MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown City Council unanimously passed one of the toughest anti-smoking resolutions in the region Monday evening. The resolution prohibits people from lighting up at all city playgrounds and pools, as well as two entire city parks mainly used by children and teenagers. The resolution, viewed by the council as a measure to protect public health, is intended to reduce the exposure of kids to second-hand smoke. Ream more »
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday launched a drive to create awareness of smoke free zones in educational institutions. As part of the campaign government officials launched a crackdown on shops selling cigarettes to consumers below 18 years and vowed to take action against those trading tobacco products within 100 yards of the campus. Ream more »
Mothers-to-be in Rotherham who smoke are being targeted by a special team of midwives to try to help them give up the habit.
The team has been assembled in what is believed to be one of the first schemes of its kind in the country.
When pregnant woman go for scans in the town they are referred to a specialist midwife if they smoke.
During a sit-down consultation they are given facts about smoking and advice and support on stopping.
The move follows a 12-month scheme by NHS Rotherham in which pregnant women were given shopping vouchers if they could kick their cigarette habit.
Stark facts
At the end of the incentive fewer than 10 women had taken up the offer.
Staff at Rotherham General Infirmary said the specialist midwife service was producing better results, with 25 women giving up smoking in the first few weeks of the scheme.
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In their op-ed “Rethinking chemical safety” (May 23), Brenda Afzal and Jenny Levin appropriately alert us to the health risks related to chemicals in our environment. However, they might have also included the biggest proven chemical danger to our health, namely cigarettes. In their article they discuss many of the most hazardous chemicals in our food, water, air and consumer products but failed to mention the dangers of cigarettes and tobacco smoke, which contain about 4,000 chemicals, at least 50 of which are known to cause cancer.
As reported, the President’s Cancer Panel is recommending regulation of chemicals that may cause cancer, and several congressman have introduced legislation that could effectively keep harmful chemicals out of our environment. Why not include cigarettes in this legislation? Ream more »
RADICAL proposals to curb Plymouth’s high smoking rates have provoked mixed reactions from city residents.
The Herald yesterday revealed a wide range of ideas presented in the city’s draft Tobacco Control Strategy — including handing out nicotine patches in schools and restricting smoking at some outdoor public events such as the fireworks championships.
Members of the public have branded some proposals as “ridiculous”, but others welcomed measures which could stop future generations taking up the habit.
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An ordinance here prohibiting tobacco sales in drug stores could violate he equal protection clauses of the state and federal constitutions, a state appeal court ruled this week, according to a report by Law.com.
The unanimous decision by San Francisco’s 1st District Court of Appeal reverses a demurrer in the city’s favor, and allows Walgreen Co. to go ahead with a suit challenging the city’s controversial ordinance.
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Uganda police are investigating after a marijuana plantation was uncovered in the garden of a convent.
A regional police chief told the BBC that plants covering one acre had been found and uprooted in the southern Masaka district.
Two nuns and two porters have been questioned.
One of the nuns has been quoted by local media as saying the marijuana was used to treat farm animals, such as pigs.
Southern regional commander Emmanuel Muhuirwe told the BBC News website that only the porters had been arrested – not the nuns.
He said the nuns had been questioned because the garden was part of the convent.
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Federal authorities targeting contraband cigarette sales arrested a group of suspected wholesalers on charges of dealing thousands of cartons of untaxed cigarettes and millions of counterfeit tax stamps.
An unrelated investigation in Hampton led to state warrants lodged Wednesday against a number of businesses selling contraband cigarettes.
Untaxed cigarettes purchased wholesale in Virginia can yield huge profits in other states with high excise taxes for tobacco products. At 30 cents a pack, Virginia has the country’s third-lowest tobacco excise tax.
A lengthy investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led to federal charges lodged against five suspects: Tao Zhang; Yong Jin Li; Qui Rong Li, known as Amy; Fajun Zhang; and Mei Zhang, known as Michelle. All but Amy Li were in custody as of Wednesday.
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The tobacco control bill 2009 may have gone through parliament but, in some villages of remote Sakteng gewog in northern Trashigang, tobacco is cultivated for self-consumption.
Villagers said that it had been a part of their tradition to grow and consume tobacco for personal consumption. “It’s mainly for self consumption and not for sale,” said Yeshi Zangmo of Thrakthri village. She chews tobacco.
Some miscreants wiped out all her plants and she had come to report it to the tshogpa (village representative), who is also her son.
Yeshi lives in the mountains above the Thrakthri School. There are a few tobacco growers there.
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The Minister of Health, Dr. Richard Sezibera, yesterday tabled a bill before parliament that seeks to restrict smoking in public places.
The bill comes as a response to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which Rwanda ratified in 2005.
“Cigarette manufacturers have increased their advertisement and they target mostly women and children,” Sezibera told lawmakers.
“Tobacco has today become a global concern and this is why we are introducing a tobacco control law.”
The minister told lawmakers that unfortunately, tobacco contains as much as 400 toxic substances and that research figures reveal that there are tobacco-related effects and 25 diseases that affect the lungs, the heart and blood veins.
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