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ASH Daily News for 12 December 2006

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ASH Daily News
 
12 December 2006
 
 
HEADLINES
 
University ends investment in tobacco firms  
 
Exercise 'can reduce smoker's risk of lung cancer'
 
Wales: Children's hi-tech survey on smoking 
 
Scotland: Public Health chief’s smoking vow
 
 
FULL TEXT
 
University ends investment in tobacco firms  
 
Bristol University, which was built with the help of the Wills tobacco family, has stopped investing in cigarette companies. It has disposed of its 25,900 shares in Bristol- based Imperial Tobacco after the university decided such investments could be damaging to future research funding.
 
The shares, which amounted to a little more than one per cent of its holdings, were sold for £440,631 earlier this year.  Investment managers were then told the university no longer wanted to hold shares in tobacco firms.
 
The move was made after the issue was raised at last year's meeting of the university court, one of the bodies involved in running the university.
 
North Somerset councillor Chanel Stevens, a member of the court, called for an ethical investment programme when it met in December 2005.
 
He said it was not put to a vote at the time but he had just discovered that a subsequent meeting of the university council agreed it did not want to invest in tobacco companies and its shares in Imperial Tobacco were sold.
 
It was through financial support from the Wills family, which made its fortune in tobacco, as well as the Fry chocolate family, that the university was built.
 
The Wills tower at the top of Park Street is a permanent memorial to the way the family helped shape the city. Henry Overton Wills was the university's first chancellor.
 
Mr Stevens said: "Given the link between Wills and the university, it was a difficult issue. But it has now taken a decision to get rid of its tobacco holdings and to refuse to invest in any further tobacco companies and I am very pleased they have done so."
 
University spokesman Barry Taylor said investments were made on its behalf by independent investment managers and the university had not known it had shares in the tobacco industry.
 
He said: "When it emerged that some of the investment was going into the tobacco industry, the fund manager was told we didn't wish to invest in the industry any more.
 
"Investing in tobacco firms could be damaging to the university because it's something that would understandably not impress some medical research funders.
 
"It's a pragmatic move to protect the university's income for research."
 
WD and HO Wills was one of the founding companies of Imperial Tobacco.
 
Bristol Evening Post 11 December 2006
http://tinyurl.com/yjvmwf
 
 
 
Exercise 'can reduce smoker's risk of lung cancer'
 
Smokers who exercise have a reduced risk of lung cancer. However, quitting smoking entirely is still the best way to avoid the disease altogether, according to new research.
 
Researchers from the universities of Minnesota and Pennsylvania found that being physically active could reduce the likelihood of lung cancer.
 
In a study of 36,000 women smokers, those who remained highly active reduced their risk of lung cancer by as much as 72 per cent.
 
Dr Kathryn Schmitz, the study's lead author, said: "The most important thing a smoker can do to reduce risk is to quit smoking. That said, exercising and being active can offer a marginal change in risk.
 
"The helpful message from this study is that if a smoker is having trouble quitting, exercise can be a first step toward better health."
 
Women with a low level of physical activity were more likely to smoke, not as likely to have a high school education and more likely to be obese, the study also found.
 
The study is published in the December issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention.
 
Lung cancer is statistically the most deadly form of cancer and the hardest to treat.
 
Netdoctor, 11 Dec 2006
http://news.netdoctor.co.uk/news_detail.php?id=18005887
 
 
Wales: Children's hi-tech survey on smoking 
 
Llanelli schoolchildren have taken part in a hi-tech smoking survey. Opinions were gathered from year 13 Ysgol y Strade pupils who used handsets like those on the television quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?
 
 
Consultation questions included reasons why young people smoked, and opinions about the new changes in the smoking laws and adults smoking in front of children.
 
The Welsh language event was organised by Carmarthenshire Youth Service in partnership with the Youth First Project, Urdd Gobaith Cymru and Carmarthenshire Youth Council.
 
Results are available on www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/youngpeople
 
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/  
7 December 2006 
 
 
Scotland: Public Health chief’s smoking vow
 
Glasgow will have the best anti-smoking services in the world if the city's new health supremo gets her way.
 
Dr Linda de Caestecker outlined her vision after being named as the new director of public health.
 
She's a child health expert who believes everything should be done to prevent youngsters from even considering taking up smoking.
She replaces Dr Harry Burns, who is now the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland.
 
Dr de Caestecker, 49, said: "In this new post I will be providing leadership and support for activities to improve health and address health inequalities throughout Greater Glasgow and Clyde. I believe the key priorities for Greater Glasgow and Clyde include addressing the problems of smoking, alcohol and obesity.
 
"For example, although smoking rates are coming down, smoking remains a significant, preventable cause of ill-health.
 
"I want this part of Scotland to have the most effective smoking cessation services in the world and for young people to never start smoking."
 
Glasgow Evening Times, 11 Dec 2006
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5060239.html
 
 
 
 
 



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