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May 6th, 2012:
COUNCILS, sporting clubs, public-event organisers and businesses will start imposing bans on smoking in outdoor areas within three weeks.
Health Minister John Hill said the power to ban smoking in any public area would take effect on May 31 and he predicted some strongly anti-smoking councils and private organisations would act immediately.
“I think trail-blazing organisations will act almost immediately and others will follow,” he said. “It will be parks, streets, music festivals, sporting events, outside private hospitals, beaches, pageants, anywhere they like and I think councils like Unley, who are very keen, will act quickly.”
Mr Hill said the new powers would be similar to the anti-drinking “dry zone” powers; areas able to be proclaimed as non-smoking by councils and private organisations after public consultation.
Smoking in children’s playgrounds and public transport shelters is automatically banned and will be subject to a $200 fine.
Mr Hill was speaking after the Australian Medical Association called for bans on smoking in any outdoor area where people gathered in numbers, including sporting events, busy pedestrian street crossings and streets which had outdoor dining such as Hutt and Rundle streets in the central business districts.
“Smoking should be banned in outdoor areas where there are public gatherings, altogether,” AMA SA president Dr Peter Sharley said.
“There is evidence that second-hand smoking is linked to cancer, heart disease and respiratory problems.”
Dr Sharley said smoking cost Australia $31 billion each year and killed 15,000 people.
He said it would be difficult to police such bans but believed many people would do the right thing if public warnings were posted.
The AMA called for funding to implement the bans in its submission to the State Budget.
Mr Hill said the Government would not force groups to enact the new laws, except in areas such as playgrounds.
“It will not be compulsory but I think citizens will start insisting especially that councils stop people smoking in some areas, and I think that is a good way of spreading it throughout the community,” Mr Hill said.
Health boss backs plain packets for cigarettes
Health boss backs plain packets for cigarettes
Isle of Wight County Press – 4 hours ago
By Emily Pearce A national consultation is underway on the proposal to sell all tobacco products in standardised packaging without branding or logos.
Press
| Fear fans flames for chemical makers
WGN Radio – 2 hours ago The tactics started with Big Tobacco, which wanted to shift focus away from cigarettes as the cause of fire deaths, and continued as chemical companies … |
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| China’s smoking ban reaches universities
UPI.com – 3 hours ago Peking University is a pilot school in a massive effort by the China Association onTobacco Control to make universities smoke-free |
Big Tobacco backs Australian law opposers
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/314c9446-91fb-11e1-867e-00144feab49a.html#axzz1u4LyNInF
Two of the world’s biggest tobacco companies are providing legal support to member countries at the World Trade Organisation that are threatening to take Australia to international court over the world’s toughest antismoking laws.
Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, the two largest publicly listed tobacco companies by volume outside China, told the FT they were advising several countries that had complained that Australia’s plain packaging laws – in which tobacco companies will have to sell their products in identical drab packaging – violate international trade agreements.
In March Ukraine, which has a substantial tobacco industry, began legal proceedings against Australia, accusing it of violating intellectual property and free trade laws. Honduras, a tobacco exporter, launched legal action this month. Since then a dozen more countries have signed up to the legal complaints including Brazil, Canada, the EU and Indonesia.
According to the WTO, third-party countries may often sign up to legal complaints and this does not necessarily indicate their opposition. Under the trade body’s rules Australia has until mid-May to settle the dispute, or else it could go before a WTO court.
PMI said the company was openly supporting governments that challenged Australia on plain packaging.
“We have been in contact with many of these countries, including on the trade and legal issues associated with the [plain packaging] policy,” it said. “It is commonplace for affected industries to support countries in WTO disputes and we are open to supporting governments that challenge Australia on plain packaging.”
BAT said the company was happy to provide legal support to member states, but it was “up to them” to accept it.
However, the news drew a sharp response from anti-tobacco campaigners.
“It is very concerning that tobacco companies are using legal action as a delaying tactic against a government that is trying to protect the health of its citizens,” said Robin Hewings, tobacco control manager for Cancer Research UK.
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of the London-based Action on Smoking and Health, accused the tobacco companies of “getting others to do their dirty work”.
Action at the WTO is part of a multi-pronged fightback by Big Tobacco against the plain packaging law that Australia is due to implement in December. The EU and Britain are also considering plain packaging, which tobacco companies worry could spread to lucrative emerging markets.
Japan Tobacco International and Imperial Tobacco have joined PMI and BAT in launching lawsuits against the Australian government, accusing it of illegally confiscating their brands. They say there is no scientific evidence to show plain packaging will reduce smoking rates.
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Ban on sale of tobacco in Sharjah welcomed
Lily B Libo-on / 5 May 2012
The draft legislation of the Sharjah government to ban tobacco sale at supermarkets and groceries around residential areas has been received favourably by various sectors of society.
Ramez Sawiris, Regulatory Affairs Director of GSK Consumer Healthcare, told Khaleej Times that the legislation is a positive step in raising awareness on the ills of smoking and minimising its affects on the community. “It is yet to be known how this move will impact consumption, but the decrease on the widespread availability of cigarettes will surely help smokers think more closely about the warning labels on each cigarette pack.”
Similarly, Saul Shiffman, Consultant for GSK Consumer Healthcare (NiQuitin), said that despite constant reminders by the health authorities and warning labels on cigarette packs, smoking remains one of the leading preventable causes of several fatal diseases.
“It has the distinction of being one of the few substances affecting all the systems in the human body, from head to toe. Besides being a leading cause of the obvious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, smoking is known to be a major contributor to many forms of cancer. Additionally, smoking has many adverse effects that are known causes for infertility, preterm delivery and low birth weight,” he said.
A very specific recommendation from Dr Ghada Fahmy, medical director and in-charge of Smoking Cessation Clinic of Al Etihad Health Centre, Ministry of Health, is that shops which continue to sell tobacco to young children and teenagers be closed down.
She said that there is a proliferation of ‘meduakh’, an Arabic term for some sort of smoking pipe where powdered tobacco or tobacco leaves are put in small holes of these pipe and smoked by children as young as 10. “Many Emirati mums have brought their kids in the age-group of 10 and 11 years for medical counseling. The government has to close down the shops selling such stuff as it is very harmful to them. It is indeed a great step by the Sharjah government to ban the sale of tobacco over the counter,” she added.
Sudheer DH, manager of Abraj Al Nahda, a supermarket in Sharjah, said that the tobacco ban, when it will be finally implemented, will affect supermarkets because sales from tobacco alone accounts for about Dh600 daily. “It will definitely affect us as an estimated 15 to 20 per cent of our daily customers are tobacco buyers.”
Filipino Ronald Villanueva, a non-smoking resident of Sharjah for the past eight years, said that even with the ban, it will be difficult to implement the rule as 70 to 80 per cent of males smoke in this emirate. “Many might protest against it and trade in the blackmarket may rise.”
Lebanese Elizabeth Mekhjian, whose husband died of lung cancer, told Khaleej Times that this is good news for her as she supports anti-smoking. “My husband died of lung cancer at 71 even though he quit smoking 20 years before he died. But, the effect of tobacco had long settled in his system.”
Emirati smokers Ahmed Al Shamsi, 18, and his cousin Jassim Al Shamsi, said they would stop smoking when the ban is implemented. But, they believed that the ban will lead to ‘blackmarket selling’ of tobacco and may not really contribute much in stopping teenagers from smoking.
lily@khaleejtimes.com
Lily B Libo-on / 5 May 2012
The draft legislation of the Sharjah government to ban tobacco sale at supermarkets and groceries around residential areas has been received favourably by various sectors of society.
Ramez Sawiris, Regulatory Affairs Director of GSK Consumer Healthcare, told Khaleej Times that the legislation is a positive step in raising awareness on the ills of smoking and minimising its affects on the community. “It is yet to be known how this move will impact consumption, but the decrease on the widespread availability of cigarettes will surely help smokers think more closely about the warning labels on each cigarette pack.”
Similarly, Saul Shiffman, Consultant for GSK Consumer Healthcare (NiQuitin), said that despite constant reminders by the health authorities and warning labels on cigarette packs, smoking remains one of the leading preventable causes of several fatal diseases.
“It has the distinction of being one of the few substances affecting all the systems in the human body, from head to toe. Besides being a leading cause of the obvious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, smoking is known to be a major contributor to many forms of cancer. Additionally, smoking has many adverse effects that are known causes for infertility, preterm delivery and low birth weight,” he said.
A very specific recommendation from Dr Ghada Fahmy, medical director and in-charge of Smoking Cessation Clinic of Al Etihad Health Centre, Ministry of Health, is that shops which continue to sell tobacco to young children and teenagers be closed down.
She said that there is a proliferation of ‘meduakh’, an Arabic term for some sort of smoking pipe where powdered tobacco or tobacco leaves are put in small holes of these pipe and smoked by children as young as 10. “Many Emirati mums have brought their kids in the age-group of 10 and 11 years for medical counseling. The government has to close down the shops selling such stuff as it is very harmful to them. It is indeed a great step by the Sharjah government to ban the sale of tobacco over the counter,” she added.
Sudheer DH, manager of Abraj Al Nahda, a supermarket in Sharjah, said that the tobacco ban, when it will be finally implemented, will affect supermarkets because sales from tobacco alone accounts for about Dh600 daily. “It will definitely affect us as an estimated 15 to 20 per cent of our daily customers are tobacco buyers.”
Filipino Ronald Villanueva, a non-smoking resident of Sharjah for the past eight years, said that even with the ban, it will be difficult to implement the rule as 70 to 80 per cent of males smoke in this emirate. “Many might protest against it and trade in the blackmarket may rise.”
Lebanese Elizabeth Mekhjian, whose husband died of lung cancer, told Khaleej Times that this is good news for her as she supports anti-smoking. “My husband died of lung cancer at 71 even though he quit smoking 20 years before he died. But, the effect of tobacco had long settled in his system.”
Emirati smokers Ahmed Al Shamsi, 18, and his cousin Jassim Al Shamsi, said they would stop smoking when the ban is implemented. But, they believed that the ban will lead to ‘blackmarket selling’ of tobacco and may not really contribute much in stopping teenagers from smoking.
lily@khaleejtimes.com
Turia pushed for budget tobacco tax rise
http://www.3news.co.nz/defaultStrip.aspx?tabid=213&articleID=253171
| Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says she advocated for higher taxes on tobacco in the Government Budget due on May 24 and she personally favours outlawing smoking completely in New Zealand.
“I’ll be very honest with you. I advocated that taxes should rise on tobacco,” she said on the Q+Aprogramme. The associate health minister also says “we need to raise taxes on alcohol”. The Government coalition partner wants to make New Zealand smoke-free by 2025, and is also taking a hard line against the gambling and alcohol industries. The Government has agreed in principle to plain packaging of tobacco products to reduce their appeal and the public is being consulted on the move. Tobacco companies are challenging the policy in other countries, including Australia. Asked if she wanted smoking outlawed, Ms Turia said: “I do. If I’m being really honest I don’t think that having a substance that kills people should be allowed to be sold”. Currently about 650,000 New Zealanders smoke. Ms Turia said it was not for tobacco companies to determine the laws of New Zealand. Modelling by the Ministry of Health “is showing that we could be on pathway to NZ$100 a packet”. “I know the Prime Minister doesn’t think that that is the way forward,” she said. She said the Government’s alcohol reforms did not go far enough and the Maori Party would not be supporting legislation going through Parliament. She also did not want any new pokie machines in New Zealand. The Government is considering allowing casino operator Sky City to have more pokie machines if it builds a new convention centre in Auckland. NZN |
3 News – http://www.3news.co.nz/defaultStrip.aspx?tabid=213&articleID=253171
Doctor in tobacco ads faced bankruptcies; house now being foreclosed
Doctor in tobacco ads faced bankruptcies; house now being foreclosed
By Steven Harmon
Bay Area News Group
Posted: 05/04/2012 04:07:51 PM PDT
May 5, 2012 9:21 PM GMTUpdated: 05/05/2012 02:21:00 PM PDT
Dr. La Donna Porter as she appears in a political television ad, urging… ( Courtesy of No On 29 )«1»WILTON — She’s the family physician in the doctor’s smock turning up in California’s living rooms on TV spots, declaring the tobacco tax measure on the June ballot a menace.
But now Dr. La Donna Porter is coming under fire from tobacco-control groups and other doctors who are convinced the tobacco doctor — a registered Republican who once campaigned on behalf of a toxic chemical — is in it for the money and is being paid by tobacco companies. Public records show that she’s struggling to save her home from foreclosure and lift herself financially from two personal bankruptcies.
But in an exclusive interview with this newspaper, Porter’s husband defiantly defended her, denying that his wife has been paid for her work against Proposition 29.
“We don’t know anybody in the tobacco industry,” said John Porter from the couple’s home in Wilton, 25 miles from Sacramento. “They haven’t offered any money. And I’ve been with her every step of the way.”
Porter said he was “disgusted” with what he calls a “character assassination” against his wife.
“She’s a woman who has a great heart for the people she serves,” he said. The criticism “has been hurtful. My wife is the most humble, most loyal person. … It’s sickening.”
La Donna Porter filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 1998 and again in 2008, the latter action coming when her personal debts grew to $2.4 million while she was unemployed for nine months.
Her home is scheduled to be auctioned May 23, according to a foreclosure auction site, but John Porter disputed that. He said he could not comment because of pending litigation.
“We’re not exempt from personal problems,” he said. “We’re fighting through it. We’re doing fine. The house is not being foreclosed — there’s been misinformation about that.”
La Donna Porter, 46, in a statement provided to this paper, said she stood by her views in the ad and insisted she has not been paid by tobacco interests.
“As for the personal questions you raised, I do not see how they are relevant to my opposition to Prop. 29 or my involvement as an unpaid volunteer with No on 29,” she said.
In the TV and radio ads, Porter argues Proposition 29, which would boost California’s tobacco tax by $1 a pack, would create “a huge new research bureaucracy with no accountability run by political appointees who can spend our tax dollars out of state.”
Porter’s appearance in the ads sparked a protest at the 196-bed San Joaquin General Hospital near Stockton, where she has worked for two years. The protest was organized by Carol McGruder, the co-leader of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, who has demanded that Porter divulge how much she has been paid by Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds. The tobacco giants have thrown $20 million into the campaign with a month to go before the June 5 election.
The No on 29 campaign on Friday released a letter insisting that Porter is a volunteer for the campaign and has never been paid.
Tobacco companies have a history of cultivating relationships with leaders in African-American communities, such as Porter, to ensure a foothold in a profitable segment of the market, said Valerie Yerger, a medical researcher at UC San Francisco who has published papers on the subject.
“Dr. Porter is doing a lot of harm because she’s taking advantage of the fact that she’s a doctor to promote the interests of the industry that’s providing a product that’s the primary killer in (the black) community,” Yerger said.
Porter’s ties to the tobacco industry go back to 2006, when she appeared in an ad opposing Proposition 86, the initiative that would have raised tobacco taxes by $2.60 a pack.
Her appearance came late in the campaign after the No on 86 campaign — bankrolled with $60 million by Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds — had failed to land a doctor to make its pitch. According to news reports at the time, actor Americo Simonini, a Beverly Hills cardiologist, had been approached and was offered at least $10,000 if the initiative’s proponents could use his name and identify him as a physician. He declined.
That year, tobacco companies paid $160,000 to the consulting firm of Alice Huffman, president of the California NAACP, which went on to oppose the tobacco tax.
Porter lent her voice to industry groups at least once before 2006. In 2002, she took the side of the chemical industry against health advocates. She became a key voice in opposing an EPA-proposed regulation of perchlorate, a water pollutant that environmentalists say has harmful effects on infants and children.
At the time, Porter (then La Donna White), acting as president of an African-American doctors group, argued that the proposal would divert funds from “real health issues” affecting blacks and “scare the public.” She later repeated her argument in a column and in a news release produced by a lobbyist for perchlorate users, the Council on Water Quality.
Porter has been a practicing family physician since 1998 after graduating from UC Davis Medical School two years earlier. According to the Medical Board of California, she has had no malpractice lawsuits or other actions taken against her as a physician.
But her personal finances were troublesome from the time she began her practice 14 years ago, when she filed for her first bankruptcy. By 2008, her income, $167,000 in 2007 and $193,000 the previous year, had plummeted to $60,000. She’d received unemployment checks for nine months, according to the bankruptcy documents, and was unable to make payments on her house and office space she’d bought in Elk Grove.
Porter’s Wilton home, south of Elk Grove in the Ranch Equestrian Estates, is a sprawling, 4,850-square-foot, five-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath house. She bought it in 2006 for $1.18 million but its value has plummeted by more than half.
Staff researcher Diana Stickler contributed to this report.
WHO IS DR. LA DONNA PORTER?
Family physician: San Joaquin General Hospital near Stockton
Why you know her: TV and radio spots opposing Proposition 29, the tobacco tax.
Facebook friends: 508 friends, including Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson
Likes: She lists the apocalyptic “Left Behind” series as among her favorite readings, gospel and jazz as her favorite music and “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Boston Legal” and “House” as her favorite TV programs.