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Letter from PragueCity of smoke
Regardless of how it may have gone out of fashion elsewhere Prague remains
a city of smoking and smokers. If it is the city of a hundred spires it is
also a city of a thousand pubs - and in every one the bluish-brown smoke
wafts close to the ceiling as you enter. Say you don't smoke? In Prague,
friend, you will. Hell, this is the only city - the only city - where I
have ever seen a bicycle courier lighting up. A bicycle courier.
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MailboxMailbox
This week's topics: EU resolution on cigarette advertising, average wage,
Czech arms trade, new autumn schedule. Listeners quoted: Paul Marsh, Barry
Levingston, Justine Neff.
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Talking PointChanges in attitude to smoking in the Czech Republic
News agencies reported last week that New Yorkers could breathe a little
more easily now as the city's stiff new anti-smoking laws took effect last
Sunday. Smokers grumbled as they had to huddle outside in the cold to puff
on their cigarettes. The new law, pushed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an
ex-smoker himself, outlaws smoking in bars and restaurants and imposes
stiff fines. Some bar and restaurant owners fret that the ban will scare
off customers; others hope more non-smokers will visit now that the air is
clearer. Curious to find out how such a ban would go down with owners of
Czech pubs - where a thick cloud of smoke is part of the experience - I
visited a typical Czech smoky pub in the Prague district of Zizkov and
asked the bartender what he thought of the idea of a ban on smoking in
restaurants.
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Business NewsBusiness News
The Czech government has delayed the planned sale of national power
producer CEZ until after it has drafted a new national energy policy. The
Czech Senate has approved a new law aimed at curbing tobacco promotion.
The European Central Bank has urged EU membership applicants to get their
economies in shape before joining eurozone. The Czech cabinet has scrapped
a contract awarded to a private company to build and operate a highway in
North Moravia.
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ArtsArts news
Anna K and Daniel Landa hold concert for Czech soldiers in Kuwait. Galileo musical kicks off on anniversary of famous scientist's birth. Czech Philharmonic travels to USA. Theatre Institute releases two publications. National Gallery offers special Valentine's Day programme.
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Current AffairsCzech TV makes bid for Australian anti-smoking advertisement
I'm sure many of you have seen it - the Australian anti-smoking TV
advertisement that has created enormous controversy and been shown on TV
stations around the world. Czech public television, which recently carried
the story in its prime time news programme, is now trying to acquire the
right to run this TV ad on a regular basis. Daniela Lazarova has the
story:
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Business NewsGovernment approves proposed ban on tobacco advertising
Finally this week, the government has approved a proposal banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship of events by tobacco firms. The proposal comes after parliament approved a similar law in May, only to have the Senate reject it weeks later saying the measure was too broad and should instead focus on protecting children and young people from tobacco products.
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Current AffairsGovernment launches fresh attempt to ban tobacco advertising
On Monday, the government approved a proposal banning virtually all tobacco advertising and sponsorship of events by tobacco firms in the Czech Republic. Earlier this year the lower house of parliament approved a similar law but only weeks later the legislation was defeated in the Senate. The new centre-left coalition has vowed to push the legislation through this time. Statistics say 19 percent of Czechs smoke on a regular basis and 13 percent occasionally. According to the World Health Organisation around 22,000 people die each year from smoking-related illnesses in the Czech Republic, that's a daily toll of 60 people. Pavla Horakova spoke to Doctor Eva Kralikova, an expert in giving up smoking. She began by asking her about the trend in smoking in the Czech Republic.
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One on OneDr Scott Leischow - helping smokers to give up the habit
Rob Cameron's guest on One on One this week is Dr Scott Leischow, head of the Tobacco Control Research Branch of the U.S. National Cancer Institute. A recent study on tobacco addiction suggested that as many as 70 percent of smokers want to give up smoking. But how can doctors help them kick the habit? Why has the World Health Organisation classified tobacco addiction as a disease? And is there any hope for anti-smoking campaigners, here in the smoker-friendly Czech Republic? For answers to these and more questions, tune into this week's One on One.
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Current AffairsLower house passes bill banning tobacco advertising
The Czech lower house has made a move towards a complete ban on tobacco advertising. In a surprise vote on Friday, left-of-centre political parties approved a bill which would see all tobacco ads disappear as of 2004. Vladimir Tax has the details.
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