Author Archives: shoestring
Where can I find more information on smoking bans in my local area?
One of ASH’s allies, Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, maintains an excellent database of smoke-free laws at http://www.no-smoke.org/goingsmokefree.php?id=519.
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The Dominican Republic is Suing Australia for Plain Packaging of Cigarettes
The Dominican Republic has filed formal papers to sue Australia in the World Trade Organization over its plain packaging of cigarettes. Australia is now being sued in three different courts by multiple countries and multinational corporations. The Australian government is refusing to settle or to back down in its legislation, and is confident of victory.… Read the full article >
United States Does Not Table its Tobacco Exception at the TransPacific Partnership Negotiations
The United States did not table its tobacco exception at the latest round of TransPacific Partnership negotiations. The issue apparently did not come up during the closed-door sessions, although it was a central concern of NGOs during the one-hour stakeholder briefing with the chief negotiators. The next round is scheduled to begin September 6, but… Read the full article >
Canada and Mexico Join the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Talks
Canada and Mexico are set to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement talks. They have agreed to accept any provisions that have been agreed before they join, in spite of the fact that they are not allowed to see the text. In essence, this is like signing a legal contract without reading a word of its… Read the full article >
I am in a custody dispute and/or my ex spouse smokes around our children. What can I do to protect them?
Judges in custody disputes are required to focus on the best interests of the child, and are increasingly taking smoking into account. The Tobacco Control Legal Consortium has produced an excellent summary of your rights and how to exercise them at: http://publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/secondhand-smoke-and-family-courts-role-smoke-exposure-custody-and-visitation-decisions.
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I need help to quit smoking. What resources are available to me?
There are a variety of treatments available to aid in quitting smoking, from counseling to pharmaceuticals. ASH does not endorse any nicotine-replacement therapy or any other pharmaceutical drugs, but encourages smokers who want to quit to seek assistance. The American Lung Association can help connect you to local resources. Call 1 800 LUNGUSA.
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Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): 13th Round of TPP Negotiations – Jul 2-10, 2012
(July 2-10, 2012 / San Diego, Calif. ) The most recent negotiating round of the Trans-Pacific Partnership took place in San Diego, California from July 2-10, 2012. Chris Bostic ASH Deputy Director for Policy will be there presenting to trade negotiators and other key allies on the necessity of a tobacco carve out from the TPP.… Read the full article >
I see fewer and fewer people smoking, yet tobacco companies are more profitable than ever? How is that possible?
While we have cut smoking prevalence in half in two generations here in the United States, the tobacco industry has increasingly targeted new customers overseas, especially in poorer countries. Often, marketing practices that would be illegal here – cartoons, toys, free samples – are employed to hook children as early as grade school into a… Read the full article >
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Tobacco Industry Reports on Revenues
Clearly, even though it kills over 5 million people per year, tobacco remains a very lucrative business. Quoting Warren Buffet: “I’ll tell you why I like the cigarette business. It cost a penny to make. Sell it for a dollar. It’s addictive. And there’s a fantastic brand loyalty.” According to the recently released Tobacco Atlas,… Read the full article >
Ratification from Czech Republic
On June 1st 2012 the Czech Republic joined the tobacco treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 177 out of 195 eligible Parties have become Parties to this treaty. The U.S. has not yet joined this treaty. President Obama should take action and choose health over tobacco and submit this treaty to the Senate for… Read the full article >
WHO: World No Tobacco Day – MAY 31, 2012
(31, May 2012) This year’s theme for World No Tobacco Day is “Tobacco Industry Interference”. The focus is on the need to expose and counter the tobacco industry’s attempts to undermine global tobacco control efforts. For more information please visit the WHO website.
WHA Adoption of Targets
The world must stay make clear commitments to reduce the tobacco caused epidemic. As Dr Chan, Director General of the WHO says, “what gets measured gets done”. The governments of the world have agreed to achieve a meaningful target during the World Health Assembly (WHA), the governing body of the World Health Organization. The adopted… Read the full article >
PAFNCD 2012
On May 8-9 I attended in Brasilia, Brazil, the first working meeting of the Pan American Forum for Action on Noncommunicable Diseases (PAFNCD) http://new.paho.org/panamericanforum/ , an initiative of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) that confronts the Noncommunicable (NCD) epidemic in the Americas by mobilizing different interest groups to prevent and control chronic… Read the full article >
Costing Tools
Tobacco use has been determined to be very costly to society as you can see in this Harvard- World Economic Forum publication http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Harvard_HE_GlobalEconomicBurdenNonCommunicableDiseases_2011.pdf. According to a recent American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation report the annual economic burden of tobacco related illnesses exceeds total annual health expenditures in low and middle income countries. On… Read the full article >
WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB): WTO Adopts Clove Cigarette Rulings- APR 24, 2012
(24, April 2012) At the meeting on April 24, 2012 the DSB adopted the panel and appellate body reports on US measures affecting the sale of clove cigarettes (DS406). For more information please visit the WTO website
Bloomberg’s Support on Tobacco Control
We applaud New York City Mayor and philanthropist Michael R. Bloomberg, for his unwavering commitment to public health by announcing his continued support of US $220 million to the global fight against tobacco use, bringing his total support to over US $600 million. We encourage other philanthropists to follow his lead. Tobacco will kill one… Read the full article >
ASH Applauds Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Commitment to the Global Fight Against Tobacco
WASHINGTON, DC (March 23, 2012) Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) applauds New York City Mayor and philanthropist Michael R. Bloomberg, for his unwavering commitment to public health by announcing his continued support of US $220 million to the global fight against tobacco use, bringing his total support to over US $600 million. The announcement… Read the full article >
