U.N. Meeting Attendees Say New York City is Health-Policy Model - Health Blog - WSJ

U.N. Meeting Attendees Say New York City is Health-Policy Model - Health Blog - WSJ:

"The measures could be a tall order for cities in some countries where smoking is more accepted. While New York’s restaurants, parks and beaches are smoke-free, we at the Health Blog found ourselves exposed to some serious secondhand smoke on the sidewalks around the U.N. this week, as visiting delegates, their staffs, and journalists squeezed in plenty of puffs between meetings. Smoking is allowed on city streets, though “we discourage it,” Farley says of the haze. Still, he notes, New York’s experience shows “we can reduce smoking rates.”"

Hypocrites.

Doubts raised for UN progress at disease summit

Doubts raised for UN progress at disease summit:

Many countries are also unwilling to turn into nanny states that closely monitor their citizens' eating, drinking and exercise. "Addressing (chronic diseases) requires behavior change and most countries are very bad at this because it's so complicated," said Sophie Harman, a global health expert at City University in London.

She said most countries would probably voice support for WHO's chronic diseases solutions, but she wasn't convinced much more would be done. "All countries say they need to tackle these issues," she said. "But the implementation is difficult, and then all you're left with is the rhetoric."

I hope she's right.And really that's all I have to say when thinking about this

 

Cafes, restaurants exempt from city-centre smokes ban in Frankston

Cafes, restaurants exempt from city-centre smokes ban in Frankston:

Cr Bolam acknowledged there was a risk some diners would not go to eateries where smoking outdoors was permitted, but said the council was obliged to listen to its traders.

"In Frankston we're fairly fragile right now with businesses inside the Frankston town centre, so we need to respond to their concerns," he said.

"Whether Quit likes it or not, we're responsible to ensure the economic well-being of businesses in Frankston."

An interesting read.It's all pretty good until you get to the end for every 2 steps forward we take ten steps back.

When men were men and smoked like chimneys

When men were men and smoked like chimneys | The Japan Times Online:

In shelters from Saitama to upper Miyagi, thousands of men professed to miss their cigarettes and complained that it was hard to feel a sense of normalcy unless they had a cigarette between their lips.

Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki was one of the first public figures to start a cigarette fund, and sent over nearly 1000 boxes to smokers in Tohoku. A case-hardened smoker himself, Miyazaki said in a TV interview that in times like these, nicotine is a source of nourishment, and that it was folly to apply normal health standards to those under severe strain. 

One of the best things I have read in a long time.
No rushing to admonish on the evils of the devil weed,no lectures really,just stories.
Makes me smile just reading it.

Tobacco worries - Jamaica in treaty contravention

Tobacco worries - Jamaica in treaty contravention - Lead Stories - Jamaica Gleaner - Sunday | September 18, 2011:

 Speaking with The Sunday Gleaner, chairman of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control, Dr Knox Hagley, predicted that Jamaica faces embarrassment for its nonchalant attitude to tobacco cultivation when it attends the upcoming upcoming United Nations High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases scheduled for this month.

Hagley lamented that there is no clear-cut sanction for breaching the treaty, except embarrassment and public outcry.

Hmm,so if someone breeches the treaty all that can happen is they will become the people the UN point at and whisper about behind their backs?
Doesn't sound so bad to me.
If there is a treaty that could hurt your nation's economy and produce fewer and fewer jobs and put more people on government assistance then why in the hell would you sign it?

How Far Is Too Far?

Nicotine may be classified as performance-enhancing drug - More Sports - SI.com:

"WADA and sport federations should evaluate the inclusion of nicotine to the Prohibited List or/and Monitoring Program," the Lausanne lab reported after a year-long study published by the Forensic Science International journal.

The performance-enhancing effects of nicotine included increased "vigilance and cognitive function," and reduced stress and body weight.

"Interestingly, nicotine also triggers a significant increase of pulse rate, blood pressure, blood sugar and epinephrine release owing to simultaneous stimulant and relaxant properties," the report said.

"Smokeless tobacco is a very attractive drug from a doping perspective," researchers suggested, because it did not damage an athlete's breathing and respiratory system.

As much as this sickens me and believe me it does sicken me,there are far worse stories I read every single day.
For some reason this beings to mind something I read last week,it's relevant enough that I feel justified in linking it  here.
The second article I linked is all about The World Anti Doping Agency and the steps they can and do take to ensure that professional athletes aren't using anything to enhance their performance.
This all seems like it's going too far.
Once the WADA gets around to adding nicotine to their list professional athletes are going to have a harder time than they already do.

Resistance brewing to Ontario schools' caffeine cutbacks

Resistance brewing to Ontario schools' caffeine cutbacks - The Globe and Mail:

 With its new policy, Ontario has joined several other provinces that have taken a hard line against caffeine, either by banning it or putting strict limits on what can be sold on school property, in the cafeteria or at fundraisers. In British Columbia, a 15-mg-per-serving limit on caffeine means that chocolate milk barely avoids being culinary contraband, and students in Nova Scotia can buy only milk, 100-per-cent juice and water at school.

Honestly I have nothing to say.Just seems like another way society is going overboard protecting the children.
Not really on the same subject but it somehow seemed related in my brain.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xb5gpv_george-carlin-child-worship_fun
Besides after reading that story I could use a laugh.