World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is held every year on 31 May. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners everywhere highlight the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. In 2013, the theme was ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. A comprehensive ban of all tobacco […]
Category: Advocacy
World No Tobacco Day: a report from Switzerland
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of World No Tobacco Day (WTND) reports from around the world. In this post, we hear from Dr Pascal Diethelm of the Swiss organisation OxyRomandie. Dr Diethelm attended the World No Tobacco day event at World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters. The keynote speaker was Ms. Jane […]
The Australian High Court and the Marlboro Man: the plain packaging decision
By Matthew Rimmer, Australian National University The High Court of Australia’s ruling on the plain packaging of tobacco products is one of the great constitutional cases of our age. The ruling will resonate throughout the world – as other countries will undoubtedly seek to emulate Australia’s plain packaging regime. Having announced its ruling some weeks […]
Child labour and the tobacco industry in Pakistan
Thanks to our colleagues from The Network for Consumer Protection, Pakistan who provided the information and video in this post. (www.thenetwork.org.pk) This video shows children in northwest Pakistan preparing tobacco leaves to be sent for drying. Children as young as five years old also work in tobacco farming, where they are vulnerable to poisoning from […]
Does tobacco deserve trade protection?
The use of trade agreements by tobacco companies to undermine tobacco control was a key topic at the World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Singapore in March this year, and trade agreements are one of the weapons the tobacco industry is counting on to fight plain packaging. To ensure public health is given higher priority than […]
a wonderland of happiness
Picture a cigarette packet in your head. What’s the first thing that springs to mind? The gory health warnings? Probably not. If you have ever smoked, then no doubt an image of your preferred brand immediately pops in to your head. Even nonsmokers can easily describe the sleek and eye catching packages that expertly disguise […]
Abuse of libel laws and a sacking: The gagging of public health experts in France
Success in tobacco control will not happen without public health champions speaking freely and honestly to the public. As professor Gérard Dubois explains below, there is real danger these voices are being silenced. ———– Gérard Dubois MD MPH Public Health. University hospital. 80000 Amiens. France As is happening in the UK, France is beginning to […]