nanjaboy

ERA bags Bloomberg Philantrophies Awards

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:37:00 +0000

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria has been announced as one of four awardees of the 2009 Bloomberg Awards for Global Tobacco Control. “I applaud the award recipients for their extraordinary commitment to confront the tobacco epidemic – the most important public health effort of out time.” said Michael R. Bloomberg. Each award winner received a grant of $100,000 from Bloomberg Philanthropies to intensify their work in tobacco control. Nominations and selection for the Bloomberg Awards for Global Tobacco Control were completed by a panel of international experts.

The awards for excellence in monitoring and publicizing tobacco industry activities intended to increase tobacco use and undermine tobacco control effort was accepted by Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, a Programme Manager with ERA/FOEN at the 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Mumbai, India. “Tobacco companies have mapped out the tender lungs of our youth and women as enormous profit opportunities” “Sadly, Africa is the newest frontier for tobacco companies.” “This is what ERA/FOEN is dedicated to resisting.”Mr. Oluwafemi said. ERA/FOEN has monitored and exposed the marketing activities of the tobacco industry, and they have faced the industry’s numerous attempts to undermine tobacco control policies in Nigeria head-on by exposing the front groups used by the industry to carry out its activities. They have also highlighted unfair practices towards tobacco farmers and indifference to child labor.

The awards were created this year to recognize governments and non-governmental organizations in low- and middle-income countries that demonstrate extraordinary achievement in the implementation of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) MPOWER policies regarding tobacco control. The awards included $400,000 in grants and were given by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use. Patricia E. Harris, a representative of Bloomberg Philanthropies, who is also First Deputy Mayor of the City of New York, presided over the awards ceremony, which was attended by representatives from governments and tobacco control organizations from over 30 countries.

The Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use was established in 2006 by Michael R. Bloomberg and includes a $375 million commitment over six years to combat the global tobacco epidemic. Modeled after internationally proven strategies and the policies that worked in New York City where Mr. Bloomberg is Mayor, the Initiative supports government and non-governmental projects and policies that reduce tobacco use and save lives. This includes increasing tobacco taxes, changing the image of tobacco, protecting nonsmokers from exposure to other people’s smoke and helping people quit.

Tobacco is the single greatest preventable cause of death in the world today, killing half of smokers unless they quit. More than one billion people worldwide currently smoke tobacco – about one quarter of adults – and tobacco use currently kills more than five million people worldwide each year. Tobacco use continues to grow in developing countries due to steady population growth along with aggressive tobacco industry marketing efforts. If current trends continue, deaths from tobacco will double in the next few decades, and could kill a billion people this century. More than three quarters of these deaths will be in low- and middle-income countries. “Through MPOWER, we have proven methods for how to greatly reduce smoking and save millions of lives worldwide, and need organizations with the will and dedication to implement them.” said Michael R. Bloomberg.

The six components of MPOWER are:

Monitor tobacco use and the policies to prevent it

Protect people from tobacco smoke

Offer people help to quit tobacco use

Warn about the dangers of tobacco

Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship

Raise taxes on tobacco

Other awardees include: Mexico City Federal District Secretary of Health for protecting people from the dangers of tobacco smoke by providing essential political commitment to the recent passage of comprehensive smoke-free air legislation in Mexico City. Action on Smoking and Health Thailand (ASH Thailand) for warning people about the dangers of tobacco by providing extensive support to the revision of Thailand’s health warnings, ensuring that they were as strong as possible. Coalicion Panameña contra el Tabaquismo (COPACET) for implementation and enforcement of bans on tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion in Panama.

ERA condemns Super Cassava Testing

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:38:00 +0000

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria and over 30 other civil society groups in Nigeria have alleged as illegal the approval by the Federal Government for the Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre, United States, to conduct field-testing of a genetically modified cassava christened “Super Cassava”.

ERA/FoEN’s position is premised on the recently reported approval of the National Biosafety Committee (NBC) for the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, to go ahead with plans to conduct “contained” field trials of genetically-modified cassava on the banks of the Qua Iboe River, Abia State. “The NBC has no power to grant this kind of approval…it can be likened to trading away our food future to modern colonialists that hide under the cover of agricultural biotechnology, and must be halted immediately”.

Details of the approval was revealed at the annual meeting of the American Society for the Advancement of Science, held in Chicago, U.S.A on February 13, 2009, where it was announced that Nigeria’s NBC had given the Danforth Centre approval to carry out field trials for GM cassava in collaboration with NRCRI.

In its reaction to the development, ERA/FoEN warned that the back door approach of the biotech industry and its Nigerian allies to introduce GM crops in the country will not only endanger Nigerians but is also a “breach” of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to which Nigeria is signatory, which seeks among others to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.

"Nigeria does not need any super cassava. The genetic modification of cassava to produce Vitamin A is fraught with many dangers to the health of Nigerians who depend on cassava as a staple. Some years back the biotech industry engineered the so-called golden rice to be rich in Vitamin A, but one would need to eat 9 kilograms of that rice to have as much Vitamin A as one would have from eating just two small carrots! The golden rice was a golden hoax and the super cassava will turn out to be super fraud”, said ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey in a statement issued in Lagos.

"Nigerians have used different fora to voice outright rejection of GMs rops and public opinion is massively against the commercialization of our stomachs. This cannot be done through the backdoor and we have made it lear that the solution to our food needs is with our local farmers and not with Danforth Centre, Monsanto and their local allies"

“It is very clear now that like the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the NRCRI is unfortunately becoming another front for the same companies in their push for introduction of GM into Nigeria. Why cassava? What happened to the over 40 so-called hybrid of cassava that the IITA allegedly developed which it said has the capacity to resist diseases and solve our cassava needs?" Bassey queried.

He pointed out that the planned field testing is a well-scripted and systematic attempt by the biotech industry at breaking down Africa’s regulatory resistance to GM crops, even as he added that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation early this year awarded Danforth Centre a $5.4 million grant to secure approval of African governments to allow field testing of GM crops.

Accordingly, he maintained that the application letter from NRCRI to the ministry of environment, housing and urban development, dated November 14, 008, saying it would work closely with an unknown Nigerian Biosafety Office is enough evidence that the research institute is not fully informed about the structure of Nigeria’s biosafety regime hence, the need to halt the testing exercise.

Time and again we have said that the solution to Nigeria’s food crisis s in consistency in government policies as regards involving local farmers in planning and strengthening their skills not GM crops. It is also pertinent to remind the promoters of this misadventure that Nigeria’s biosafety law is still in draft form and is yet to be deliberated by the National Assembly. Any field testing OF GM crops is nothing short of an illegality which must not be allowed, Bassey insisted.

Mrs. Juliana Odey, national coordinator of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, Cross River State, said “Cassava is our Gold. We don¹t want these GM crops because we have enough cassava cuttings to feed this nation. The food problem in Africa is waste, due to lack of storage facilities. Governments should not implement policies that affect farmers without consulting with farmers.”

Senate holds second reading of tobacco control bill

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:37:00 +0000

By Ini Ekott

The bill on National Tobacco Control, 2009, has passed through the second reading in the Senate.

The bill, if passed, will repeal the Tobacco Smoking (Control) Act No. 20 of 1990/CAP T6, Laws of the Federal Republic, and domesticate the WHO's initiated Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, which came into effect on February27, 2007. Nigeria signed the treaty in June 2004 and ratified it in October 2005.

The bill, sponsored by the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Olorunnimbe Mamora, will also make it an offence to sell tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 (sale of cigarettes by the sticks, and all forms of adverts, sponsorships, testimonials and sales promotion by tobacco firms).

The legislative order will also mandate cigarette packs to carry a special pictorial warning that covers half of the packet, warning users about the dangers of smoking.

"Tobacco is the only product that when used as designed by the manufacturer, will surely kill or harm users," Mr Mamora said, in his lead debate on the bill.

Experts say tobacco contains over 4,000 toxic and cancer-causing chemicals that are linked with at least 200 diseases. In Dec 2008, a WHO report said that, except new treatments are found, cancer will overtake malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS combined; becoming the world's leading killer by 2010.

In Nigeria, a health statistic says the percentage of smokers has risen by over 18 percent in the past decade.

Mr Mamora said that results from 11 out of 26 public hospitals in Lagos State, where a research was conducted, show that about two persons die daily from tobacco related diseases. Experts say, on the average such diseases can take up to 20 years to manifest.

Before now, the Federal Government and some state governments had gone to court against tobacco companies, claiming damages for ailing citizens.

Some tobacco companies, probably escaping tougher regulations, like high taxes, anti-smoking campaigns, and ads stoppage in Western countries, have moved to Nigeria.

The senator said "while the ‘investment' might have provided job opportunities for about 1,000 Nigerians, it is also responsible for the deaths of many thousands more."

Last week, the Federal Government asked state governments to do more in regulating tobacco use, particularly in public places.

Senate to enact tobacco law

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:31:00 +0000

-Azimazi Momoh-Jimoh

Abuja- NIgeria: THE Senate yesterday directed its Committee on Health to process a bill to control the manufacture, sale, advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco or tobacco products in the country and submit a report within one month.
Sponsored by the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, the bill among others sought to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 years.
The bill also sought to compel tobacco products' manufacturers to display on the packets of the cigarettes messages sufficient to warn smokers against its health hazards.

If the bill is passed, it would be illegal to sell cigarettes in sticks. Also, all forms of adverts, sponsorship, testimonials, and sales promotions would also be banned.
Explaining the rationale behind the bill, Mamora lamented the increasing rate of tobacco related diseases.

ERA Director elected chair of Friends of the Earth International

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:36:00 +0000

Executive al Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Nnimmo Bassey has been elected chairperson of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI), the larges grassroots environmental movement with members and associates from 77 countriesof the world.

Bassey, 50, was elected as FoEI chairperson at the Biennial General
Meeting of the organisation held at Piliguin, Honduras on November
10-15, 2008. This is the first time an African is elected to chair the
federation in its 40 years history.

In a speech after the election, Bassey paid tribute to Meena Raman,
immediate past chairperson of FoEI, describing her four-year term as
an exemplary one which provided excellent work and leadership to all
member groups of the federation.

He promised prompt actions to mobilize and resist any form of
environmental injustice in any part of the world, even as he
maintained that corporate greed had fuelled avoidable crisis in all
facet of life including the financial sector, where the current
bail-outs of bankrupt companies in the global North was skewed in
favour of the rich.

He stressed that with the backing of undemocratic financial
institutions that keep the majority of peoples in poverty, disease and
unacceptable conditions, the world has been wracked by odious debt
owing to huge financial outlays set aside for military adventures and
the support of the military-industrial complex.

We stand at the crossroads of history with the scaffoldings erected by
capitalism and neo-liberalism collapsing like a pack of cards. No
matter how many people live a lie, the lie remains a lie. People may
decide to live in the imaginations of their minds, but the truth is
that sooner than later the reality knocks us back to concrete
challenges. We stand at a crossroads, but we must take the right turn
and FoEI is well positioned to take the lead in that march.

In response to the challenges, he pledged to bring on board the
organization his experience as a grassroots mobilizer and campaigner,
promising to sustain and heighten the practice of collective
leadership to raise FoEI banner in legitimate struggles of it¹s
allies.

The Biennial General Meeting also witnessed the admission of the
Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network (PENGON) as full member of
Friends of the Earth International. Other groups admitted as associate
members were from Liberia, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Uganda,
Tanzania, Mozambique and Timor Leste .

Among a number of resolutions reached at the end of the meeting was
one calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria not to shift the goal
post for the termination of gas flaring in Nigeria beyond 31st
December 2008.

COP3 NEARS DECISION ON LIMITING TOBACCO INDUSTRY INFLUENCE

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:02:00 +0000

Countries in the third Conference of the Parties (COP3) in Durban, South Africa are expected to approve guidelines today that will help ensure more comprehensive ad bans across the globe. A decision is also expected on just how aggressive the international community will be in rooting out industry interference in their health policies.

These decisions are part of the global tobacco treaty meetings occurring this week in South Africa. To date 160 countries, representing 85 percent of the world’s population, have ratified the first global public health and corporate accountability treaty.

Ever since the treaty’s ratification, countries have struggled to implement new health protections, like ad bans and smoke-free places, because of coordinated industry interference. Now, in the final hours of the meeting, countries are working to put teeth into treaty guidelines that would insulate the treaty and local tobacco controls from industry abuse.

“If we cannot prevent the industry from interfering in health policy, there is no law we can pass that will adequately protect our children against the dangers of tobacco addiction,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, program manager of Environmental Rights Action, a member of Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) . “What countries decide today can insulate the treaty and global health against the profit-driven avarice of tobacco giants.”

The Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) includes more than 100 NGOs from over 50 countries working for a strong, enforceable Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, is a membership organization that protects people by waging and winning campaigns challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions around the world. For 30 years, we’ve forced corporations—like Nestlé, General Electric and Philip Morris/Altria—to stop abusive actions. Corporate Accountability International, an NGO in Official Relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), played a key role in development of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

MAJOR MULTINATIONAL INITIATIVE LAUNCHED TO PROMOTE TOBACCO CONTROL

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:46:00 +0000

International leaders in cancer and tobacco control have announced the launch of an unprecedented multinational effort to promote more aggressive tobacco control measures across sub-Saharan Africa. The Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative (ATCRI) is design to promote the adoption, implementation and enforcement of effective in-country tobacco control policies, legislation and programmes.

ATCRI is being supported by Cancer Research UK and American Cancer Society (ACS) and will be hosted by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN). The Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Nnimmo Bassey, said “This is an important and long-overdue initiative”. There is significant concern that if current smoking patterns continue, Africa will be faced with the loss of millions of her people to tobacco-related disease within the next few years and also be faced with major infrastructure challenges to manage and treat these chronic diseases.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco currently kills about 5.5 million people every year with seventy percent of the deaths occurring in developing countries. Tobacco companies have in the recent past targeted African countries for development, distribution and marketing of tobacco products because of the limited tobacco control legislation to date.

The launch of ATCRI comes as the World Health Organisation hosts the third Conference of the Parties of the WHO-initiated Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on-going in Durban from 17 -22 November. The WHO FCTC is the world's first global public health treaty, ratified by more than 160 nations, and requires parties to adopt a comprehensive range of measures designed to reduce the devastating health and economic impacts of tobacco.

John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer (CEO) of American Cancer Society, is optimistic that ATCRI will go a long way in helping to reduce the burden of diseases, deaths and other costs associated with tobacco use. He noted, This effort represents the first major coordinated, multinational effort in Africa to specifically address tobacco control. It's a crucial step forward to contain a growing health crisis in Africa and one that promises to have a positive health impact in various countries throughout the continent.

Jean King, Cancer Research UK's director of tobacco control, said, We are proud to be supporting this initiative. We recognise that while we in the UK have had some success in reducing the burden of tobacco addiction, our success has meant the tobacco industry has moved to develop new markets elsewhere around the world. In a sense, the west has exported the tobacco epidemic to Africa. The fight against tobacco is a global one without borders, and we wish ATCRI every success.

ATCRI will provide the platform for information sharing, institutional support and capacity building among all tobacco-control stakeholders within the continent. Among others,

ATCRI shall:

Improve access, dissemination and exchange of information on tobacco control.
Build institutional and human capacity in key areas of tobacco control.
Build coalition among major players in tobacco control in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Promote research in key areas of tobacco control.

ERA/FoEN, the hosting organization is also collaborating with other sub-regional institutions such as Observatoire du Tabac en Afrique Francophone (OTAF) and the Mozambique Public Health Association to ensure linguistic and geographical coverage of ATCRI activities.

NIGERIA, OTHERS MEET TO LIMIT TOBACCO INDUSTRY INFLUENCE

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:39:00 +0000

-Identify Industry Interference as number one Obstacle to Health Treaty’s Enforcement

DURBAN—Nigeria and representatives of 160 ratifying countries currently meeting in Durban, South Africa will negotiate guidelines for a provision in the global tobacco treaty that will determine whether millions of people get the health protections they are now guaranteed under the treaty.

The negotiations center on the implementation of Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which protects the treaty and related public health policies from tobacco industry interference.

At stake at the meeting- third conference of parties to the FCTC, is how narrowly or broadly these protections are defined. If defined broadly, ratifying countries will recognize the tobacco industry’s fundamental conflict with public health, and reject collaboration with tobacco giants like Philip Morris International (PMI) and British American Tobacco (BAT). If defined narrowly, the tobacco industry could continue to gain influence with governments, and demand a seat at the table when public health policies are being developed.

“Industry interference is the number one obstacle to the implementation and enforcement of the global tobacco treaty,” said Kathy Mulvey, international policy director of Corporate Accountability International. “Article 5.3 is the lynchpin of the treaty, determining whether or not countries will be able to reverse this preventable epidemic without the tobacco industry standing in their way.”

The global tobacco treaty, formally called FCTC took effect in 2005 and now protects more than 85 percent of the world’s population. But efforts to implement the treaty are being systematically stymied by tobacco trans-nationals,reinforcing the importance of this week’s third Conference of the Parties (COP3) in Durban, South Africa.

“If we don’t lay out clear terms now about the tobacco industry’s fundamental conflict of interest when it comes to health policy making, it may cost us everything we have achieved through this treaty in turn,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth–Nigeria, a member of the Network for Accountability of Tobacco Trans-nationals (NATT). “We are dealing with an industry bent on protecting its profit interest at all human expense – an industry that has written the book on policy manipulation and interference.”

Countries with similar cases of tobacco industry interference include Zambia, where it is forging a cozy relationship with key government officials responsible for enforcing a new ban on smoking in public places and Kenya, where it is also courting the government in an attempt to roll back protections against exposure to tobacco smoke.

In Colombia, another country that recently ratified the global tobacco treaty, PMI and BAT are lobbying hard to preempt a new Health Ministry resolution on smoke-free environments. PMI bought Colombia’s largest tobacco corporation in 2005 shortly after a report found that seven was the average age people were beginning to smoke in the country’s second largest city.

In the lead-up the resolution’s taking effect, BAT launched a so-called “youth smoking prevention” campaign as activists were organizing a series of events to expose and challenge tobacco industry interference in public health policymaking.

To prevent abuses reported in several countries, ERA/FoEN and other NATT allies and Corporate Accountability International, a non-governmental organization with observer status at the COP, insist that the following provisions of the draft Article 5.3 guidelines would help prevent abuses:

• Prohibiting government partnership or collaboration with the tobacco industry.

• Protecting against conflicts of interest for those involved in setting and implementing tobacco control policies.

They are calling for the draft Article 5.3 guidelines to be strengthened, in order to:

• Avoid government interaction with the tobacco industry, and set strict rules of engagement for any meetings determined to be necessary.

• Ensure transparency around government interaction with the tobacco industry and around tobacco industry activities and operations.

• Emphasize the tobacco industry’s fundamental conflict with public health.

Since negotiations on the global tobacco treaty began in 1999, the tobacco industry has used its political and economic influence in an attempt to undermine, delay and water down public health measures. Japan Tobacco, for example, is 50 percent owned by the Japanese government. The Japanese Ministry of Finance is heavily represented at treaty meetings, and Japan has often played an obstructionist role.

“We are optimistic that Parties will keep the interests of our children’s health closer to their heart than those of tobacco trans-nationals,” said Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) Spokesperson Muyunda Ililonga, also of the Zambia Consumers Association. “But we know from experience that some will act from the pocket when the circumstance demands they act from the heart.”

For background on tobacco industry interference in the global tobacco treaty download the 3rd edition of the Global Tobacco Treaty Action Guide, available in English, French and Spanish, visit: www.StopCorporateAbuse.org.

The Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) includes more than 100 NGOs from over 50 countries working for a strong, enforceable Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

GOOGLE JOBS - WANTED - NIGERIA OFFICE LEAD

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:50:00 +0000

Office Lead, English Speaking West Africa - Nigeria

This position will be located in Lagos, Nigeria.

The area: Market and Business Development - Africa

Google's Market and Business Development team was created to pursue technology-driven initiatives in Africa that will have a meaningful impact on the continent's development. We're dedicated to developing business and partnerships with a range of organizations as well as driving the localization of Google products to local markets. Presently, these positions are located in the countries of Rwanda, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania.

The role : Office Lead, English Speaking West Africa - Nigeria

As Office Lead, you'll essentially be Google's country leader, representing the company in all of our major business development and partnership opportunities and serving as the voice of the Nigeriaan user at Google. You're a visionary and a leader with solid technical skills and experience in managing a variety of technical projects. Additionally, you're innovative and business-savvy. You bring a solid understanding of the country's information and technology communications ecosystem, and you'll quickly be able to recruit and manage a team.

Responsibilities:

Scout market development opportunities and recommend specific initiatives that correspond with Google’s mission, values and capabilities
Optimize the local infrastructure by leading the company's technology-driven initiatives in Africa that will have a meaningful impact on development on the continent
Adapt Google services and products to the local market
Provide superior technical oversight of local Google projects
Provide a strong communication link to Google’s other offices around the world

Requirements:

BA or BS degree (computer science preferred)
A thorough understanding of the Nigerian information and technology communications ecosystem, including backbone infrastructure, last-mile access and local content
Experience working with local telcos, ISPs and mobile operators
Ability to recruit and manage a world-class team
Demonstrable technical leadership
Strong local relationships in the private and public sectors
Exceptional interpersonal and communications skills, and experience with negotiating and partner management

For immediate consideration, please send a text (ASCII), PDF, Word or HTML version of your CV in English to jobs@google.com. Important: the subject field of your email must include Office Lead, English Speaking West Africa - Nigeria

Group seeks probe of ‘smoking’ parties

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:20:00 +0000

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) yesterday urged the federal government to investigate on-going ‘Experience Freshness’ secret parties being organised by the British American Tobacco Nigeria to promote its Pall Mall cigarette brand.
It said the parties were being used to induce under-age persons into smoking.

ERA/FoEN, in a statement issued in Lagos, alleged that BAT has staged the "smoking" parties secretly in Sokoto, Kano, Ilorin, Ibadan while the most recent was held at Gateway Hotel, Kuto, Abeokuta on Wednesday, August alleging that the tobacco company has concluded plans to stage the next party in Akure, Ondo state.

"It is outrageous that BAT is still conducting itself this way just weeks after a BBC documentary revealed how the corporation had been marketing cigarettes to children across Africa and how it had used parties and concerts to lure people to smoking," the group’s Programme Manager, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said.

Its investigation revealed that invitations cards were given out secretly to youths in secondary and tertiary institutions, adding that while there were no checks at the gate on age limits, young people, especially the girls, were encouraged to attend.

‘’Besides, there was heavy presence of bouncers at the venues but girls, especially the young ones, were allowed to get into the party without any check. There were free cigarettes at the gate and young persons were compelled to light and smoke cigarettes before entering, while there were many more sticks given out during the course of the party. There was also dancing competition with music iPOD being the star prize while other consolation prices include packs of Pall Mall cigarettes and lighters and no one was allowed to enter the venue with a camera.

We were shocked to discover that people holding the invitation cards were compelled to light up before entering the event venue after which the invitation cards were withdrawn and confiscated . There were also scarcely branded girls handing out free cigarettes. Most of the girls were less than 18 years and were using all tricks to influence people to smoke. It is outrageous. It should stop. This is not what we want for our youths," Oluwafemi added.

It claimed that despite all the secrecy that BAT built round the smoking parties, there was foolproof evidence of the secret smoking parties.

The group urged government to begin immediate investigation particularly why a corporate organisation is organising secret parties for youths and under-age persons.

ERA warned that Nigeria could not continue to condone such disregard for law and order and asked the government to take necessary steps to protect Nigerian youths from tobacco marketing and addiction by taking the necessary disciplinary measures against the erring company.
ERA/FoEN recalled that BAT was not new to controversy about its marketing standards targeting young people in Nigeria.

‘’In 2003, the company used seven Hollywood movies to repackage Rothmans brand which generated worldwide outrage against the company leading to its being forced to cancel the show.
In July, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) broadcast a one-hour documentary which revealed how BAT has been marketing cigarette to African youths. The smoking parties, it was gathered, were secretly planned to shore up the sale of the Pall Mall cigarette, it noted.

SOURCE

The changing role of the family

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:12:00 +0000

As a social unit consisting of people related by blood or by kinship, the family is and remained the oldest human institution on earth. The role of the family in raising the children is one of the most important roles. It is the first factor that influences the behavior of the children in their early childhood. It is the only institution in which members live before birth, during a lifetime and after death on other member. The individual i.e. father, mother, children, cousin e.t.c. is what makes up the unit of the family, which makes up the unit of the human s ociety.

Thus, the family can be said to be the fundamental strength of the society. And this is owing to its omniscient role of nurturing the individual with an uncommon cordiality as are absent in other institution. As a matter of fact, the human society can barely hold itself from descending into chaos without the stabilization provide by its principal unit, the family. Resonantly, the role of the family at providing the basis for early child’s socialization as well as instilling the necessary cultural pattern is the pivot of our social life. The family is also the child's source of economic resources needed for meeting various physical and emotional needs.

There is no person on earth who doesn’t belong to a family. Being a member of its three categories; nuclear, compound and extended is the anchorage for ensuring individual’s identity. We are first a product of the family before we become a member of the society. Though and ultimately, the depth of intricacies existing between the family and the society tend to consumed this identity. The twist is that, the role of the family and that of the society are twined. Whatever becomes of the individual is the direct combination of these two influences. The former kick-start the snow ball while the later spins it into a mighty avalanche.

In the ancient African setting, the families were large, and every member of the family had an important role in helping to provide the family needed. The men hunted, farmed and maybe worked at a trade. The women cared for the children, cared for the garden, and engaged in the petty commerce of making dresses, cooking, and other necessities. They also cared for the domestic animals while also serving are house-nurse to other members of the family. The children tend to provide assistance where needed or as assigned a by other elderly member.

But as we entered the third millennium and the reality of hunger, diseases and war keeps painting the gory portrait of an uncertainty future, there are growing concerns about what the role the family should be. The opinions are crossed and complicated by the different world view share by those examining the issue. Of course there are lots of changing trends that are threatening to destroy our family life. Modern technological discoveries designed to help us are also capable of stealing our family peace. There are also economics and government policies changes within and outside our countries of residence. These changes are making vices like unfaithfulness homosexuality and divorce more acceptable while eroding the very importance of the family life. Already, the precarious situation of many families in urban and rural areas, poor parents and their children are forced to work out how to survive. These pressures are exerting forces of disintegration on the family life.

How important is the family? What is its function in the present realities of our world? How both parent work? Who should offset the bills? How can parent be better empowered to cope with pressures? Are there moral justifications for parent who push their children into the street? To what extent should a family go in its attempt to survive? What role should the community play and how?

The answering of these will help resolve the burning question on what the role of the family should be in this age.

Click HERE to join the discussion.

The Alarming Effects Of Cigarettes On Unborn Children

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Smoking has been known to affect the unborn children of pregnant mothers. It is popular knowledge that women who are with child should not smoke. However, the reasons for this have not been explained very well. Also, not a lot of studies have been done on the effects of cigarettes on unborn children. Here are some things pregnant women should consider before lighting a cigarette.

Physical Effects of Cigarettes During Pregnancy

One of the reasons why pregnant women should not smoke during pregnancy is that it can cause premature birth. It also has a direct link to the child's susceptibility to respiratory diseases. Also, it has been observed that babies of mothers who smoked during pregnancy are lighter than the babies of non-smokers. It was also proven that the heart rate of infants of mothers who smoked during pregnancy have a heart rate that is 30% higher than those with non-smoking mothers.

Cigarette Smoking and ADD

Apparently, the effects of cigarettes on children during pregnancy are not limited to a child's physical qualities. It can also affect a child's mental health. According to a medical study, mothers who smoked an average of 14 cigarettes during pregnancy tend to give birth to "hyperkinetic" children with Attention Deficiency Disorders (ADD). This effect is dosage-dependent, meaning mothers who smoke an average of 6 cigarettes have a higher chance of giving birth to normal children.

Researchers speculate that this is caused by the pile up of carbon monoxide in the fetal blood stream that lead to a significant decrease in the oxygen brought to the developing infant. As a matter of fact, the infant is exposed to a higher level of carboxyhemoglobin, the substance that depletes the oxygen in the body and has caused deaths to people who have inhaled too much carbon monoxide. This has been used as a method of suicide by some people.

The Effects of Cigarettes on Academic Performance

Cigarette smoking during pregnancy can also affect the child’s academic performance in the future. In this study, over 9,000 children were given tests to evaluate their math ability and reading ability. According to the results of the study, children of mothers who smoked 10 or more cigarettes a day during pregnancy had lower scores in these tests, as opposed to children whose mothers didn't smoke any cigarettes while they were pregnant.

Smoking and Child Behavior Problems

Another study also stated that severe child behavior problem is one of the effects of cigarettes. In a study conducted in California, it was shown how the number of cigarettes a pregnant mother smokes each day can affect the behavior of her child when he or she becomes older. The children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy tend to exhibit disobedience and have a higher tendency to have conflicts with others as compared to children of non-smokers.

In order to avoid rearing children who are difficult to handle, mothers should start consider quitting smoking during pregnancy. Not only will it affect their health, it will also affect the unborn child’s future.

DVD About Smoking

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:17:00 +0000

A Talk With Your Kids About Smoking

Order from us
Order from Amazon.com
Preview video clips online
Live assembly programs
Hospitals often fully sponsor live talks.
Online press kit

A new educational video for families

DVD or VHS

6th - 12th grades
Acclaimed as the best and most up-to-date video
for families on youth smoking prevention
A Talk With Your Kids About Smoking follows CDC guidelines, and helps empower youth to stay tobacco free and drug free. View this video together with your children, and use the included Parent's Discussion Guide to discuss and review afterwards.
This multimedia presentation has award-winning TV spots, film clips, photos and graphics, and includes a live talk by Patrick Reynolds to 1,000 ninth graders.
The video emphasizes the addictiveness of nicotine, and opens students' eyes to how tobacco advertising manipulates youth. In this new video, tobacco ads from 2006 are shown for Camels with candy flavorings, such as 'Warm Winter Toffee', 'Kauai Kolada', and 'Winter Mocha Mint'.
Also shown are KOOL's cigarettes packages with drawings of hip hop artists, rappers and DJ's on the cigarette pack. One KOOL pack even shows a youth party going on on the package.
Reynolds tells the 9th grade audience that the tobacco industry knows that 90% of all US smokers became addicted before reaching age 19, and almost no one starts after age 19 -- so they have targeted youth in many ad campaigns.
The video also creates a new perception of smoking in films, and asks students to be aware that stars are setting a bad example for them every time they make smoking look cool onscreen.
A Talk With Your Kids About Smoking also motivates teens to resist peer pressure; it provides them with a clear formula for saying no. It also empowers students to make more responsible choices about drugs and alcohol.
Reynolds stresses more than once the importance of talking to others about quitting smoking or about other concerns, and not isolating. He urges students to "Stay with what's bothering you, and talk to others about it -- a trusted teacher, your parents, your friends, or the school counselor. Don't try to solve it alone." This is a recurring theme.
Mr. Reynolds also employs storytelling in the video. He skillfully tells the dramatic story of Sean Marsee, a promising high school track star who started using chewing tobacco in his mid teens, became addicted and died of mouth and jaw cancer at age 19. In the video Reynolds shows heartbreaking before-and-after photos of the boy, who lived in Oklahoma in the 1970's. This section makes a very compelling case, especially to younger children, to avoid tobacco.
Reynolds also offers youth a unique, informal initiation into life. "Thousands of years ago, elders would take youth into the forest or desert and make their lives uncomfortable for a few days, depriving them of sleep or food, and putting obstacles in their path. Don't worry, I won't do that today," he tells them. "What the elders were trying to say is that life will bring difficulties and obstacles, and it's painful at times. Today, as I welcome you a little closer to the world of adults, I want to gently let you know that life brings all adults difficulties. And when the hard moments come, sadly, some turn to alcohol or tobacco -- or drugs, which will destroy your life! Instead, talk to your parents, a trusted teacher, your friends, or the school counselor. Connect with another person, and together we will solve the problem."
Studies show that today's teens have significantly increased worries and doubts about the future. They remember September 11th, and hear about global warming, bird flu and war in the Middle East. Mr. Reynolds believes the new worry among our youth is a significant factor in teen smoking and drug use. To address this, he includes a unique section near the end of the video which aims to strengthen teens' faith in the future. "Catch my faith that there are wondrous times ahead, and you'll need your health, every precious bit of it, in the incredible years ahead of you. So don't smoke, and don't drink, and don't use drugs -- because the future is looking amazing. I close with this promise: the Smokefree society is coming one day -- and it's coming because of you. You are the future, and I believe in you."

KILLER FACTS

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:00:00 +0000

-about Tobacco

- Secondhand smoke is a killer. Scientific evidence shows that there is no safe level of exposure
- Secondhand smoke increases the risk in non-smokers of lung cancer by 24% and heart disease by 25%
- Just 30 minutes exposure is enough to reduce coronary blood flow
- Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals in the form of particles and gases—more than 50 are carcinogens
- Some groups of people, for example bar staff, are heavily exposed to secondhand smoke in their workplace

Some of the killers in secondhand smoke

– Tar is known to cause both cancer and lung damage
– Carbon monoxide is a gas found in car exhaust fumes
– Benzene is found in petrol fumes and causes leukaemia
– Ethanol is used in anti-freeze
– Ammonia is used in cleaning products
– Formaldehyde is an embalming fluid
– Hydrogen cyanide is an industrial pollutant
– Arsenic is effectively rat poison
– Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) is found in diesel exhaust

World No Tobacco Day focuses on youth

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Sat, 31 May 2008 17:32:00 +0000

When the Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987, it is to draw attention to a global epidemic of tobacco smoking - the single largest preventable cause of premature death and disease. Ever since, the WNTD is celebrated every year on May 31 around the world. This year, the focus is on the largest consumer of tobacco product in the world - the youth.

It is obvious now that most young people have easy access to pouches of crude tobacco popularly called ‘weeds’ and packets of cigarettes even at a tender age. It is also true that this stuffs are sold everywhere around the institutions where they play, study and work. Young people are likely to get hooked at their first attempt and most are already consumers of heavy doses of nicotine in the form of cigarettes. This is evident in the way smokers puff in the public places with less or no regard for non-smokers. Tobacco products are easily affordable as a packet is sold for as cheap as N20 (containing 12 stick) and in most attractive packets to lure them. This portends a gross implication for millions of Nigerian youths who daily smokes cigarette without a thought on its implication.

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2008 World No Tobacco Day, effort to reduce the social and economic costs of tobacco use among our young people should be given a new priority. Attention should shift towards creating an environment where youth can learn the danger of tobacco just as we are educating them about other vices. Our government has already taken the bold step at placing a ban on all forms of direct and indirect advertisements of tobacco. Nigerian FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar with the legal backing of the Tobacco Smoking Control Act of 1990 is to declare the Federal Capital Territory smoke-free with effect from today. Equally important is the need for other governors to take a cue and declare a ban on smoking in public places in their respective states. We must also insist that organizers of events adopt a smoke free tobacco policy. This would entails posting “no smoking” signs at public events and festivals. Without this, Nigerian youths will continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke, wrong role models, and big-budget tobacco marketing all of which make them an easy prey.

“Research over the past two decades indicates that tobacco is a silent killer and is becoming a greater cause of death and disability than any single disease. A stick of tobacco contains more than 4000 dangerous substances harmful to the body. Scientific evidence has also proven that smoking of cigarette is the only legally available consumer product that kills through use. Tobacco smoking is associated with many diseases. Some of which include lungs problems, cancers and respiratory diseases.”

“The tobacco epidemic is entirely man-made, and it can be turned around through the concerted efforts of governments and civil society.” On 7 February 2008 World Health Organization developed new report on global tobacco control efforts. The report included a package of six policies called MPOWER such as: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; Protect people from tobacco smoke; Offer help to quit tobacco use; Warn about the dangers of tobacco; Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; Raise taxes on tobacco. These six MPOWER strategies enable countries to protect their youth from an epidemic that could kill up to one billion people this century. “These six strategies are within the reach of every country, rich or poor and, when combined as a package, they offer us the best chance of reversing this growing epidemic,” said Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Margaret Chan said.

Although World No Tobacco Day is only one day of the year, the efforts to spread the message about the dangers of tobacco use continue throughout the year. Tobacco use wit its related disease and death are preventable, but it won’t happen if our children are continually exposed to it. The time to prevent Nigerian youth from been converted into the next generation of smokers and victims of this epidemic is now. Journalist Action on Health & Tobacco today joins the many health organizations and non-profits groups in the clamor for the domestication of smokefree policy in Nigeria.

Suppport SMOKEFREE YOUTH now
http://www.who.int/entity/tobacco/mpower/mpower_report_full_2008.pdf
http://www.who.int/tobacco/tobacco_free_youth/gifts.html

SMOKEFREE FCT

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:34:00 +0000

Support Smokefree FCT

Xenophobia: Nigerians vs. South Africa

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:27:00 +0000

Examining the fate of Nigerians in the recent South Africa Xenophobic reaction.

The gory picture in the media about the recent South Africa Xenophobic reaction reveals a society gone out of order. The kind of treatment meted out to fellow Africans and especially Nigerians stand condemned in the light of any justification by these erratic youths.

With the recent escalation, this reaction has now gone out of hand. Governments of nation whose citizens were mobbed and killed must rise in unison to curtail this menace. The manner of it especially against the Nigerians is completely unacceptable. Nigerian government need to rise to the occasion and take action. We must condemn it in its entirety and seek for fairer treatment. If need be, our government must insist and stand her ground by asking for a redefinition of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Nigeria government has been very slow at responding to most issue affecting Nigerians abroad. There are several cases that our people had expected a rather definitive approach but were handled with disdain. Why does everybody have to take from Nigeria and we are not just reaching out to take advantage of getting something back? How unfortunate that as yet with the escalation of injuries and deaths inflicted on Nigerians by these outraged xenophobic youths, not a single government official either home or abroad is yet to make a statement regarding the situation? How can we condone such madness meted out to our people when America will declare war to be there for one citizen of the United States of America?

Is it not a historical irony that Nigerians should be served with the unjust treatment as the colonial or apartheid-led whites gave some years ago? And even in that struggle against oppression, the price paid by the government and people of Nigeria is quite enormous. Our people fought, matched, protested, died and celebrated with songs and supports of diverse providence the course of South Africans especially towards their emancipation from the shackles of apartheid. Various delegations on their behalf foresaw our government using the hard-earn resources of the Nigerians to venture and join voices in the several talks leading to their freedom. This twist is certainly to our disadvantage and shame.

Lest we have forgotten, Nigerians economy now harbors the best of their businesses. For goodness sake, the lists of Nigerian-based multinational companies wholly owed or controlled by South Africa people or government is far greater than the hundreds of Nigeria migrants residing in that country. Nigerians are not destroying any of MTN’s installation even when their services are poor and genuine reasons to rampage are evident. As far back as 2003, media reports across the globe had begun to feature writings about the invasion of the South Africans into the Nigerian economy. Today, this influx is far greater than imagined. In the Lagos (the business capital of Nigeria) alone, we have Shoprite, MTEL, Woolworth, Chicken Republic, Bassellos, Steers, St Elmos, and DSTV/Multichoice. Even the media is not spared in this conquest. Bussinessday, a Nigerian business reporting newspaper also have Johnnic Communications – a South African media giant for her partner. Even the largest tourism project in the Nigeria, the Tinapa project, is a joint venture between Standard Bank, Broll, and Southern Sun - all South African firms. Entech, a South African engineering firm is also handling the redevelopment of Lagos's Bar Beach and Victoria Island waterfront at a whooping contract sum of $3 billion. Another South African firm, Group Five, is said to be building a power station in the Niger River delta. The connection between Nigerian advertising and entertainment industries with professionals from South Africa is also a deeply rooted romance.

This information is source from the media in whom the Nigerian masses depends for information and education from time to time. So, Nigerians are quite aware of what is going on. This supposed take-over of our economy by the South Africans was never at any time misinterpreted. Our perception and relationship with these businesses have with utmost cordiality and civility – as, fellow Africans. These companies have created thousands of jobs and are contributing to our economy. Properly investigated, Nigerians working with these organizations or their affiliate establishments would have one or two things to say about fair or unfair treatments. And certainly, there could be individuals outside this frame who’ll have come up with such insane idea about the activities of foreign companies in Nigeria as envisioned and implemented by these out-of-control xenophobic South Africans.

The greatest impetuous to this assault by the South Africans on was unfortunately given by the Nigerians government. How? The slow pace of reacting on matters of this importance is exasperating, the deliberate business waivers given to these companies when new tax laws are requiring of our small-scale business such outrageous and business suffocating payments, as well as the patronage enjoyed by South African immigrants in Nigeria which are often denied our citizens all contribute to sell Nigerians too cheap. In this interaction, Nigerians must reject the terms of this exchange as it is no longer favorable. With all the calculated almost becoming a genocidal treatment on our immigrants, it is high time to defend the rights of the Nigerians abroad.

Any failure to heed this warning will be met with equal treatment to the citizens and establishment owed by these countries. Consequently, the South African government must quickly call to order this rascals glamorizing genocide as a trivia self-defense. Compensation to those hospitalized and family of deceased must be given. There is no need to set up any enquiry panel as this will prolong the granting of compensation and justice. Howbeit, culprits of this madness should be made to face appropriate penalty. This intervention deserves high priority, putting a permanent end to the series of xenophobic reactions coming from this region.

Tobacco Crossword Puzzle

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:57:00 +0000

Tobacco crossword puzzle

	1			2		3

	4				5				6
7
							8				9
10			11						12
			13

								14		15		16
		17						18
19					20
							21
22						23
		24

ACROSS

2. Most people who do smoke says it's ____ to quit.

4. _________ is another word for getting hooked.

7. A part of smoke that clogs up your lungs is called ___.

10. 80% of adult smokers started smoking when they were ______.

12. People don't like the smelly ____ that smoking gives to their clothes and furniture.

13. _____ million people die every year as a result of smoking.

14. Smoking ______ pack(s) a day is like drinking two cups of steaming, cancer-causing chemicals.

18. People who get throat cancer from smoking may _____ be able to speak the same again.

19. The cost of smoking one pack a day adds up to over a ________ dollars each year.

22. People who smoke can't walk ____ distances without having trouble breathing, and some can't even walk 2 blocks!

23. People look _____ when they smoke.

24. Most smokers ______ from many diseases as they get older.

DOWN

1. Smokers who began when they were young wish that they never _________ smoking.

3. ___ poison is one of the poisons found in cigarettes.

5. ______ are worse than cigarettes, even though they are not required to have health warnings on their packages.

6. ________ is a highly addictive drug found in tobacco.

8. People who ____ tobacco have painful bleeding gums, dirt brown teeth, and pus-filled sores.

9. People who smoke spend a lot ____ money and time in the hospital than people who don't smoke.

10. One of the cancers other than lung cancer that tobacco use causes is ______ cancer.

11. Good friends try to ____ their friends before they start smoking.

14. Even ___ cigarette(s) will cause damage to your lungs.

15. _____ person who smokes is putting themselves at risk for cancer and many other diseases like pneumonia, heart disease and worsening asthma.

16. In addition to smelly clothes and furniture, people who smoke often have bad ______.

17. Smoking does the serious damage to your _____, mouth and throat.

20. It is wise to say __ to tobacco use!

21. Second hand smoke pollutes both your lungs and the ___.

23. It's plain to ___ that smoking is bad for your health!

THE TRUTH ABOUT SMOKING

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:52:00 +0000

31 May 2008 is World No Tobacco Day

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:51:00 +0000

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It is the only legal consumer product that kills one third to one half of those who use it as intended by its manufacturers, with its victims dying on average 15 years prematurely.
Approximately 1.8 billion young people (aged 10-24) live in our world today with more than 85% found in developing countries. Having survived the vulnerable childhood period, these young people are generally healthy.

However, as the tobacco industry intensifies its efforts to hook new, young and potentially life-long tobacco users, the health of a significant percentage of the world's youth is seriously threatened by their deadly products.
Nicotine is a highly addictive substance and child and adolescent experimentation can easily lead to a lifetime of tobacco dependence.

The focus

Call for action

How you can participate

Request/download WNTD 2008 materials

The focus

Globally, most people start smoking before the age of 18, and almost a quarter of these individuals begin using tobacco before the age of 10. The younger children are when they first try smoking, the more likely they are to become regular tobacco users and the less likely they are to quit.

It is clearly proven that exposure to direct and indirect pro-tobacco advertising, together with other marketing strategies used by the tobacco industry, leads to an increase in experimentation by young people and, in turn, to the very real risk of their becoming regular users of tobacco products. The tobacco industry spends tens of billions of dollars worldwide every year to effectively market its products in as many ways as possible.

In response to this threat to young people, this year's World No Tobacco Day campaign focuses on the following main message:

One of the most effective ways countries can protect young people from experimenting and becoming regular tobacco users is to ban all forms of direct and indirect tobacco advertising, including promotion of tobacco products and sponsorship, by the tobacco industry, of any events or activities.

WHY DO WE NEED TO CAMPAIGN FOR A TOTAL BAN ON TOBACCO ADVERTISING, PROMOTION AND SPONSORSHIP?

• Because about half the children of the world live in countries that do not ban free distribution of tobacco products to them.
• Because only total and comprehensive bans can be effective in reducing tobacco consumption.
• Because national-level studies before and after advertising bans found a decline in tobacco consumption of up to 16%.
• Because partial bans have little or no impact on demand since advertising can be switched to alternative media.

Direct and indirect tobacco advertising is conducted in numerous ways via: television; radio; Internet; magazines; banners, posters and hoardings; direct mail; coupons; sweepstake offers; brand stretching; brand loyalty programs; sponsorship of sports; sponsorship of specialized entertainment events in popular youth locations such as bars and clubs; and controlled circulation magazines distributed to those on the tobacco industry's large mailing list.

A call for action

A TOTAL BAN ON ADVERTISING, PROMOTION AND SPONSORSHIP OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS REDUCES CONSUMPTION

Call to policy-makers:
Require by law a comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products. Be aware that voluntary policies do not work and are not an acceptable response to protecting the public, especially youth, from tobacco industry marketing tactics;
Implement policies and programmes that do not target youth in isolation. Interventions that target the population as a whole, such as banning all forms of tobacco advertising, raising tobacco taxes, and creating 100% smoke-free environments have the greatest success in reducing youth tobacco use.

Call to young people:
Let the policy-makers of your country know what you think. Advocate for a total ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products in your country.
Get involved in a campaign to educate your peers on how the tobacco industry uses advertising, promotion and sponsorship to persuade you to smoke or use other forms of tobacco. Let the industry know you won't be duped by its slick, expensive promotional efforts.

Call to NGOs:
Advocate to policy-makers for a complete ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products in your country.
Help organize youth groups so they can be part of the campaign and engage in the conception, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of tobacco control policies and programmes to ban advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products.

Call to the public:
Call on policy-makers to ban advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products to protect young people.

How you can participate:

Download WNTD 2008 materials

To receive hard copies of the materials below, send your request to tfi@who.int with the subject: WNTD MATERIAL REQUEST.
Flyer

FlyerEnglish [pdf 743kb] French [pdf 791kb]
Posters

Poster "Boy"English [jpg 162kb] French [jpg 163kb]

Poster "Girl"English [jpg 158kb] French [jpg 158kb]
other materials

StickerEnglish [jpg 133kb] French [jpg 134kb]

Global voices for a smokefree world

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:46:00 +0000

Join the Global Smokefree Partnership's campaign

SUPPORT A SMOKEFREE UNITED NATIONS -JOIN THE GLOBAL VOICES FOR A SMOKEFREE UNITED NATIONS CAMPAIGN!

The Global Smokefree Partnership has launched GLOBAL VOICES FOR A SMOKEFREE UNITED NATIONS - a campaign to encourage governments of the world to support smokefree United Nations facilities worldwide. The goal of Global Voices Campaign is for the General Assembly to pass a resolution in 2008 ensuring smokefree air for all its employees and visitors. By adopting a smoke-free policy, the United Nations will set an example for all governments to protect workers and the public from the proven harmful effects of secondhand smoke. All employees deserve to breathe smokefree air in the workplace. The United Nations should be no exception. A smokefree policy also would meet the requirements of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a treaty that more than 150 United Nations member states have ratified.Please join the Campaign by adding your voice! Add your name, and your organization's name if you have the authority to do so, to the list of Campaign supporters.

Click here to sign onto the campaign on behalf of an organization.

Click here to sign onto the campaign on behalf of yourself.

Smokefree Launched Olympics Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:15:00 +0000

The Global Smokefree Partnership has launched the 2008 Smokefree Olympics - a campaign to strengthen global awareness, support for and adherence to a strong and sustainable Smokefree Beijing Olympics policy.

The campaign goal is to collect global support for the smokefree Olympics and to disseminate information to the media and the general public about the smokefree Olympics.

Participate now!
Sign the Open Letter in support of Smokefree Olympics.

Find out about the smokefree policy for the Beijing Olympic Games.

JATH APPLAUDES FCT BAN ON PUBLIC SMOKING.

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:23:00 +0000

A Nigerian based environmental and health non-governmental organization, Journalists Action on Tobacco and Health (JATH) has commended the move by the FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar to implement the Tobacco Smoking Control Act of 1990 to declare the Federal Capital Territory smoke-free with effect from 31 May, 2008.

In a statement issues in Lagos, JATH Senior Programme Officer, Mr Adeyinka Olugbade has said “The many benefits of a ban on smoking in the public places are quite appealing as such governors of other states of the federation should take the cue from this ban. These advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. It’s going to help government agencies working in the area of healthcare to reduce the cost of treating tobacco-related health conditions and deaths.”

According to him, “Tobacco contains over 4000 chemicals like carbon monoxide, tar, and ammonia just to mention a few. A typical non-smoker restaurant employee would inhale an estimate of over 30% chemicals in an 8 hour shift. To think that smokers inhale and exhale these for others to inhale is quite selfish and makes sense of the ban. Smokers now have to go outside where the air is in constant movement to feed their nicotine cravings without disrupting other people’s health.”

JATH has continued to emphasize the staggering increased risks of tobacco smoking related diseases and deaths nationwide. We believe the overall the advantages of smoke-free public places overshadows any minority rights claim for the smokers by the tobacco companies. While government cannot remove individual’s personal freedom, it can only do so brilliantly as to prevent non-smokers from suffering the ill effects of smoker’s actions.
http://www.jathng.org/

SILENT KILLER!

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:54:00 +0000

It has now become a public knowledge that the manufacturers of tobacco products are murderers. Or how can anyone else venture into producing what doesn't have any advantage to the human body.

Believe it, each stick have more than a hundred chemical compound meant to conterminate your body and eat up your liver before you ever have time to realise its not meant to make you feel cool.

TOBACCO KILLS!

KORA NOW IN NIGERIA

noreply@blogger.com (stride) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:45:00 +0000

KORA AWARDS is now in Nigeria. The media launch and dinner party announcing KORA in Nigeria will take place at the Abuja International Conference Centre on December 20, 2007.

The KORA Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. The award was founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi and named after the kora, an important West African plucked chordophone.

KORA Awards is Africa’s most prestigious Music Award and since inception has enjoys worldwide coverage and recognition. Nigerian artistes and celebrities has participated; served as judges, artistes were nominated for an award, and some have brought glory to the nation by emerging as winners. What Nigeria has yet to do is the hosting of the awards. The coming of KORA Awards to Nigeria will provide this unique opportunity to host the next five editions of this spectacular event.

The KORA AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS will be staged in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, between 2008 and 2012. It holds wonderful sponsorship opportunity for individual, corporate organisations and the whole nation.