All segments of society should join hands to fight the dangers of smoking, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Othaim, Chairman of the Tobacco and Narcotics Combat Charity Society (Kafa), said here Tuesday. The word Kafa means “enough” in Arabic. At a press conference here, Sheikh Al-Othaim highlighted the role of the media and said its positive contribution would help to eliminate this serious health hazard. “We realize how important the media is in spreading awareness about this dangerous habit. Otherwise, our efforts will be useless,” he said. According to recent UN reports, there ar ... Jump to full article >>

The cigarette industry wants a bigger slice of Asia. Activists want them to butt out. BANGKOK, Thailand – Assailed by the western world’s laws, taxes and anti-smoking mores, the global tobacco industry has little choice but to keep pushing eastward into Asia. Tobacco bosses learned this week that some Asians are ready to push back. This week, more than 500 screaming protesters converged outside TabInfo Asia 2009, the region’s largest tobacco summit in years. More than an expo, the event is also a strategy session conducted in secrecy. “As rules, regulations, and perceptions of tobacco ... Jump to full article >>

Figuring out a way to allow existing smoking lounges to continue in Long Beach yet prevent more from opening is easier said than done, a City Council panel learned Wednesday afternoon. The three-member Economic Development and Finance Committee got a first look at new regulations for smoking lounges, which the council voted to legalize in February, 15 years after Long Beach’s groundbreaking ban on smoking in public places and workplaces went into effect. The full council will consider the lounge regulations next Tuesday. The committee voted 2-1, with Councilwoman Rae Gabelich opposed, to ... Jump to full article >>

Police and security guards have turned out in numbers to keep hundreds of anti-smoking activists at bay while protesting outside Tabinfo Asia 2009 at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. The tobacco industry’s first major international exposition in years has drawn up to 3,000 participants from around the world. But it has also drawn widespread condemnation for promoting smoking in Asia. About 650 people representing students, media professionals, academics and non-governmental organisations gathered outside the exposition in protest against its being held in Thailand. They shouted “We ... Jump to full article >>

ISLAMABAD (APP) – Smokers violating the law of complete ban on tobacco use at work and public places have still continued this practice in the federal capital. Citizens complained that after withdrawal of Statutory Rules and Orders (SRO), all public and work places have become smoke-free, therefore, smokers should not be allowed smoking or using tobacco in any other form in any public place. They said individuals and offices are clearly violating the ordinance. They said complete implementation of law would help protect the health of non-smokers and make the smokers abiders of the concer ... Jump to full article >>

TRIATHLETE Helen Jenkins has urged the Welsh Assembly Government to do more to prevent teenage girls from smoking. Helen, the 2008 world triathlon champion, who lives in Bridgend, has become a patron of the anti-smoking charity Ash Wales. One of her first jobs as a non-smoking role model has been to meet teenage girls from Cardiff and Caerphilly during a visit to the Senedd. And the 25-year-old has called for the Assembly Government to take more action as it emerged that almost one in four teenage girls in Wales smokes. Helen said: “To learn that nearly one in four 15-year-old girls are regu ... Jump to full article >>

As someone who grew up with the “Star Wars” movies, I get more excited about talking to the behind-the-scenes people — George Lucas or Phil Tippett or Dennis Muren — than the principal actors. I’ve found that a lot of actors in iconic roles haven’t moved past the bitterness that comes with being typecast. But I had a really fun time talking to Anthony Daniels, who has played C-3PO for the past 33 years and is narrating the Star Wars: In Concert traveling symphonic arena show that’s coming to HP Pavilion on Sunday. I often go into an interview with two ... Jump to full article >>

An NHS trust in Birmingham has recruited the photographer Rankin to help with a new hard-hitting viral anti-smoking ad, part of a multimedia campaign that launches today. Link to this video Rankin has co-directed the ad with Chris Cottam, which shows a smoker suffering an assault from an invisible assailant as he walks down the street. “Smoke and your body takes a beating,” a voiceover says at the end of the minute-long film. “Fight back. Quit now.” The video will be shown on a mobile exhibition unit that will tour parts of Birmingham and also offer tests of patients ... Jump to full article >>

The D.C. Council is eyeing an extension of the city’s anti-tobacco prohibitions into public space, allowing all private property owners to ban smoking outside their buildings — including the public sidewalk. The proposed legislation, a major expansion of the District’s smoke-free law, sets 18 as the legal age to purchase or possess tobacco products, requires retailers to post signs warning of the dangers of smoking, ramps up enforcement of sales to minors and authorizes smoking bans up to 25 feet from the wall of any private property — residential or commercial. The goa ... Jump to full article >>

A group representing 18,000 independent UK retailers has pleaded with Labour MPs to oppose new legislation that would ban tobacco products being displayed in shops. The National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) said the proposals failed to protect small retailers and were a concession to the “onslaught of misinformation from the anti smoking lobby”. The tobacco display ban is in clause 21 of the Health Bill which gets its Report Stage hearing before the House of Commons on October 12. Mike Penning, Conservative MP for Hemel Hempstead, has tabled an amendment to remove the cl ... Jump to full article >>

Retailers have criticised elements of new anti-smoking laws saying the legislation will make it difficult for smaller shops. The legislation was passed through State Parliament yesterday making W-A’s anti-smoking laws the toughest in the country. Under the new laws, smoking will be banned in alfresco areas of restaurants and cafes, while hotels will be required to make at least 50 per cent of their outdoor areas smoke free. Retailers are also banned from displaying cigarettes at the point of sale. Bob Stanton from the Independent Retailers Organisation says smaller retailers will strugg ... Jump to full article >>