Centennial Park Soon Smoke-Free

The Helena City Commission will consider a resolution to keep tobacco out of the newly reconstructed Centennial Park, but it may rely on social pressure and the goodwill of park users, not law enforcement, to achieve that goal. A draft resolution slated for a vote and public hearing Dec. 3 says the park “will be operated as a tobacco-free environment.” But the measure as written would not carry any enforcement mechanism or proscribe any penalties for people who chew or smoke.

Kids Smoking Marlboro Cigs, Tobacco Ads

I did not think I’d have to explain it. But I guess I do. For lots of people are calling and asking “why do we have this ad in the paper?” It could be mistaken for a Marlboro ad, which shows kids smoking. “So how come you are running such an ad, are you trying to lure kids to smoke?” people are asking. Of course, many people, probably the majority, realize it is, of course, not an ad. That there’s no way Marlboro would ever run such an ad, and, therefore, through the process of elimination, it must be an anti-smoking, anti -tobacco message; an editorial using images.

Muhammadiyah Bans Smoking

The country’s second-largest Islamic group has thrown its full weight behind efforts to rid Indonesia of its heavy smoking habit. After issuing a fatwa in March 2010 to tell its tens of millions of followers that it was religiously unacceptable to light up, Muhammadiyah is now set to declare all of its health and education institutions smoke-free zones. Muhammadiyah operates some 500 health institutions such as hospitals and clinics, about 15,000 schools from the level of kindergarten to high school and nearly 200 higher education institutions. It also operates 350 orphanages across the country. “On Monday [today], we are going to launch our nationwide program that, starting now, Muhammadiyah’s offices, enterprises and forums are officially smoke-free areas,” Syafiq A. Mughni, Muhammadiyah’s chairman for health issues, told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday. The campaign will kick off at the Muhammadiyah headquarters in Jakarta.

Michelle Obama Has Quit Smoking

Michelle Obama confirmed Tuesday that her husband has kicked his decades-long smoking habit. At a reporter's luncheon in the Old Family dining room, Michelle Obama said that it has been "almost a year," since her husband has picked up a Kent cigarette.

"It's been a while and I'm very proud of him," she said during an hour-long conversation with reporters and her senior staff to discuss her anti-childhood obesity initiative.