fund research and end the stigma about cancer that many survivors face. We connect people and communities to drive social change, and we call for state, national and world leaders to help fight this disease. Anyone anywhere can join our fight against cancer. Join us at www.LIVESTRONG.org.
About Escuela Superior de Ciencias de la Salud

http://www.unicen.edu.ar/a/unidades/salud.htm

About Chinese Association on Tobacco Control

www.catcprc.org.cn

About Canadian Cancer Society

www.cancer.ca

Contact:
Rae Bazzarre
Lance Armstrong Foundation
(512) 279-8367
Email Contact

Harm of passive smoking

Jul 8th, 2009
by AdminCTA.
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SCMP

Tim Hamlett’s rant about the new tobacco-control legislation in his Tim Hamlett’s Hong Kong column (July 1), directed at three public health advocates, is a tired rehash of old and poorly founded libertarian arguments.

These views particularly ignore the massive harm caused to the population by second-hand smoke.

The Hong Kong public has, by a large majority, supported smoke-free policies in public places and the hospitality sector for more than two decades.

While most people are unlikely to be impressed by Hamlett’s failed satire, I doubt anyone will agree with his claim that the tragedy of a perinatal death is a “mundane” matter. Active and passive smoking makes a very large contribution to bad outcomes of pregnancy, including poor fetal growth, perinatal deaths and health problems in survivors.

Evidence for the harm caused by second-hand smoke to mothers and infants in Hong Kong is well documented, and the new legislation will make an important contribution to the health of women working in previously smoky catering venues.

If Hamlett took the trouble to study and understand the interconnected issues behind tobacco promotion to young people (through watching advertisements and other brand-extension devices) and lifetime damage to health because of workplace exposure, he would be a better role model for his students of journalism.

Anthony Hedley, school of public health, University of Hong Kong

Malaysia: MCTC laud effort to introduce nicotine tests in sports schools

Jul 8th, 2009
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Haresh Deol, Malay Mail

THE Malaysia Council for Tobacco (MCTC) welcomed the initiative by the National Sports Institute (NSI) to introduce nicotine tests in sports schools.

Their president, K. Koris Atan, however, stressed that the parties concerned should emphasise on the educational aspect of such a programme.

“It’s great to hear that NSI is starting such a programme. We would like to hear more of it,” said Koris. “We want to ensure children stay away from cigarettes and we’re glad there are still parties out there who are willing to help us in our cause.”

Koris questioned the government’s decision in still allowing the sale of the 14-stick packs, better known as the Kitty Packs, which was in violation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) signed by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2005.

It was the same year which saw the launch of the failed RM100 million Tak Nak anti-smoking campaign. Ironically, the country hosted the International Tobacco Expo at the KL Convention Centre which saw the participation of over than 200 international companies displaying their products in November 2005.

Koris, who is also president of the Penang Consumer Protection Association and vice-president of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations, said this at a press conference to announce the launch of the 3rd Malaysian Conference on Tobacco Control scheduled for Aug 8 and 9 at the UKM Hospital in Cheras.

Also present were Professor of Health, Economics & Consultant Public Health Medicine Senior Research Fellow Prof Datuk Dr Syed MohamedAljunid, USM Assoc. Prof. Foong Kin, Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society vice-president Assoc.

Prof. Dr Mohamad Haniki Nik Mohamed and Cyberjaya University head of department of Public Health and Community Medicine Prof. Dr AbuBakar Abdul Majid and MCTC exco member Shaari Ahamd Junid.

The Malay Mail had on June 24, highlighted the news by NSI director general Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz who said that there are plans by the NSI to start a pilot project by conducting tests on students from sports schools.

Responding to the article, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Liow Tiong Lai gave the thumbsup to the programme adding that it was possible for such tests to be done in public schools as well.

The test was suggested after the NSI recorded poor fitness levels and performance among athletes, especially those from team sports, over the years.

This was highlighted by Ramlan during Malay Mail’s two-part series published last October where he described “one smoker in a team can be the weakest link in the chain.”

Koris pointed out that there was a list of places where smoking is prohibited as drafted by the government. It also includes stadiums and sports venues.

“We have good laws but very poor enforcement. If people still smoke within the vicinity of the Parliament house, the house that drafts and tables laws, what more at stadiums,” he added.

Source: Malay Mail
Category: Youth
Date: 8 July 2009

Chow says smoking ban will not hurt entertainment industry

Jul 8th, 2009
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Margaret Chan, SCMP

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said on Wednesday the recent extension of the non-smoking ban in Hong Kong would not lead to business closures or job layoffs.

Since July 1, the controversial smoking ban was extended to another six types of entertainment establishments in the territory. This included clubs, bars, mahjong premises, nightclubs, massage establishments and bathhouses.

Vincent Fang Kang, the vice-chairman of the Liberal Party, told the Legislative Council some industries were worried about the financial impact of the ban.

He said the Entertainment Business Rights Concern Group feared many of their businesses would have to close. Mr Fang said the group was also worried that some 100,000 staff could lose their jobs.

But Dr Chow rejected these suggestions. He replied by emphasising that the smoking ban was necessary for the “public good”.

“It is common knowledge that smoking is hazardous to health,” Dr Chow said.

“Greater efforts in tobacco control could reduce the number of smokers and the harm of second-hand smoke.

He said it would also help reduce the cost of public health spending. Millions of dollars is spent each year treating smoking-related illnesses.

“Protection of public health through banning smoking at all indoor public places and workplaces was the objective of the amendment to the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, as well as the consensus reached between the government and the Legco in 2006.” he noted, in a written reply to Mr Fang.

Dr Chow said these businesses had been given plenty of time to prepare for the extension of the smoking ban.
“Both overseas and local data show that such bans have not caused any long-term direct impact on the business or employment of the catering and entertainment industries,” he added.

“Although some local restaurants and karaoke bars had expressed worries that the smoking ban might lead to business losses and lay-offs, Census and Statistics Department statistics showed that restaurant receipts had surged by around 30 per cent after the smoking ban had taken effect for around two years since 2007,” explained Dr Chow.

The health secretary noted that employment had actually increased in the hospitality industry during this period.
“In any case, greater efforts in tobacco control would only help reduce the number of smokers as well as the harm of second-hand smoke, thereby improving the health of more people in our community and cutting down on our medical expenditure,” he said.

Dr Chow said the Food and Health Bureau would continue to monitor the implementation of the smoking ban and help the industries adapt to the ban.

Health experts say around 6,000 (actually 7000) people die each year in Hong Kong of smoking-related illness and about 1,000 (1324) are estimated to die from second-hand or passive smoking.

No smoking in cars with children

Jul 8th, 2009
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http://www.ashaust.org.au/lv3/action_POS.htm