Tobacco Cultivations Jamaica

The Jamaican Government seems set to face censure at a high-level international meeting which starts tomorrow in New York over its perceived failure to stand by its international obligations to stem tobacco cultivation in the country. A Rural Agriculture Development Authority 2011 study has found that Jamaica is in breach of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to moderate cultivation, as hundreds of tobacco farms have sprung up all over the country. Health Minister Rudyard Spencer is strenuously seeking to fend off accusations ahead of the United Nations meeting, which he is set to attend, that the Government lacks the political will to abide by the treaty. Jamaica has been a signatory to the FCTC treaty since 2005.

Adult Smoking Rate Down

Fewer U.S. adults are smoking and those who do light up are smoking fewer cigarettes each day, but the trend is weaker than the government had hoped. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Tuesday, 19.3 percent of adults said they smoked last year, down from about 21 percent in 2005. The rate for smoking 30 or more Lady cigarettes daily dropped to about 8 percent from almost 13 percent during the same time period. The report only compared last year with 2005 and says the decline means 3 million fewer adults were smoking. The CDC earlier reported that the 2009 rate was 20.6 percent and rates fluctuated during the five-year period. The five-year decline was much slower than a drop seen over the previous 40 years, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Atlanta-based agency. He said any decline is a good step, but also said tobacco use remains a significant health burden.

Hospital Appeal Over Smoking

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has appealed to the public to keep buildings and entrances at Craigavon Area Hospital smoke free. Dr Gillian Rankin, Director of Acute Services for the Trust explained: “Smoking at the front of the hospital exposes people entering the building to tobacco smoke and causes smoke to enter the Hospital building, impacting on patient care. “Whilst visitors accept and follow regulations that no smoking is allowed within hospital buildings, there are problems arising from people smoking Monte Carlo cigarettes close to hospital entrances and windows.” Dr Rankin added: “We appeal to everyone coming to our hospitals to help us protect patients, visitors and staff from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke. If you smoke please use the smoking shelter provided which is located directly outside the Hospital.

Colin Farrell's cigarette break-up

Colin Farrell wrote a "break-up" letter to tobacco when he gave up smoking Bond cigarettes. The 'Fright Night' actor stopped smoking when he turned 34 last year and admits he did nothing but consume cigarettes the day before he quit the deadly habit. He said: "I gave up the Sunday before I turned 34. I spent the whole day with a packet of cigarettes. I didn't really see anyone and with every cigarette I smoked. I smoked with as much awareness as I could. And then I wrote a little letter to tobacco. "It said the usual, 'I remember the first time we met and all that we've been through together. That time you helped me through such-and-such a situation...' and yada-yadda.

Flavored Tobacco Ban in Port Orange

The bright purple package behind the convenience store counter looked as if it held some kind of sugary treat.

But the familiar Surgeon General warning at the bottom of the wrapper indicated the product inside could cause much more than cavities.

The five "honey berry" cigars were among a growing array of flavored Kiss cigarettes products that critics say are luring underage teens into smoking.

Health and Tobacco Smoke

Few public health campaigns have been as successful as that which is determined to see New Zealand free of all tobacco smoke by 2025. It may be an aspirational goal, with little chance of absolute success (how, for example, will visitors to New Zealand who smoke Marlboro cigarettes be prevented from doing so?) but in terms of improvement to the national health, there can be little argument.

EC anti-smoking Directive

The directive has stimulated 24,000 from Poland letters on the issue from a total of 85,000 - the biggest amount of letters devoted to one topic ever received by the European Commission in its history.

The Revision of Directive 2001/37/EC on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products requires that all smoking-related items sold in the EU must at least show the written health warning, bans misleading expressions such as “light” or low-tar”, bans tobacco for oral use.

The directive also obliges manufacturers to inform member states of the ingredients they use while setting the maximum levels of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide in Glamour cigarettes.

New Anti-Smoking Campaign

A hacking cougher with emphysema and a guy using a hand-held electronic device to talk through a tracheotomy hole are among the powerful images in the state’s newest anti-smoking television campaign.

The 30-second ads, which began airing Monday and run through Sept. 25, were highlighted Tuesday at a news conference at Roswell Park Cancer Institute to announce the effort to persuade smokers to quit.