China’s investment in Africa: consequences for tobacco control?

    Sue Lawrence, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Recently, China’s economic growth recently may have fallen below its expected 6% rate, but it is more of dip than an indication of decline. Its pursuit of new markets is likely to continue undeterred (1) and this may have spillover effects for tobacco control. […]

Read More…

Spain: Government urged not to bow to US casino boss on smoking ban challenge

    Support the DON’T TOUCH THE LAW campaign (http://porquenosotrosno.com/web/smoke-free-spain-eng.html)   The Spanish National Committee of Smoking Prevention, a coalition of scientific and medical organisations, together with official professional colleges of doctors, nurses, psychologists and dentists, and international health experts, have condemned proposed changes to Spain’s smoke free laws. Exceptions to the law are being demanded by […]

Read More…

Stopping tobacco industry interference: using The Union Toolkit on FCTC Article 5.3

  Anne Jones, Technical Advisor The Union http://www.theunion.org/  (Formerly International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease) 12-14 August Jaipur, India: Stopping tobacco industry interference in health policies was high on the agenda for 24 policy makers and health leaders when they met to workshop a new toolkit on implementing Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Article 5.3.  […]

Read More…

Reports from the Asia Pacific Association for the Control of Tobacco #APACT2013 Conference

  Editor’s note: The first edition of the ASEAN Tobacco Control Atlas was launched to coincide with the conference. Click here to read additional reporting by SEATCA and download the report. Dr Marewa Glover from the University of Auckland Centre for Tobacco Control Research writes here about how e or m health ideas are an area […]

Read More…

Thai youth ask the tobacco industry to withdraw lawsuit against new pictorial health warnings

Update: On 1 August, 140 youth and students held a protest rally at the World Trade Centre in Bangkok, location of the Philip Morris International offices, to show support for 85% pictorial warnings, and to symbolise “140 deaths from tobacco use every day” in the country. View a video of the rally here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXsWjL8VplE Open letter 1 August 2013 To:  […]

Read More…

While the UK calls for more evidence, new Australian study shows cigarette plain packaging works

Plain cigarette packaging works: study By Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation and Alexia Attwood, The Conversation This article was originally published at The Conversation. Plain packaging on tobacco products is associated with lower smoking appeal, greater support for the policy and a higher urgency to quit among adult smokers, a new study has found. Since last […]

Read More…

New WHO report: more tobacco advertising bans, smoke free spaces save millions of lives

  The World Health Organisation Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2013 was launched in Panama City on 10 July. Panama was selected as the venue for this high level, global event in recognition of the country’s leadership in tobacco control. The report shows the number of people worldwide covered by at least one life-saving […]

Read More…

Cameroon: Cigarettes are eating your baby alive campaign

  Today marks the launch of the first-ever national mass media campaign to warn people of Cameroon about the harms of tobacco. The campaign, called ‘Cigarettes Are Eating Your Baby Alive,’ was developed by the Ministry of Health and World Lung Foundation. It graphically depicts how tobacco harms not both smokers, as well as their […]

Read More…

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 […]

Read More…