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.
среда, 27 октября 2010 г.
Tobacco continues to take its toll as cancer rates rise
Hundreds of people died last year of lung, mouth and bladder cancer - all of which are closely linked with smoking.
Each of those cancers took record numbers of lives, and it has been warned that even though fewer people than ever now smoke, that won't make a positive impact on death rates for around ten years.
Figures released by ISD Scotland showed that 602 people died of lung cancer, a 20-year high, while 43 died of mouth cancer and 72 of bladder cancer.
The number of women dying of tobacco-linked diseases is rising particularly sharply, and this is because it became more common for females to smoke in the 1970s.
Chief executive of Edinburgh anti-tobacco group ASH Scotland, Sheila Duffy, said: "We are now nearly 40 years on from the boom in women smokers, which is why lung cancer rates in women are still increasing.
"To reduce these figures it's vital that NHS stop-smoking services continue to attract women and support them, but just as importantly we need to keep cutting the numbers of girls taking up smoking."
Another type of cancer to reach a record high was kidney cancer, which killed 53. This has been put down to rising obesity rates.
Some key cancers did go down, particularly those which have been subject to major awareness campaigns such as breast and prostate cancer.
However, skin cancer hit a record 34 deaths last year.
In total, 2147 people died from cancer in the Lothians, compared with 2064 in 2008. This is in contrast to a downwards trend in Scotland, which can be explained by the Lothians' faster-than-average population rise, and more older people.
Experts said the fact fewer people were dying from strokes and heart attacks meant they had a greater chance of living long enough to develop cancer.
Dr Dermot Gorman, consultant in public health medicine for NHS Lothian, said that although the figures increased this year the long-term trend was downwards.
He said: "The standardised death rate from cancer in Lothian has slowly fallen over the past decade.
"Early detection can lead to a better chance of survival, and we have a wide range of screening programmes to help detect cancer as early as possible.
"We would urge people to protect their health by exercising, eating healthily, stopping smoking and reducing excessive alcohol intake."
Each of those cancers took record numbers of lives, and it has been warned that even though fewer people than ever now smoke, that won't make a positive impact on death rates for around ten years.
Figures released by ISD Scotland showed that 602 people died of lung cancer, a 20-year high, while 43 died of mouth cancer and 72 of bladder cancer.
The number of women dying of tobacco-linked diseases is rising particularly sharply, and this is because it became more common for females to smoke in the 1970s.
Chief executive of Edinburgh anti-tobacco group ASH Scotland, Sheila Duffy, said: "We are now nearly 40 years on from the boom in women smokers, which is why lung cancer rates in women are still increasing.
"To reduce these figures it's vital that NHS stop-smoking services continue to attract women and support them, but just as importantly we need to keep cutting the numbers of girls taking up smoking."
Another type of cancer to reach a record high was kidney cancer, which killed 53. This has been put down to rising obesity rates.
Some key cancers did go down, particularly those which have been subject to major awareness campaigns such as breast and prostate cancer.
However, skin cancer hit a record 34 deaths last year.
In total, 2147 people died from cancer in the Lothians, compared with 2064 in 2008. This is in contrast to a downwards trend in Scotland, which can be explained by the Lothians' faster-than-average population rise, and more older people.
Experts said the fact fewer people were dying from strokes and heart attacks meant they had a greater chance of living long enough to develop cancer.
Dr Dermot Gorman, consultant in public health medicine for NHS Lothian, said that although the figures increased this year the long-term trend was downwards.
He said: "The standardised death rate from cancer in Lothian has slowly fallen over the past decade.
"Early detection can lead to a better chance of survival, and we have a wide range of screening programmes to help detect cancer as early as possible.
"We would urge people to protect their health by exercising, eating healthily, stopping smoking and reducing excessive alcohol intake."
Tobacco tax increase could give Anchorage $5 mil per year
The Anchorage Assembly heard some new information about the proposed tobacco tax increase Tuesday night.
Assembly Chair Dick Traini said he's introducing a different version of the proposal that would split where the money from the tax increase would go.
Under his new plan, half of the money raised by the increase would go toward property tax relief. A quarter of the money would go to the Anchorage Fire Department budget and a quarter of the money would go to the police budget.
Under his old ordinance all money from the tax increase would go to property tax relief.
The mayor's office says the increase in tobacco tax in Anchorage would raise more than $5 million each year.
Traini says while you might find that tobacco companies hire lobbyists in Juneau, it's not every day you find one at the local level.
“RJ Reynolds and Phillip Morris have hired lobbyists. The names are there at the clerk’s office. You can pull it up. We must be getting somebody’s attention,” said Traini.
The Assembly listened to about an hour’s worth of public testimony and then closed the hearing.
The Assembly will make their final decision on the ordinance at its next meeting.
Assembly Chair Dick Traini said he's introducing a different version of the proposal that would split where the money from the tax increase would go.
Under his new plan, half of the money raised by the increase would go toward property tax relief. A quarter of the money would go to the Anchorage Fire Department budget and a quarter of the money would go to the police budget.
Under his old ordinance all money from the tax increase would go to property tax relief.
The mayor's office says the increase in tobacco tax in Anchorage would raise more than $5 million each year.
Traini says while you might find that tobacco companies hire lobbyists in Juneau, it's not every day you find one at the local level.
“RJ Reynolds and Phillip Morris have hired lobbyists. The names are there at the clerk’s office. You can pull it up. We must be getting somebody’s attention,” said Traini.
The Assembly listened to about an hour’s worth of public testimony and then closed the hearing.
The Assembly will make their final decision on the ordinance at its next meeting.
Tobacco farmers register
At least 75 000 farmers are expected to register as growers in the 2011/11 season, up from 52 000 the previous season, Tobacco and Industry Marketing Board chief executive Dr Andrew Matibiri, has said.
So far more than 45 000 farmers countrywide have registered to grow tobacco in 2010/11 agricultural season ahead of the registration deadline at the end of the month. Growers are required to register with the TIMB annually. TIMB has embarked on a mobile registration exercise in tobacco growing regions to ensure that all farmers interested in growing the crop obtained grower registration numbers.
Dr Matibiri said they were projecting that the number of tobacco farmers interested to grow the crop in the next coming season to reach 75 000. "The enthusiasm to grow tobacco is very much there as evidenced by inquiries that we continue to receive. This year we had 52 000 registered growers and in the next season we are projecting that the figure could reach 75 000. To date about 45 387 growers have registered," he said.
Dr Matibiri said they had also sold enough seed to produce seedlings for over 100 000 hectares compared to 67 000 hectares grown in the 2009/10. Meanwhile, he said sales were still continuing to mop up tobacco deliveries that had not been delivered prior to the closure of the marketing season last month. Tobacco has so far earned the country US$355,276,031 from the sale of 123 295 314 kilogrammes at an average price of US$2.88 per kg. Most of the crop delivered came through the contract system resulting in 80 575 384 kg being sold while 42 719 930 kg was obtained through the auction system.
Last year, tobacco raked in US$168 million from 58 million kg. Since liberalisation of the economy in 2009, the sector has registered an increase in the number of farmers interested in growing the golden leaf.
So far more than 45 000 farmers countrywide have registered to grow tobacco in 2010/11 agricultural season ahead of the registration deadline at the end of the month. Growers are required to register with the TIMB annually. TIMB has embarked on a mobile registration exercise in tobacco growing regions to ensure that all farmers interested in growing the crop obtained grower registration numbers.
Dr Matibiri said they were projecting that the number of tobacco farmers interested to grow the crop in the next coming season to reach 75 000. "The enthusiasm to grow tobacco is very much there as evidenced by inquiries that we continue to receive. This year we had 52 000 registered growers and in the next season we are projecting that the figure could reach 75 000. To date about 45 387 growers have registered," he said.
Dr Matibiri said they had also sold enough seed to produce seedlings for over 100 000 hectares compared to 67 000 hectares grown in the 2009/10. Meanwhile, he said sales were still continuing to mop up tobacco deliveries that had not been delivered prior to the closure of the marketing season last month. Tobacco has so far earned the country US$355,276,031 from the sale of 123 295 314 kilogrammes at an average price of US$2.88 per kg. Most of the crop delivered came through the contract system resulting in 80 575 384 kg being sold while 42 719 930 kg was obtained through the auction system.
Last year, tobacco raked in US$168 million from 58 million kg. Since liberalisation of the economy in 2009, the sector has registered an increase in the number of farmers interested in growing the golden leaf.
Whimsy touches tobacco shop
The Milford Tobacco Shop, at 2017 Bridgeport Ave., has all of the right touches, including the wooden cigar-store American Indian guarding the display cases.
But it's details beyond what you'd expect to find that makes Luzanne McCollough's year-old business fascinating, even for non-smokers. There is the Civil War memorabilia, including soldiers' letters home, the lead "minie balls" that were fired from their smooth-bore rifles and a replica of the small pistol that killed President Abraham Lincoln.
These items take up several glass cabinets in what might be called the 19th-century gallery of McCollough's personal museum, which also includes programs from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, photos of its star Annie Oakley and authentic stagecoach tickets for a line that operated in western Montana and Wyoming.
There are Egyptian and pre-Colombian artifacts that McCullough said she collected in her travels or acquired from museums that were selling off the smaller or less-valuable items in their collections. Programs from Worlds Fairs dating to the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia form another part of her collection.
A Milford native and a graduate of Lauralton Hall and Endicott College, McCullough said that she wasn't particularly interested in history when she was in school. She said it was only after she began touring Civil War battlefields with a friend that she became fascinated with that era.
Her store carries cigars from around the world, including exotic, brandy-infused rarities that can sell for as much as $15. The humidors are stocked with all kinds of cigars, including those made with Connecticut broadleaf wrappers. There also are vintage cigar boxes from the 19th century.
About half of her business is tobacco-related, McCullough said. She also cuts keys and sends and receives faxes for customers.
Her sense of whimsy can be seen throughout the spacious store. There is a mannequin of Elvis Presley from his Las Vegas period of white jumpsuits with sequins. McCullough found him on eBay, and she buys and sells antiques and collectibles through her site, www.rothchildeantiques.com.
"My friends used to say that my house looked like a museum, and now my store looks like my house," she joked.
But it's details beyond what you'd expect to find that makes Luzanne McCollough's year-old business fascinating, even for non-smokers. There is the Civil War memorabilia, including soldiers' letters home, the lead "minie balls" that were fired from their smooth-bore rifles and a replica of the small pistol that killed President Abraham Lincoln.
These items take up several glass cabinets in what might be called the 19th-century gallery of McCollough's personal museum, which also includes programs from Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, photos of its star Annie Oakley and authentic stagecoach tickets for a line that operated in western Montana and Wyoming.
There are Egyptian and pre-Colombian artifacts that McCullough said she collected in her travels or acquired from museums that were selling off the smaller or less-valuable items in their collections. Programs from Worlds Fairs dating to the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia form another part of her collection.
A Milford native and a graduate of Lauralton Hall and Endicott College, McCullough said that she wasn't particularly interested in history when she was in school. She said it was only after she began touring Civil War battlefields with a friend that she became fascinated with that era.
Her store carries cigars from around the world, including exotic, brandy-infused rarities that can sell for as much as $15. The humidors are stocked with all kinds of cigars, including those made with Connecticut broadleaf wrappers. There also are vintage cigar boxes from the 19th century.
About half of her business is tobacco-related, McCullough said. She also cuts keys and sends and receives faxes for customers.
Her sense of whimsy can be seen throughout the spacious store. There is a mannequin of Elvis Presley from his Las Vegas period of white jumpsuits with sequins. McCullough found him on eBay, and she buys and sells antiques and collectibles through her site, www.rothchildeantiques.com.
"My friends used to say that my house looked like a museum, and now my store looks like my house," she joked.
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