The New Zealand-born movie star made his first splash in Hollywood with a compelling performance in director Jocelyn Moorhouse’s 1992 black comedy, Proof. Nine years later, Crowe won a best actor Academy Award for his gritty portrayal of Maximus in Gladiator. The film claimed four more Oscars, including best picture, and made Crowe an A-list superstar.

Crowe has since evolved into a perennial Oscar contender whose only issues stemmed from public relations nightmares related to the occasional outburst. Nonetheless, he earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010. But the most intriguing fact about Crowe’s career may be that his finest performance came one year prior to Gladiator. None of Crowe’s performances in the past decade match up to his tremendous role in Michael Mann’s 1999 Oscar-nominated masterpiece, The Insider.

Crowe earned his first Oscar nomination in the Mann picture, playing Jeffrey Wigand in a true story about one man’s determination to expose the tobacco industry on the CBS news show, 60 Minutes. Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer also provide inspired supporting performances, but it’s Crowe’s merciless persistence that makes the movie truly special. Crowe is exceptional when playing Wigand as an individual mentally anguished by an internal battle between right and wrong.

Wigand, a former tobacco executive at Brown & Williamson, quickly discovers his integrity comes at a heavy price with his family and livelihood hanging in the balance. Crowe flawlessly channels the anger, disgust, suspense, and fear behind his character’s attempt to blow the whistle on “big tobacco.” The actor is meticulous when executing every aspect of Wigand’s most troubling moments onto screen, which are both unsettling and inspiring. It’s Crowe who eloquently conveys the film’s message through the development of Wigand’s character. In the end, you’re treated with a remarkable story highlighted by Crowe’s work. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times praised the film:

Able to match him stride for stride is the virtuoso Australian actor Crowe. Known to art-house viewers for his award-winning roles in that country’s “Proof” and “Romper Stomper,” Crowe’s ability to project internal complexity electrified a wider audience as the love of Kim Basinger’s life in “L.A. Confidential.”

A powerhouse actor who joins an old-fashioned masculine presence with an unnerving ability to completely disappear inside a role, Crowe not only has made himself look like Wigand, he even duplicates the complex personality journalist Brenner described as “prickly, isolated and fragile. . . . There’s a wary quality in his face, a mysterious darkness.”

There’s certainly no doubt about Crowe’s talent after his illustrious stretch of blockbuster films in the past 15 years. From L.A. Confidential to Robin Hood, Crowe remains a vital actor who fails to shy away from the gleaming Hollywood limelight. His films have entertained mass audiences around the globe, grossing hundreds of millions of dollars in box office receipts. However, his most profound performance was the portrayal of a tormented man on the verge of making history. His most notable scenes in The Insider include emotional bouts with Pacino’s character, Lowell Bergman, the producer for 60 Minutes who endures the ongoing struggle with Wigand to reveal the truth.

Crowe’s characters are frequently characterized as fuming, committed heroes who raise the stakes. Personally, my favorite Crowe character is Bud White from L.A. Confidential. But prior to his Oscar moment and years of continued success, Crowe embraced a demanding role, which carried high expectations in accurately painting the portrait of a conflicted man in the midst of informing millions of people about the consequences associated with tobacco.

It’s a true underdog story of one man versus greed and deception. And Crowe aces the role with flying colors

Imperial Tobacco Group Plc, Europe’s biggest tobacco company, posted a first-half profit after the maker of West, Davidoff and JPS brands increased prices.

Net income was 689 million pounds ($1.06 billion), the Bristol, England-based company said today in a statement. That compared with a year-earlier loss of 149 million pounds, which was caused by currency and interest rate hedging.

Imperial has increased prices and slashed costs and after the 2008 purchase of Altadis, the maker of Gauloises and Fortuna cigarettes, to lift operating profit. The quantity of cigarettes sold in the first six months slid 3.7 percent due to lower demand in the U.S. and Spain and amid a disruption to supply networks in the Middle East. That was less than the 4 percent drop Imperial Tobacco predicted last month. “We made gains with our global cigarette brands,” Chief Executive Officer Gareth Davis said in the statement. “We are focused on maintaining this growth momentum and are encouraged by the upward trend of our most recent cigarette shares in a number of mature and emerging markets.”

Imperial Tobacco shares have slid 0.7 percent this year, valuing the company at 19.8 billion pounds. British American Tobacco Plc, Europe’s second-largest and maker of Dunhill cigarettes, has added 8.8 percent this year.

Last year, Imperial Tobacco said it had “fair value” losses on derivatives used for hedging of 937 million pounds and amortization of 224 million pounds from acquisitions.

Below the perpetual fog that shrouds the redwood groves, green hills and rocky coastline of remote Humboldt County thrives a lucrative but hush-hush industry — marijuana.

Pot pays the bills in this Northern California enclave, home to hippies and good old boys alike who espouse the weed’s curative and economic benefits. The expensive trucks, bustling restaurants, escalating rents and plentiful wads of cash all point to profitable pot cultivation in Humboldt.

Now, a state voter initiative on the November ballot that would make California the first U.S. state to legalize and tax this cash crop has locals jittery about losing their dominant market position.

“We’ve always had a cannabis tinge to our culture,” said Kevin Hoover, editor of weekly newspaper The Arcata Eye. “What we have now is a very entrenched industry that’s making a lot of money off the fact that it’s illegal.”

Starting in the 1960′s, free-thinkers wanting to get away from it all moved to the area long dominated by the lumber and fishing industries. Marijuana cultivation supported these new residents and newly unemployed blue-collar workers who watched the demise of Humboldt’s traditional manufacturing base.

Although the underground pot economy makes for poor statistics, Beth Wilson, an associate professor of economics at Humboldt State University, estimates the area’s annual income from marijuana at about $500 million.

The “multiplier effect” of that money circulated to support local businesses — garden centers do a brisk business and the town of Arcata’s sushi restaurant is always packed — could push that figure to $1 billion annually, she said.

“It’s not negligible,” said Wilson.

PURPLE KUSH PLEASE

Everyone knows someone who grows pot. In the north county, indoor growing that fetches prices of over $3,000 per pound is popular, while in the south, marijuana is planted outdoors.

The industry has also fueled an itinerant labor force of “trimmers” who make $20 per hour or more snipping the leaves from the more potent dried buds of the plant.

“This vote has become a conflict of interest,” said Deniz Farnell, 31, an Arcata hotel worker, who, like the vast majority of locals, supports decriminalizing pot smoking.

“Do you vote for the good of the state or for the next-door neighbor who’s a mom who’s supplementing her income through trimming? When that law passes, she’ll be on food stamps.”

That is because legalizing marijuana could turn a cottage industry into Pot Inc. Locals fear big tobacco will swoop in and drive down prices, supplying millions of new, legal pot smokers with “Marlboro Green.”

Rumors abound in Arcata that the tobacco giants have already snatched up land and copyrights to the most popular names of weed strains, whether Purple Kush, Big Bud, Headband, Trainwreck or L.A. Confidential.

But at least one big tobacco company, Reynolds American, says it has no plans to move in. “Everything else would be purely rumors and speculation,” said spokesman David Howard.

“We better hope it doesn’t become legal because this area is going to become a ghost town,” one reader wrote to the North Coast Journal in a response to a recent article on how to stay afloat in the post-illegal pot era.

The Tax Cannabis campaign has gained traction in the cash-strapped state of California, historically at the forefront of contentious social issues. It led the nation in 1996 by approving the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

An April 2009 Field Poll showed 56 percent of state voters supported legalizing pot for social use and taxing the sales.

On a statewide level, that could bring in $1.4 billion per year, according to the office that regulates sales tax.

“Think of all the pot smokers out there,” said a mid-30s mom who has grown for six years, plans to enter law school, and favors legalization. “They can bail California out of its deficit. Smoke more pot!”

Under the initiative, possession and cultivation of small amounts of pot for personal use would be legal for those 21 and over. The measure allows municipalities to determine how to tax and regulate the drug — with monies going to local governments — and does not affect medical marijuana laws.

Pot is illegal under U.S. law but the Obama administration halted raids on medical marijuana clinics last year. It is unclear how state legalization would be affected by federal law, and whether the U.S. government would interfere.

APPELLATION FOR HUMBOLDT BUD?

Those who favor legalization predict it could curtail the seamier side of the industry. The profusion of “grow houses,” gutted to accommodate indoor greenhouses, have pushed up rental prices, while robberies of cash and plants are on the rise.

With no real organized opposition to the measure, local leaders in Humboldt say it’s time to face up to the future and brainstorm creative ideas to offset any impending slump.

“Here we have an industry with whom our county’s name has, quite frankly, become synonymous,” said County Supervisor Mark Lovelace. “We’ve lived with the downside of that name association for the past thirty years. Maybe it’s time to capture some of the upside.”

Ideas include taking a tip from French champagne, branding the Humboldt name as an appellation and focusing on terroir and tasting rooms. Others say that’s a pipe dream.

“We don’t need to panic and create weed Disneyland,” said one grower, who believes the risk to growers has been overblown and foresees a continuing black market even if the law passes.

The 32-year-old illegal grower, who declined to be identified, predicts connoisseurs will eschew the cheaper varieties in a legal market and pay a premium for Humboldt’s best strains.

Pot growers could also harness their know-how for other horticultural pursuits, he said.

“It’s easy money right now,” said the self-described “average indoor grower” with $40,000 in income every two and a half months. “But these might be the future organic farmers of the area. That skill can be applied to more things than just marijuana.”

The Canadian government has won a $550 million dollar settlement from three tobacco companies for tobacco they helped smuggled into Canada to avoid taxes dating back to the early 1990s.

The Non-Smokers’ Rights Association—that originally filed a $10 billion suit—is calling the settlement “the largest and most destructive fraud in the history of Canadian business and public health.”

High tobacco taxes sparked the wave of cigarette smuggling in the ’90s through native reserves along the U.S. Canada border.

Three companies have to pay: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., maker of Camel, Kool, Export A, $325 million; JTI-Macdonald Corp, maker of Benson & Hedges and Camel cigarettes sold outside the U.S., $150 million; and Northern Brands International, a subsidiary of R.J. Reynolds, $75 million.

LONG-TIME bitter competitors Fortune Tobacco of taipan Lucio Tan and Philip Morris have agreed to bury the hatchet and merge their manufacturing and marketing operations in the Philippines, the Manila Standard Today has confirmed.

The merged company, tentatively called PMFTC, will control 92 percent of the still growing Philippine tobacco market.

Philip Morris has scheduled a press conference this noon “to announce a major development that will impact the Philippine tobacco industry,” with no less than Asia-Pacific president Matteo Pellegrini, Tan, and Philip Morris Philippines managing director Chris Nelson attending.

According to sources close to the transaction, the merged company will be controlled by Philip Morris by virtue of its 50-percent-plus one share majority in the new company.

The same sources said the merger was facilitated by Tan’s younger brother, Harry, who was worried about the succession problems that could befall the multi-billion empire given the bitter feud between Lucio Tan, who is turning 76 this year, and the second brother, Mariano Tanenglian.

With the merger, Philip Morris and Fortune Tobacco will effectively divide the Philippine market between themselves, with the US tobacco giant controlling the higher end with its Marlboro cigarettes and Philip Morris brands, and Fortune with its Hope, Fortune, Champion and Boss cigarettes.

Philip Morris maintains a regional manufacturing facility in a 25-hectare complex in Tanauan City, Batangas.

The Tanauan factory, inaugurated in May 2003, can roll out up to 40 billion cigarette sticks a year.

RICHMOND – Cigarette maker Altria Group Inc. said Thursday that it plans to expand its Marlboro Snus smokeless tobacco nationwide by the end of March as it looks to shore up its business as American smoke fewer cigarettes.

The Richmond-based owner of Philip Morris USA, which makes the top-selling Marlboro brand, began testing the product in select markets in 2007. Snus (pronounced “snoose”) are teabag-like pouches that users stick between their cheek and gum.

As tax increases, health concerns, smoking bans and social stigma continue cutting demand for cigarettes, Altria and other tobacco companies are seeking growth in cigarette alternatives – such as cigars, snuff and chewing tobacco – to keep customers.

In a presentation at a consumer analyst conference on Thursday, Altria’s Chief Executive Michael E. Szymanczyk said a significant number of consumers now switch between tobacco categories and use different kinds of tobacco products but offered no figures.

Altria said in recent years that cigarette volumes have declined by about 4 percent per year, while the smokeless tobacco segment has grown by about 7 percent per year. The company, which also sells Black & Mild cigars, said the machine-made large cigar category has grown about 3 percent per year.

In 2009, the industry estimates cigarette volumes fell about 8 percent, partly because of a 62-cents-per-pack federal tax increase that took effect in April and related price increases.

Still, smokeless tobacco is a small business compared with cigarettes, and smokers haven’t exactly embraced snus.

The nation’s tobacco companies made a collective $9.4 billion in profits last year for cigarettes, while profits for the smokeless segment, which includes snus, snuff and chewing tobacco, were about $1 billion, Szymanczyk said in the presentation. And there were an estimated 45 million adult smokers in the U.S. in 2008, compared with about 7 million smokeless tobacco users that year, according to figures from Altria’s Web site.

Last week, Greensboro, N.C.-based Lorillard Inc. announced that is was discontinuing a joint venture with Swedish Match for its Triumph Snus. Philip Morris USA had previously tested a smokeless, spitless tobacco product dubbed Taboka in 2006, which was later discontinued.

Meanwhile, Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Reynolds American Inc. rolled out its Camel Snus product nationally last year, after testing the product since 2006, and has said the product has gained popularity.

MICHAEL FELBERBAUM
February 18, 2010

While the second major snow storm in a week hit the eastern U.S., leading retailer and supplier executives in the convenience store channel met to discuss the industry’s future Tuesday afternoon here at NACS’ second annual Leadership Summit.
The two opening speakers gave very upbeat and hopeful presentations to kick off the conference on a high note.
Mike Szymanczyk, chairman and CEO of Altria Group, opened the first general session by noting “many of the perceived barriers to success in the tobacco category could be viewed as opportunities.”

Szymanczyk acknowledged retailers worries about rising taxes on tobacco and new FDA regulation. But he noted that too many take a narrow view of the category and focus just on the large cigarette segment and don’t appreciate the sales and profit gains being achieved in other tobacco products (particularly smokeless and machine-made large cigars). He pointed to Apple Computers as an example of a company that was mired in a challenging computer market until it redefined its market as the “digital lifestyle” and created a host of success products, from the iPod to the iPhone to the iPad.

“If all we see when we look at tobacco is new taxes and FDA, we’d be letting a lot of opportunities pass us by,” said the CEO of the largest tobacco supplier. He noted while the cigarette category has been declining by 2-4 percent per year, the smokeless and cigars categories have grown by 12 percent per year in average sales per store over the past five years. Indeed, total tobacco poundage sold declined by only 1 percent in the past five years, said Szymanczyk.

On top of that, the growth in the OTP category has resulted in tobacco makers providing an increasing diversity of new products for adult tobacco users. “We need to expand our view to include existing tobacco user preferences in the OTP category,” he added.

He also presented an interesting view of industry profits during these difficult economic times. Last year, he said, tobacco profits among manufacturers were up 2 percent and for retailers it was even higher. “Compare that to the banking and auto industries,” said the CEO. “While other industries were getting bailouts, tobacco was contributing even more to tax revenues.”

Szymanczyk was confident that the total tobacco category will grow and that convenience stores’ portion of total tobacco sales will increase from its current 67 percent share.

Following Szymanczyk, Alain Bouchard, president and CEO of Alimentation Couche-Tard, North America’s second largest convenience store chain, gave an equally passionate, yet self-effacing vision of the future. “My credentials as a visionary are not the greatest,” began Bouchard. “We do everything in our power not to guess at the future.”

He went on to explain: “when you analyze consumers regularly over a long time, you get a feel for what is coming … it all starts at the store and what the consumer does when he or she enters the store.”
Couche-Tard has grown into a $16 billion, 6,000-plus convenience store retailer through three major strategies, according to Bouchard. The first is understanding the customer. The retailer views every market as local and invests in sophisticated measurement and analysis in each of its 11 geographic divisions, followed by constant exchange of best practices between divisions.

The second strategy is management discipline. The retailer has historically maintained a strong balance sheet and is very conservative about taking on debt. In addition, despite the many acquisitions made, Couche-Tard is known for its rigorous acquisition strategy, said Bouchard.

And finally, Bouchard cited the retailer’s people. “We believe in utilizing our human resources. We are highly decentralized which leads to an extremely motivated and enthusiastic staff.”

Bouchard added, “Our vision is one of unlocking the human potential in our people through training and empowering them. Where else can you be 25 years old and running a $10 million business?”

NACS chairman Jay Ricker, who is also president of Ricker Oil Co. based in Anderson, Ind., introduced the two speakers and noted this year’s NACS Leadership Forum was focused on two categories that are extremely important to convenience stores: tobacco and foodservice.

NACS Leadership Forum continues Wednesday and Thursday in San Francisco.

BALTIMORE – R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company will end its use of cartoons and brand name merchandise and restrict its marketing practice for its tobacco product brands in Maryland following a settlement with state Attorney General Douglas Gansler.

Gansler alleged that R.J. Reynolds’ Camel Farm marketing campaign’s alleged use of cartoons and brand name merchandise was in violation of the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement and Consent Decree. In addition to ending its campaign, R.J. Reynolds will pay the state of Maryland $150,000.

“In its Camel Farm campaign, Reynolds turned a blind eye to its obligations under the MSA to never again use cartoons or to give away branded trinkets to promote its deadly products in Maryland,” Gansler said.

“These dangerous tobacco industry tactics sabotage efforts by public health professionals, doctors, parents and educators to prevent smoking among youth and young adults.

“This settlement holds Reynolds accountable for bringing the Camel Farm campaign to Maryland in the first place and, by specifying and clarifying the MSA’s restrictions on cartoons and giveaways, prevents Reynolds from evading these important protections in the future.”

Reynolds is prohibited by the 1998 MSA from using cartoons or distributing brand name merchandise to promote its cigarettes. In Dec. 2007, Maryland and eight other states filed actions against Reynolds that challenged the company’s marketing tactic. That action arose from a marketing campaign that promoted Camel cigarettes to young adults by supporting indie rock and independent record label bands and their music.

“Maryland’s settlement with Reynolds is one of several efforts by many States, including parallel litigation brought by the Attorneys General of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington, to monitor and enforce the life-saving concessions we won in the 1998 MSA,” Gansler said. “Big Tobacco requires big enforcement by the States.”

Maryland is the only state to date to have reached a settlement resulting in the termination of Reynolds’ Camel Farm marketing campaign.

R.J. Reynolds will, under terms of the settlement, terminate the Camel Farm program and refrain from ever distributing any of the marketing materials created in connection with the campaign again.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Reynolds American Inc. has officially reached an agreement to purchase all outstanding shares of the Swedish-based nicotine replacement therapy company Niconovum AB for 310 million Swedish kronor, or approximately $44 million. Niconovum markets innovative nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products under the Zonnic brand name in Sweden and Denmark. Its nicotine gum, mouth spray and pouches use proprietary technology for nicotine delivery.

CSP Daily News reported on the impending deal in early November.

“Niconovum’s products have great potential in meeting consumer demand and public health objectives,” said Susan M. Ivey, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Reynolds American. “This acquisition extends the harm-reduction strategies RAI and its operating companies have been developing over the past several years.

She added, “Longer term, we believe the acquisition of Niconovum will enable an RAI operating company to provide adult tobacco consumers with innovative cessation products that have the potential to reduce the risks of diseases and death caused by tobacco use.

Ivey said that RAI intends to provide Niconovum with the investment capital it needs to focus on product development and the testing required to enter additional markets.

“We believe the technology used in our Zonnic products better meets consumer preferences than other NRTs currently on the market,” said Nils Siegbahn, president and chief executive officer of Niconovum. “With today’s announcement, Niconovum will have access to the capital it needs to expand distribution of Zonnic to additional markets, and accelerate product refinements and new product development.”

Niconovum will be a separate operating company of Reynolds American, and the transaction is expected to be completed by year-end. Founded in 2001, Niconovum is based in Helsingborg, Sweden. Reynolds American’s intention is to retain Niconovum’s current management team, and its headquarters will remain in Helsingborg.

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Reynolds American is the parent company of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Conwood Co. LLC and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. Inc. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco is the second-largest U.S. tobacco company. The company’s brands include five of the 10 best-selling cigarettes in the United States: Camel, Pall Mall, Winston, Kool and Doral. Conwood is the nation’s second-largest manufacturer of smokeless tobacco products. Its leading brands are Kodiak, Grizzly and Levi Garrett. Conwood also sells and distributes a variety of tobacco products manufactured by Lane Ltd. including Winchester and Captain Black little cigars, and Bugler roll-your-own tobacco. Santa Fe Natural Tobacco manufactures Natural American Spirit cigarettes and other additive-free tobacco products, and manages and markets other super-premium brands.

Soccer Superstar David Beckham, 34, suffers from exercise-induced asthma and must often use an inhaler to keep his air passages open during games, yet the LA Galaxy also has a dirty secret – he smokes.

Wife Victoria Beckham, 35, has reportedly banned him from smoking in their LA mansion in an effort to break him of his potentially deadly habit.

But David reportedly sneaks outside to smoke his favorite hand-rolled Cuban cigars, which happen to be illegal in the United States because of a ban on trade with the Communist controlled island.

“He loves the taste. I think he likes the image too. Lots of Hollywood stars smoke them,” a friend to the UK tabloid The Sun.

Beckham is know for his superfit physique, but his stay in Los Angeles to play for the Galaxy and his exposure to Hollywood culture has corrupted him. His favorite cigar the Cohiba, costs $50 each, if you can get them at all.

He’s kept his asthma under wraps, but was recently spotted using an inhaler during a game.

Beckham says his asthma has nothing to do with his smoking, and he reportedly smokes cigars because he considers them less harmful than cigarettes. But that is untrue. Both are known cancer causers, and can exacerbate asthma and lead to emphysema.

“It’s strange to see such an athlete as Becks smoking. But he doesn’t have any other vices,” the friend said.

Wife Victoria, also was a smoker, including cigars, but she quit, and now she doesn’t want her husband smoking around sons Brooklyn, ten, Romeo, seven, and Cruz, four.

“The smoking is just his way of relaxing as he nears the end of his career. There is no doubt he is very fit for his age and takes exceptional care of himself,” said the friend.

The star’s spokesman dismissed his dirty habit, saying it was “not true” to describe him as a smoker.

“He may have had a puff on a cigar once or twice in the past to make a celebration but that is it,” he said.

What you should know:

Tobacco use in any form is dangerous. Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do to protect your health.

Smoking is strongly associated with the two leading causes of death in Tennessee: heart disease and lung cancer. Smoking also causes cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, colon, pancreas, cervix, kidney and bladder, as well as lymphoma and leukemia.

Smoking can cause years of suffering and disability from heart attacks, chronic lung disease and strokes. Smoking is a major cause of erectile dysfunction, cataracts, pneumonia and prematurely aged and wrinkled skin.

Lung cancer is the primary cause of cancer deaths in our region. In the U.S., smoking is estimated to cause nearly nine out of 10 lung cancer deaths, and may be a factor in at least 30 percent of all cancer deaths.

Secondhand smoke hurts those we love. Pregnant women who smoke risk miscarriage. Children exposed to smoke have more asthma and other health problems. Older people exposed to smoke have more heart attacks.

Smoking is still a big problem in Tennessee and in the Mid-South. Nearly one-fourth of all white women and nearly one-fifth of all of African-American women in Tennessee still smoke cigarettes. In 2007, about one-fourth of all men in Tennessee were smokers.

The American Lung Association considers Memphis America’s sixth-worst city for asthma. Cigarette smoke can be very harmful to people who have asthma or other breathing problems.

A 2007 study showed that two out of five city school teens have smoked cigarettes. Tobacco is often a “gateway drug.” Teens who try cigarettes are often tempted to try alcohol, marijuana and other illegal drugs.

Many laws and prevention activities have reduced tobacco use. Taxes on cigarettes have risen sharply in many states, encouraging many smokers to quit.

Tennessee law now restricts where people can smoke. (Go to SmokeFree Tennessee at health.state.tn.us.) However, any restaurant or bar that prohibits minors can allow smoking. About 10 percent of businesses across the state (primarily restaurants and bars) have applied to be exempt from the Tennessee smoke-free workplace law. Research shows tobacco taxes and prohibiting smoking in public places will decrease smoking rates and save lives.

Many health professionals fail to discuss smoking with patients during their checkups.

What you should do

Do not allow smoking in your home, car or office.

If you smoke, respect the rights of others to be smoke free. Protect children from smoke.

If you smoke, quit now. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to get free help and information on how to quit.

Ask your primary-care provider for help quitting. Set a quit date and make a plan for success.

Tobacco counseling should be part of your health care services. A prescription might help you to stop smoking.

Avoid doing things that trigger your need to smoke.

Find healthy habits to take the place of smoking. When you think of lighting up, take a walk.

Ask friends who smoke to light up elsewhere.

Avoid secondhand smoke.

If you employ people, make sure that your health plan includes tobacco counseling and stop-smoking benefits.

Teach children about the dangers of tobacco. Let kids know where you stand on tobacco use.

Set a good example. Do not smoke if you expect children and co-workers not to smoke.

Provided by the Healthy Memphis Common Table: healthymemphis.org.

Beijing: Organisers of China’s national games have pledged to return 20m yuan ($2.9m) in sponsorship fees from tobacco companies after an official complaint, state press said yesterday.

The pledge came after the tobacco control office of China’s Center for Disease Control issued an open letter saying the fees violated regulations on accepting sponsorship money from tobacco companies, the Beijing Times said.

As a member of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), China is committed to a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship at domestic and international events, it said. China’s four-yearly national games, the country’s own mini-Olympics, formally open yesterday in Jinan city, in eastern Shandong province.

JAPAN TOBACCO FALLS AFTER BOA MERRILL CUTS RATING
Shares of Japan Tobacco Inc fell 4.1 percent to 295,500 yen after Bank of America ( BAC – news – people ) Merrill Lynch cut its rating to ‘neutral’ from ‘buy’, saying the stock was now trading in their fair value range following recent gains.

JAL JUMPS AFTER NEWS GOVT TO BACK JAL

Japan Airlines Corp (JAL) shot up 5.3 percent to 139 yen after Japan’s prime minister and transport minister said the government was ready to support JAL, aiming to dispel worries over the viability of the loss-making carrier.

0047 GMT

KOBE STEEL ADVANCES AFTER LIFTING ANNUAL FORECAST

Kobe Steel ( KBSTY.PK – news – people ) climbed 2.6 percent to 161 yen after the company raised its group operating profit forecast for the business year to next March to 15 billion yen ($166.9 million) from its previous forecast of 5 billion yen, partly thanks to cost cuts.

0007 GMT

Reporting by Tokyo bureau
Tokyo Markets Team; tokyo.markets@thomsonreuters.com;
+81-3-6441-1872

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This past Saturday, after an extremely satisfying football game between the University of Washington and the University of Southern California, KXLY switched programming to The Insider Weekend. Being too lazy to readjust my TV antenna to another station, I continued to watch. The show began a segment surrounding the death of actor Patrick Swayze. For those who do not know, the actor died recently from complications arising from pancreatic cancer. Swayze, a long time smoker, admitted in January that “probably smoking had something to do” with his illness, but in the face of death, he chose to continue living his life. Swayze was spotted smoking in February.

It is tragic when anyone dies before his or her time, and his family should be respectfully left to grieve. If only they were.

During the segment, two talking heads began a heated debate over whether Swayze should have smoked or not. The host even went so far as to ask, “Why kill yourself?” She made it clear she opposed smoking and anyone who partook. Obviously there is some fairly convincing proof habitual smoking, especially cigarette smoking, can be extremely hazardous to ones health, but many activities can be hazardous to ones health, or even life.

Sun tanning, over working and eating fatty foods can all have hazardous effects on a person’s health and even cause death. The simple fact is, smoking is bad for you, but what is not bad for you, is if Patrick Swayze smokes. As the guest said, “It’s his life.”

In modern society we have tolerance and acceptance drilled into our heads. If we don’t accept and embrace another person’s life choice, we are socially ostracized and labeled bigots.

Imagine what would happen if that host asked someone with a tan or someone a bit on the bigger size why they want to kill themselves. It is unheard of to suggest that those people change their lifestyles, but smokers are another story.

It is socially acceptable to look down on smokers. They are forced to hide their choice. One cannot go through life without being constantly bombarded with anti-smoking commercials. We even pass laws forbidding the practice in privately owned buildings. Imagine if we outlawed long hair or colorful clothing; there would be a massive uproar.

But there won’t be any uproar for those filthy smokers, the one group of people who do not get the luxury of social acceptance.

Latest tobacco sales report by the Tobacco Control Commission (TCC) has shown that the country has so far earned US$362million.

As at closure of business last week Thursday, says the report, the market had sold US$362,149,010.17 from a volume of 196,461,831kg.

Over the years, tobacco sales have played a key role in maintaining the country’s foreign currency reserves contrary to the current situation where the green leaf has fallen short of achieving the same.

Economists have said the low tobacco prices currently being offered by the buyers which are below government set minimum prices of US$2.15 (K301) per kg for burley and US$3.09 (K432.60) per kg for flue cured leaf.

Last week Reserve Bank of Malawi General Manager Wilson Banda said the foreign reserves were still low and their improvement would depend on better prices.

With about two months to the closure of the market, the rejection rate of the leaf was still high at 25 percent.

According to Auction Holdings Limited (AHL) reports, about 80 percent of the estimated crop production has been sold on the market.

AHL statistics indicate that as of 2nd September, Lilongwe floors sold a total of 735,722 kg at an average price of US$1.67 per kg while Limbe sold a total of 245,183kg at an average price of US$1.61 per kg.

Mzuzu floors sold a total of 472,162kg at an average price of US$1.60 per kg and Chinkhoma sold a total of 147,647 kilograms at an average price of $1.64 per kg.

As of yesterday, the average price for Limbe ranged from US$1.40 to US$1.95 per kg while flue cured tobacco fetched between US$3.50 to US$3.95 per kg, both prices still remain below the recommended government prices.

Limbe Auction Floors is set to wind up sales by mid this month.

Any company selling products that addict and eventually kill 400,000 customers annually might well be reluctant to point out the health dangers.

So the federal courts should be mighty skeptical when Big Tobacco screams about its First Amendment rights to keep peddling cigarettes without the oversize health warning labels ordered by Congress this year.

With a free-speech lawsuit filed last week, the nation’s largest tobacco companies challenged marketing restrictions and a mandate from the Food and Drug Administration to cover the top half of cigarette packages with graphic warnings by next year.

The glaring warnings on cigarette packs are among the directives provided under the FDA’s new oversight of tobacco products approved in landmark public-health legislation signed by President Obama in June.

Along with the warning labels and limits on tobacco advertising, the FDA won the right to ban toxic substances in cigarettes and restrict levels of addictive nicotine.

But the trade-off was a major victory for tobacco companies such as giant Philip Morris U.S.A. that assured nicotine would never be banned. And now the industry can market its products as having the FDA’s stamp of approval, even though smoking-related illnesses will continue to kill thousands.

Even with those gains in hand, there was little doubt that cigarette makers would try to wriggle out from under the FDA advertising and labeling mandates. In fact, it took just a few months.

For decades, tobacco firms hid the devastating health risks of smoking, made bogus safety claims, and pitched smoking to teens.

Despite that history as a rogue industry, the tobacco companies contend in their lawsuit that tobacco products are legal and, therefore, they have a right to market widely and refuse labels that “stigmatize their own products.”

The case likely will reach the Supreme Court, which decisively struck down restrictions on billboard tobacco ads on free speech grounds in 2001. Were the industry’s broad legal challenge to succeed, FDA regulation of tobacco would be virtually meaningless.

Maybe Big Tobacco will be able to hide behind the Bill of Rights, but Americans should have a greater right to public-health efforts designed to safeguard them from the deadly ills of smoking.

British American Tobacco (AMEX:BTI) is trading 2.7% higher (up $1.64 to $62.37) today on volume of 89,449 shares. The stock has traded within a 52-week range of $43.26 and $69.30.

British American Tobacco is currently above its 50-day moving average of $59.29 and above its 200-day moving average of $52.81.

SmarTrend is bullish on shares of BTI and our subscribers received an Uptrend alert on April 30, 2009 at $48.51, which has returned 28.6% to date.

9/1/2009 Write to Chip Brian at cbrian@tradethetrend.com

Roseboro, N.C. — A fire that ripped through a Sampson County tobacco operation Wednesday afternoon caused an estimated $250,000 in damage.

The fire destroyed four tobacco barns, a warehouse and an office on the farm in the Herring community that the West family has owned for generations. About 8,500 pounds of tobacco in the barns also burned up, as did some equipment and children’s bicycles stored in the buildings, family members said.

“The tobacco was dry, and all of it was just like if you put gasoline on it, you know. It was just fast. You couldn’t do anything with it,” said Ted West, 66, the patriarch of the family farm.

Thirty-seven firefighters from seven departments responded to the fire and fought to bring it under control.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but West said something electrical or the gas-powered heat exchangers used in curing tobacco likely sparked the blaze.

“Seeing the building that you’ve grown up with since you were a little girl just going up in smoke in no time, it was hard,” said West’s daughter, Tracy Honeycutt. “It brings tears to my eyes now.”

The family has insurance to cover the damage, and members said they plan to begin cleaning up and rebuilding on Friday.

“If there’s a good sign, we saved these two barns,” said West’s son-in-law, Chad Honeycutt. “It’s hard to comprehend, but we’ll get it off and going again.”

The farm still has plenty of tobacco in the fields that will need to be harvested and cured in the coming weeks.

“Tobacco is my heritage. That’s what I’ve been raised in,” Tracy Honeycutt said.

Copyright © Aug, 27 2009 Wral

Electronic Cigarettes are gaining popularity on a daily basis and when cheapelectroniccigarettes.co.uk announced their free worldwide delivery it catapulted them to the forefront of all their competition.

Today they are announcing a new paprtnership with Gamucci which will allow them to help even more customers with their electronic cigarette needs.

“We look after our customers and a recent survey showed that whilst our customers enjoyed buying from us and praised our customer service they wanted a wider selection of products and this is why we have teamed up with Gamucci.”

Gamucci is the original and the World’s leading premier brand of Electronic Cigarettes and Cigars. Gamucci is all about quality and luxury. Don’t be fooled by cheap imitations.

Owner Michael Kitt said “Gamucci products are a class all of their own. We are looking towards stocking every Gamucci product and have already received stock of the Gamucci Micro Starter kit. We are selling it at an introductory price of £39.49 and with free delivery this is a short term opportunity for us to introduce ourselves to Gamucci users.”

He added “We look after our customers and a recent survey showed that whilst our customers enjoyed buying from us and praised our customer service they wanted a wider selection of products and this is why we have teamed up with Gamucci.”

Copyright © 25 August 2009 Onlineprnews

Richard Burrows has been appointed a Non-Executive Director at British American Tobacco p.l.c. from 1 September 2009. He will become Chairman on 1 November 2009, when Jan du Plessis steps down in the light of his own appointment as Chairman of Rio Tinto plc from 20 April 2009.

Richard’s executive career has been with Irish Distillers, where he was Chief Executive from 1978 – 2000, and at Pernod Ricard SA, where he was Co-Chief Executive from 2000 – 2005, based in Paris.

His current non-executive roles include Rentokil Initial plc and Carlsberg A/S, while he was Governor of the Bank of Ireland from 2005 – 3 July 2009.

Richard is a member of the Trilateral Commission which fosters closer co-operation among democratic industrialised nations. He served as President of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation from 1998 – 2000, as Chairman of the National Development Corporation from 1984 – 1988 and Chairman of the Scotch Whisky Association 2006 – 2007.

Commenting on the appointment, Sir Nick Scheele, the Senior Independent Director at British American Tobacco, said: “Richard’s executive career in the worldwide FMCG sector makes him an excellent choice, as does his proven ability to work with a team from various cultures and countries. He is also an experienced non-executive director and the Board of British American Tobacco looks forward to the additional perspective he will be able to bring.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to wish Jan every success as Chairman of Rio Tinto. In his five years as Chairman, British American Tobacco has performed consistently well, made two major acquisitions and delivered outstanding returns to shareholders.”

Jan du Plessis said: “I am genuinely pleased that the Board has found such an outstanding candidate to succeed me as Chairman. Richard’s experience at Pernod Ricard will be tremendously helpful to him in his new role and, with his warm personal style, his appointment will be well received in the Company.”

Richard Burrows said: “I am delighted to have been given such an exciting opportunity at such a world class company. I look forward to working with my new colleagues on the Board and getting to know the rest of the executive team led by Paul Adams.”

Copyright © 19 August 2009 Bat

South Korea’s cigarette imports surged over the past 10 years amid steady demand for foreign brand products, the Korea Customs Service said Tuesday.

South Korea imported 11,478 tons of tobacco products last year, compared with 29 tons in 1998. This marked a 396-fold gain over the past decade.

Tobacco imports were worth $77.5 million, compared with $220,000 a decade ago.

Cigarette imports have been growing fast since 2000 on increasing demand for foreign brands. South Korea brought in a total of 1,410 tons of foreign tobacco products in 2002 and it surged to 6,857 tons the following year. The import stayed in the range between 6,000 tons and 7,000 tons until 2007.

During the first half of this year, South Korea’s cigarette imports amounted to 5,733 tons, up 6.3 percent from the same period a year earlier. In terms of value, they are worth $41 million, which is also 16.5 percent higher from a year earlier, the data showed.

By country, cigarettes produced in the Philippines amounted to 4,448 tons, making up 77.6 percent of the total import during the first half of this year. Malaysia ranked second with an 8.1 percent share, followed by France and Japan with 6.7 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively.

Most of them carry brands of high-profile multinational tobacco companies based in the United States and Europe.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s cigarette exports remained at 157 tons in the first half of this year. Of the total, 72.6 percent went to Iran, followed by China and Singapore with 41 tons and 1 ton, respectively.


Copyright © 2009 Koreatimes

Philip Morris International had agreed to buy for R1.75 billion Swedish Match’s local operations.

South Africa Swedish Match reported sales of R687 million last year. Its product brands include Boxer, Best Blend and Taxi.

Philip Morris estimated that Swedish Match’s tobacco products comprised 31 percent of local consumption.
The president of Philip Morris’s eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region, Jean-Claude Kunz, said the deal “represents an excellent strategic fit for our business in South Africa”.

The benchmark Nikkei average fell 1.6 percent and the broader TOPIX lost 1.9 percent on Tuesday.

The following stocks were on the move:

Nippon Suisan, a major seafood company, slipped 2.6 percent to 262 yen after it was ordered to recall some products due to mislabelling.

POWER COMPANIES, RAILWAYS GAIN ON DEFENSIVE BUYING

Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), railways and other so-called defensive shares — those seen as resilient in the face of economic turmoil — climbed in the wake of Monday’s Wall Street slide.

Tepco edged up 0.4 percent to 2,430 yen, East Japan Railway rose 0.9 percent to 5,910 yen and West Japan Railway gained 0.3 percent to 318,000 yen.

Other defensive shares gained as well. Terumo, a maker of medical equipment, gained 1 percent to 4,060 yen and personal-care product maker Kao Corp rose 0.5 percent to 2,085 yen.

Copyright © 2009 Forbes

Japan’s Nikkei stock average is
likely to edge up on Monday, buoyed by exporters such as Canon
Inc (7751.T) on growing hopes for a global economic recovery, but
a lack of strong trading factors will limit gains.
The Dow .DJI and S&P 500 .SPX gained on Friday due to
buying of defensive sectors such as pharmaceuticals, with such
sectors likely to be strong in Tokyo as well, market players
said.

“Last week, the market gained on positive news such as
Chinese industrial production figures, which make it hard to deny
that the global economy is improving,” said Kazuhiro Takahashi,
general manager of equities at Daiwa Securities SMBC.

“There are a number of U.S. indicators due out later in the
week, which the market will use to confirm trends. But today,
there won’t be a lot of direction.”

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 closed at 10,135.82 on Friday,
its first close above 10,000 in eight months. Market analysts
said it is expected to move between 10,050 and 10,250.

In a sign the market may start higher, Nikkei futures traded
in Chicago 2NKc1 gained 0.4 percent from their Osaka close of
10,140 JNIc1.

----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2245 GMT ------------

                 INSTRUMENT   LAST       PCT CHG   NET CHG
S&P 500             .SPX       946.21       0.14%     1.320
USD/JPY             <JPY=>       98.39       -0.01%    -0.010
10-YR US TSY YLD    <US10YT=RR>  3.7916          --     0.000
SPOT GOLD           <XAU=>       934.9       -0.32%    -3.000
US CRUDE            CLc1       72.02       -0.03%    -0.020
DOW JONES           .DJI       8799.26      0.32%     28.34
-------------------------------------------------------------

> Defensives lift dow, S&P; tech weighs on Nasdaq [.N]
> Dollar rebounds after sell off, euro hurt by data [USD/]
> Bonds bask in afterglow of 30-year auction [US/]
> Gold hits 3-week low under $940 as dollar rises [GOL/]
> Oil falls on stronger dollar, profit-taking [O/R]
STOCKS TO WATCH

– Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316.T)

SMFG is seen raising more than 900 billion yen from a public
offering of common stock this month, with the final figure — to
be set early this week — possibly swelling to nearly 1 trillion
yen, the Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday.
[ID:nWNAB9376]

– Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T)

Toyota is taking steps to boost its production capacity for
the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries used in its popular
Prius cars, the Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday.
[ID:nBNG435445]

– Japan Tobacco Inc (2914.T)

Japan Tobacco, the world’s third-largest cigarette maker,
said on Friday it has agreed with Tribac Leaf Ltd to buy the
British tobacco leaf company’s business operations.
[ID:nTFA006381]

– Inpex (1605.T)

Oil and gas field developer Inpex, and other oil-linked
shares, may retreat after oil fell from eight-month highs on
Friday as the dollar firmed and players took profits after a
three-day rally. [O/R]

– Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T)

Mitsubishi Corp and other trading firms may lose ground after
metals and oil prices retreated on Friday, with investors looking
to take profits after a recent rally.
Copyright © 2009 Reuters

The following companies may have unusual price changes in Japanese trading on June 15. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are from the previous close. The information in each item was released after markets shut, unless stated otherwise.

Accordia Golf Co. (2131 JT): The golf course owner lifted its net income projection by 1 percent to 9.7 billion yen ($99 million) for this fiscal year ending Mach 31, reflecting a clerical error related to internal transactions among its group companies. The stock slid 0.3 percent to 75,400 yen.

Chubu Electric Power Co. (9502 JT): The utility will restart two thermal power plants in early July to make up for a drop in capacity because of the unplanned closure of two nuclear reactors, President Toshio Mita told reporters in Tokyo. The stock rose 1.4 percent to 2,160 yen.

Computer Engineering & Consulting Ltd. (9692 JT): The software developer posted first-quarter net loss of 631 million yen, compared with a 402 million yen profit a year earlier. The company cited falling sales and goodwill depreciations in units. The company slashed its full-year profit outlook 85 percent to 200 million yen, with less-than-expected sales. Also, Computer Engineering cut its planned first-half dividend to 10 yen from 15 yen. The stock fell 1.3 percent to 755 yen.

Cybozu Inc. (4776 JT): The Internet software developer said first-quarter net income plunged 54 percent to 77 million yen, with a 9.8 percent drop in sales, citing higher costs for its research and development. Cybozu slumped 1.5 percent to 20,100 yen.

Fintech Global Inc. (8789 JT), Intrance Co. (3237 JT): Fintech, an investment bank, said it will buy a 1.18 percent stake in Intrance, a property management company, as part of a business alliance. Fintech declined 3 percent to 3,280 yen. Intrance slipped 2.2 percent to 13,000 yen.

Inaba Seisakusho Co. (3421 JT): The utility shed maker posted a nine-month net loss of 59 million yen, a reversal from the 586 million yen profit posted a year earlier, as steel materials costs and stricter methods for evaluating its inventory assets more than offset labor and personnel cost savings, Inaba said in a release. The stock added 0.2 percent to 975 yen.

Japan Tobacco Inc. (2914 JT): The world’s third-largest publicly traded cigarette maker said it has agreed to acquire Tribac Leaf Ltd., an independent tobacco supplier. Japan Tobacco rallied 3.6 percent to 303,000 yen.

Kissei Pharmaceutical Co. (4547 JT): The drugmaker is considering lowering its minimum trading unit to 100 shares from 1,000 shares, aiming to improve the stock liquidity and increase the number of shareholders, Kissei said in a release. The stock sank 2.2 percent to 2,185 yen.

Miraial Co. (4238 JQ): The maker of silicon boxes for semiconductors had a first-quarter net loss of 160 million yen, compared with a 696 million yen profit a year earlier, with a 59 percent plunge in sales. The stock rose 0.4 percent to 1,919 yen.

Mitsumura Printing Co. (7916 JT): The printing service company will raise its stake in a privately-held affiliate that engages in printing newspapers to 65 percent from 35 percent. The company boosted its full-year net income forecast 4.7 percent to 555 million yen and sales outlook 7.3 percent to 24.3 billion yen, reflecting the stake increase. The stock gained 2.2 percent to 327 yen.

Park24 Co. (4666 JT): The parking-lot operator said May sales on a parent basis climbed by 7.6 percent to 6.92 billion yen from the same month a year earlier. Park24 added 0.5 percent to 858 yen.

Tokyo Dome Corp. (9681 JT): The baseball stadium operator posted a first-quarter net loss of 2.54 billion yen, reversing a 2.36 billion yen profit a year earlier, as a decline in the number of Japan’s Giants baseball games and concert events caused an 11 percent drop in sales, Tokyo Dome said in a release. The stock advanced 1.9 percent to 322 yen.

Univance Corp. (7254 JT): The maker of transmission units for motor vehicles will offer a severance package to cut about 250 jobs under its plan for reorganizing three domestic plants and two overseas plants. The company expects to take a 1.1 billion yen charge this fiscal year in light of the early retirement program, which won’t have an impact on its earnings projection posted last month, Univance said in a release. The stock added 0.9 percent to 223 yen.
© Bloomberg

A landmark tobacco regulation bill advanced in the Senate on Monday amid growing pressure for the House to quickly accept the final product and lock up a long-sought victory for anti-smoking forces — and for President Barack Obama.

Seven Republicans joined 52 Democrats on the 61-30 roll call to cut off debate on the measure, which authorizes the Food and Drug Administration to regulate the industry with a mandate to reduce teenage smoking by restricting advertising aimed at young audiences.

To win over hesitant Republicans on the cloture vote, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pledged that he would work to ensure that tobacco state lawmakers still have a chance this week to present their alternative regulatory scheme — which is now technically out of order. The narrowness of Reid’s margin — a supermajority of 60 was required — reflects the dicey politics of the Senate. But going forward, proponents of the bill are in the driver’s seat, and passage is all but assured in the next few days.

Amid the greater focus on Obama’s larger health care reform agenda, the FDA’s new authority can get lost in the shuffle. But it reflects a sea change in tobacco politics over the past decade and is the latest in a series of incremental steps by the new White House and Democratic Congress this year that would, in another time, receive more attention.

After being stymied repeatedly by former President George W. Bush, Democrats wasted no time in January before moving through legislation to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to cover an additional 4.1 million children, chiefly from working-class families. And Obama’s economic recovery program in February devoted tens of billions to health care investments, from Medicaid and community health centers to new information technology and research into the comparative effectiveness of different medical treatments.

Tobacco has paid heavily for this shift, beginning with a near 62 cents-per-pack increase in federal cigarette taxes to pay for the SCHIP expansion. And to help pay for the new FDA regulatory role, the industry will be subject to user fees beginning at $235 million next year and tripling to $712 million over the next decade.

The Senate vote captured the change in old alliances that once made tobacco a major power broker in Congress, even beyond its own domain. Sugar- and cotton-state Democrats from the South voted for cloture, for example, and among the Republicans supporting Reid’s motion was no less than Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who chairs the Republicans’ Senate campaign committee.

“It’s a less-than-perfect solution to a bad problem,” Cornyn told POLITICO. “Tobacco kills 400,000 people a year in this country. We’ve tried litigation, and the only thing that happened is a bunch of lawyers got rich. Ordinarily, I would not be an advocate for more government regulation. But if this is going to be a legal product, sold in America, I think this is a reasonable step.”

Copyright © 2009 Politico

There really is no right answer to that question. A quit smoking CD may be the right choice for you, especially if you have tried other quit smoking programs and haven’t experienced any success. As with all programs, results are going to vary depending on the individual. The most important aspect is that you have made the decision to quit. How that is achieved is entirely up to you.

One of the major drawbacks to a program such as this is simple. Unlike being able to walk into a clinic and speak with staff and other smokers in the program, most CD’s are sold either online or through major bookstores.

This is where you have to gather as much information as possible for before making such a purchase. Be sure any program that you choose includes a refund policy. If there is a way to contact the company, do so. Ask for references if at all possible. If you can’t seem to get the right answers, Move on.

Quitting smoking should not be taken lightly. Find a company that realizes this and is willing to help you before the sale of their product. Granted, it may take some legwork, but will be well worth the time invested.

When you finally do choose a quit smoking cd, make sure you follow the program religiously. Most programs will deal in the realm of self hypnosis and hypnotherapy. The theory behind this method is based on addressing your subconscious mind and the ability to actually change the way you think about your smoking habit. Most use a variety of techniques to induce a relaxed state of conscious then implant the suggestions that are designed to help you quit the habit of smoking.

By now you may be a bit skeptical, but hypnosis and hypnotherapy has been used for decades to help people finally quit smoking. Granted, there have not been numerous studies done to get an accurate measure of success. Again, this where it is crucial that you do your research ahead of time.

One of the major advantages of using a quit smoking cd is the cost associated with it. Most programs tend to be relatively inexpensive in comparison to standard clinic type programs. If you finally have come to conclusion that you want to quit smoking and start leading a healthier life, you’ve already made the first giant step in that direction. Now the rest is up to you. Be determined to finally be free of the addiction to cigarettes.

The U.S. government won what has been dubbed a “landmark ruling” over cigarette manufacturers on Friday. The victory appears to be more symbolic than anything else.

Pyrrhic Victory

In what has been 10-year battle so far, the damage to shareholders as the result of this ongoing litigation has been very negligible. The stock prices of U.S. tobacco companies such as Altria , Reynolds American  each yawned off Friday’s ruling finishing virtually flat on the day.

The ruling upheld requirements that will restrict cigarette manufacturers from marketing their products as “light”, “low tar” or “mild”. The battle is not over for either side of this case. Altria has already said that it will appeal this verdict to the Supreme Court. And what may have been the most important development in the case was U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler’s finding that it was not within her power to force the companies to pay $10 billion for a smoking cessation program sought by the government.

Industry Transformation

The legal battle that Altria has had hanging over its head for years, was a contributing factor behind the company’s decision to split-off Philip Morris International last year. The thinking was that the litigation factor had been weighing on the company as a whole, and by splitting off the company’s international operations, shareholders would realize a greater value for their shares as PMI would not have the same degree of legal headaches to deal with.

Although litigation is the most visible challenge that the industry is facing at the present moment, the more pressing issue has been the need to compensate for declining domestic cigarette shipment volumes. The industry has been able to address this challenge so far by relying upon its pricing power as well as shifting its focus to smokeless tobacco which is being viewed as a growth area. In 2006, Reynolds American purchased Conwood to break into this market and Altria bought UST in a $10.4 billion deal this past fall for similar reasons.

Friday’s ruling may have given advocacy groups a reason to celebrate, but significant monetary damage to big tobacco and its shareholders has yet to occur. I don’t see any major reason for shareholders to be alarmed or to dump my shares at this point. In any event, this situation will be an interesting legal saga to stay tuned to.

© Copyright: Stocktradersdaily

Abuse of anything can harm the human organism. For example, too much food causes obesity, too much drinking leads to alcoholism, too much salt can cause health problems such as kidney stones, and even too many sweets lead to cavities.
But in the case of smoking, only a little bit of it can be harmful for smokers and even for non-smokers. The smokers’ lungs are as dirty as an ashtray that is not cleaned for a month, said an-i-smoking researchers.
The main ingredient of cigars and cigarettes it is tobacco. In general tobacco was discovered for to help people cure certain ailments, but because people like to spoil themselves, they have encouraged the business of smoking.
Because of the cigarettes industry millions of jobs have been created. And even businesses and state economy flourished because more and more people started smoking and then became addicted.
The lifespan of a smoker and someone who inhales secondary smoke has shortened dramatically. But even after the discovery that smoking is bad for people’ health, no one have banned the substance till today.
Death is a normal incident. But it should be happening as a course of aging naturally, like old age. People also die because of stress, poverty, and their incapacity to cure themselves. However, research reveals that the leading cause of death today is smoking.
All the studies and research point to smoking as being harmful to people health. Instead of being concerned too much about the profit and tax revenues, people should pay attention to the fact that they are killing themselves through smoking.
And people should remember that life is more important than profit!

A box of Obama Presidential Series 44 cigars, made in honor of President Barack Obama, lays on a table at the Segovia Cigars tobacco company in Esteli, Nicaragua, Feb. 4. The Corona, California, based-Granada 1524 Cigars company hired Nicaragua’s Segovia Cigars to produce the Obama series which retails for between $15 and $20 a cigar, depending on the size.