World No Tobacco Day: a wrap up of reports and pictures from around the world

  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 […]

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World No Tobacco Day India: rallies, art, skits, walls of shame and policy progress

    National: Government and NGOs join hands to completely ban Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) Credit: Nikunj Sharma, HRIDAY A national level multi-stakeholder consultation was held in New Delhi, at which the government and NGOs resolved in favour of a complete ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS) of tobacco products. The health […]

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Cigarette pack warnings: a new way to talk directly to smokers?

  The tussle between tobacco companies and public health over the valuable advertising real estate that is the cigarette pack could be about to escalate to a whole new level. Researchers at Stirling University in Scotland have created cigarette packs that play recorded health warnings when opened. Funded by Cancer Research UK, the study is inspired by […]

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World No Tobacco Day in the Western Pacific

  Report credit: Annabel Lyman, FCA Pacific Island Countries Coordinator Every year, WHO recognizes individuals or organisations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. There were 6 awardees in the Western Pacific region this year including the Cook Islands Ministry of Health. The Cook Islands ratified […]

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Romania World No Tobacco Day: ‘Ex-smokers are unstoppable’

  Photos and report credit: European Commission (http://www.exsmokers.eu/) World No Tobacco Day in Romania highlighted the European Commission’s ‘Ex-smokers are unstoppable’ campaign. A media roundtable was held, where two doctors discussed the benefits of smoking cessation. Two ex-smokers also shared their personal stories of quitting smoking. The event was attended by numerous media representatives, and […]

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World No Tobacco Day Vietnam: social media, a bike rally and public transport get the message out

  Contributors and photos: Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance; Stephen Hamill, World Lung Foundation; Tran Vu, Vietnam Public Health Association; Nguyen Xuan Lam, Vietnam Public Health Association. The national week of Tobacco Control in Vietnam kicked off with a ceremony held on 25 May. Organized by the Vietnam Committee on Smoking or Health (VINACOSH), it […]

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SENEGAL: FIRST EVER NATIONAL TOBACCO CONTROL MASS MEDIA CAMPAIGN

Senegal has launched its first national mass media campaign about the harms of tobacco. Developed by the Ministry of Health and Social Action and World Lung Foundation, the campaign graphically depicts the tar that collects inside an average smoker’s lungs. It is hoped that the campaign will empower citizens with new knowledge, and also spur […]

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Hey buddy, got a light?

Most smokers are happy to light a stranger’s cigarette, but what if that stranger was a child? Watch this and see what happens… http://youtu.be/-u-rhnV4l08 As a colleague noted, the best part about this video is that it turns the “kids shouldn’t smoke” message on its head. I completely agree. It is well established that the […]

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Turkish “Sponge” leaves hotline busy signals

By Stephen Hamill Online Communications Manager World Lung Foundation Leveraging a unique law that allows for free prime-time advertising for anti-tobacco ads, Turkey has adapted and launched the hard-hitting “Sponge” campaign, originally produced by the Cancer Institute New South Wales in Australia. The campaign, on both radio and television, is the first to feature Turkey’s […]

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