We hope our readers enjoy this piece which offers an insiders view of what it was like to be a promo girl for big tobacco in the 1990’s. Granted this type of promotion is now largely banned in countries with advanced tobacco control measures, but it remains standard practice in nations soft on the tobacco […]
Thai youth ask the tobacco industry to withdraw lawsuit against new pictorial health warnings
Update: On 1 August, 140 youth and students held a protest rally at the World Trade Centre in Bangkok, location of the Philip Morris International offices, to show support for 85% pictorial warnings, and to symbolise “140 deaths from tobacco use every day” in the country. View a video of the rally here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXsWjL8VplE Open letter 1 August 2013 To: […]
While the UK calls for more evidence, new Australian study shows cigarette plain packaging works
Plain cigarette packaging works: study By Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation and Alexia Attwood, The Conversation This article was originally published at The Conversation. Plain packaging on tobacco products is associated with lower smoking appeal, greater support for the policy and a higher urgency to quit among adult smokers, a new study has found. Since last […]
New WHO report: more tobacco advertising bans, smoke free spaces save millions of lives
The World Health Organisation Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2013 was launched in Panama City on 10 July. Panama was selected as the venue for this high level, global event in recognition of the country’s leadership in tobacco control. The report shows the number of people worldwide covered by at least one life-saving […]
Cameroon: Cigarettes are eating your baby alive campaign
Today marks the launch of the first-ever national mass media campaign to warn people of Cameroon about the harms of tobacco. The campaign, called ‘Cigarettes Are Eating Your Baby Alive,’ was developed by the Ministry of Health and World Lung Foundation. It graphically depicts how tobacco harms not both smokers, as well as their […]
World No Tobacco Day: a wrap up of reports and pictures from around the world
World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is held every year on 31 May. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners everywhere highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. In 2013, the theme was ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. A comprehensive ban of all tobacco […]
World No Tobacco Day India: rallies, art, skits, walls of shame and policy progress
National: Government and NGOs join hands to completely ban Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) Credit: Nikunj Sharma, HRIDAY A national level multi-stakeholder consultation was held in New Delhi, at which the government and NGOs resolved in favour of a complete ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) of tobacco products. The health […]
Cigarette pack warnings: a new way to talk directly to smokers?
The tussle between tobacco companies and public health over the valuable advertising real estate that is the cigarette pack could be about to escalate to a whole new level. Researchers at Stirling University in Scotland have created cigarette packs that play recorded health warnings when opened. Funded by Cancer Research UK, the study is inspired by […]
World No Tobacco Day in the Western Pacific
Report credit: Annabel Lyman, FCA Pacific Island Countries Coordinator Every year, WHO recognizes individuals or organisations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. There were 6 awardees in the Western Pacific region this year including the Cook Islands Ministry of Health. The Cook Islands ratified […]
Romania World No Tobacco Day: ‘Ex-smokers are unstoppable’
Photos and report credit: European Commission (http://www.exsmokers.eu/) World No Tobacco Day in Romania highlighted the European Commission’s ‘Ex-smokers are unstoppable’ campaign. A media roundtable was held, where two doctors discussed the benefits of smoking cessation. Two ex-smokers also shared their personal stories of quitting smoking. The event was attended by numerous media representatives, and […]