Tobacco Free Malawi

STOP ABUSING TOBACCO FARMERS

2012-03-28T04:32:00.001-07:00

SMOKE FREE MALAWI

Wednesday, 28th March, 2012

PRESS RELEASE AT THE START OF THE 2012 TOBACCO SEASON

SAVE THE POOR FARMER, CHILD LABOURER-STOP SMOKING TOBACCO

Smokefree Malawi, an advocacy group against smoking and tobacco related challenhes wishes to register its deepest disappointment to the start of the 2012 Tobacco Season, which has again opened with low prices despite the hard work of ordinary Malawians enslaved by the crop in the past four and half decades of independence.

Particularly we wish to bring to the attention of His Excellency the State President Ngwazi Professor Bingu wa Mutharika, the Honourable Members of Parliament, Civil Society and all related groups, that smoking and tobacco production in Malawi continues to increase the burdern of many ordinary Malawians.

We are concerned of the the following key developments in the sector and Governments response towards them, as they continue to impact on ordinary Malawians and send many into poverty.

1. Low Prices at Auction Floors

After low prices at the Auction Floors which has sent thousands of ordinary people into poverty during the 2010/2011 Tobacco season, buyers have resorted to stealing from Malawians yet again by offering prices as low as 0.60 cents for a kilogramme of tobacco at the start of the sale in Lilongwe.

Many farmers have not been able to grow tobacco due to mainly their inability to repay loans of last year and the low yields, with investments of K80,000.00 realising only K30,000.00 in the past season. Other farmers had to repay their loans with their livestock or iron sheets sending them into extreme poverty.

Buyers have an obligation to respond to the market situation and this years initial prices do not reflect the supply and demand side of the crop as very few tobacco is available for the market.

The poor prices need to change now to enable our poor farmers realise their sweat and pain in growing this crop.

2. Tobacco prices over a strong kwacha

While Government continues to hold the Kwacha at its higher value than the real market value, SmokeFree Malawi wishes to bring to the attention of Government that tobacco farmers remain the biggest losers as most sellers of tobacco inputs and materials such as sacks continue to peg their sales on a parallel market value. After selling and earning their tobacco money at a low value, farmers will end up biggest losers, should devaluation still take place later in the year. The most obtaining suggestion is to have a special rate of K210 to a dollar for the tobacco market to minimise the farmers losses later in the year.

3. Health concerns in Tobacco production and selling

Tobacco fumes, from the farms to the Auction Floors are harzadous to human health. Just like smoking is. There have been no masks given to farmers or people working on the floors at the Auction Floors increasing the likelihood of toxic intake for people accessing the Auction Floors. We demand immediate and compusalry provision of nose masks to protect thousands of Malawians that access the tobacco dust and fumes in the industry.

4. New Tobacco Companies

We have noted with great concerns of the continuing road shows and single ciggerate promotions by Cigarrate Manufacturers based in Malawi in violation of the set International standards that marketing and single stick sales are not encouraged as they can easily be accessed by minors.

The same continues in Malawi where at bus stations and other shops, children continue to be used to sale cigarrettes without the law taking its course. We demand an immediate stop to this and ask Government to stop licensing cigarrette manufacturing in the country.

Malawi lacks all the necessary capacity to treat Lung Cancers and the other 60 types of cancers that smoking has been proven to cause. The Country cannot afford to continue putting its young citizenry at risk, as the combined consequences of smoking and drinking of cheap products has already proven to be fatal with recorded deaths of young people exceeding normal levels.

5. Government should live its commitment to sign the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

The Government of Malawi in November 2010 made a commitment that it will sign the FCTC and become a party to negotiate better and at the same time start protection of its own citizens from dangerous second hand smoking, which in Malawi is high, as smokers, mostly men smoke anywhere, even in homes where children access the smoke.

SmokeFree Malawi is dismayed by the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Tobacco Control Commission, who are the key stakeholders in moving the process have decided to be quite and drag the process. This is a betrayal to our national integrity and commitment we publicly pronounced. We demand that Government should sign and make all the necessary processes completed by May 30, 2012.

The key stakeholders withholding Malawi's signing of the FCTC are doing so in selfish interest as the Convention provides assistance to country's wishing to diversify, which would suit Malawi Governments strategic plans, to diversify the economy from tobacco. In whose interests are we serving if Malawi cannot sign the FCTC today?

6. National Conference on the Future of Tobacco in Malawi

Tobacco is now a crop past its phase to the economy of Malawi. 2010/2011 season imparted a lesson to all well meaning Malawians, that is usefulness and reliability is over. Tobacco has sent millions of Malawians into poverty, it has caused high cases of health challenges costing the public purse more as healthcare is free, it has affected the future of Children through rampant child labour and more importantly it has denied rights to people working in the farms.

Government for a period of close to 14 years, failed to enact the Tobacco Tenancy Labour bill, mainly due to the influence of the Industry which has never worked in the interest of Malawi.

Smokefree Malawi will soon hold a National Conference on the Future of Tobacco in Malawi, where the Economic, Political, Health and Social consequences of Malawi will be candidly debated and a future designed of a Malawi without tobacco.

Conclusion:

Tobacco has remained and will remain a crop that enslaves Malawians and the hold the country at ransom. The country's potential in other sectors such as Tourism and agro-porcessing, crops such as soya beans, ground nuts and other legumes has been undermined deliberately by some technocrats to continue dependency on tobacco.

Malawi does not need tobacco, and smoking is contributing to morbidity and mortality of its productive age group.

Lets make Malawi a productive and smokefree nation,

Kondwani Bell Munthali

National Coordinator

Smokefree Malawi

Burley Tobacco will not be affected by the WHO FCTC Article 9 and 10 Guidelines

2011-01-11T03:29:00.000-08:00

Pub:1.013 Wednesday , 10 November, 2010

Media Release

Burley Tobacco will not be affected by the WHO FCTC Article 9 and 10 Guidelines

Smoke Free Malawi, is the project of the Youth Alliance in Social and Economic Development (YASED) which has been established to campaign and highlight the effects of smoking in public health and lobby for the signing of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of the World Health Organisation.

In the past six months, the media and the Country at large has been intimidated and false alarm raised mainly by the Tobacco Industry claiming that the new guidelines for Articles 9 and 10 expected to be adopted by the FCTC Conference of Parties to held from the 15th to the 20th November 2010 in Uruguay, will affect production of the Burley Tobacco.

Malawi is among the top countries that grow burley tobacco and such alarmist’s statements propagated by the Tobacco Industry supported by the International Growers Association (ITGA) have found a fertile ground.

Recently, associations representing tobacco growers around the world have distributed misleading information about the flavourings that are added to tobacco products and about draft guidelines that would “restrict or prohibit” these flavourings.

Flavourings and other additives are widely used in cigarettes and other tobacco products to increase the palatability or attractiveness of tobacco smoke, particularly for young people.

The more attractive tobacco products are, the more people will become addicted and, ultimately, the more will die from tobacco-caused disease.

Draft guidelines, to be discussed by more than 170 countries at the meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) in Uruguay in November, recommend that countries “restrict or prohibit” flavourings that increase palatability, have colouring properties, create the impression of health benefits or are associated with energy and vitality.

Contrary to industry claims, guidelines do not recommend a ban on burley tobacco, which is grown worldwide and often flavoured during production. Cigarettes containing burley continue to be sold in countries with strong restrictions on flavourings.

Draft guidelines for implementation of Articles 9 and 10 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which deal with product regulation, have been prepared by a Working Group of Parties for consideration by the COP in November 2010.

A recommendation in section 3.1.2.2(i) of the guidelines to “either prohibit or restrict” flavouring substances has received considerable opposition from the tobacco industry.

Despite tobacco industry lobbying, such a recommendation is entirely reasonable, necessary and worthy of support. Although the tobacco industry may wish to have the unregulated freedom to use chocolate, fruit, sugar, candy, ice cream and other flavourings to improve product attractiveness, what the tobacco industry wants is incompatible with public health.

Malawi

Malawi can only attend the COP 4 as observers and will not have any influence as it has not signed the FCTC therefore it is not a party to the conference. This ambiguous position should send a wake up call to Government to take immediate steps to sign the FCTC that any future negotiations should encompass the country’s view.

Locally, the economy and many livelihoods depend on Tobacco, but the benefits to the majority has been limited as it has been publicly acknowledged by His Excellency the State President Ngwazi Professor Bingu wa Mutharika on several occasions.

Malawian men, women and children continue to work in semi-slavery conditions, while the Tenancy Labour bill has been shelved for over 15 years due to the improper influence of the industry in Malawi.

It is a documented fact that corruption, bribery and intimidation is the character of the Tobacco industry and it has for years thrived on bribing senior Government and Opposition politicians as recently exposed by the United States Securities Commission. (See attached documents).

The country has been grossly misinformed on the Articles deliberately as the industry is targeting young people to sustain the industry that produces one of the most deadly products to human health.

The Future of Tobacco in Malawi

It is immoral for the industry to abuse the limited capacity of our experts in the field of the WHO framework and use it to misinform the many farmers who grow burley tobacco that there future hangs in balance. We challenge anybody to mention which article mentions burley tobacco ban.

To the contrary Burley has a future in the next two decades, but as the reality is that many people are realizing the dangers of smoking and eventually it will have a great effect to our economy, we proposed our planners to seriously start bringing alternatives:

1. Sign and ratify the FCTC and get internal influence. Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique have all signed the FCTC and they continue to grow tobacco.
2. Develop a serious 10 year national plan to diversify the economy with a planned uptake of ten percent of the current 50,000 registered growers into different sector.
3. Develop and build capacity of experts to monitor information coming out of industry including proper audit of the industry profits within the country which are always undervalued resulting in payment of low prices at the Auction floors.
4. Enact the Labour Tenancy bill and other legislation which will protect Malawians from public smoking and environmental degradation caused by Tobacco production.
5. Develop new taxes for the sector and ensure quality control of the sectors production and marketing of cigarettes especially access by young people.

Smoke Free Malawi is addressing a press briefing on Friday 12th November, 2010 where these issues will be discussed in full. The Government and Private Sector is welcome to the briefing for an open and honest discussion on this matter.

The technical assistance for the briefing has been provided by the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) The FCA is a civil society alliance of NGOs, institutions, experts and others, whose mission is to help develop and implement the FCTC as the basis for effective global tobacco control. It represents more than 350 members in 100 countries. For more information, see www.fctc.org. For further information, contact FCA Communications Manager Marty Logan in Ottawa, tel: +1.613.241.3927, ext 302 (office), +1.613.617.1179 (mobile), loganm@fctc.org.

Locally please contact the undersigned on 0999957331 or 0881121005 or email kmunthali@yahoo.com.

Make Malawi a healthy, prosperous and productive,

Kondwani Munthali
Smoke Free National Coordinator

Malawi Government should sign FCTC and launch bribery inquiry

2010-08-19T03:09:00.000-07:00

Smoke free Malawi
..for healthy, prosperous & productive malawi

Pub:1.011 Thursday , August 19, 2010

Media Release

Malawi should sign the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and Government should open public inquiry on conduct of tobacco firms

Smoke Free Malawi, is the project of the Youth Alliance in Social and Economic Development (YASED) which has been established to campaign and highlight the effects of smoking in public health and lobby for the signing of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organisation.

We wish to comment on the recent developments as it relates to the tobacco industry in Malawi:

1. The recent debate on proposed restrictions on use of additives in cigarettes has seen Government jumping up and down trying to raise its voice in protest.

Smoke Free Malawi while recognising the importance of tobacco to our economy, is equally concerned with the hypocritical approach by concerned Ministries as efforts to engage them on FCTC have met rebuttals for the last three years.

In other words, the reaction from Government is late and indicates the fantasy world that Malawi continues to live in as we continue to support the tobacco industry which has exploited the country for over six decades.

Tobacco smoking kills and such a global anti-smoking lobby has been growing for since the 2000; Malawi should have started taking steps to diversify its economy in anticipation of any changes in the tobacco sector.

On our part, we retaliate that Malawi should sign the FCTC immediately and become part of the Conference of Parties whose next session is coming this summer and strive to identify alternative sources of income for its million of citizens who are bonded in tobacco without direct economic benefits.

Further the scientific argument as raised by the Minister of Agriculture will only delay Malawi’s path to a productive diversification of the economy. After all the country’s economic performance has been mainly tied to availability of maize than much of tobacco.

2. Limbe Leaf bribery case of K129.9 million

The recent ruling by the United States Securities Exchange Commissiom against Universal Leaf and Alliance One confirms our long standing argument that the tobacco industry has been unfairly influencing Malawi’s continued dependent on Agriculture.

High ranking Government officials pocketed USD500, 000 (K76million) another USD 250,000.00 (K37million) and an opposition leader USD100, 000.00 (K14 million) to influence buying contracts and legislation as cited by the US SEC.

Smoke Free Malawi wishes to register its string dismay and disgust, which while majority of Malawians working in tobacco farms earn as low as USD150 annually, Government officials and political leaders pocket over 1 million percent of the same to keep the industry going.

This is the highest betray of Malawians and we believe the practice still continues as seen by recent outbursts by some Government officials in defending tobacco.

Smoke Free Malawi calls for an immediate public inquiry to look at the matter of bribery and corruption and also review of legislation especially that has been influenced during the last two decades that it should not reflect real tobacco situation.

We strongly believe the Malawi Government can exonerate itself from this embarrassing encounter by immediately enacting the TENANCY LABOUR BILL which has been stalled since 1995. At least Malawians know the capacity of our tobacco firms to buying of Government officials to influence everything.

We ask the opposition leader mentioned in the court documents to humbly resign from public service as we have full details and all Malawians with information to report to the Anti-Corruption Bureau or to us that we can end the monopoly and influence of this shameful industry.

Government officials taking bribes from the Kanengo syndicate should be warned that their decisions will be subject to review as it has been shown that corruption by the industry is from the highest order.

Finally we make special appeal to His Excellency the State President Ngwazi Professor Bingu wa Mutharika as a champion of anti-corruption drive since he assumed office not to allow this matter die without Malawi’s name being cleared as a bribe-taking nation.

As we have highlighted before, tobacco apart from deepening poverty across the country, is also responsible for major health challenges including contributing to deaths of pregnant women in places where its produced and processed.

The United States Securities Exchange ruling should serve was a reminder, that we are dealing with an extremely dangerous industry that would continue its work without any moral feelings to the society it is operating in.

For the press, we repeat the composition of cigarettes remains one of the most dangerous to human health and includes the following

Tobacco smoke includes As found in

• Acetone Paint stripper.
• Arsenic Ant Poison
• Butane Lighter fuel
• Cadmium Car Batteries
• Carbon Monoxide Car exhausts fumes
• Formaldehyde Embalming fluid
• Hydrogen cyanide Gas for capital punishment
• Methanol Rocket Fuel
• Nicotine Cockroach poison
• Phenol Toilet bowl disinfectant
• Propylene glycol Anti freeze
• Toluene Industrial solvent
• Vinyl plastics

In actual cigarettes there are more than 4,000 chemicals.

The right to life and protection of the many thousands of women and children in tobacco estates, whether as child labourers or just living with their families should be the primary concern of a well meaning Government.

Attached is the actual ruling and for any addition documents please contact the undersigned.

Kondwani Bell Munthali
Acting Coordinator-Smoke Free Malawi
kmunthali@yahoo.com
premiermarket@ymail.com
www.tobaccofreemalawi.blogspot.com
+265 999 957 331

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Litigation Release No. 21618 / August 6, 2010
Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Release No. 3170 / August 6, 2010
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION v. UNIVERSAL CORPORATION, INC., Civil Action No. 01:10-cv-01318 (RWR) (D.D.C.) (filed August 6, 2010)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION v. ALLIANCE ONE INTERNATIONAL, INC., Civil Action No. 01:10-cv-01319 (RMU) (D.D.C.) (filed August 6, 2010)
SEC FILES ANTI-BRIBERY CHARGES AGAINST TWO GLOBAL TOBACCO COMPANIES
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today charged two major tobacco companies, Universal Corporation, Inc. and Alliance One International, Inc., with violating, among other things, the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 ("FCPA") for their involvement in a multi-million dollar bribery scheme with government officials in Thailand to obtain nearly $30 million in sales contracts to supply tobacco. The SEC also charged Alliance One with paying bribes in Kyrgyzstan and making improper payments in China, Greece, and Indonesia and Universal with making improper payments in Malawi and Mozambique. Moreover, the SEC's complaints alleged Universal and Alliance One engaged in books and records and internal control violations.
Universal
According to the SEC's complaint, between 2000 and 2004, Universal, in coordination with two of its competitors, Dimon, Inc. ("Dimon") and Standard Commercial Corporation ("Standard"), paid approximately $800,000 to bribe officials of the government-owned Thailand Tobacco Monopoly ("TTM") in exchange for securing approximately $11.5 million in sales contracts for its subsidiaries in Brazil and Europe. From 2004 through 2007, Universal also made a series of payments in excess of $165,000 to government officials in Mozambique through corporate subsidiaries in Belgium and Africa. Universal made these payments, among other things, to secure an exclusive right to purchase tobacco from regional growers and to procure legislation beneficial to the company's business. Between 2002 and 2003, Universal subsidiaries paid a total of $850,000 to high-ranking Malawian government officials. Universal did not accurately record these payments in its books and records.
Alliance One
From 2000 to 2004, in a coordinated bribery scheme with Universal, Dimon and Standard paid bribes of more than $1.2 million to government officials of the TTM in order to obtain more than $18.3 million in sales contracts. (In May 2005, Dimon and Standard merged to form Alliance One). Dimon characterized the payment of bribes to TTM officials as commissions paid to Dimon's agent in Thailand. Similarly, Standard personnel authorized improper payments to TTM officials and failed to record those payments accurately in Standard's books and records.
The SEC's complaint also alleges that, from 1996 through 2004, Dimon International Kyrgyzstan ("DIK"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dimon, paid more than $3 million in bribes to Kyrgyzstan government officials to purchase Kyrgyz tobacco for resale to Dimon's customers. Most of these payments were delivered in bags filled with $100 bills to a high-ranking government official. DIK also made improper payments to Kyrgyzstan tax officials.
Additionally, Dimon made improper payments to tax officials in Greece and Indonesia. Standard also made an improper payment to a political candidate and provided gifts, travel, and entertainment expenses to foreign government officials in the Asian Region, including China and Thailand. Dimon and Standard failed to record these payments accurately in the companies' books and records.
Without admitting or denying the SEC's allegations, defendants Universal and Alliance One consented to the entry of final judgments permanently enjoining each of them from violating the anti-bribery, books and records, and internal control provisions of the FCPA, codified as Sections 30A, 13(b)(2)(A), and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Universal and Alliance One are ordered to pay disgorgement of $4,581,276.51 and $10,000,000, respectively, and each is ordered to retain an independent monitor for three years.
In related criminal proceedings announced today, the U.S. Department of Justice filed criminal actions against a Universal subsidiary and two Alliance One subsidiaries charging each of them with one count of conspiring to violate the FCPA and one count of violating the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Universal and Alliance One have entered into non-prosecution agreements with the DOJ and agreed to pay criminal penalties of $4,400,000 and $9,450,000, respectively, and retain independent monitors for a period of three years.
Amybeth Garcia-Bokor, Paul Gumagay, Michael Hoess, Uta Von Eckartsberg, and Christine Neal conducted the SEC's investigation in this matter.
The SEC acknowledges and appreciates the assistance provided by the Department of Justice's Fraud Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

PLAN report should awaken Government to sign the FCTC

2009-08-26T00:46:00.000-07:00

Smoke Free Malawi, is the project of the Youth Alliance in Social and Economic Development (YASED) which has been established to campaign and highlight the effects of smoking in public health and lobby for the signing of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organisation.

We wish to register our sincere shock and regret that while it is well known that tobacco fumes exposure is dangerous to human health, there has been clear disregard by Government and the industry to protect innocent Malawians.

The report by PLAN Malawi that Malawian Children in tobacco industry are exposed to nicotine levels equivalent to 50 cigarettes a day should send a clear warning to all Malawians that smoking will soon become a national epidemic.

As we have advanced before, the cost of social, health, economic and environmental damage of tobacco growing are huge than the actual benefits that have been propagated as coming from the industry.

Apart from 500,000 Malawians working in poor conditions in tobacco estates, exposure of young children to nicotine will guarantee a generation of smokers exposed to the risk of having cancer and many other diseases.

The report from PLAN should awaken our Government, specifically the Ministries of Agriculture, Health and those responsible for the welfare of the children.

We appeal to Government to immediately implement the much promised economic diversification programme to save lives of many Malawians that are currently at risk due to exposure to tobacco fumes.

Details of the report can be accessed through: Click here: http://plan-international.org/about-plan/resources/news/child-tobacco-pickers-poisoned-reveals-report to read more from Plan International websiteClick here to download the report: http://plan-international.org/about-plan/resources/publications/protection/hard-work-long-hours-and-little-pay

Further media reports have been aired on BBC Network Africa programme today www.bbc.co.uk/africa and published on www.mg.co.za.

Locally, The Nation www.nationmw.net is carrying the story as the main lead story.

Kondwani Bell Munthali
Acting Coordinator-Smoke Free Malawi

premiermarket@ymail.com
www.tobaccofreemalawi.blogspot.com
+1977438

Tobacco Growers Meeting in Malawi-appeal for urgent support

2009-04-19T03:40:00.000-07:00

International Tobacco Growers Association (ITGA) Regional meeting will be held in Malawi from the 3rd to 6th May, 2009 at Salima,. in Central Malawi.

ITGA Chief Executive is expected to attend from Portugal.

YASED which is in the process of launching the Smoke-Free Malawi (fromerly Tobacco Free Malawi) is mobilising Civil Society, Tobacco Estate workers and Cancer groups to hold a peaceful demonstration during the duration of the meeting.

The full programme is as follows:

1. May 1, 2009- Labour Day: Press conference highlighting the harmful tobacco effects on the economy including the poverty it exerbates on the poorest of the poor.

2. Poster demonstration- posters at Kamuzu International Airport and along the route to Salima for ITGA delegates to see as they travel to the venues.

3. May 4, 2009- Delivery of petition to the delegates as they start the meeting. Countries with participants would greatly assist us by sending the pertinent issues related to tobacco in their own countries.

4. May 4- Public Debate on tobacco in Malawi to be aired live on two radio stations from Salima.

YASED-Smoke Free Malawi project is therefore requesting for urgent support and invite activist to join the campaign which represents one of the major grouping of tobacco growers in the region.

We require posters, fuel, vehicles and funds for air time to publicise the event. YASED will provide all the logistical staff for the programme and coordinate the event as part of its normal programmes.

Contact;

Kondwani Munthali
Acting Coordinator
YASED-Smoke Free Malawi project
Mobile: 265 999 957331/ 265 888 957331
Phone; 265 1 797 367
email: kmunthali@nationmw.net
www.tobaccofreemalawi.blogspot.com

Appeal for Malawi Government to sign the FCTC

2009-04-19T03:39:00.000-07:00

An appeal for Government to sign Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the unsustainable tobacco situation in Malawi

Smoke Free Malawi, is the project of the Youth Alliance in Social and Economic Development (YASED) which has been established to campaign and highlight the effects of smoking in public health and lobby for the signing of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organisation.

The recent WHO survey, places Malawi among the top African countries where young people between the age of 12 and 18 are increasingly taking up smoking, a deliberate age group being targeted by Tobacco companies to sustain their industries.

At the height of the global economic crisis, tobacco companies are still registering huge profits, (Phillip Morris reported a 20 percent profits increase in October 2008) which is enough evidence that there has never been a dent in the industry despite increasing acknowledgement that Tobacco, is very hazardous to human health.

Malawi today stands as one of the largest producers of tobacco, though very little is there to show for it as most of its development, both infrastructural and human has come from donor assistance since independence.

Today, which is the World Health day, Smoke Free Malawi wishes to formally register its strong reservations to Government’s attitude towards the signing of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control almost six years since it came to effect.

The youth, women (especially pregnant women) and Children of the Malawi who are in excess of 70 percent of the population continue to be put at risk by Government’s inactiveness as smoking has economic, health, environmental and social risks which outweigh any economic gains that have been advanced so far.

The tale of tobacco and Malawi can be summarised in the following issues that we appeal His Excellency’s most urgent action to protect the lives of over 12.5 million Malawians who do not smoke but are exposed to cigarette smoking.

Through you your Excellency, please evaluate the following effects of smoking and tobacco growing which are relevant to Malawi and come without any prejudice to the social and economic development of the country.

Health

Tobacco smoking and to some extent growing affects the overall health of Malawians and Tobacco companies all over the World have agreed to place warnings (though in crafty manner) which is direct acknowledgement that it has health consequences both to smokers and those exposed to smoke.

Our fears your Excellency is that tobacco today risks reversing all investments and gains being made in the health sector will be easily reversed by the increases in tobacco smoking morbidity among the young people.

Cigarette actually contains over 4,000 chemicals 60 of which have been scientifically proven to be direct causers of cancer and other cardio vascular diseases. Among the health consequences smoking causes include:

1. Cancer

Malawi has seen a rapid increase of cancer cases and in most cases in tobacco growing districts where families have at least one smoker, either or processed or raw tobacco. Women and Children are particularly at risk of exposure as they are weak culturally to argue to contain smoking habits of their income earners. This leaves millions of wives and children to risk developing in their lives as they inhale secondary smoke, while millions of children will definitely be hooked to nicotine from the fumes making them smokers in their own right.
Public smoking which is tolerated in Malawi is not only a source of irritation, but a health risk to many hundreds more who travel by public transport, at bus stations, football stadiums and many more others.

2. Tuberculosis

There has been an increase in cases of TB in growing districts, which despite being a pure medical condition relates to the effects of smoking to the human lungs, both for smokers and second hand smoking.
Tobacco smoking worsens the condition of TB patients and accelerates death of individuals affected.
There is an urgent need for the incoming administration to put in place mechanism to curb smoking in public and effectively evaluate the real cases of TB as opposed to the current ones with the majority of patients coughing due to smoking.

3. Maternal and Child deaths

Exposures to fumes by pregnant mothers has been known to cause fatal effects and smoking, including second hand smoking has fatal effects on pregnant mothers and newly born babies.
Malawi has one of highest maternal death rates in the World, and for long time negligence of controlling public smoking, again the inequalities in families between wives and husbands and wives, all adds up the risks smoking pauses to Malawian women, especially in rural areas.

4. Malaria and use of DDT

The global ban of use of DDT and even the extensive ban that it cannot be used for preventive purposes due to Tobacco has placed lots of Malawians at the risk of dying from Malaria.
The Ministry of Health admits that the country is loosing 7,000 productive lives due to Malaria which consumes almost half of the country’s health budget and more importantly is a big drain to public resources.
Tobacco, to the contrast continues to enjoy special protection despite other well reasons that what could be saved from malaria, maternal deaths and weaker patients (morbidity due to smoke related diseases) can be make a difference to the lives and development of Malawi.

Human Rights

Section 12 of the Republican constitution expressively places authority in the hands of all Malawians. However smokers in the country who are even less than a percentage of the total population, placing their lives at risk when smoking is voluntary. Public smoking is a gross violation of the bill of rights as enshrined in the republican constitution.

Furthermore the authorities have allowed access to young children to cigarettes in all districts which violates the need to create safe spaces for young children as Government committed itself by signing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Economic

Tobacco growing has not improved the country’s economy. Over 45 years of independence the majority of the people who engage in tobacco economy remains poor and semi-slavery conditions exists.

Poverty

In low income earning families, smoking increases the burden to the families as

Women/Child slavery

Centre for Social Concern estimates that close to 500,000 productive Malawians work in Tobacco estates and received meagre US$200 for annual labour with landlords deducting food costs (an average 1 pail of maize bran –madeya_ for two weeks) at Estates.

The worst violations are women who assist their husbands and normally transport the seedlings, the tobacco leaf and process it using own hands and heads as carriers for no extra pay. They are included in the husbands pay.

Over 25,000 children in Estates drop out of school as parents (Tenants) seek extra hands to complete their manual labour. They live in poor built shacks, they are denied medical treatment and they have no any day off or holiday throughout the tobacco season.

Adding 500,000 tenants, it places close to 2.5 million people (women and children) directly into semi-slavery conditions which has been tolerated by Government since independence.

The tenancy bill has remained untabled and continues to gather dust at Capital Hill since 1997.

Government’s lip service to women empowerment is evident that while it has sought to boost its profile through high profile appointments, the real poor conditions exists among the rural poor who are engaged in modern day slavery.

Low Income levels versus national productivity

The continuing dependency on tobacco has not improved any sector, the tobacco workers remain the lowest paid, while they remain unprotected causing extra burden to Government to treat the patients that are being exposed by tobacco companies in processing plants to fumes from the crop.

Diversification

Tobacco companies continue to instil fear in the country that it can not diversify the economy and as a Nation Malawi seem to have fallen into the trap. Malawi remains the only economy strictly dependent on the crop. There is ample evidence that growing food crisis, shortage of raw materials and exploration of the mineral and tourism sectors could boost the country’s foreign earners base.
Currently while Government has subjected into resignation by allowing exploitation by tobacco farmers and labourers, evidence based programmes in soya, wheat, and maize production and further in fish and seed production have shown rural farmers earning 100 times more than what they produce in tobacco. Livestock production too has changed the lives of many farmers.
Malawi needs to start now to diversify the economy and move out of this york posed by tobacco production.

Environment

Today, Malawi complains of poor electricity generation, erratic rains and increase in warm weather related diseases. Tobacco growing districts have wiped out natural vegetation.
Trees have been cut down for curing, processing and growing tobacco, those plains of Kasungu and Dowa district lies empty with threats of poor rains being a daily occurrence.
Consequences of environmental degradation are fully acknowledged by Government’s appended signature to many conventions related to environmental management.

Social

Tobacco related diseases increase social disorders including poverty, inequalities and morbidity arising to sickness sends poor families deep into the poverty trap. The amounts of money spent on cigarettes, attending to sickness and time spent on managing the sick is more colossal and a big burden to the poor Malawians.
Children too continue to be hooked up by phungwe’s, uncontrolled cigarette sales, and uncontrolled smoking in public places.

As a nation, Malawi has come to agree that tobacco has brought more misery than joy and 45 years after independence the crop has failed to spur development as all our development budget is covered through taxes and donor support.

The prices this year, the global economic down turn and the benefits that the sector has not been able to bring forth, should spur immediate action of the Government of Malawi to sign the FCTC and as young people we shall continue to advocate for a smoke free Malawi until the rights of non-smokers, the poor and semi-enslaved women and Children have more recognition from a Government that claim to represent them.

Kondwani Bell Munthali
Acting Coordinator-Smoke Free Malawi
kmunthali@yahoo.com
premiermarket@ymail.com
www.tobaccofreemalawi.blogspot.com
+265 999 957 331 +265 995 505 020

Slavery in Malawi Tobacco Estates

2009-04-19T03:38:00.000-07:00

Press Release - 17 APRIL 2009
Slavery on Malawian tobacco estates

On Friday, 17 April 2009, the Germany based NGO Blue 21 delivered the petition for tobacco workers' rights to representatives of the Government of Malawi in Lilongwe. The petition calls upon the Malawian government to abolish the debt bondage system which is called "Tenancy Labour" and give basic rights to tobacco workers and tenants. The petition was initiated by Blue 21 and the Tobacco Tenants and Allied Workers Union of Malawi (TOTAWUM) and supported by several Malawian organisations.
The south-east African country of Malawi derives about 70% of its foreign exchange earnings from tobacco. Malawian leaf is found in most of the major tobacco brands. Surveys and reports by Malawian organisation and international scientists show: The about 500,000 tobacco tenants in the country usually don't have written labour contracts, and little or no access to basic necessities like safe drinking water, adequate housing and sufficient food. "What we find on tobacco estates can only be described by the term 'modern slavery'" reports the speaker of Blue 21 about her impressions from visits on several farms.
Representatives of Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Agriculture as well as TOTAWUM, the Centre for Social Concern and Malawian anti-tobacco organisations attended the press conference for the delivery of the petition. Two tenants from Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe's Zanzi Estate in Mitundo gave their testimonies.
The representative of the Ministry of Labour, Mr Ordrige Khunga commented: "As of now, what we can tell you is that the Bill is with Ministry of Justice."
The representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Gray Nyandule Phiri, demanded that the side of the landlords should also be heard. Father Jos Kuppens, Director of the Centre for Social Concern, responded to that remark: "We have come here, I think, specifically to look at the tenants. We have invited TAMA and I don't think they're here today. And TAMA is supposed to represent them. Now, we cannot drag them in."
"Although the petition was addressed to the Ministry of Justice and although Blue 21 as well as the Malawian partner organisation Centre for Social Concern approached the Ministry several weeks before the delivery to find a date that is convenient for them, they excused themselves just a few minutes before the press conference was supposed to start: The responsible officer is tied in another meeting. The ministries pass on the buck to one another. The Ministry of Justice told us in a telephone call that the responsibility is not with them but with the Ministry of Labour. This, in addition to the absence of the essential Ministry shows: Obviously, there is no political will to pass the Tenancy Labour Bill!" explained Laura Graen, speaker of Blue 21.
The petition delivery is part of a bigger project which is conducted by the Malawian organisation Centre for Social Concern (CFSC). In the middle of the campaigning time for the General Elections
in May 2009, the Lilongwe based Centre puts pressure on government and politicians and brings the issue into the public. The aim is to make the plight of tenants a campaign issue and press for the passing of the Bill after the elections. The project was started with a CSO conference on 16/17 March to build a network. Other activities were field trips with journalists to estates. The Centre also anticipates demonstrations in May.
On the website of the tobacco project of Blue 21 you find: (http://www.unfairtobacco.org/index.php?id=media):
- the full text of the petition
- the statement of Blue 21
- pictures from tobacco estates in high resolution
- further background information
High quality audio recordings of the press conference and testimonies of tenants can be made available upon request.
With any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email Laura Graen, speaker of Blue 21:
Mail: laura-urgent@unfairtobacco.org
Phone: 00265 - 9999 58 697 (until 19 APRIL, 10:30 am) // 0049 - 1577 - 259 22 47 (from 20 APRIL, 1 pm)
Background information of the supporting organisations:
Blue 21 is the Berlin Working Group on Environment and Development and was founded in 1995 with the aim to serve low-income countries by lobbying for their issues in Germany and Europe. Since then, the organisation is lobbying for debt relief for developing countries, for fair world market systems and for sustainable development. It scrutinizes Western development assistance policies (like IMF and World Bank Structural Adjustment Programmes) for their possible negative impacts on countries in which they are implemented.
In 2004, Blue 21 initiated the campaign "Rauchzeichen!" ("smoke signal") with the aim to raise awareness on exploitation of farmers and workers by tobacco companies and destruction of environment in tobacco growing regions.
The Tobacco Tenants and Allied Workers Union of Malawi (TOTAWUM) is representing the tobacco tenants and workers in Malawi. It was officially registered in 1998 and represent about 21,000 tenants.
The Centre for Social Concern (CFSC) was founded in 2001 as a project of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers). It is a faith-based organization that promotes research and action on social issues, linking the Christian faith with social justice. Since its establishment, it has been involved in matters related to the plight of the workers on the tobacco estates.
The organisations Drug Fight Malawi, Link for Education and Governance (LEG) and Youth Alliance in Social and Economic Development (YASED)-host of Smoke Free Malawi campaign- are the major tobacco control advocates in Malawi. By supporting the petition and witnessing its delivery, they showed their solidarity with the tenants and workers.

Anglophone Tobacco Control Advocacy Training in Ghana

2009-02-18T22:43:00.000-08:00

Ghana News Agency - Accra, Ghana
Website: http://www.modernghana.com/news/203097/1/anti-tobacco-advocates-call-for-ban-on-smoking.html

Tobacco control advocates have called for actions that would put pressure on governments in Africa for effective tobacco control policies and laws to put an end to tobacco usage and smoking.They argued that tobacco companies had targeted Africa, especially its youth, to make them addicted to their products and make money out of their illicit and perilous business.The training programme, organized by the Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative (ATCRI), is to equip members on policy and advocacy, help them change policy and train them in epidemiology and make a difference in their respective countries.Participants come from Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Malawi, Ethiopia and The Gambia.They would be taken through building effective media advocacy, identifying key obstacles to tobacco control in their respective countries, health impacts of tobacco smoking, key industry argument and industry monitoring as well as funding initiative for tobacco control in Africa.Mr Oscar Bruce, Vice President of Coalition of NGOs on Tobacco Control and Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth complained about the numerous deaths being recorded as a result of tobacco smoking.He said tobacco-related diseases were on the rise in Africa, saying that over four million people worldwide died in 1998 of tobacco-related diseases.He noted that if the current tobacco use trend continued, "it is estimated that by 2030, 10 million people will die from tobacco-related diseases and seven million of these people would be from developing countries".Mr Bruce explained that the British American Tobacco (BAT) alone made profits of 5.28 million dollars each year from every 1,000 sticks of cigarettes it sold in Africa.“In Ghana, this translates to about GH¢0.23 per pack. So if a person in Ghana smokes one pack per day, then, he or she contributes GH¢83.95 in profits per year to BAT.”According to World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 1.3 billion smokers worldwide with 4.9 million people dying each year before their 50th birthday.He said it was unfortunate that smoking and death had reduced in the developed world where this aspect of social vice originated from and had risen in poorer countries where women and young children were the most affected."Tobacco smoking caused a lot of harm to the health of people and its use was a major cause of over 20 major categories of fatal, disabling diseases and preventable deaths leading to cancers, heart attacks and respiratory diseases. “A stick of cigarette contains over 4,000 chemicals which when inhaled could result in cardiovascular diseases, cancer of the kidney, lung, breast, pancreas, peptic, bladder, bronchitis and emphysema among others and puffing a stick is like puffing a whole packet of it.”Mr Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria, said it was unfortunate that these tobacco manufacturing companies had targeted Africa especially the youth to get them addicted to tobacco smoking because there were hundreds of substances added to cigarettes to make smoking experience more pleasant and quitting becomes difficult.He urged government, non-governmental organisations, community groups, health professionals and religious groups to play their role in combating the epidemic of tobacco use.GNA

Selling Death: The real cost of tobacco to Malawi

2009-01-28T22:10:00.000-08:00

First published in the Nation of 21 January, 2009. www.nationmw.net

Selling death:
The high price of
tobacco to Malawi

by Kondwani Munthali

Former UNICEF resident representative Idah Girma said Malawi within a short period has transformed its own story from that of perpetual hunger to self sufficient, reducing maternal deaths, increased access to safe water and meeting some of the acclaimed millennium development goals including access to education.

Girma said the onus was on Malawians to identify the remaining challenges “especially in health” and work had to find solutions. Girma left but her words ring louder as cholera outbreak is reported in the capital city claiming 19 lives and attacking more than 300.

Day before 2008 Christmas, Ministry of Health principal secretary Chris Kang’ombe made a chilling admission when he spoke of 7,000 lives that the country loses to malaria with close to 6 million incidences recorded in a year.

“I would say yes it is a difficult choice, either we forgo all the foreign exchange that the country depends on tobacco or we accept to continue sacrificing 7,000 lives that we lose due to malaria,” said Kang’ombe is trying to make sense over the resistance to the adoption of use of Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT) spraying which is proven to eradicate the fatal disease.

Cases of Malaria are well complemented as public health systems crumble in the face of growing HIV and Aids, Tuberculosis and even cancers. Child death arising from respiratory failure is also on the increase.

Tobacco is the name of the crop, introduced in Malawi ages ago and slowly it has enslaved the country that the risks of speaking against it are huge and have political, social and political ramifications.

The crop which contributes to a third of the countries gross domestic product continues to undermine economic diversification that a few interventions by Government have ended up increasing production instead of decreasing the product.

Ned Khalapula, 55, is a farmer in Kasungu’s Chinkhoma area, where production of burley and flue cured tobacco is high that Government opened an auction floors, the only one in a rural setting. He has been growing it for 30 years as a subsistence farmer.

“I always have a cough, so too my family but I have never related it to fumes from curing he crop. Neither do I have intentions to quit growing it now that you have told me about the dangers of tobacco, after all what will I do next. There is more money in tobacco now,” said Khalapula whose prizes for a 30 year hard labour is a bicycle, a four roomed house with iron sheets and a mobile phone worth US$15.

He is among thousands of small scale farmers who grow the crop, but normally re-sale before the opening of auction floors open to intermediate buyers who sale at higher prices. They sale fast to repay fertiliser and other input loans they get at the beginning of the season.

A father of six honest to admit, “It is a labour intensive work and with few returns. I do this because I have nothing else to do. I grow maize for food and rear a few goats. My life is tobacco.”

Processing of burley tobacco which is the main type grown in Malawi followed by flue cured uses many trees for creating drying sheds, curing and processing which has led to massive deforestation as one of the traditional leaders in the district agrees.

“The environment in Malawi has been greatly affected, rainfall patterns in agricultural belts of Kasungu, Dowa, Ntchisi and Mzimba indicate the huge disparity the environmental degradation has caused leaving people more poor than before,” stated Senior Chief Lukwa during a recent stakeholders meeting on situational analysis on tobacco control.

Tobacco control has been gaining momentum across the world, culminating into the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), ban in advertising and marketing and more recently in November 2008 adoption of more stringent measures to curb cheating among the tobacco countries.

Malawi has refused to sign the framework, irking public health workers who have to deal with huge cases of TB, cancer and malaria with inadequate tools, most of them can be directly related to tobacco.

For Malaria calls by the Ministry of Health to be allowed to use DDT residual spraying which has proven effective have met rebuttals from their Agriculture counterparts who contend that any trace of the chemical will make the country’s tobacco unattractive.

“But the truth is that the quantities we will be using are very small than that used in tobacco. More important we can devise a way to use the residual spraying and ask tobacco farmers not to keep the crop in the house,” said Dr. Storn Kabuluzi director of preventive health in the Ministry who still has hope that soon the country will come to its senses and allow the use of DDT.

Apart from Malawi there has never been research to establish the reasons for increased respiratory infections among children, effects on pregnant mothers and coughs including TB in major growing districts.

“Only six percent of people are able to access cancer treatment in the country,” says a veteran politician Aleke Banda who has retired from politics to fight cancer which is increasing at an alarming rate. Nobody has yet to link it with tobacco.

The truth however is still haunting many public health professionals, tobacco has enslaved Malawians plunging many into debts, causing sickness and iced up by a Government that is willing to sacrifice 7,000 lives to malaria, hundreds more to TB and many more to cancer.

“The real cost of tobacco to Malawi in terms of health is very huge. Malaria eats up 40 percent of the health service budget. We have tried to make an economic case of it and we hope it will change in due course,” adds Kabuluzi.

Tobacco smoking unfortunately for Malawi is on the increase according to a recent WHO study placing the country among the top free in 12 African Tobacco Control Situational Analysis (ATSA) programme.

Activists have accused tobacco companies of deliberately targeting young people that a recent Phungwe in Mzuzu where one won one million made it to a BBC documentary which showed BAT Malawi dishing free packs to guests at the hotel.

The documentary producer also filmed several children in Zomba and Mulanje either selling or buying cigarettes at ease and more importantly allowing sellers to sell single cigarettes than full packets.

“Unfortunately while in Europe and developed nations they do not allow to sale single cigarettes, if Malawi BAT produces posters which categorises price of one. Use famaous musicians to host phungwe’s and exploit on young ones,” states a narrator on the documentary.

The burden on smoking families has not been clearly spelt out among Malawians as each addicted smoker can go between 10 to 30 cigarettes a day which translates to an expenditure of K300 a day and almost K100,000 a year for a poor family.

“Tobacco makes one poor. Whether in smoking or growing, the only people that have been rich are tobacco companies who continue to register huge profits and the expense of the life of young Africans,” says a youth officer with the National Youth Council of Malawi.

The officer says absence of organised civil society to push for signing of the FCTC and control access to tobacco by young people and promote alternative and diversified economy continues to undermine the public health concerns of tobacco.

The Council is launching a ten month secondary school project with Youth Alliance in Social and Economic Development (YASED) and Bunda college’s Centre for Agriculture Research and Development (CARD) to educate young people on the dangers of smoking.

Smoking according to scientific evidence causes many types of cancers, inflammatory skin infection, causes or worsens several eye conditions, skin wrinkling, hearing loss, tooth decay, heart diseases, stomach ulcers, discoloured fingers, miscarriages and cervical cancers, deformed sperm and many more.

“Actually some diseases or body disorders such as infertility have ended up being heaped on poor old people as witches when the truth is that they have been exposed to smoking. Secondary smoking is as dangerous as first hand smoking, Government needs to work up to the same reality,” says Edward Phiri, Executive Director of YASED.

In Malawi, more lives especially children and women continue to be exposed to secondary smoke at public places as there is no specific law stopping smokers from smoking in public.

According to Phiri, 7,000 lives added up to cancer, TB and child infections, pregnant mothers and myriad of diseases caused by tobacco does not compensate its arguments against the FCTC.

“The tobacco companies know they are selling death. US courts have made them pay billions of dollars and accused them of mafia type of behaviour-hiding the truth. President Bingu wa Mutharika actually accused them of exploiting Malawians, that is the truth. He knows the truth let his Government act on it,” says Phiri.

Forty five years after independence, Malawi knows how it can stop Malaria but it is still not free enough to act. It continues to be enslaved by a crop that has been grown and aggravated poverty and diseases among its citizenry and it has no idea when to stop it!

Ends.

New EU pesticides regulations will undermine fight against malaria – new report

2009-01-11T00:37:00.000-08:00

The European Parliament votes on Tuesday on a proposal to tighten regulation on agricultural pesticides, which risks making many common insecticides illegal. This will have a devastating effect on the fight against malaria in poor countries, according to a new report from the Campaign for Fighting Diseases. Effective malaria control relies on insecticides, many of which are derived from commercial agricultural insecticides. If these insecticides are banned in the EU, it is unlikely they will continue to be manufactured for public health uses, as there is almost no profit to be found there. Insecticide supplies will fall and prices will rise, leaving millions at greater risk of malaria. Over 1 million people die from malaria every year, mainly in the world’s poorest countries. The new legislation could also prevent people in poor countries from using EU-banned insecticides. In 2005 the EU threatened to impose trade restrictions on Uganda if it used the insecticide DDT for malaria control, which is banned in the EU. Uganda’s economic reliance on agricultural exports to the EU meant it was compelled to sacrifice one of the most effective methods of malaria control, resulting in thousands of unnecessary deaths. The same will occur for the new banned insecticides, directly undermining the EU’s support for the Millennium Development Goals – one of which is to halt and reverse the incidence of malaria by 2015. 160 scientists and malaria experts from around the world have already signed a petition urging the EU to re-think the legislation. Signatories include Prof Sir Richard Feachem, former head of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Prof Sir David King, former Chief Scientist to the UK government, and Prof Paul Reiter, a medical entomologist who has advised the World Health Organization and US governments on insect-born diseases. Prof Paul Reiter, a specialist on vector-born diseases and an adviser to the report said: “It is unclear whether this new legislation can improve health or the environment in the EU. What is certain is that the health of millions who suffer—and die—from malaria and other insect-borne diseases in Less Developed countries will be seriously compromised if invaluable insecticides are banned from the market.” Philip Stevens, Director of the Campaign for Fighting Diseases and report co-author said: “The EU makes much of its self-proclaimed status as the ‘the world’s largest donor of official development assistance’. It seems perverse in the extreme that it may enforce new regulations that will inflict unnecessary disease and suffering on millions.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE REPORT or find it at http://www.fightingdiseases.org/pdf/NastyBite.pdf Ends Notes for editors The European Parliament will vote on Tuesday, 13th January on the pesticide regulation. According to one source, 22 active substances, found in scores of insecticides, will be banned under the proposals.

See http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081218/sc_afp/eufarmhealthchemicalregulate_081218170633 The UK government’s Pesticide Safety Directorate estimated that up to 23% of currently available pesticides could be removed from the market.

See http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/uploadedfiles/Web_Assets/PSD/Revised_Impact_Report_1_Dec_2008(final).pdf.

The petition from the 160 senior scientists can be found at http://fightingmalaria.org/pdfs/EU_pesticides_letter_of_petition.pdf.

The Campaign for Fighting Diseases (CFD) seeks to raise awareness of the realities of diseases suffered in the poorest regions of the world, and the need for viable solutions for these diseases. Members of the CFD, including academics, NGOs and think tanks, argue for prioritisation of action at local, national and international levels, to ensure that time and money are used most effectively to save lives and achieve the best results with limited resources.www.fightingdiseases.org

Teen smoking up in Malawi

2008-12-22T00:32:00.003-08:00

First published in the Nation newspaper www.nationmw.net on 10 december 2008
Malawi tops in
teen smoking

by Kondwani Munthali

Malawian youngsters are ranked number three among 12 African countries currently implementing a tobacco smoking control African situational analysis (ATSA) programme, figures from World Health Organisation revealed this week.

Teenage smoking has been on the increase in Africa and Asia and a recent World Bank report indicated that smoking grew by 38.4 percent on the continent while it has been on decline in the developed countries.

“Zambia leads in the 12 ATSA countries with 25.6 followed by South Africa 23.6 and Malawi at 18.4 percent in teenage smoking for both sexes. Out of this figure of the 13 to 15 years old, girls make up at least 17 percent and 19 percent,” says a report on World Health Organisation Stastical Information system over a survey between 2005 and 2007.

The data reveals that more young females are starting to smoke as a casual and socially acceptable norm though they risk several reproductive health disorders including cervical cancer, reduced fertility, still birth and heart diseases.

Government has refused to sign the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which seeks to check smoking especially in public citing its economic reliance on the crop as the main reason.

“15 percent of the adult population in Malawi smokes out of these above the age of 15 only 6 percent are females while 23 percent are females,” reads the data. Cameroon tops up in adult smoking where Malawi is number five among the 12 countries.

Mauritius tops with the number of male adult smoking with Malawi at six and Nigeria which has Africa’s highest population has lies at number 11. Tanzania has the lowest adolescent smokers at 6 percent.

Malawi is expected to launch the ATSA programme targeting secondary schools to control smoking among young people in January under an International Development Research Centre (IDRC) grant to Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD) of Bunda College, Youth Alliance in Social and Economic Development (YASED), Ministry of Health and the National Youth Council of Malawi.

Team Leader of the project Deusdedit Kafere said in an interview that the pilot project to be implemented in Kasungu, Mangochi and Lilongwe is aimed at sensitising the youth on dangers of smoking and create smoke-free public places to ensure safety of non-smokers.

“The idea is not to stop production of tobacco, but to tell the youngsters about the risks of smoking. The dangers it poses to the health of non-smokers and ensure that people have the right information before the start smoking,” said Kafere.

On arguments by Government on not signing the FCTC, the Malawi ATSA team said the country was loosing out to an opportunity to diversify its economy after depending on tobacco for years at the same time putting most mothers and children at risk by not regulating smoking in public places.

“Malawi does not produce cigarettes which are the main focus of the project. The argument of putting 85 percent of Malawians at risk to make up our economy does not sound developmental,” reads the statement.

Ends.

Teen smoking up in Malawi

2008-12-22T00:32:00.000-08:00

First published in the Nation newspaper www.nationmw.net on 10 deceber 2008
Malawi tops in
teen smoking

by Kondwani Munthali

Malawian youngsters are ranked number three among 12 African countries currently implementing a tobacco smoking control African situational analysis (ATSA) programme, figures from World Health Organisation revealed this week.

Teenage smoking has been on the increase in Africa and Asia and a recent World Bank report indicated that smoking grew by 38.4 percent on the continent while it has been on decline in the developed countries.

“Zambia leads in the 12 ATSA countries with 25.6 followed by South Africa 23.6 and Malawi at 18.4 percent in teenage smoking for both sexes. Out of this figure of the 13 to 15 years old, girls make up at least 17 percent and 19 percent,” says a report on World Health Organisation Stastical Information system over a survey between 2005 and 2007.

The data reveals that more young females are starting to smoke as a casual and socially acceptable norm though they risk several reproductive health disorders including cervical cancer, reduced fertility, still birth and heart diseases.

Government has refused to sign the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which seeks to check smoking especially in public citing its economic reliance on the crop as the main reason.

“15 percent of the adult population in Malawi smokes out of these above the age of 15 only 6 percent are females while 23 percent are females,” reads the data. Cameroon tops up in adult smoking where Malawi is number five among the 12 countries.

Mauritius tops with the number of male adult smoking with Malawi at six and Nigeria which has Africa’s highest population has lies at number 11. Tanzania has the lowest adolescent smokers at 6 percent.

Malawi is expected to launch the ATSA programme targeting secondary schools to control smoking among young people in January under an International Development Research Centre (IDRC) grant to Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD) of Bunda College, Youth Alliance in Social and Economic Development (YASED), Ministry of Health and the National Youth Council of Malawi.

Team Leader of the project Deusdedit Kafere said in an interview that the pilot project to be implemented in Kasungu, Mangochi and Lilongwe is aimed at sensitising the youth on dangers of smoking and create smoke-free public places to ensure safety of non-smokers.

“The idea is not to stop production of tobacco, but to tell the youngsters about the risks of smoking. The dangers it poses to the health of non-smokers and ensure that people have the right information before the start smoking,” said Kafere.

On arguments by Government on not signing the FCTC, the Malawi ATSA team said the country was loosing out to an opportunity to diversify its economy after depending on tobacco for years at the same time putting most mothers and children at risk by not regulating smoking in public places.

“Malawi does not produce cigarettes which are the main focus of the project. The argument of putting 85 percent of Malawians at risk to make up our economy does not sound developmental,” reads the statement.

Ends.

Malawi sacrifices 7,000 to save tobacco

2008-12-22T00:27:00.000-08:00

Malawi sacrifices
7,000 to save tobacco
..DDT can eradicate Malaria-WHO

by Kondwani Munthali

Top civil servant in the Ministry of Health Chris Kang’ombe on Wednesday admitted that the country’s reliance on tobacco has affected the fight against malaria as there are resistance to the adoption of use of Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT) spraying which is proven to eradicate the fatal disease.

DDT was banned due to environmental and toxic effects, but the World Health Organisation has recognised that spraying the insecticide can eradicate malaria, as since the ban there has been increase in the incidents of malaria in South America and Africa.

“I would say yes it is a difficult choice, either we forgo all the foreign exchange that the country depends on tobacco or we accept to continue sacrificing 7,000 lives that we lose due to malaria,” Kang’ombe said.

He said the Ministry had started the process of consultations and it was still optimistic that the officials in the Ministry of Agriculture which are concerned that the country’s green gold could not be bought if traces of DDT are found in the leaf are convinced.

Malawi according to Kang’ombe experiences at least six million incidents of malaria, resulting in 40 percent of the country’s health budget being taken up by the fight against the disease which can easily be eradicated.

“We are trying to make the economic argument of matter. You reduce or eradicate malaria, you have a healthy person, reduced morbidity and mortality which have both huge costs on the public resources,” said Kang’ombe.

Director of Preventive Health Storns Kabuluzi said he believes the use of DDT is a matter of time as there is enough evidence from the current indoor residue spraying using ICON10CN in Nkhotakota has shown effectiveness in preventing malaria.

“We are trying to find way of accommodating the economic and agricultural needs. The problem that the agriculture people are expressing is that some people use their own homes to cure tobacco and we will be spraying the same homes. May be we can try to advocate for methods that are differentiate the two,” said Dr. Kabuluzi.

WHO Malawi officer-in-charge Richard Banda said the quantities that could be used for spraying DDT are very small as compared with the use of the same chemical in agriculture.

“I believe there will be a time that we should be able to use it as the quantities cannot have any major impact on the agricultural sector as feared,” said Banda.

Malawi joined the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) commemoration of malaria this week as part of efforts to raise awareness on the diseases which has claimed 20 million children since the banning of DDT.

Statistics indicate that an average 350,000 people reported at the country’s health facilitates with malaria while 21 million were recorded sick in the SADC region resulting in 300,000 deaths.

“Malaria illness causes death, inhibits tourism and affects external investment. Malaria prevents children from attending school. Women are four times likely to suffer from malaria during pregnancy resulting in low birth weight, miscarriages and still briths,” said Kang’ombe pleading with Malawians to use free nets government has been distributing to prevent malaria.

Tobacco has been a major challenge to implementing public health programmes in the country including the smoking controls and now malaria as Government has argued over its economic importance.

However public health specialists argue that the benefits of public health programmes will reduce health bills, poverty induced by diseases and deaths and also have economically productive citizenry.

Ends.
First published in Nation on Sunday, 21 December 2008

160 Nations Adopt Standards Requiring Large, Graphic Health Warnings on Tobacco Packs, Comprehensive Bans on Tobacco Advertising and Preventing Tobacc

2008-11-22T03:25:00.000-08:00

Statement of Matthew L. Myers
President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Washington, DC (November 22, 2008) –Nations meeting in Durban, South Africa this week have unanimously adopted international standards for implementing the international tobacco control treaty that mandate health warning labels that cover 50 percent or more, and no less than 30 percent, of tobacco packaging and feature graphic images of health conditions caused by tobacco. Nations have also adopted standards to protect tobacco control public health policies from tobacco industry interests. Additionally, standards were adopted that call for governments to implement bans on all tobacco advertising, promotions and sponsorships. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids commends the Parties to the treaty – called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control – for taking these important steps to address the global tobacco epidemic.
Strong health warnings and advertising bans are critical components of a comprehensive approach to reducing tobacco use and saving millions of lives worldwide, as are strong standards to help prevent industry interference in government implementation of tobacco control measures and policy-making processes. Because the tobacco industry sells a product that will lead to disease and premature death in fully half of its users, the industry’s interests are fundamentally in conflict with nations’ public health and economic aspirations.
These measures have been proven by a substantial body of evidence to help reduce tobacco use and curb the leading preventable cause of death today. They are especially effective when implemented in tandem with other interventions mandated by the treaty, such as raising the price of tobacco products through higher taxes and implementing smoke-free laws that require 100 percent smoke-free workplaces and public places. The 160 Parties to the treaty are legally obligated to implement these measures.
Specifically, the international standards adopted this week call on nations to:
· Require large, clear, visible and legible warning labels on tobacco packaging. These labels should contain graphic images of health conditions caused by tobacco use, and should cover 50 percent or more, and no less than 30 percent, of the pack. The health warnings should also rotate so consumers do not become accustomed to any specific warnings. The standards on packaging and labeling also call for banning the use of false, misleading and deceptive terms or labels that give the impression that a tobacco product is less harmful than any other tobacco product. This includes terms such as “low tar”, “light” and “mild” that have been proven to be meaningless.
· Implement comprehensive bans of all tobacco advertising, promotions and sponsorships. Bans should extend to all indoor, outdoor and electronic media and prohibit tobacco companies from using tobacco brand names, logos, or visual brand identities on non-tobacco products, activities, or events. Bans on sponsorship should prohibit tobacco companies from contributing to events or activities – such as concerts and sporting events – with the likely effect of promoting a tobacco product or tobacco use.
· Establish measures to limit tobacco industry influence on public health policies, and ensure the transparency of any interactions. Additionally, the standards require that any information provided by the tobacco industry be transparent and accurate. Partnerships with the tobacco industry in any initiatives linked to public health policy should not be allowed, and activities considered “socially responsible” should be strictly regulated. These so-called responsible actions are no more than a marketing tactic by the tobacco industry to project a positive image of itself despite the deadly nature of its products.
Scientific studies have found that prominent health warnings lead to greater awareness of health risks of tobacco use and an increased desire to quit. Studies also show that comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotions, and sponsorships are particularly effective at reducing tobacco use among young people. Partial advertising bans, such as restrictions on billboards, only allow tobacco companies to find new ways to market their products. Each year, the tobacco industry spends billions of dollars throughout the world on advertising, sponsorships and other forms of promotion. These tactics are often targeted at specific groups such as women and youth.
Tobacco use killed one hundred million people in the 20th century, and if current trends continue, it will claim one billion lives in the 21st century, according to the World Health Organization. Tobacco use already kills 5.4 million people a year and the epidemic is worsening, especially in the developing world where more than 80 percent of tobacco-caused deaths will occur in the coming decades. By effectively implementing the proven tobacco control measures called for by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, nations can reverse the tobacco epidemic and save countless lives.

###

Based in Washington , DC , the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a leader in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its devastating consequences in the United States and around the world. As part of the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, the Campaign works with governments and non-governmental organizations in promoting and implementing public policies to reduce tobacco use. Visit www.tobaccofreecenter.org.

BAT in Malawi, Nigeria and Mauritius

2008-11-22T00:25:00.000-08:00

BBC exposes British American Tobacco's violation of youth code in Africa
A recent investigative BBC documentary by Duncan Bannatyne exposes how British American Tobacco through its activities in Nigeria, Malawi and Mauritius is breaking is voluntary marketing code and encouraging African children to smoke. The documentary, "Bannatyne Takes On Big Tobacco", was aired on 1st July on BBC. It was later renamed, "Exposed : Africa's Child Smokers" and aired on the BBC World on 19th and 20th July can be viewed here.
Below is an article about the documentary published on the BBC website.
Tobacco giant 'breaks youth code'
Campaigners say young people are attracted to single cigarettes
A British tobacco giant is breaking its own marketing code covering the sale of cigarettes to young people in Africa.
An investigation for the BBC has found evidence in Nigeria, Malawi and Mauritius of rules being broken. In particular, BBC Two's This World found single cigarettes - which campaigners say are attractive to young people - were being promoted and sold.
The company involved, British American Tobacco (BAT), says it does not encourage the sale of single "sticks".
During the investigation carried out for BBC Two's This World programme, British businessman Duncan Bannatyne also discovers tactics used by BAT which circumvent bans on advertising and raise the profile of cigarettes in countries where doctors are warning of a potential epidemic of smoking-related diseases.
In Malawi, the programme found evidence of the London-based tobacco firm providing sponsorship for a music event, which was held at a venue that had no formal age checks on the door. This breaks BAT's own marketing code.
Chris Proctor, head of science and Regulation at BAT, told the programme that: "If that was the case, that is disappointing, it's certainly not what we would wish to happen." Celebrities had also appeared at the music event wearing Embassy and Pall Mall branded goods. Lavish events
WHO predicts smoking-related deaths in Africa will double within 20 years
Campaigners say that such events - which often feature competitions offering lavish prizes - are succeeding in making cigarettes attractive in a country where less than 10% of the population smoke and where smoking is still considered taboo.
BAT's marketing code acknowledges that single cigarettes are particularly attractive to young people, who may not be able to afford a whole packet of cigarettes.
The company claims it does not promote the sale of single sticks on this basis. Yet in Mauritius, Mr Bannatyne discovers special pots which BAT has distributed to shops to make it easier for them to sell single cigarettes.
In Malawi and Nigeria, he discovers posters that BAT has produced depicting single cigarettes and showing the price of a single cigarette.
BAT's Mr Proctor said existing posters advertising single sticks would not be used after June 2008. And he said that the pots to promote single sticks should have been withdrawn.
Flouting bans The programme features children as young as 11 who are buying the single cigarettes and are already developing a nicotine habit.
Dr Sunil Gunness, a cardiac surgeon in Mauritius, reports a huge rise in smoking-related diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that the number of smoking-related deaths in Africa is 100,000 a year, but that that figure is set to double in the next 20 years.
The programme shows clear evidence of BAT flouting existing bans on advertising. In Mauritius, where cigarette advertising is banned, BAT has painted shops the same colour as Matinee, one of their leading brands.
One shopkeeper told the programme that BAT painted it for him to advertise its cigarettes three years ago. That is six years after the ban on advertising was introduced in 1999. Mr Proctor conceded that the shops should not have been painted by BAT.
"There were a series of shops that had been painted a yellow, the same colour as one of our brands there," he said. "We had a look at it recently. It wasn't against the law but it didn't look right, so we have been back in there and we've been making sure those are repainted."
Mr Proctor said the company would be looking at the issues raised by the programme. Duncan Bannatyne described BAT as "the unacceptable face of British Business".
Bannatyne takes on Big Tobacco: This World is broadcast on Tuesday 1 July on BBC TWO at 2100BST.

BBC Coverage of Malawi's failure to sign the FCTC

2008-11-22T00:17:00.000-08:00

Malawi fears over tobacco treaty
Malawi, one of the biggest producers of tobacco, is coming under pressure to sign a new treaty limiting its production.
The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has been signed by 168 countries.
Tobacco, or "green gold", accounts for 70% of Malawi's export earnings, the BBC's Health Matters reports.
Some government ministers are concerned signing up to the convention could mean millions are condemned to poverty.
Malawi is the largest producer of burley - a type of tobacco particularly favoured by manufacturers as a filler in cigarettes.
The crop accounts for up to one third of the country's Gross Domestic Product. In Malawi the mantra is tobacco saves, not kills.
But this situation could change. The World Health Organization estimates five million people die from tobacco related illness each year.
'Technical reasons'
The convention seeks to reduce both supply and demand of tobacco and its possible effect is dividing a country that ranks among the 10 poorest nations in the world.
While 168 countries have signed the convention and another 31 have ratified it, it must be ratified by nine more to become meaningful in terms of International law.
Malawi is one of those countries which has yet to sign.
Dr Wesley Sengala of the Ministry of Health ascribes the failure to sign to "technical reasons".
But in a country where smoking rates are relatively low and the burden of tobacco related illness pales into insignificance alongside the HIV/Aids epidemic, public health arguments hold little sway.
However, the convention does take into account tobacco dependent countries.
It offers monetary and technical assistance for countries to wean themselves off tobacco.
Dr Sengala is using these economic and agricultural imperatives to win over the sceptics in government.
"What we are explaining is that we could take advantage of this framework to diversify our economy," he said.
However, not everyone remains convinced. Chakufwa Chiana, the Minister of Agriculture, is palpably aware of the fragility of Malawi's monoculture, but his resistance is based on the effects tobacco controls may have.
He wants to invite the WHO to Malawi to see "the scale of poverty that will engulf the seven million people that will be affected by the impact of this convention".
Yet Malawi may face a more immediate crisis. Over the last 10 years tobacco prices have fallen by up to 50%.
The WHO believes this is a result of the tobacco industry transferring their increasing litigation costs on to the tobacco producers.
Rather than encouraging diversification, the price drops have encouraged farmers to seek out more profitable forms of tobacco - like flue cured.
But Dr Sengala believes change is coming. Following talks with the recently elected President Bingu wa Mutharika, he thinks that Malawi could sign the convention in the next three months.
Signing could be the easiest step. Changing the mindset of Malawian's maybe the greatest challenge of all.