TURKEY:
University campuses now ‘smoke-free zones’ – Today’s Zaman
March 2, 2011
[Photo cutline]: The YÖK project has banned smoking on university campuses in an attempt to reduce the number of students smoking tobacco.
The Higher Education Board’s (YÖK) “Smoke-free Campus” project has made university campuses the latest additions to the growing list of places that are to remain free of cigarette smoke in Turkey.
Inspired by the Ministry of Health’s “100 percent smoke-free air in Turkey” campaign, the project was jointly developed by YÖK and the national student council and was in full swing as of Monday.
The project aims to reduce the number of students — who constitute the project’s main target — smoking tobacco. Increasing awareness of the dangers of cigarette smoking, thereby putting students off smoking and increasing the numbers of those quitting the habit, are among its chief goals. University student councils will run the project, which will see students signing agreements on quitting and refraining from smoking. Project activities will include a series of “Smokers Cannot Enter” concerts to be held during its springtime festivities, where students will throw their cigarette packs and lighters in a box in lieu of buying tickets. Participating students will also be able to receive free dental examinations and be directed to centers to help them quit smoking. Student magazines will cover the campaign as well. Stakeholders include YÖK, the Presidency, the Prime Ministry, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Anti-Smoking Foundation (SSV), local councils and governors’ offices, chambers of industry and commerce, media outlets, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Turkish Temperance Organization (Yeşilay). Participating universities and students will be presented with gifts upon the project’s completion. Gifts include cars, iPhones, iPads and scholarship for language education abroad programs. The project will run until May 31, internationally known as World No Tobacco Day.
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA
Adelaide Advertiser, 2/3/2011
Smoking will be banned near playgrounds and under public transport shelters, and councils will be given greater powers to ban smoking on streets, in parks and at outdoor events, from next year.
Health Minister John Hill todya will announce new, tough, anti-smoking regulations, in the latest bid to help people kick the habit which kills more than 1100 South Australians each year.
PHILIPPINES
MANILA, Philippines – The Parañaque City government reminded all businesses establishments in the city who want to designate a smoking area in their premises to secure a permit from the Business Permit and Licensing Office.
The permit comes with an annual fee of P100 per square meter.
According to Mayor Florencio Bernabe, the city government through the city council approved a resolution ratifying the implementing rules and regulations of an ordinance regulating smoking in public places and enclosed public places in the city and providing for the corresponding fees and penalties for specific violations.
Bernabe explained that Ordinance No. 10-09, series of 2008, and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) safeguards the physical well-being of both smoker and non-smoker by discouraging cigarette smoking and use of tobacco. However, establishments can set up a separate area for customers who wish to light up.
The city government advised the owners, proprietors, operators, possessors, managers or administrators may designate the smoking area to following a set of guidelines.
For restaurants, cafeterias and other dining establishments, 25 percent of the floor area could be designated as the maximum designated smoking area.
For night clubs, bars, lounges, cafés, dance halls and other similar establishments, the smoking section is 50 percent of the total floor area.
For private recreational areas like sports clubs, pools, gymnasiums and other structures, the smoking section is 25 percent of the floor area.
For other establishments that may be covered by the rules and regulations – malls, department stores, shopping centers – 10 percent of the floor area may be designated as a smoking area, and establishments not mentioned above, 10 percent.Bernabe said there are also certain standards that must be observed for designated smoking areas located in enclosed places.
One is that it shall be completely enclosed or physically separated from the rest of the premises and equipped with adequate ventilation in conformity with the provisions of Presidential Decree 1096, otherwise known as the national Building Code of the Philippines, Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers Code and Republic Act 9514, otherwise known as the new Fire Code of the Philippines. (Jean Fernandez)
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