Tobacco Kills! - Don't be duped!

Weak implementation of tobacco control laws in Lucknow: Loreto College Students

2010-05-11T20:43:00.000+05:30

[To see CNS photo gallery of this event, click here]Are the tobacco control laws, as envisaged in the COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003), like the Ban on Smoking in Public Places, being enforced and followed in the city of Lucknow? Are the Lucknow-citizens any wiser about the hazards of smoking and tobacco consumption? To find the ground reality, some students of Class XII of

Tobacco Laws And Their Implementation – The Horror of Reality

2010-05-11T20:41:00.002+05:30

[To see CNS photo gallery of this event, click here] It was an eye opener for the team members to see the apathy of citizens and lackadaisical attitude of implementing authorities, for tackling this serious issue. They had their own suggestions to offer. One girl suggested that tobacco growers switch over to Jatropa plantation. This would serve a dual purpose – tobacco growers will have an

Ban Smoking in cars with children

2009-06-19T11:23:00.000+05:30

Ban Smoking in cars with childrenProfessor (Dr) Rama Kant To read a related posting in Hindi language , click here ] --------------------------------------- [Note: Professor (Dr) Kant is responding to a news 'Ban smoking in cars with children', which is available online at: http://tambakookills.blogspot.com/2009/06/ban-smoking-in-cars-with-children.html . Thanks] ---------------------------------

Strictly enforce smoke-free policies! Quit tobacco before it’s too late

2009-05-30T15:11:00.000+05:30

Strictly enforce smoke-free policies! Quit tobacco before it’s too late There was a growing consensus to strictly enforce smoke-free policies at the public symposium organized by the department of Surgery, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University to mark the World No Tobacco Day. Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) Saroj Chooramani Gopal and Justice Shabibul Hasnain were the chief guests, and

Large comprehensive pictorial warnings on tobacco products are more effective

2009-05-28T18:38:00.000+05:30

Large comprehensive pictorial warnings on tobacco products are more effective An advocacy card in Hindi language for pictorial warnings on tobacco products was released by Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, Head of Surgery Department, Chhattrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU) at the UP Press Club in Lucknow today. Professor (Dr) Rama Kant is also a World Health Organization (WHO)

GoM counting tobacco votes over tobacco deaths

2009-05-04T16:02:00.000+05:30

GoM counting tobacco votes over tobacco deaths Tobacco use is the biggest cause of death, disease and disability the death clock of tobacco strikes every six seconds globally and the product kills nine lakh Indians every year. Since the first notification of the pictorial health warnings in July 2006, nearly 26,52,500 Indians have died from tobacco-related diseases. Studies point that

Asthma control is appalling in most countries

2009-05-03T22:04:00.000+05:30

World Asthma Day (6 May)Asthma control is appalling in most countries More than 300 million people around the world have asthma, and the disease imposes a heavy burden on individuals, families, and societies. The Global Burden of Asthma Report, indicates that asthma control often falls short and there are many barriers to asthma control around the world. Proper long-term management of asthma

A month more for Pictorial warnings on tobacco products

2009-04-30T13:57:00.001+05:30

A month more for Pictorial warnings on tobacco products The long pending pictorial or graphic health warnings on all tobacco products in India shall finally be impelmented from 30 May 2009. This is in line with the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act and the global tobacco treaty which India has ratified (World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control).Earlier this month

Engaging healthcare providers in tobacco control on 'Safe Saturday'

2009-04-25T15:21:00.000+05:30

Engaging healthcare providers in tobacco control on 'Safe Saturday' The healthcare providers, particularly the young nursing and medical students can potentially strengthen tobacco control in all healthcare facilities. This was the key thought expressed at the 'Safe Saturday' seminar held in Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU), organized by its Tobacco Cessation Centre. People

One-third preventable deaths can be averted by healthy environment

2009-04-24T17:18:00.000+05:30

One-third preventable deaths can be averted by healthy environmentIn the least developed countries, one third of death and disease is a direct result of environmental causes. Proper environmental management is the key to avoiding the quarter of all preventable illnesses which are directly caused by environmental factors, said Prabha Chaturvedi, President, Exnora Lucknow, in an interface with

Pictorial health warnings on tobacco products from 30th May

2009-04-17T10:56:00.000+05:30

Pictorial health warnings on tobacco products from 30th MayThe long pending pictorial or graphic health warnings on all tobacco products in India shall finally be impelmented from 30 May 2009. This is in line with the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act and the global tobacco treaty which India has ratified (World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control).Earlier this week

Will pictorial warnings on tobacco products get postponed again?

2009-04-07T22:53:00.000+05:30

Will pictorial warnings on tobacco products get postponed again?The Group of Ministers (GoM) on tobacco warnings is meeting on 8 April 2009 and further dilution or delay to pictorial health warnings on tobacco products is expected. This is a great concern before the nation when the implementation on pictorial warnings is long due now and the deadline is very close (31 May 2009). This meeting is

First Bloomberg Award for Global Tobacco Control to Dr Prakit Vathisathokit

2009-03-29T11:26:00.000+05:30

First Bloomberg Award for Global Tobacco Control to Dr Prakit Vathisathokit Jittima Jantanamalaka The first Bloomberg Award for Global Tobacco Control (2009) was conferred to Dr Prakit Vathisathokit, Executive Secretary of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Thailand. Dr Prakit was awarded for his leadership to implement the pictorial health warning labels on tobacco products effectively in

THE HINDU: Tobacco, alcohol brands allowed to advertise their co-products

2009-03-19T13:47:00.000+05:30

THE HINDU: Tobacco, alcohol brands allowed to advertise their co-products New Delhi (Press Trust of India - PTI): The government has allowed Tobacco and Alcohol brands to advertise their other products on television but banned display of their "prohibited product" during telecast. The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry had brought the recent changes while amending the Cable Television

Tobacco, alcohol brands allowed to advertise their co-products

2009-03-19T11:06:00.000+05:30

Tobacco, alcohol brands allowed to advertise their co-productsZee News 18 March 2009[To read this news in Hindi language , click here ]-----------------New Delhi, March 18: The government has allowed Tobacco and Alcohol brands to advertise their other products on television but banned display of their "prohibited product" during telecast.The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry had brought

Thailand strengthening alliances in South East Asia for tobacco control

2009-03-18T21:22:00.000+05:30

Thailand strengthening alliances in South East Asia for tobacco controlJittima JantanamalakaThailand had relatively strong tobacco control policies for years but for effective implementation, it was vital to seek cooperation and strengthen tobacco control initiatives in other countries in the South-East Asia (SEA). “After working with Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) foundation in Thailand for

International tobacco control award for Dr Mira Aghi

2009-03-17T19:28:00.000+05:30

International tobacco control award for Dr Mira AghiNoted tobacco control advocate and a United Nations consultant Dr Mira Aghi was conferred upon the International award in recognition of her lifetime contribution to advancing tobacco control initiatives for women.The International Network of Women Against Tobacco (INWAT) presented its Tribute for Outstanding Service to Women award to Dr Mira

Tobacco Industry Interference with Tobacco Control: WHO report 2009

2009-03-15T01:54:00.000+05:30

Tobacco Industry Interference with Tobacco Control: WHO report 2009 The tobacco industry has historically employed a multitude of tactics to shape and influence tobacco control policy, says a recently released report (Tobacco Industry Interference with Tobacco Control, 2009) of the World Health Organization (WHO). The tobacco industry has used its economic power, lobbying and marketing

We Shall Overcome the menace of tobacco

2009-03-14T23:17:00.000+05:30

We Shall Overcome the menace of tobacco The recently concluded 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH), renewed the pledge to battle the scourge of tobacco, till we can boast of a smoke free environment and a healthy society. The conference provided a global platform for sharing of ideas and real life experiences and dissemination of information from across 130 countries of the

Scaling up clinic-based tobacco cessation in India

2009-03-14T11:15:00.001+05:30

Scaling up clinic-based tobacco cessation in India The smoke-free policies in India were enforced since 2 October 2008 and different states are at varying levels of its implementation, yet the tobacco cessation services are still limited to very few clinics in India. A lead article published in The Economist (7-13 March 2009) says: "tobacco is more addictive than virtually all of them [narcotic

Tobacco cessation can piggy-back ride on health services

2009-03-11T15:05:00.000+05:30

Tobacco cessation can piggy-back ride on health servicesThe importance of integrating tobacco cessation with the existing healthcare services was emphasized by Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, Head of the Department of Surgery, CSM Medical University, Lucknow and a World Health Organization (WHO) Director General’s Awardee (2005). He was speaking at the ongoing 14th World Conference on Tobacco Or Health

International Community Demands Big Tobacco Comply Swiftly with Health Treaty

2009-03-10T09:30:00.000+05:30

International Community Demands Big Tobacco Comply Swiftly with Health Treaty U.S. CONGRESS CONSIDERS BILL TO REGULATE TOBACCO DURING GLOBAL CONFERENCE MUMBAI, INDIA: At the 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in India this week, governments and civil society are demanding tobacco corporations comply swiftly with new treaty guidelines preventing industry interference in health policy.

In The Spirit Of Freedom ( From Tobacco)

2009-03-09T23:08:00.000+05:30

In The Spirit Of Freedom ( From Tobacco)The 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCTOH) got an official kick start on the 8th of March, at the National Centre Of Performing Arts in Mumbai. The programme started with the typical Indian invocation to Lord Ganesha and goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati (may be in keeping with the International Women’s Day), to help make the conference a success

Youth against cross-border tobacco advertising in films

2009-03-08T23:21:00.001+05:30

Youth against cross-border tobacco advertising in filmsYouth from 27 countries that met at the 2nd Global Youth Meet (GYM) in the lead up to the 14th World Conference on Tobacco Or Health (WCTOH) in Mumbai, India, expressed their common ire against cross-border tobacco advertising in films.Satellite televisions, cinema theatres, CDs, DVDs are some of the ways movies made in any part of the world

The World Conference on Tobacco or Health to open in India

2009-03-07T20:28:00.000+05:30

The World Conference on Tobacco or Health to open in IndiaIndia is a host to the global conference on tobacco control for the first time in history. Also it is after a span of 12 years that the world conference on tobacco control is being held in a developing country. The 14th World Conference on Tobacco Or Health (WCTOH) is going to take place in Mumbai from 8th to 12th March 2009. The theme

Youth refuse to be 'targetted' by the tobacco industry

2009-03-07T20:25:00.000+05:30

Youth refuse to be 'targetted' by the tobacco industry More than 80% of the tobacco use begins before the age of 18 years. The tobacco industry loses more than 5.4 million of its best customers every year as they die of causes attributed to tobacco use. Documents recovered from the tobacco industry reveal that the tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship campaigns are targetted to

Way clear for Japan Tobacco and Philip Morris to increase Indian stakes

2009-02-13T13:40:00.001+05:30

Way clear for Japan Tobacco and Philip Morris to increase Indian stakes Below is an interesting news that suggests that the way is clear for tobacco transnational companies to increase their stake in Indian ventures. read more below:Dipp plan for tobacco cos goes up in smoke 13 February 2009Rajat GuhaThe Economic Times, New DelhiThe Cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) has turned down a

Deadline talks: Anti-tobacco drive runs into thick ‘smoke’: What keeps pictorial warnings off cigarette packs?

2009-01-23T10:50:00.000+05:30

Deadline talks: Anti-tobacco drive runs into thick ‘smoke’ What keeps pictorial warnings off cigarette packs? Gaurav Saigal, The Hindustan Times, Lucknow, UP 23 January 2009 The deadline to put a pictorial warning on cigarette packs has passed again on November 30, 2008. But the pictorial warnings are yet to find their way on them! Well, it could have been a crab instead. But no pictorial

Further dilution of pictorial tobacco warnings feared

2009-01-22T17:37:00.001+05:30

Further dilution of pictorial tobacco warnings feared On 23 January 2009, the Group of Ministers (GoM) in India will again meet to assuage concerns of tobacco lobby on pictorial warnings, health activists apprehend. This group of ministers (GoM) consists of: Pranab Mukherjee (External Affairs Minister), Kamal Nath (Commerce and Industry Minister), Priyaranjan Dasmunsi (former Information

Pictorial warnings on tobacco likely to be put off again

2009-01-22T12:14:00.000+05:30

Pictorial warnings on tobacco likely to be put off again Teena Thacker, The Indian Express: Thursday, 22 January 2009 Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss’ ambitious plan to introduce pictorial warnings on tobacco products is likely to be put off once again. It is learnt that the group of ministers will meet on Friday to delay the plan, giving the tobacco industry a reprieve. Once

Similarities Between The Soft Drink And Tobacco Industries

2008-12-26T18:28:00.000+05:30

Similarities Between The Soft Drink And Tobacco Industries Recently it's become very clear that manufacturers of soda and other soft drinks have quite a bit in common with the makers of cigarettes and other tobacco products.I saw a magazine ad recently, paid for by the Coca Cola Bottling Company, that was so similar to a Philip Morris ad that it was eerie. The full page ad stated that recent

NOTE slams government over tobacco products

2008-12-18T15:57:00.002+05:30

NOTE slams government over tobacco productsThe Times of India, Panji, Goa[To read this news in hindi language, click here]--------------------------------------Excerpt:The National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) has criticized the central government for its inability to implement the compulsory printing of pictorial warnings on tobacco products.NOTE general secretary Shekhar Salkar

Minister admits failure to enforce smoking ban

2008-12-16T11:55:00.001+05:30

Minister admits failure to enforce smoking banThe Statesman, Kolkata, West Bengal[To read this news in hindi language, click here]--------------------------------------Excerpt:Mr Rabi Lal Maitra, state minister of law, today admitted the state’s failure to implement the tobacco control Act which came into force in 2003. He was speaking at the regional advocacy workshop on tobacco control laws

Workshop on tobacco control for law enforcement officials

2008-12-11T12:52:00.001+05:30

Workshop on tobacco control for law enforcement officialsSikkim Express, Gangtok, Sikkim[To read this news in hindi language, click here]--------------------------------------Excerpt:A State level capacity building workshop for law enforcement officials on tobacco control organized by State Health Department in association with Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth (HRIDAY), New

Deferment of pictorial warnings gives beedi workers a breather

2008-12-05T11:47:00.001+05:30

Deferment of pictorial warnings gives beedi workers a breatherLive Mint News, Mumbai/ Kolkata/ Hyderabad5 December 2008[To read this news in hindi language, click here]--------------------------------------Excerpt:The Union ministry of health and family welfare has deferred its plan to enforce legislation that stipulates printing of pictorial warning on beedi packets and tobacco products by six

Banning on-screen smoking affects depiction of reality: Bhatt

2008-12-02T15:38:00.001+05:30

Banning on-screen smoking affects depiction of reality: BhattPress Trust of India, New Delhi, Delhi[To read this news in hindi language, click here]--------------------------------------Excerpt:Noted film director Mahesh Bhatt today contended before the Delhi High Court that ban on smoking scenes in films and television programmes would prevent filmmakers from depicting reality on silverscreen."I

Tambakoo-Kills This-Week: 23-30 November 2008

2008-11-30T11:09:00.000+05:30

Tambakoo-Kills This-Week: 23-30 November 2008Issue 516---------------The Tambakoo-Kills This-Week provides a weekly snapshot of five major news pieces on Indian tobacco control.Pictorial warning on tobacco items NOT during UPA tenure: RamadossAdmitting defeat in ensuring pictorial health warnings on packets of cigarettes and other tobacco products, India's Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss

Activists decry India's deferment of pictorial health warnings on tobacco products

2008-11-27T07:40:00.000+05:30

Activists decry India's deferment of pictorial health warnings on tobacco products Civil society in India has strongly condemned the recent decision of the Group of Ministers (GOM) in India to defer the implementation of pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packages which was to come in to effect from November 30, 2008. The pictorial warnings have been deferred, again, till at least end

Another blow to enforcement of tobacco control policies in India

2008-11-26T18:23:00.000+05:30

Another blow to enforcement of tobacco control policies in India Pictorial warnings on tobacco products postponed 7th time Right after the strong and effective guidelines to stop tobacco industry interference in health policies were adopted by the government representatives of 160 countries including India, the pictorial warnings on all tobacco products that were supposed to become mandatory

Countries unite against tobacco industry interference

2008-11-22T15:19:00.000+05:30

Countries unite against tobacco industry interference GLOBAL TOBACCO TREATY MEETING ADOPTS STRONG GUIDELINES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST INDUSTRY ABUSEDURBAN: Today on 22 November 2008, 160 countries agreed on strong new guidelines to block tobacco industry interference in global health policies and the implementation of the global tobacco treaty.Since it took effect in 2005, implementation of the

Smoke signals: The noose around tobacco companies is tightening, but they won't walk away without raising a stink

2008-11-20T17:12:00.000+05:30

Smoke signals:The noose around tobacco companies is tightening, but they won't walk away without raising a stinkNaren KarunakaranBusiness OutlookNovember 2008-----------------------"Given the record of tobacco giants, especially in developing countries lately, it is only expected to spur them to consolidate and also intensify measures, overt and covert, and weaken the tobacco control legislation.

RESPONSE: Pictorial warning to save lives campaign (8)

2008-11-20T12:15:00.001+05:30

RESPONSE: Pictorial warning to save lives campaign (8)Amit Dwivedi, Citizen News Service[To read a related posting in Hindi language, click here]----------------------------------------Dear Friends,I completely agree with Ms Punam that the other countries have given significant examples of pictorial warnings.The move comes after several rounds of deliberations since 2007, when Ramadoss had

Japan among 160 countries meeting to limit big tobacco's influence

2008-11-19T19:07:00.000+05:30

Japan among 160 countries meeting to limit big tobacco's influenceDURBAN: Representatives from Japan are among the 160 ratifying countries meeting this week in South Africa to negotiate guidelines for a provision in the global tobacco treaty that may determine whether millions get the health protections they are now guaranteed under the treaty. And the Japanese government's 50 percent holding in

Effective tobacco control policies in Nepal shaping up

2008-11-18T19:25:00.000+05:30

Effective tobacco control policies in Nepal shaping upGovernment delegation from Nepal is among those 160 countries' delegations currently meeting in Durban, South Africa, to negotiate guidelines for provisions of the global tobacco treaty (17-22 November 2008).The negotiations centre on the implementation of Article 5.3, which protects the treaty and related public health policies from tobacco

India agrees that Tobacco industry puts "pressure" to relax health policies

2008-11-18T15:14:00.000+05:30

India agrees that Tobacco industry puts "pressure" to relax health policies The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare revealed before the Central Information Commission that tobacco industry is putting "pressure" to relax the tobacco control policies (source: