Xu Bing, one of China's best-known contemporary artists, didn't think it would be hard to get materials for an exhibit about tobacco in a city whose ties to the leaf run long and deep.
His installation opened over the weekend at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It explores the history, culture, and links between the tobacco industries in the U.S. and China. Mr. Xu was optimistic about finding 500,000 cigarettes for a 40-by-15 foot "Tiger Carpet"; a 40-foot-long uncut cigarette to be stretched—and burned—across the length of a reproduction of an ancient Chinese scroll; and 440 pounds of tobacco leaves compressed into a cube, with raised letters reading, "Light as Smoke."
But getting materials wasn't easy, even in a city so steeped in tobacco it once had an annual festival and Tobacco Bowl. Mr. Xu says the complications he faced reflect the very point of his Tobacco Project: to explore the entangled, contradictory relationship people have with one of the world's most widely cultivated nonfood crops, an economic engine that the World Health Organization links to the deaths of more than five million people a year.
"There's both a closeness and a distance," says Mr. Xu, a 1999 recipient of a MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant who has lived and worked both in the U.S. and China and who currently has an installation in New York made from 9/11 dust.
Altria Group Inc., Richmond-based parent company of Philip Morris USA and a major corporate donor to the VMFA, declined to donate cigarettes or other tobacco materials, according to Mr. Xu and museum staff. Altria has committed more than $1 million through 2013 to sponsor museum exhibits, including a recent successful Picasso show, but "we don't support every exhibit that comes to the museum," an Altria spokesman says.
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понедельник, 19 сентября 2011 г.
пятница, 22 января 2010 г.
Philip Morris targets S.F.'s cigarette fee
In what has become a familiar scenario, Philip Morris USA has filed a complaint in San Francisco Superior Court over the city's new 20-cent fee tacked onto packs of cigarettes.
The move likely foreshadows a lawsuit - the second time in 18 months the tobacco giant will have sued San Francisco over its cutting-edge cigarette policies. The company said the city's first-of-its-kind ban on cigarette sales in drug stores including Walgreens violated its constitutional rights to advertise its products, but its claim was rejected in court.
Now, Philip Morris and some local retailers say the city's 20-cent charge on cigarette packs, the brainchild of Mayor Gavin Newsom that was implemented Oct. 1, violates state law because voters didn't approve it. The city argues that since it's a fee, rather than a tax, voter approval isn't required.
Newsom said the city completed an extensive study showing that it costs San Francisco $7.5 million every year to clean up cigarette butts tossed onto city streets - and that smokers should be the ones picking up the tab.
"Twenty cents a pack - that's what it costs us," Newsom said of the clean-up, adding he wasn't surprised by Philip Morris' complaint. "We anticipated this. I think they'll lose. They lose most of their lawsuits."
Newsom has long said he believes chewing gum is the real culprit when it comes to littering the city's streets, but he's not ready to levy a fee on packs of gum. Even in open-minded San Francisco, that would likely be a real, um, sticky situation.
The move likely foreshadows a lawsuit - the second time in 18 months the tobacco giant will have sued San Francisco over its cutting-edge cigarette policies. The company said the city's first-of-its-kind ban on cigarette sales in drug stores including Walgreens violated its constitutional rights to advertise its products, but its claim was rejected in court.
Now, Philip Morris and some local retailers say the city's 20-cent charge on cigarette packs, the brainchild of Mayor Gavin Newsom that was implemented Oct. 1, violates state law because voters didn't approve it. The city argues that since it's a fee, rather than a tax, voter approval isn't required.
Newsom said the city completed an extensive study showing that it costs San Francisco $7.5 million every year to clean up cigarette butts tossed onto city streets - and that smokers should be the ones picking up the tab.
"Twenty cents a pack - that's what it costs us," Newsom said of the clean-up, adding he wasn't surprised by Philip Morris' complaint. "We anticipated this. I think they'll lose. They lose most of their lawsuits."
Newsom has long said he believes chewing gum is the real culprit when it comes to littering the city's streets, but he's not ready to levy a fee on packs of gum. Even in open-minded San Francisco, that would likely be a real, um, sticky situation.
понедельник, 7 сентября 2009 г.
Cigarettes To Have Larger, More Graphic Warning Labels
EL PASO, Texas -- The written warning label printed on cigarette packages will be replaced with a much larger label that shows graphic images of smoking's side effects.
The new regulations are part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act passed in June.
The law calls for new labels to cover at least half of the front and back of each package and to contain images.
Smoker Marco Kato, of west El Paso, is part of the 21 percent of Americans who smoke daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"I probably buy a pack every other day," said Kato. "Sometimes more on the weekends."
He said he never looks at the current warning label on cigarettes. The drastic change in labeling is supposed to change that.
"I think it's a great idea," said Natie Castillo, of west El Paso. "Maybe it will give an incentive for people to think about it before they light up and smoke."
The new labels will be more in line with those produced in most foreign countries. Labels from Canada show graphic images of various forms of cancer and even death.
"I think that's great," said Tara Kahn, of west El Paso. "It's a picture, you know. You're not just reading the words, you're actually putting the words and the picture together so you're seeing the effects of it."
But Kato said most smokers are aware of the dangers, and no warning, despite how graphic, will be able to shake the addiction.
"I don't think the label would change my mind," said Kato. "I think prices will probably change people's minds."
The FDA has up to two years to develop the new labels. Then tobacco companies have 18 months to start printing them on the packages.
The new regulations are part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act passed in June.
The law calls for new labels to cover at least half of the front and back of each package and to contain images.
Smoker Marco Kato, of west El Paso, is part of the 21 percent of Americans who smoke daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"I probably buy a pack every other day," said Kato. "Sometimes more on the weekends."
He said he never looks at the current warning label on cigarettes. The drastic change in labeling is supposed to change that.
"I think it's a great idea," said Natie Castillo, of west El Paso. "Maybe it will give an incentive for people to think about it before they light up and smoke."
The new labels will be more in line with those produced in most foreign countries. Labels from Canada show graphic images of various forms of cancer and even death.
"I think that's great," said Tara Kahn, of west El Paso. "It's a picture, you know. You're not just reading the words, you're actually putting the words and the picture together so you're seeing the effects of it."
But Kato said most smokers are aware of the dangers, and no warning, despite how graphic, will be able to shake the addiction.
"I don't think the label would change my mind," said Kato. "I think prices will probably change people's minds."
The FDA has up to two years to develop the new labels. Then tobacco companies have 18 months to start printing them on the packages.
четверг, 3 сентября 2009 г.
Connecticut Cigarette Tax Increase Delivers Victory for Kids and Taxpayers; $1 Increase...
Connecticut's leaders have taken decisive action to protect the state's kids
and taxpayers from the devastating toll of tobacco use by increasing the state
cigarette tax by $1 to $3.00 per pack, making it the second highest state
cigarette tax in the nation (Rhode Island's tax is $3.46 per pack).
Connecticut is also increasing its tax rates on most other tobacco products,
but they still remain shamefully low compared to the state's exemplary new tax
rate on cigarettes. Increased tobacco taxes are a win-win-win solution for
Connecticut and every other state - a health win that will reduce tobacco use
and save lives, a financial win that will raise revenue to help alleviate
budget shortfalls, and a political win that polls show is popular with the
voters.
The evidence is clear that increasing the cigarette tax is one of the most
effective ways to reduce smoking, especially among kids. Studies show that
every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by
more than six percent and overall cigarette consumption by about 4 percent.
Connecticut can expect the $1 cigarette tax increase to prevent 24,000
Connecticut kids from becoming addicted adult smokers; spur 10,000 current
adult Connecticut smokers to quit for good; save more than 10,500 Connecticut
residents from future smoking-caused deaths; lock in more than $520 million
future health care savings; and raise about $60 million a year in new state
revenue.
By failing to raise taxes on other tobacco products to match its new cigarette
tax, Connecticut's legislators have chosen not to take advantage of a golden
opportunity to raise a lot more money; money that could be used to increase
funding for the state's tobacco prevention program and to help provide
cessation assistance through the state's Medicaid program. Connecticut
continues to be one of the last states to not provide any cessation coverage
for its Medicaid recipients, and is still near the bottom of all the states
with regard to tobacco prevention funding.
Governor Jodi Rell proposed the increase in the cigarette tax this session.
The state Legislature approved the tobacco tax increase this week and Governor
Rell is allowing the budget to become law without her signature. By supporting
a higher cigarette tax, Connecticut's leaders have taken action that will
improve the health of Connecticut residents for generations to come and
continue the state's leadership in the fight against tobacco use, the No. 1
cause of preventable death in the United States. The tobacco tax increases
take effect on October 1.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in
Connecticut, claiming 4,700 lives each year and costing the state $1.63
billion annually in health care bills, including $430 million in Medicaid
payments alone. Government expenditures related to tobacco amount to a hidden
tax of $680 each year on every Connecticut household. While Connecticut has
made significant progress in reducing youth smoking, 21.1 percent of
Connecticut high school students smoke, and 4,600 more kids become regular
smokers every year.
With Connecticut's tax increase, the average state cigarette tax is now $1.34
per pack. Connecticut is the second state with a cigarette tax of $3 or more,
Rhode Island being the first. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia
will now have cigarette tax rates of $2 per pack or more, and 26 states and DC
have cigarette tax rates of $1 per pack or more. South Carolina (a tobacco
growing state) remains the lowest-tax state with a cigarette tax of only seven
cents per pack. Only three states besides South Carolina have failed to raise
their cigarette tax since before 2000: California (1999), Missouri (1993),
North Dakota (1993) and South Carolina (1977).
and taxpayers from the devastating toll of tobacco use by increasing the state
cigarette tax by $1 to $3.00 per pack, making it the second highest state
cigarette tax in the nation (Rhode Island's tax is $3.46 per pack).
Connecticut is also increasing its tax rates on most other tobacco products,
but they still remain shamefully low compared to the state's exemplary new tax
rate on cigarettes. Increased tobacco taxes are a win-win-win solution for
Connecticut and every other state - a health win that will reduce tobacco use
and save lives, a financial win that will raise revenue to help alleviate
budget shortfalls, and a political win that polls show is popular with the
voters.
The evidence is clear that increasing the cigarette tax is one of the most
effective ways to reduce smoking, especially among kids. Studies show that
every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking by
more than six percent and overall cigarette consumption by about 4 percent.
Connecticut can expect the $1 cigarette tax increase to prevent 24,000
Connecticut kids from becoming addicted adult smokers; spur 10,000 current
adult Connecticut smokers to quit for good; save more than 10,500 Connecticut
residents from future smoking-caused deaths; lock in more than $520 million
future health care savings; and raise about $60 million a year in new state
revenue.
By failing to raise taxes on other tobacco products to match its new cigarette
tax, Connecticut's legislators have chosen not to take advantage of a golden
opportunity to raise a lot more money; money that could be used to increase
funding for the state's tobacco prevention program and to help provide
cessation assistance through the state's Medicaid program. Connecticut
continues to be one of the last states to not provide any cessation coverage
for its Medicaid recipients, and is still near the bottom of all the states
with regard to tobacco prevention funding.
Governor Jodi Rell proposed the increase in the cigarette tax this session.
The state Legislature approved the tobacco tax increase this week and Governor
Rell is allowing the budget to become law without her signature. By supporting
a higher cigarette tax, Connecticut's leaders have taken action that will
improve the health of Connecticut residents for generations to come and
continue the state's leadership in the fight against tobacco use, the No. 1
cause of preventable death in the United States. The tobacco tax increases
take effect on October 1.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in
Connecticut, claiming 4,700 lives each year and costing the state $1.63
billion annually in health care bills, including $430 million in Medicaid
payments alone. Government expenditures related to tobacco amount to a hidden
tax of $680 each year on every Connecticut household. While Connecticut has
made significant progress in reducing youth smoking, 21.1 percent of
Connecticut high school students smoke, and 4,600 more kids become regular
smokers every year.
With Connecticut's tax increase, the average state cigarette tax is now $1.34
per pack. Connecticut is the second state with a cigarette tax of $3 or more,
Rhode Island being the first. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia
will now have cigarette tax rates of $2 per pack or more, and 26 states and DC
have cigarette tax rates of $1 per pack or more. South Carolina (a tobacco
growing state) remains the lowest-tax state with a cigarette tax of only seven
cents per pack. Only three states besides South Carolina have failed to raise
their cigarette tax since before 2000: California (1999), Missouri (1993),
North Dakota (1993) and South Carolina (1977).
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