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NEWS

PNG minister and department boycott BAT-government committee
November 2011: Papua New Guinea's Ministry of Health is refusing to attend meetings called by British American Tobacco (BAT) to establish a government-industry committee to vet all policy and legislation on tobacco control. The BAT-proposed committee would comprise BAT and Government department reps; but invited Health Ministry officers have refused to attend. Health Minister Jaime Maxtone-Grahame cited Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), barring tobacco industry involvement in tobacco control health policy. The Minister said “This meeting should not take place... and should not be attended by anyone concerned about improving public health in PNG.” He said “The tobacco industry has operated for years with the express intention of subverting the role of governments in implementing public health policies to combat the tobacco epidemic."  FCA news 30/11/11

WHO chief slams tobacco industry Dirty Tricks
October 2011: World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan has slammed the tobacco industry for its latest "dirty tricks" and unethical behaviour in trying to block tobacco-free policies worldwide. Speaking at a WHO meeting in Manila, Chan referred to the industry's claim that Australia's plain to introduce plain packaging violated international trade obligations. She urged all countries to "stand firm together, do not bow to pressure... we must never allow the tobacco industry to get the upper hand".  AFP report 11/10/11   

Tobacco poisoning thousands of child workers

September 2011: Thousands of child tobacco workers being "poisoned" - with Malawi just one example of the industry "turning a blind eye to human rights abuses by its suppliers in theb quest for greater profit."  One World South Asia report 15/9/11

Tobacco industry interference theme of World No Tobacco Day 2012
September 2011: The industry has a long history of interfering in public health policy - blocking, weakening, delaying and undermining measures to reduce smoking.  Under  Article 5.3  of the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Australia has an obligation at all levels of government to end this interference.   See  WHO report 2009   
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan has chosen "Tobacco Industry Interference" as the theme of World No Tobacco Day 2012. The campaign will focus on the need to expose and counter the tobacco industry's brazen and aggressive attempts to undermine the FCTC because of the serious danger they pose to public health. News pending at WHO site

Australia pitches in to help fight against tobacco diseases
September 2011: The Australian government has pledged $700,000 to the World Health Organization to help other countries reduce smoking and fight tobacco diseases. The money will fund an inter-governmental working group to examine tax and graphic packet health warnings policies. Sydney Morning Herald 21/9/11

China's uphill battle against tobacco
Sept. 2011: The fight to reduce high smoking rates and youth uptake in China is severely compromised by the government's involvement in tobacco production.  Bloomberg news 21/9/11

Call to bar tobacco from Trans-Pacific Partnership
Sept. 2011: Trans Pacific Partnership negotiators have been urged to exclude alcohol and tobacco from any agreement. The American Medical Association has asked US trade representatives to move for the exclusion of tobacco and alcohol products from all provisions of TPP and any other free trade agreement. The exclusion would prevent actions like that of Philip Morris against Australia's plain packaging move.   National Business Review NZ 12/9/11  

World No Tobacco Day 2011  (31 May) 
This year's theme was the worldwide treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)    See WNTD 2011 campaign  Facebook site  

Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Association (SEATCA) called for united effort of ASEAN nations to fight the tobacco epidemic. SEATCA says region remains "coveted and vulnerable target of aggressive tobacco companies". More:  SEATCA  and  Framework Convention Alliance 

Tobacco is the world's leading cause of preventable death: Lancet
April 2011: Paper in Lancet  medical journal says tobacco control No.1 priority to cut global NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) which cause 2/3 of all deaths. 80% of these are in low-middle-income countries, burden rising - tobacco adds to poverty, blocks development. Tobacco is world's No.1 cause of preventable death, causes 1/6 of all NCD deaths; risk factor for all major NCD categories including heart, cancer, respiratory, diabetes. Immediate action priority: fully implementing FCTC treaty.   
Lancet article 5/4/11   NCD briefing paper    NCD-tobacco factsheet    Global burden of tobacco factsheet

Call for action at world summit on non-communicable diseases, Sept 2011
March 2011: As tobacco deaths rise, world campaign aims to  keep it high on UN agenda at September 2011 Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Supporters writing emails to governments to ensure high-level Summit representation . 
TAKE ACTION at  15000aday.org/

Asia-Pacific health workers battle Big Tobacco to protect children
2010:  What's needed to counter Big Tobacco interference in regional and Australian health: ASH and others comment.   The Australian 6/11/10  and see  ASH action guide  

Asia-Pacific conference urges Indonesia to act
2010: Delegates from 41 countries have urged Indonesia to stop dragging the chain and join the worldwide fight - and rock concerts to stop taking tobacco money.  APACT statement

Filipino Islamic Council forbids smoking
2010: Tobacco smoking has been placed under an Islamic fatwa by the Supreme Council of Darul Ifta of the Philippines, with anyone trading or promoting  the "filthy" product guilty of a sin under Sharia'h law.  See  ABS-CBN report 24/6/10

End smoking by 2020: NZ proposal
2010: Surveys show 64% support ending commercial tobacco sales. So End Smoking NZ trust proposes strategy for reducing smoking, tobacco sales to zero by 2020: 
1) increased price/cigarette by increased tax of tobacco content per cigarette;
2) decreased availability by allocation of sales quotas and  decreasing supply steadily; 
3) decreased nicotine per cigarette (either by 2 above, or by tax on nicotine content);
4) permitting sale of alternative products containing nicotine only (e-cigarettes).
More from EndSmokingNZ  

RESOURCES  
See also  ASH resources and links  - go to "International"

Tobacco's Worldwide Death Toll

Tobacco kills 15,000 people a day - one person every six seconds.  It kills more than a third of all its users; more than half of its long-term users. 5.4 million deaths a year - and rising. It may kill a billion people this century - and wreck the health of many more. 
Watch the death clock tick and TAKE ACTION at  15000aday.org/

As the death clock hits 40 million for decade, tougher worldwide action is needed to stop Big Tobacco preying on the poorest, says this ASH Australia media release highlighting figures from the WHO's worldwide Tobacco Death Clock (above).  ASH Australia media release 4/11/08  

NEW:   Fair Trade Tobacco Doesn't Exist 
2011 project to encourage WHO to make tobacco farming practices that undermine human rights the theme for World No Tobacco Day 2012. Online repository of photos and videos on tobacco industry exploitation in lower income countries. From Non-profit Fair Trade Tobacco.

NEW:   Global Tobacco Epidemic 2011: WHO Report
Third of World Health Organization's Tobacco Free Initiative reports on the global tobacco epidemic - on extent and character of the epidemic and measures to stop it. Global and country data on prevalence; impact of demand-reduction measures - especially graphic packet health warnings, mass media campaigns. 2011 report and other WHO tobacco resources

Curbing the Epidemic: Governments and the Economics of Tobacco Control
1999 report from WHO and the World Bank covers the compelling economic arguments for tobacco-free policies.

Deaths from smoking  
Great website from UICC (International Union for Cancer Control) and others, featuring slideshows on smoking hazards, benefits of quitting, messages for middle-aged smokers, world/country impact data, and smoking deaths from 40 (higher-income) countries (including Australia) and by regional and other groupings.

Framework Convention Alliance
ASH is a member of this alliance of non-governmental organisations from around the world who worked jointly and separately to support the development of a strong Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and continue to push for effective treaty protocols.

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) 
WHO treaty to address all areas of tobacco impacts. Australia has ratified it, among hundreds of countries. Obligations include 100% smokefree workplaces, comprehensively banning all tobacco advertising and promotion through all media, and preventing tobacco industry interference in policy-making.   See implementation guide  and summary

Sex, Lies and Cigarettes 
2010 documentary video (42 mins) produced by Current TV (US)  - explores and exposes aggressive marketing tactics of multinational cigarette companies in their bid to attract a new generation of smokers, especially among children and low-income people, especially in low-middle income countries.

Tobacco and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) factsheet
NCDs cause over 75% of all deaths worldwide. 2011 factsheet (2pp) from NCD Alliance outlines the problem and tobacco's role as a major factor. Features a photo taken by ASH Australia's Anne Jones in her role as a consultant with the IUATLD (world lung union).  

Women and smoking
Women are targets for tobacco companies and tobacco use has a devastating impact on the lives of women worldwide. The international network of women against tobacco is a program of the American Cancer Society.

World Cancer Report 2008  
Global research review by WHO International Agency for Cancer Research. World expert panel updates cancer dangers, confirms secondhand smoke causes cancer in non-smokers. Endorses policies including taxation and smokefree laws.  Summary:  IARC media release 19/12/08 

World Conference on Tobacco Or Health, Mumbai 2009
ASH attended 14th conference, March 8-12, 2009.  The conference declarations included urging the World Health Organization to maintain tobacco control as a top priority.

Page last updated 2/12/11