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A Few words from
Miss Matlosana……
To be crowned the first Miss Dermophuzion Matlosana is so
astounding for me that it is still taking some getting used to.
I am extremely grateful to have been chosen as the winner of
such a well-organised and reputable pageant.
This pageant involves much more than just a title. Miss
Dermophuzion Matlosana aims to provide a platform to young women
to make a difference in the community and enrich the lives of
others. I hope to ensure the sustainability of this pageant by
involving myself in as many projects as possible this year, and
to leave a legacy to inspire future Miss Matlosanas.
On the 28th of March, I attended the Golf-day at the Orkney
Golf-club which was held to raise funds for the 2009 Talent
Africa finalists who will be travelling to the United States of
America in July for the Talent America competition. On Friday
the 10th of April, my plans are to hold an Easter event for the
children of the Rethabile Children's home, and will thankfully
be able to do this with the help of sponsorship from the OK
Grocer, Food Zone, Flimieda Spar, Overland and Go Big Media who
are all sponsoring Easter eggs.
Throughout the year, I plan to support and assist the Rethabile
children's home as well as the Tokologo Early Learning Centre. I
also plan to inspire the youth of this area to be more conscious
of the environment which is an issue which I feel is not touched
enough upon.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the sponsors
that were and still are involved in this pageant. Without you,
success would not be achievable and your generous contribution
helped to make this pageant's vision a reality.
I am truly grateful for this opportunity that I was given, and
will treasure the experience and the memories.
TOBACCO REMAINS MAJOR GLOBAL THREAT TO HEALTH
South Africa needs to step up its efforts to make the country
100% tobacco free by 2010, says the Cancer Association of South
Africa (CANSA) in a statement on 16 March, after attending a
world conference on tobacco control.
Tobacco-free means no use of tobacco in any public place,
including sports stadiums.
“The tobacco epidemic is threatening world health, especially in
developing countries where the tobacco industry is aggressively
marketing its deadly products in order to find new customers,”
says CANSA Head of Communication Martha Molete, who attended the
14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Mumbai, India from
8-12 March 2009.
In India alone, one million people die every year from
tobacco-related diseases. Over 42 000 South Africans die from
tobacco-related diseases annually and many more are made sick
from tobacco products and second-hand smoke. Globally tobacco
kills 5.2 million people per year.
“South Africa is a leader in tobacco control in Africa and has
made important strides with our new anti-tobacco legislation to
come into effect soon,” Molete said. “However, we have a lot
more work to do in order to make sports stadiums and other
public areas 100% tobacco-free and to help the over 5 million
South African smokers quit this deadly addiction.”
Almost 2 000 tobacco control advocates from around the world
attended the Mumbai conference which issued the following
declarations at the closing ceremony:
The 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health recognised that:
All tobacco products are harmful and create an economic burden
especially in low income countries. The global tobacco control
community needs to increase efforts to combat this epidemic. The
tobacco industry markets all forms of tobacco products and
continues to develop new tobacco products. The tobacco industry
obstructs effective tobacco control measures and continues to
promote tobacco products through all possible means, including
the entertainment industry. The Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control (FCTC) is an effective tool for tobacco control adopted
by 84% of countries in the world.
The conference made the following 11 recommendations:
1. The World Health Organisation maintains tobacco control as a
first level priority.
2. By 2012 at least 90% of eligible countries will have become
parties to the FCTC.
3. By 2012, the FCTC Protocol on illicit trade in tobacco
products will have been adopted, ratified and entered into force
and at least one other protocol in negotiation.
4. By 2012, the parties to the FCTC will have adopted two
additional guidelines on implementation of Article 12
(Education, communication, training and public awareness) and
Article 14 (Tobacco dependence and cessation)
5. By 2012, at least 80% of the countries will have complied
with the minimum requirements under Article 8 (Protection from
exposure to tobacco smoke), Article 11 (Packaging and labelling
of tobacco products) and at least 50% should comply with the
minimum requirements under Article 13 (Tobacco advertising,
promotion and sponsorship).
6. All parties to the FCTC will have paid their voluntary
assessed contribution and at least 10% will provide extra
budgetary contributions to the FCTC.
7. Non Governmental, Development and Philanthropic organisations
will provide or maintain substantive contributions for tobacco
control.
8. Governments, academia and civil society must not accept
funding or participate in the tobacco industry's youth, social
responsibility, voluntary marketing or other programmes.
9. By 2012, the majority of the parties to FCTC would have begun
tobacco cessation efforts as recommended under Article 14 of the
FCTC.
10. By 2012, 80% of the countries would have raised tobacco
taxes to over 60% of the retail price.
By 2012, the United Nations would have convened a General
Session of Discussion on human rights and tobacco control. |
