HEADLINES

• BMJ raises concern over the “powerful sway” of industry ahead of UN health summit
• TV chef launches e-petition to amend smoking ban
• Call to think twice before smoking in Cumbria's public parks
• Russian Railways’ passengers want smoking ban enforced
• Indonesia: dying-better-than-leaving-friend cigarette ad has anti-tobacco lobby fuming

• BMJ raises concern over the “powerful sway” of industry ahead of UN health summit

  The British Medical Journal (BMJ) has raised serious concerns about the “powerful sway” of tobacco, alcohol, food and drug industries as international governments prepare to agree global targets to cut avoidable deaths from chronic diseases.

  In September, world leaders will meet at the United Nations in New York for a high level summit on non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

  The meeting will focus on four conditions - heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory diseases - that together cause more than half of all deaths in low and middle income countries, yet account for less than 3% of global health aid.

  They also share common risk factors – tobacco use, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and abuse of alcohol – making them largely preventable.

  Hopes are high that the meeting will mark a turning point in tackling these diseases, but in a special report published today, BMJ investigations editor, Deborah Cohen asks: could commercial interests undermine any commitments made at this crucial meeting?  

  Source: BMJ - 24 August 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/nQ2Xsw

• TV chef launches e-petition to amend smoking ban

  TV chef and publican Antony Worrall Thompson, who runs The Greyhound pub at Rotherfield Peppard near Henley-on-Thames and is patron of the smokers’ group Forest, has launched an e-petition calling on the government to review the smoking ban.

  Simon Clark, director of Forest and the Save Our Pubs and Clubs campaign said: “Give landlords and customers a choice. We want the smoking ban amended so licensees can choose to provide a separate, well-ventilated smoking room for adults who wish to smoke."

  Source: Morning Advertiser - 25 August 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/o3gNfC

• Call to think twice before smoking in Cumbria's public parks

  Smokers could be asked to think twice before lighting up in parks across Cumbria - and could face a future ban.

  Signs telling smokers to stub out in play areas could be put up in play parks in an effort to protect children from second-hand smoke.

  Conservative county councillor Bill Wearing is calling for action and hopes that in future smokers could be outlawed from playgrounds and open spaces as they have been from work places and public buildings.

  A ban on smoking in the 54 play parks and 18 open spaces in South Lakeland could be imposed in the future through the Localism Bill - designed to shift power to communities and councils - which is still going through Parliament.

  Source: The Westmorland Gazette - 25 August 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/rahP68

• Russian Railways’ passengers want smoking ban enforced

  Russian Railways has conducted a survey on the issue of smoking on trains and at stations.

  The results showed that passengers are most concerned about the problem of people smoking in carriage vestibules on suburban trains. Smoking in these vestibules is forbidden by law, but this ban is continually violated.

  Three quarters of passengers strongly object to smoking in suburban train vestibules, and of those 27.3% are smokers who abide by the ban on smoking on suburban trains.

  Passengers also expressed their hope that large-scale campaigns will be carried out to highlight the dangers of smoking, and their wish for a ban on cigarette sales on trains and at stations.

  Almost one half of respondents are in favour of a ban on platforms, but with the creation of special zones for smoking.

  Source: Rail.co - 25 August 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/rh12r2

• Indonesia: dying-better-than-leaving-friend cigarette ad has anti-tobacco lobby fuming

  The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) is seeking the dismantling of ads by Indonesian tobacco firm PT Sampoerna that, it said, “brings cigarette marketing to a new low”.

  The billboard advertisement says: “Dying is better than leaving a friend; Sampoerna is a cool friend”. This, said SEATCA, is an “irresponsible advertisement and the Philip Morris International (PMI)-owned company must be held accountable for its despicable lack of sensibility”.

  SEATCA Director Ms. Bungon Ritthiphakdee said: “It is very irresponsible to say such a horrible thing, especially as the aim is just to sell cigarettes. First of all, it is ludicrous to call a hazardous product that kills half its users a ‘friend’. It is simply despicable for PT Sampoerna to trash the Indonesian people in this manner. ”

  The anti-tobacco alliance said the ad is “clearly . . . directed at young people”.

  Source: InterAksyon - 25 August 2011
  Link: http://bit.ly/rcql8X