Alicia Keys asks cigarette maker to stop branding show

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) -- Philip Morris International has pulled down billboards and posters promoting an Alicia Keys concert Thursday in Indonesia's capital after the singer protested the cigarette company's sponsorship.
The logo and slogans of A Mild cigarettes, produced by a Philip Morris affiliate, featured prominently in promotional materials for the concert.
The Washington-based Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids anti-smoking organization initially drew Keys' attention to the company's association with the show.
In a letter released by her record company, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Keys said she had asked the company to stop the branding
"I am an unyielding advocate for the well-being of children around the world and do not condone or endorse smoking," she said.
Philip Morris International did not say whether it was demanding its money back, nor would it reveal how much it had paid to sponsor the event.
"Whether tobacco sponsorship of music events leads to youth smoking is a matter of serious debate," the company said in a statement received Thursday. "Having considered the facts in this specific instance, we have decided to withdraw all branding associated with this concert."

For the full story: http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/31/keys.cigarettes.ap/index.html

Tobacco regulation passes House

By NEIL H. SIMON
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Cigarettes would be subject to government regulation for the first time ever under a bill passed yesterday by the U.S. House.
But the bill, which passed with a veto-proof 326-102 vote, now faces an uphill climb in the Senate, where a similar bill has been stalled since last August.
Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, said the bill (HR 1108) would encourage work to make tobacco products -- blamed for killing about 400,000 Americans a year -- less harmful. He said the bill would protect the 5,600 Richmond-area jobs supplied by Philip Morris USA.
"The net result to all of us will be to increase the health outlook for consumers of tobacco," said Cantor, the top House recipient of tobacco-industry campaign contributions.
M. Cass Wheeler, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association, said: "You don't start celebrating when the ball is on the 10-yard line. This will all be for nothing if we don't score a touchdown with a win in the Senate."
The legislation, which has divided the tobacco industry, would give the Food and Drug Administration the power to curtail marketing further; control nicotine levels; and enlarge government warning labels on all tobacco products.
Philip Morris USA, the nation's leading cigarette manufacturer, is the only cigarette maker to support the FDA regulation bill publicly.
"We think today's vote by the House of Representatives is an important step forward on this legislation," said Bill Phelps, a spokesman for Henrico County-based Altria Group, the parent company of Philip Morris USA.
"Such regulation could benefit consumers, shareholders and other stakeholders."
Three of Virginia's 11 members of Congress voted against the bill: Reps. J. Randy Forbes, R-4th, Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-5th, and Robert W. Goodlatte, R-6th.
The bill -- dubbed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act -- would ban most flavored cigarettes, except for menthol.

For the full story: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-31-0145.html

Request for Proposals #852P010

Three-Year Grants for Tobacco Use Prevention & Cessation Programs for Youth:

Expected Issue Date: Aug. 8
Proposal Due Date: Oct. 8

Mandatory Proposal Development Trainings:
Sept. 3: Blacksburg
Sept. 5: Portsmouth
Sept. 8: Richmond
Sept. 10: Chantilly

Visit the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation Web site on Aug. 8 to download a copy of RFP#852P010.
Or e-mail Eloise Burke to have a copy of the RFP mailed or e-mailed to you.

Smoking a tough addiction, teens discover

Study finds some are vulnerable from the first puff - but kids naively think it will be easy to quit habit.

CHARLIE FIDELMAN, The Gazette

Within months of their first puff, most teen smokers struggle to stop smoking but can't .
A Université de Montréal study mapping the stepping stones to tobacco addiction shows the process has definite stages and starts even earlier than believed.
Lead author, epidemiologist Jennifer O'Loughlin, found that most adolescent smokers were naive about their ability to quit.


Many made a first serious attempt to quit after 21/2 months of sporadic smoking - and most failed. Cravings and withdrawal symptoms grew, along with discouragement.
"And by the time they've smoked for 21 months they have lost confidence in their ability to quit," O'Loughlin said.
"As soon as they experience craving, the story is over. They're on the trajectory to becoming an adult smoker."
Despite early and increasingly difficult efforts to quit, it took about three years for the young smokers to realize they could not stop smoking of their own free will.

Find full story here: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=4837e433-2a9d-46ce-a4d9-ab95d1312fa0

Community Builders Network of Virginia Conference

Community Builders Network of Virginia
5th Annual Statewide Conference
August 21-23, 2008

The Community Builders Network of Virginia is conducting their 5th Annual Conference at the OMNI Richmond Hotel. Many interesting and helpful topics will be addressed such as:

Building Youth Leaders

The How & Why of Program Evaluation

Impact on Violence on Children & Youth

Speakers such as Dr. Ted Miller and Dr. Steve Ridini

Take advantage of this education opportunity and visit the link below.

http://www.123signup.com/calendar?Org=NetworkVA

Y Street Mini-Grants Applications Due July 31st

Applications for twelve $2,000 Y Street Mini-Grants are steadily coming in, and will continue to be accepted until July 31st. Y Street is the youth-led advocacy brand that supports the VTSF’s marketing campaign and has over 2000 members statewide. The Y Street Mini-Grants will begin to be awarded this September. To download the grant application or learn more, go to www.ystreet.org/grants.