The average price of tobacco in Malawi, the world’s largest producer of the burley variety, dropped 37 percent below the government-set price of $2 per kilogram (2.2 pounds) at a sale, Auction Holdings Ltd. said.
The leaves sold at an average $1.27 per kilogram in the sale for the week through Nov. 12, from $1.32 recorded a week earlier, the Lilongwe-based manager of Malawi’s auction floors said in a statement published in the Daily Times newspaper today. During the week, 3.7 million kilograms of tobacco worth $4.6 million were sold, it said.
Malawi began setting minimum prices for the various grades of tobacco in 2007, after accusing merchants of putting growers out of business by offering them lower prices. Last year, President Bingu wa Mutharika deported four officials at three tobacco-buying companies, accusing them of sabotaging his economic agenda.
Tobacco is Malawi’s biggest foreign-exchange earner, accounting for 60 percent of all revenue earned from abroad. Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company, a unit of Universal Corp., Alliance One Inc. , Africa Leaf Malawi Ltd., Premium Tama Tobacco Ltd., Malawi Leaf Co., RWJ Wallace Ltd. and Japan Tobacco Inc. are among the biggest buyers of tobacco in Malawi. They export the leaves to countries in Europe, Asia and North America.
Since sales began on March 15, 217.4 million kilograms of tobacco has been sold, generating revenue of $413 million. The leaf has sold at an average of $1.90 per kilogram.
вторник, 16 ноября 2010 г.
Oneida Common Council considers banning minors from possessing tobacco
The Oneida Common Council will weigh the possibility of adopting a local ordinance to prohibit the use and possession of tobacco products by minors, a local law that other New York municipalities have enacted.
While New York state law does not allow minors to purchase tobacco products, it is not illegal for them to use or possess them. The local law would authorize police agencies to seize tobacco products from children under 18 years of age. Minors in violation of the ordinance would not be arrested or charged and could petition the court for the return of the confiscated tobacco if they could prove it was taken unjustly.
The council will hear from Joseph Wicks, from the Tobacco Control Program, and Abigail Simchik, a prevention specialist with BRiDGES, about the proposed local law at its meeting tonight.
Mayor Leo Matzke said the anti-smoking measure is an extenuation of the no smoking policy initiated in the city’s parks by a group of teenagers.
“They would like to see it done in other areas,” he said, namely “Cancer Corner” at the high school. “They’d like to see no smoking there because of its influence on little children as they go by and on school buses. It has an impact on some of the little ones — not all, but some.”
Unsure what action the council will take to enact the proposed local law, Matzke said his main concern is smoking’s impact on children.
“If an adult smokes, that’s fine, that’s their choice, but when they’re younger, I just think that smoking is a very unhealthy habit,” he said. “As a community, we need to be concerned about that.”
Two local laws adopted by other municipalities were used as a template for Oneida. The City of Salamanca in the southwestern part of the state enacted a similar law prohibiting minors from using tobacco.
Salamanca Police Chief Troy Westfall said the law has helped law enforcement “so we can take cigarettes out of the hands of juveniles.”
It’s frustrating for police officers to patrol the streets and “see 13 and 14-year-olds on a street corner huffing and puffing,” he said. “It’s not a good thing. Maybe a parent can make that decision for a child, but I don’t think that’s right.”
While New York state law does not allow minors to purchase tobacco products, it is not illegal for them to use or possess them. The local law would authorize police agencies to seize tobacco products from children under 18 years of age. Minors in violation of the ordinance would not be arrested or charged and could petition the court for the return of the confiscated tobacco if they could prove it was taken unjustly.
The council will hear from Joseph Wicks, from the Tobacco Control Program, and Abigail Simchik, a prevention specialist with BRiDGES, about the proposed local law at its meeting tonight.
Mayor Leo Matzke said the anti-smoking measure is an extenuation of the no smoking policy initiated in the city’s parks by a group of teenagers.
“They would like to see it done in other areas,” he said, namely “Cancer Corner” at the high school. “They’d like to see no smoking there because of its influence on little children as they go by and on school buses. It has an impact on some of the little ones — not all, but some.”
Unsure what action the council will take to enact the proposed local law, Matzke said his main concern is smoking’s impact on children.
“If an adult smokes, that’s fine, that’s their choice, but when they’re younger, I just think that smoking is a very unhealthy habit,” he said. “As a community, we need to be concerned about that.”
Two local laws adopted by other municipalities were used as a template for Oneida. The City of Salamanca in the southwestern part of the state enacted a similar law prohibiting minors from using tobacco.
Salamanca Police Chief Troy Westfall said the law has helped law enforcement “so we can take cigarettes out of the hands of juveniles.”
It’s frustrating for police officers to patrol the streets and “see 13 and 14-year-olds on a street corner huffing and puffing,” he said. “It’s not a good thing. Maybe a parent can make that decision for a child, but I don’t think that’s right.”
Celebrate 35th Great American Smokeout by quitting tobacco
The American Cancer Society marks the 35th Great American Smokeout Nov. 18 by encouraging smokers to make a plan to quit or quit smoking that day. According to an American Cancer Society report, smokers who quit can expect to live as many as ten years longer (that's ten more birthdays) than those who continue to smoke.
Research shows much of the risk of premature death from smoking could be prevented by quitting. Smokers who quit, regardless of age, live longer than people who continue to smoke. Smokers who quit reduce their risk of lung cancer - ten years after quitting, the lung cancer death rate for a quitter is about half that of a continuing smokers'. Quitting also lowers the risk for other major diseases, including heart disease and stroke.
"Quitting smoking is an important step toward staying well and creating a world with more birthdays," said Rebecca Rhodes, Health and Wellness Center flight chief. "The Great American Smokeout is a great first step toward quitting or making a plan to quit, and the HAWC can help smokers through a variety of resources including coaching by certified tobacco specialists."
Important facts about tobacco use:
o Tobacco use remains the world's most preventable cause of death.
o Cigarette smoking accounts for about 443,000 premature deaths - including 49,400 nonsmokers.
o 30 percent of cancer deaths, including 87 percent of lung cancer deaths, can be attributed to smoking.
o Smoking accounts for more than $193 billion in health care expenditures and productivity losses annually.
According to a HAWC staff, "If you use tobacco, there is no time like the present to start a tobacco-free lifestyle. If you know someone who uses tobacco, we want you to support those individuals along the readiness to change continuum and encourage them to attend a class at the HAWC when they are ready to quit."
This year the HAWC will sponsor the following events in recognition of the Great American Smokeout:
· "Trade-in" your cigarette packs/smokeless tobacco at the HAWC on Nov. 18 for a free Quit Kit.
Research shows much of the risk of premature death from smoking could be prevented by quitting. Smokers who quit, regardless of age, live longer than people who continue to smoke. Smokers who quit reduce their risk of lung cancer - ten years after quitting, the lung cancer death rate for a quitter is about half that of a continuing smokers'. Quitting also lowers the risk for other major diseases, including heart disease and stroke.
"Quitting smoking is an important step toward staying well and creating a world with more birthdays," said Rebecca Rhodes, Health and Wellness Center flight chief. "The Great American Smokeout is a great first step toward quitting or making a plan to quit, and the HAWC can help smokers through a variety of resources including coaching by certified tobacco specialists."
Important facts about tobacco use:
o Tobacco use remains the world's most preventable cause of death.
o Cigarette smoking accounts for about 443,000 premature deaths - including 49,400 nonsmokers.
o 30 percent of cancer deaths, including 87 percent of lung cancer deaths, can be attributed to smoking.
o Smoking accounts for more than $193 billion in health care expenditures and productivity losses annually.
According to a HAWC staff, "If you use tobacco, there is no time like the present to start a tobacco-free lifestyle. If you know someone who uses tobacco, we want you to support those individuals along the readiness to change continuum and encourage them to attend a class at the HAWC when they are ready to quit."
This year the HAWC will sponsor the following events in recognition of the Great American Smokeout:
· "Trade-in" your cigarette packs/smokeless tobacco at the HAWC on Nov. 18 for a free Quit Kit.
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