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FROM THE DIRECTOR'S DESK
He may well have to get it very soon. I am sure that Maryan Street will have the numbers for her bill, which will outlaw Government investment in tobacco, to pass its first reading and go to a select committee. I for one hope the bill comes out of the ballot very soon. Contrast this with revelations across the Tasman that politicians from the Liberal party are accepting tobacco money as donations. Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella failed to disclose a donation of $15,000 from British American Tobacco. When confronted with this, Liberal Party spokesperson Andre Randall said that they were "most appreciative to receive its fundraising results, including the tobacco company's cheque." To make matters worse British American Tobacco Spokesperson, Bede Fennel, said he had absolutely no doubt the company's cheque was "intended for the Liberal Party." He also qualified this by saying, "We wouldn't be giving money to bodies that aren't connected to the Liberal Party." The Liberal Party's coalition partner, The Australian National Party, also has no trouble accepting tobacco industry donations. A spokesperson for them, Luke O'Sullivan, says, "These industries and companies run legitimate business operations, they're very legal within our society, they don't do anything that is inappropriate according to the law so they've got every right along with any other company to donate as they see fit." What planet do these guys live on? I suppose they have never heard of the action brought by Mrs McCabe (in their own country) and the systemic destruction of documents by industry lawyers to attempt to deny Mrs McCabe access to evidence which would have been useful in her case. And I suppose they are blissfully unaware of industry documents which show that lying and deceit has been the hallmark of the tobacco industry for decades as they sought to suppress the evidence about the harm its legal product does to people who smoke. I am sure that this is but the tip of the iceberg. The tobacco industry moves very well to protect its interests, and influencing politicians plays a big part in its strategy. Examples of this behaviour can be 'googled' for just about anywhere in the world and let us not forget that New Zealand is not immune to such industry tactics either. Prime Minister Helen Clark has set a high standard for others to follow. I am waiting to hear what other political leaders have to say now about this. And I suppose it would be good for David May to attend a seminar on tobacco industry deception. There is nothing ethical in that sort of behaviour I think. Have a good fortnight. Mark Peck Director IN THIS ISSUE:
INVESTING IN TOBACCO OFFENSIVE - CLARKPrime Minister Helen Clark says she finds the idea of taxpayers' money being invested in tobacco companies offensive. Last week the Green Party revealed that the Government's New Zealand Super Fund invested in companies that manufacture nuclear weapons and in other companies that the Norway Pension Fund refused to support, for ethical reasons. At the weekend the Listener magazine reported that the fund had also invested in other companies of dubious ethical merit including tobacco firms. Action on Smoking and Health is outraged by the revelations and its spokeswoman Sneha Paul has called on the Government to end it. This afternoon Miss Clark said she did not like it. "I personally find investment in tobacco companies very offensive. Personally I don't like seeing superannuation fund money going to tobacco companies. I don't think that's ethical at all." Labour MP Maryan Street has drafted a bill which deals with responsible investment issues for Crown financial institutions and Miss Clark was asked if she would elevate it to a Government bill to address the issue. "Obviously we are going to support the bill at such time as it comes out of the ballot as I hope it does. If the practice of the superannuation fund raises more questions it's always possible that the bill's status could change." Ms Paul said the fund must divest from its tobacco investments. "Tobacco is a unique product in the marketplace. It is the only product that kills when used exactly as the manufacturer intends." Last week Green Party co-leader Russel Norman released a report comparing New Zealand's fund with the Norway Pension Fund. Dr Norman said the Norway Pension Fund makes high returns without compromising ethical standards. NZ Super Fund board chairman David May said that investment in tobacco was not covered by its mandate not to harm New Zealand's international reputation nor a United Nations agreement it had signed up to. "Because it (the tobacco industry) is still engaged in what is still a legal activity in New Zealand it's not of itself grounds (to divest)." Mr May said it was not up to the board to make moral judgements on behalf of New Zealanders but it did ensure it did not invest in companies that flouted New Zealand laws. "It is an area we take very serious but we aren't yet setting ourselves up as moral arbiters really in that sort of area anyway. "We haven't committed specifically to looking at tobacco. . . I haven't had a chance to discuss the Prime Minister's remarks and other issues with the board." Mr May said he respected Miss Clark's personal views and that the board had taken initiatives beyond its mandate including divesting of companies that were involved in landmines and whaling. Stuff, 13 February 2007 SMOKEFREE YOUTH CAMPAIGN
Material obtained through interviews and photo shoots with 13 celebrities will be spread across various media (cinema, print, online, mobile and outdoor) during this time. Bus shelter ads will hit the streets in Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch for eight weeks commencing mid February. This is likely to be the first time that adults are exposed to the campaign. The cinema ad is currently screening prior to blockbuster movies hand-picked for their likelihood of attracting the target audience. It can also be viewed on the campaign website: (www.notourfuture.co.nz). A text competition accompanying the cinema ad has attracted over 400 text entries to date. Cinema audiences are encouraged to text 'Smokefree' to the programme's text number for the chance to win one of five iPod Shuffles (provided by Apple NZ for this purpose). All who do so receive an acknowledgment text which includes the message:
The opportunity to send this powerful message to potentially thousands of susceptible smokers strengthens the de-normalising and social disapproval messages within the cinema ad. Some celebrity comments promoted through the campaign include:
A formal evaluation of the campaign's effectiveness is underway, with 1000 young teenagers responding to questionnaires. The results will determine whether the campaign will extend for another season. Health promoters are encouraged to make use of the material and all celebrities have signed release forms granting permission for their material to be used in magazines and posters. If you wish to use any of this campaign material, please contact Heidi (heidi@hsc.org.nz). COST OF POU LAWSUITFigures released by the Legal Services Agency reveal that the Pou family's controversial private lawsuit against British American Tobacco (BAT) cost taxpayers $408,623. It was the largest legal aid payment for any civil or criminal case last year. Janice Pou who had smoked 30 cigarettes a day since 1968, had brought a $310,000 damages claim before she died, and her children continued the claim on her behalf after her death. Auckland law professor Bill Hodge said he was sceptical about the chances of the case and whether it should have been funded by the taxpayer. "Somebody in the legal aid office does make a calculated decision. But they're not meant to be judge and jury - they're simply saying this is a case in the public interest that should go forward." He said the Pous may have been given legal aid so it could be a test case. "It may have taken one case to clarify those particular defences in law. But it took $400,000 to clarify that point. Given its significance, in a sense you could say it's a test case and a class action. But having done this one, the next one should not be [funded]." The head lawyer in the Pou case Dr David Collins, now solicitor general, defended the costs. He said most of the money paid for expert witnesses as well as the four lawyers. "By any assessment it was an extraordinarily large civil trial. Every element of it was appraised by the legal services agency, by the courts and by the Court of Appeal. The sad reality is cases of that complexity are extremely costly to run. Although it seems like a large amount, when viewed in context it's actually not." Collins said he believed the case was worthy of legal aid. "Without hesitation I would say yes. The decision to grant legal aid was very, very carefully appraised. The litigation was conducted in an entirely appropriate manner in a matter that justified going to court. "The fundamental issue is whether or not you believe that everyone in New Zealand ought to have a reasonable opportunity to have matters determined by the courts." Herald on Sunday, 4 February 2007 POINT-OF-SALE STUDY SHOWS REGULATION BREACHES COMMON
This survey, carried out by medical students from Otago University's Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences and funded by the Cancer Society of New Zealand, is the first of its kind. It surveyed almost 300 stores and retail outlets in the greater Wellington region. Dairies (76 percent) and convenience stores (82 percent) were the most likely to break at least one or more of the regulations for retail tobacco displays. The three most common violations were having tobacco products closer than one metre to children's products such as sweets (24 percent of all stores), failing to display a 'Smoking Kills' sign within two metres of the display (30 percent), and having tobacco displays which were visible from outside the shop (25 percent). Over half (55 percent) of dairies and convenience stores in the areas with the highest proportion of children displayed cigarettes within a metre of children's products. The researchers argued that the current point of sale regulations are failing to protect children from tobacco marketing, and that a complete ban on point-of-sale display of tobacco is needed. The report is available on the Cancer Society website. FIRST SMOKEFREE PARK FOR ASHBURTON
The Ashburton District Council declared Friedlander Park in suburban Hamstead to be smokefree on 1 February this year. If the concept proves successful, all other playgrounds in the district will be declared smokefree. Cancer Society health promoter Cheryl Galland said the council should be commended. The society and Community and Public Health would work with the council on signs which would send a message that smoking in areas where children played was not acceptable. Ashburton is one of the first councils in the South Island to adopt such a stance, although many councils in the North Island have similar policies. The Timaru District Council rejected a call during a review of its bylaws last year to make its parks smokefree, saying such a policy could not be policed. Health groups will ask the council again this year to consider putting up smokefree signage. In Ashburton, two Hampstead School pupils Faliesha Pound and Nicole Adams led the way, approaching the council armed with facts about the harmful effects of smoking and inhaling second-hand smoke. They said a smokefree Friedlander Park could become a model for other smokefree parks in Ashburton. The council also received a joint letter from the Canterbury District Health Board and the Cancer Society supporting the girls' proposal. The pupils told the council that having a smokefree park would promote the message to children that smoking was harmful. They are elated that their message has been taken seriously. "The council has made lots of other things smokefree for adults and it will be good to come and play here without any smoke," Nicole said. They're both adamant they won't become smokers. "I don't want to smoke because I know what it does to people, and it can kill them," Faliesha said. Both said it would be great to be able to come to Friedlander Park and not find cigarette butts dropped around the playground. From The Press and Ashburton Guardian, 2 February 2007 THE QUITLINE UPDATE - JANUARY 2007A total of 2,656 callers were registered with the Quitline in January this year. There was no Quit advertising on television in January because caller levels are traditionally high as people make a "New Year" quit attempt. 25.2 percent of registered callers were Māori (668), 76.5 percent were New Zealand European (2033) and four percent (117) of the callers identified themselves as Pacific peoples. The highest proportion of callers was in the 30-34 age bracket, followed by the 25-29 age group.
Numbers of callers registered with the Quitline by month (registered callers are those who receive a
NEW CAMEL AIMED AT WOMEN SMOKERS
Camel No. 9 is not only the first Camel style focused on female smokers, but also the first among the three dominant brands - Camel, Marlboro and Newport - favoured by male smokers, according to analysts. "The feedback we've gotten from female smokers is that Camel is a great brand and they like the fun and irreverent attitude, but there wasn't really a product that spoke to them," said Todd Holbrook, the senior director of marketing for Reynolds. "That feedback eventually led to the development of Camel No. 9. We chose the name because it is easy to say and because it has a 'cloud nine' feel to it." Reynolds has had mixed results with targeting specific consumers with cigarette brands and styles. In 1989, the company planned to introduce Uptown, a milder menthol cigarette aimed at black smokers. But protests by black leaders and health officials prompted the company to drop the brand by January 1990. Reynolds does not expect that Camel No. 9 will dampen the overall brand's appeal among male smokers. Over the years, Camel had made some headway with female smokers, primarily with its light cigarettes. According to Holbrook, female smokers make up about 30 percent of Camel customers compared with 40 percent of Marlboro and 50 percent with Newport. Reynolds begins with two styles of Camel No. 9 - non-menthol packaged in a black and fuchsia box and menthol packaged in a black and teal box. The cigarettes will have a white bottom. Holbrook said that Reynolds is not concerned about Camel No. 9 cannibalising sales of Camel's light-cigarette styles. "If a Camel Light smoker sees No. 9 and she thinks it is even better for her than what she's smoking, that's a good thing for us because it's making a current franchise smoker feel even better about the brand," he said. Pat Shehan, the owner of Tarheel Tobacco in Winston-Salem, said he has received plenty of calls from female consumers about Camel No. 9 since his stores began advertising the cigarettes last month. "It will serve as a point of differentiation for Reynolds and Camel with the macho brands," Shehan said. "From what I understand from people who have tried it, it has somewhat of a fruity flavouring to it." Winston-Salem Journal, 1 February 2007 PHILIP MORRIS BREAKS PROMISE NOT TO FIGHT SMOKEFREE LAWSAs part of its PR campaign to portray itself as a changed, responsible company, Philip Morris USA for the past two years has claimed that it has stopped opposing smokefree workplace laws and the company's website advises that "the public should be guided by the conclusions of public health officials regarding the health effects of second-hand smoke." Now, however, Philip Morris is leading the fight against smokefree legislation in Texas and Virginia, according to stories published by the Associated Press and The Washington Post. Philip Morris's reversal is further evidence that the company has not fundamentally changed and continues to oppose proven measures to reduce smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke, at great cost in health and lives. Last year Philip Morris spent tens of millions of dollars to fight state ballot initiatives to increase tobacco taxes and fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Today's revelation demonstrates that, contrary to their claims of change, Philip Morris actually continues to oppose the three most significant state policies that are scientifically proven to reduce tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke. Philip Morris first stated that it would no longer oppose smokefree workplace laws in a 19 December 2004, story in The Los Angeles Times in which a Philip Morris spokeswoman described the move as "a big departure from what we've done traditionally". Now, as smokefree laws proliferate, Philip Morris has had to choose between protecting its profits and protecting health, and once again it has chosen to protect its bottom line. Elected officials across the nation should make a different choice and support proven, effective measures to reduce smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke. Statement: Matthew L Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, PACIFIC ISLANDS HEARTBEAT SMOKING CESSATION SERVICE
Free training for health professionals Cessation practitioner training (three-day training) This training is designed for health professionals and community health workers looking for the knowledge and skill to assist patients in the cessation process. The course provides an understanding of brief intervention skills and principles for providers offer smoking cessation services. These skills and principles are evidence-based, with a strong emphasis on what is culturally relevant and appropriate for Pacific cultures. Workshop content includes: Guidelines: background overview; the Pacific community and their issues; Stages of Change Model; nicotine addiction; introduction to motivational intervention; communication skill and Pacific culture; environmental tobacco smoking (ETS); pharmacotherapy; subsidised nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and Quit Cards registration; brief facilitation skills - principles; introduction to relapse prevention - brief and intensive; case studies - application of knowledge and skills, NRT prescription etc; relevant strategies and support for Pacific smokers. Training date and venue: Dunedin - 21-23 February 2007 Hutt Valley - 7-9 March 2007 Time: 9:00 am - 4:00pm Morning and afternoon tea will be provided. For more information contact Anthony Leaupepe, Pacific Islands Heartbeat Smoking Cessation Training Facilitator, Central Region and South Island (04 472 2790 | anthonyl@nhf.org.nz). BLAST FROM THE PAST
Full text: A man isn't safe anymore, not if he has Camels in his case. For the young ladies of the land, with their usual penetration, have discovered the excellence of this famous cigarette. So nowadays, whenever a male voice is heard to say, "Have a Camel," echo answers in a soft but prompt soprano: "I'd love to." Camel Turkish & Domestic Blend Cigarettes.
Retrieved from: 20th Century Tobacco Ad Collection Collected by Richard Pollay, catalogued by Roswell Park Cancer Institute http://roswell.tobaccodocuments.org/pollay/dirdet.cfm.
QUOTABLE QUOTES"I for one will not stop smoking. I will smoke anywhere I please. Internal combustion engines put out far more dangerous chemicals than smokers. Let's ban cars and while we're at it, people talking on cell phones in cars are a health risk. They offend me. Ban cell phones and also CD players. I foresee a class-action discrimination lawsuit coming from all of us smokers." Letter to the Editor, The Tennessean, 7 February 2007 "[Camel advertising will create] the perception that Camel smokers are nonconformist, self-confident and project a cool attitude, which is admired by their peers... Aspiration to be perceived as cool by a member of the in-group is one of the strongest influences affecting the behaviour of younger adult smokers." 1986 RJ Reynolds Letter MEDIA THEMESIrish tobacco legislation challenge discontinued The Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) has welcomed the discontinuation of PJ Carroll and Company Ltd, John Player and Sons Ltd, Gallaher (Dublin) Ltd and Others' legal challenge against the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts, 2002 and 2004. The case was struck out by the High Court at the plaintiffs' request, and they have conceded all costs associated with the case. Speaking after this surprise development, the OTC's Chairman, Dr Michael Boland, said that the way was now clear for the full implementation of all sections of the tobacco legislation. "Smoking kills over 6,000 people in Ireland every year from preventable diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease. The 2002 and 2004 Acts were designed to protect the health of Irish people, particularly children. The striking out of this case represents the most significant development, since the introduction of smokefree workplaces, in creating a tobacco-free society here in Ireland." Looking forward, Eamonn Rossi, OTC Chief Executive, highlighted the critical importance of early commencement of the sections dealing with point-of-sale advertising - behind counter displays of tobacco products and signage - in retail outlets. "Recently the Office published comprehensive research on children and tobacco which showed that children are very conscious of point-of-sale advertising - much more so than adults. Given the role of such advertising in getting children to see tobacco as a normal everyday product, we look forward to the Minister for Health and Children proceeding with the commencement of the sections of the legislation ending point-of-sale advertising." Office of Tobacco Control (Ireland) press release, 31 January 2007 Belgian school smokers caged A school in Belgium is allowing pupils aged over 16 to smoke on the premises, but only if they stand in a cage and wear a badge displaying an x-ray image of tobacco-damaged lungs. Claudine Lesaffre, Assistand Director of the Vesalius Institute in Ostende says: "By wearing the badge students are admitting it is by their own free will they are damaging their health. If this doesn't reduce the number of youngsters taking up smoking, I don't know what will." Rotorua Daily Mail, 1 February 2007 Suicide smoking campaign Serbia has launched a nationwide media blitz equating smoking with suicide bombing in a campaign to persuade almost four million people in this cigarette-loving stronghold to quit. Huge billboard pictures show a man strapped with a vest of oversized cigarettes that look like sticks of dynamite. Under the slogan - "One Smoker, Many Victims". Every second man and every third woman in Serbia gets through a pack of cigarettes daily, on average, sending a national total of 1.4 billion packs up in smoke a year. "Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer in Serbia, and from our surveys we found that almost all victims were smokers," said Tanja Knezevic, Director of Serbia's Institute of Public Health. Laws banning smoking in public places such as hospitals and government buildings, are routinely ignored by a people long used to tobacco smoke in every cafe, bar, bus and office. "There are many reasons that smoking is so widespread: family background, stress, the bad economic situation," Ms Knezevic said. "Most people see it as a bad habit they enjoy, and even when more aware of the health risks they tend not to pay much attention. It does not help either that 45 percent of doctors and nurses in Serbia are smokers." But cigarette vendors say they don't expect sales to suffer. They thought education would not make much difference as long as cigarettes remained cheap. "People here smoke more than in other countries because we still feel the effects of the wars of the 1990s. We are still stressed," Nikola Suberic, owner of a Belgrade corner shop, said. "Getting people to quit smoking is a long process. I guess it will happen here eventually... as long as there's not another war, that is." Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 February 2007 Non-smoking laws now cover half the US Thanks to passage of smokefree workplace legislation in Arizona, Nevada, and Ohio, more than half of all Americans will soon be protected by law from passive tobacco smoke. According to a California-based group called Americans for Nonsmokers Rights (ANR), that will mark the first time more than half the country is covered. According to ANR executive director Cynthia Hallett, the year just passed was a historic one for non-smokers. She noted that Westin and Marriott hotels went smokefree, along with the cities of Washington and Chicago, and more than 100 new local smokefree laws were passed. In addition, the Surgeon General of the United States issued a landmark ruling that branded as unsafe all levels of exposure to passive tobacco smoke. That statement included the caveat that ventilation systems are not viable alternatives to 100 percent protection of non-smokers. Despite that report, however, gambling interests in Atlantic City and Las Vegas remain opposed to casino smoking bans and 30 states started the new year without state-wide smoking protections in place. Americans who travel overseas may soon find skies friendly even at ground level: the European Union is considering smokefree workplace legislation that would cover all member countries. Smoking has already been banned or limited in several foreign countries, including France, Ireland, and Israel. ConsumerAffairs.Com, 6 February 2007 |
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We are indeed lucky to have a Prime Minister who is unambiguous about the ethics of investment in tobacco companies. Well done to Helen Clark for her strong message to the guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund that she "personally find(s) investment in tobacco companies very offensive." It is a pity that Fund board chairman David May doesn't get it.
A new smokefree youth campaign was launched
by the Health Sponsorship Council on 21 December 2006. The campaign aims to promote de-normalising and social disapproval messages to
New Zealand young people aged 12 to 14 years. It uses high profile music and media personalities, with whom this target audience identify. The personalities reflect a variety of media, music genres and ethnicities, and have provided personal testimonials on smoking. The ads are raw, real and inspirational in tone.
A New Zealand survey shows that most stores and retail outlets sell tobacco in breach of current point-of-sale legislation, particularly diaries and convenience stores in areas with a higher proportion of children.
All playgrounds in the Ashburton District could be smokefree by the end of 2007.
RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co is rolling out a new style of
Camel cigarettes aimed at female smokers attracted to the brand but put off by its masculine imagery.
A man isn't safe anymore (1928)