Cancer Society Tobacco Industry Interference Index shows catastrophic decline for Aotearoa, reflecting Costello's industry-friendly actions. Shameful. www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/aot...

Damning indictment of NZ Govt. "New Zealand recorded the most deterioration in industry interference. Besides repealing strong tobacco control policies, citing industry arguments as rationale, the current government implemented several TI-friendly policies," www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Evaluation of schemes providing free bikes & wrap-around support in low income communities in the UK finds multiple positive benefits on health, well-being, & community connectedness. Also, hugely cost-effective with very high returns on investment. theaws.co.uk/wp-content/u...

Mark Daalder sets out all the actions and policies (unfortunately there are lots) the NZ Govt has taken to impede efforts to reduce emissions and address climate change. newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/07/g...

CO2 at 423.9ppm. "Until our leaders have the courage to put a price on carbon to bring the era of fossil fuels to a definitive end, we are adding more & more carbon to the atmosphere, compounding the physical catastrophe now unfolding all around us." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Maldives has passed a smokefree generation law. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

Wow! Town Council in Tiburon (Marin County) unanimously passed a tobacco product sales ban ordinance (third in the state of California)! #MakeTobaccoHistory #Tobacco #endgame #PublicHealthSky @ash.org @simonchapman.bsky.social @mhef.bsky.social @mikedaube.bsky.social

Paper led by Caroline Shaw modelled impact of increase in EV fleet found health gains from reduced air pollution overwhelmed by greater injury-related harm from increased car use. Key message: interventions are needed to eliminate a car-dominated transport system. jech.bmj.com/content/79/1...

I think this is self explanatory. Hugely concerning new data shows accelerating increase in CO2 levels (and methane and other GHGs).

Following Yoorrook Justice Commission report, Australia’s 1st treaty between a state government & Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people introduced to Victorian parliament. Includes formal apology, reframing school curriculum & greater use of traditional names. www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...

"The changes announced will give power back to the alcohol industry and undermine the democracy that New Zealanders value. These changes will limit communities’ abilities to object to alcohol licences, and also undermine the ability of Local Alcohol Policies to enact change."

Good, careful review justifying calls for action on alcohol marketing – and also noting that in some areas such as sport and sporting events, gambling exposure and advertising were even more common than alcohol. As so often, predatory industries use similar strategies.

ASH UK: falling smoking rates not illicit trade = real threat to tobacco industry profits. "This is why they continue to do everything they can to lobby against tobacco regulations. Faux concern about illicit trade is one of many cynical tactics the industry uses to further their lobbying efforts."

BREAKING: Big moment as CDC staff stage a mass walkout. They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base. (🎥 AP)

Rosaly LaPier on the ignominious history of using forced starvation against Indigenous populations. theconversation.com/the-dark-his...

More cuts to public good research in NZ: $15m for Marsden fund adding to $11.5m reduction for HRC research. Science Minister states priority is: "publicly funded research to focus on solving real world problems that can be commercialised." Narrow-minded & depressing. amp.rnz.co.nz/article/7377...

Brilliant new briefing & video (see end of briefing) by @laniteddy.bsky.social & @janethoek.bsky.social about new research from ASPIRE Aotearoa on how adding pack inserts with quitting tips & information could offer hope to people who smoke & support them to quit. www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/bal...

No comment needed! www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

The uncomfortable contortions of New Zealand's Minister for Climate and Energy, Simon Watts. newsroom.co.nz/2025/08/01/s...

@phcc.bsky.social briefing led by @judeball.bsky.social provides new evidence on awareness and use of nicotine pouches by young people in Aotearoa/NZ, and raises concerns about the Government's intent to legalise sales of these products. www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/nic...

Report based on leaked Cabinet paper suggests NZ Government caved in to alcohol industry lobbying & dropped restrictions on alcohol sales hours that were predicted to reduce violent crime. Plus ca change ...... www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-dept...

There is encouraging news indicating a shift in young people's perceptions of vaping, with many young people seeing vaping as embarrassing and no longer perceiving it as a 'healthy alternative' to cigarettes.

this is a realy good piece and I can confirm that the strangest thing to me about living in America was how normalised the idea that gun violence was an intractable problem had become .

#climatehealth #publichealth - input from #HEALNetwork

The tax breaks for Heated #Tobacco Products ( #HTPs) made by #PhillipMorris has been extended for an extra two years In July 2024, #NZ government cut the #tax on HTPs in half, in what it said would be a one-year trial subject to an evaluation #corruption #AtlasNetwork www.1news.co.nz/2025/07/29/t...

Northern Territory Government under fire over harmful youth justice policies – Croakey Health Media www.croakey.org/northern-ter...

Open letter to Australian Government demanding end to university fees regime that penalise students studying humanities and social sciences. theaha.org.au/wp-content/u...

For future reference - link to all past US National Climate Assessment reports (which have been made increasingly hard to find) www.realclimate.org/index.php/ar...

“Public health researchers at the University of Otago have called on the prime minister to show some leadership and remove the tobacco and vaping portfolio from New Zealand First, following allegations the party has been colluding with tobacco giant Philip Morris” #nzpol

Oh my god, if you make cycling safe and easy, people will do it. Who. Would. Ever. Have. Thought.

‘Total infiltration’: How plastics industry swamped vital global treaty talks: Petrostates and well-funded lobbyists at UN-hosted talks are derailing a deal to cut plastic production and protect people and the planet Being surrounded and yelled at about “misrepresenting reality” is not ho...

Hundreds of SA citizens tonight sharing their grief & anger at the loss of marine life & biodiversity caused by toxic algae. Scientists & ocean experts showing us utter devastation underwater, a result of climate crisis. A National Disaster must be declared & scientists backed.

The tobacco industry claims it has 'transformed'. E.g. JTI (www.jti.com/en/science) say they "bring science, product safety & THR together to empower you." So why do JTI continue to 'drive growth' by launching innovative smoked tobacco products like youth-friendly fruit-flavoured cigarillos?

typical Swiss ingenuity. no doubt helped by the fact that Switzerland is not dominated by fossil fuel companies.

A 69-year-old driver with a recent history of speeding in school zones and running reds behind the wheel of a 4000-pound truck with an elevated front grille “aCciDenT”

Hungary banned anything that “promotes homosexuality,” which means Pride. However, today over 500,000 people in Budapest told the government to fuck off. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

"If these measures are going to work, the Government needs to implement robust enforcement and monitoring to ensure the law delivers on its promise.” @judeball.bsky.social @janethoek.bsky.social @predwards.bsky.social www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3607...

"Employees from all 27 NIH institutes and centers gave their support to the declaration. Most who signed are intimately involved with evaluating and overseeing extramural research grants." zurl.co/ZQn7r #StandUpForScience #BethesdaDeclaration

For posting a newsletter about nonviolence. Meanwhile, every account I have reported that calls for violence against protesters, or suggests that LGBTQ+ folks should be killed to protect kids, “does not violate our community standards.”

I urge others to similarly support our patriots at NIH who use their training and talents to improve human health and position the US as the world’s leader in biomedical discovery, innovation and technology development 🙏

Exclusive: New Zealand government sued over ‘dangerously inadequate’ emissions reduction plan www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Another “spatial refuge” finally succumbs to rising sea temperatures. The hopeful narrative that isolated “heat-resistant reefs” will continue to avoid climate change (and somehow recolonise everywhere else) is wearing very thin. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Dr Mike telling it... "For the sake of our children, frontline health workers, scientists, and every family that deserves accurate healthcare guidance, we must demand his immediate resignation." #RFKMustGo #StandUpForScience #SummerFightForScience youtu.be/i0q_Oj425cU?...

Something for Chris Bishop, NZ Minister of Transport to ponder. More evidence that the NZ Government's policies of removing 30kph limits will greatly increase deaths and injuries, particularly for children. Study available here: view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx...

“A Busy, Busy Day at the Airport” By Ruben Bolling Genius. Click in.

The failure of the National Academy of Sciences USA to make a clear and unequivocal statement about the disastrous Trump administration science policies — it lets all of us down and dooms them to eventual irrelevance.

Musk should be asked about this in every interview he does now and forever. To ignore it is a dereliction of duty. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...

Colette Dewalla and co-authors on the sinister political control of science that lies beneath the Open Science rhetoric in the White House's 'Restoring Gold Standard Science' Executive Order. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...