Sweka’ Since the and Dealers Takes Place in a Matter of Min- of Its Rebellious Eastern Cities to the Nazi Inva- Age of 14
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ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER ON SATURDAY TOBACCO THREAT Villaggio evacuated after fire alarm DOHA: Shoppers crowding Villaggio Mall were evacuated after a fire alarm went off in its precincts yesterday, reports Al Sharq. The evacuation was quite quick despite the fact that a lot of people were there on a Friday, the daily said, adding that the mall’s management chose not to comment on the incident. “People inside the mall were evacuated to safety immediately after the alarm went off and before they could know the reason why the alarm had gone off,” said the daily. It was a good experience for the shoppers at the mall to have been taken to safety since memories of a fire that broke out there on May 28, 2012 and claimed 19 lives, mostly of children, were still fresh in their minds, the daily said. Qatari dies in accident DOHA: A Qatari died following a collision between two cars in Um Al Amid area after Friday prayers yesterday. Witnesses said the collision took place when a car ran a red light and the other driver did not notice the oncom- ing car. The Qatari’s car overturned. The traffic police and an ambulance soon reached the site, however, the victim’s life could not be saved. Prototype Ebola drug clears test hurdle PARIS: A prototype drug that has been urgently given to a handful of patients with Ebola has cleared an important test hurdle, showing that it cured lab monkeys with the disease, scientists said yesterday. Reporting online in the British journal Nature, researchers at the Public Health Agency of Canada said 18 rhesus macaque monkeys given high doses of Ebola virus fully recovered after being given a new drug called ZMapp, even when it was administered five days after infection. Ukraine seeks full Nato membership LAKE SELIGER, Russia/KIEV: Ukraine called yesterday for full membership in Nato, its strongest plea yet for Western military help, after accusing Russia of sending in THE ISSUE armoured columns that have driven back its forces on behalf of pro-Moscow rebels. Russian President Vladimir Putin, defiant as Qatari society, especially the students and their average age was 17. Many The transaction between the customers ever, compared Kiev’s drive to regain control younger generation, is facing of them had been chewing ‘sweka’ since the and dealers takes place in a matter of min- of its rebellious eastern cities to the Nazi inva- age of 14. Most of the addicted Qatari stu- utes. As soon as a customer arrives, a seller sion of the Soviet Union in World War Two. He a new threat in the form of dents belonged to well-off and highly edu- approaches him and quickly disappears after announced that rebels had succeeded in halt- chewing tobacco, also known cated families. handing over a package. ing it, and proposed that they now permit sur- as ‘sweka’. Cheaper than costly Another survey found that about 15 per- Khalid Al Suwaidi, a Qatari national, said Design: Abraham Augusthy rounded Ukrainian troops to retreat. cent of the preparatory and secondary school easy availability of ‘sweka’ was behind its See also page 9 addictive drugs, it brings the students in Qatar use ‘sweka’. increasing use by students. “The problem is same results to its users — According to the World Health that it is easy to get, is cheap and is easy Gaza militants vow to diseases and death. Organisation’s Report on the Global Tobacco to hide. Its usage is also not reflected in the Epidemic, 2013, about seven percent of users’ behaviour. That is why it is widely used rearm amid shaky truce Qataris between the ages of 18 and 64 con- among students. Parents should take respon- ow prices and easy availability are sume smokeless tobacco. sibility in preventing their children acquirng GAZA CITY: Thousands of militants boosting the use of ‘sweka’ and other Although ‘sweka’ consumption is not such habits,” he said. paraded in the besieged Gaza Strip yester- kinds of tobacco in Qatar. Earlier, allowed in Qatar, it is not difficult to spot Experts say that the menace of ‘sweka’ day, defiantly saying they would rearm as the Lit was popular only among limited- those selling the addictive substance. addiction can be curbed by raising aware- prospects of a final deal on a long-term Israel- income workers, but now it is being consumed Every Thursday and Friday, there is a ness and better law enforcement. “The gov- Hamas truce looked shaky. by the wealthy as well. What is disturbing street market in the Industrial Area for sell- ernment is doing its best to stop trading and Thousands of Islamic Jihad fighters paraded is the growing use of ‘sweka’ by teenagers. ing different kind of goods, including CDs, selling of ‘sweka’ in the country, but the issue through Gaza City in a show of force, march- Studies show that use of ‘sweka’ is increasing medicines, aphrodisiacs and mobile phones. has to be taken more seriously. There should ing with light weapons and holding aloft rockets at an alarming rate among youth. One can see people selling different kinds of be strict monitoring at entry points to the similar to those fired at Israel during the conflict. A study conducted by Social Rehabilitation tobacco, including ‘sweka’, at these markets. country. A new anti-‘sweka’ law should be The spokesman for Al Quds Brigades, the PAGECentre and the Research6 and Policy Analysis ‘Sweka’ is also sold widely in the old neigh- implemented with tough punishments for group’s armed wing, delivered a speech praising Centre of the Supreme Education Council bourhoods of Doha. Many ‘sweka’ dealers can violators,” said education expert Abdul Aziz backers Iran and allies Hezbollah and declaring in 2012 revealed that at least 78 percent of be seen in the Old Ghanim area and near the Al Mulla. the militants would “redouble efforts” to rearm. the users of chewing tobacco were Qatari National Library roundabout. See also page 2 See also page 5 THE PENINSULA & AGENCIES Saturday 30 August 2014 • 4 Dhu’l-Qa’da 1435 • Volume 19 • Number 6173 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 02 AUGUST 30, 2014 ON SATURDAY www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Home Pics : Salim Matramkot Calls to curb use of ‘sweka’ Six out of 10 high school students chew tobacco; many addicts hail from well-off families BY FAZEENA SALEEM and distribution points for the tobacco, but he ‘sweka’ should be implemented with tough MOHAMED OSMAN was unaware of how it was brought into the punishments for violators.” country. “Schools should closely monitor students DOHA: Fresh calls are being made to curb “It is not kept and sold at one place, but at who use ‘sweka’, and advise them and take the use of chewing tobacco by schoolchildren. different locations. I’m simply a distributor, action against them,” he added. Use of chewing or smokeless tobacco by I don’t know how it is coming here. I too use Some suggested that family members and schoolchildren has been identified as a major it, but I don’t know if it is something bad for parents could do more than the authorities to problem in Qatar. health,” he said. control the use of ‘sweka’ by teenagers. Several sociologists and educationists have An 18-year-old said that he started using Dr Abu Neera said, “Parents can play a urged the authorities to take firm action ‘sweka’ in school, just to get a taste of it, but major role in preventing their young children against those who bring and sell chewing later became addicted to it. using ‘sweka’. But it will not rule out imple- tobacco, commonly known as ‘sweka’ in the “I can’t stay without it for more than three menting strict action against those who sell Gulf region, in the country. hours. When I hear that police have caught ‘sweka’, as there is a danger of them mixing Some have also said that parents should be ‘sweka’ sellers I become nervous, although more harmful things like drugs with ‘sweka’.” more vigilant about children picking up such I know that there are several ways to get Tariq bin Saief Al Maliki, a CMC mem- a habit. ‘sweka’,” he said. ber, too suggested that strict action be taken Use of ‘sweka’ can lead to diseases of the 15% There are many youth in Qatar similarly against those selling ‘sweka’. mouth and jaw and, in some cases, cancer of addicted to ‘sweka’, but there is no data on the “There should be more intensified monitor- the mouth or throat. Studies show that smoke- Of preparatory and sec- number of ‘sweka’ users in the country. ing of places where ‘sweka’ is sold. If the avail- less tobacco may also play a role in causing Some findings suggest that six out of 10 ability is limited, it will not reach teenagers, other cancers, heart disease and stroke. ondary school students students in high school use ‘sweka’. In middle or else there is a risk of the habit spreading Smokeless tobacco contains more nicotine in Qatar use ‘sweka’, school, four out of 10 students are addicted to among the community beyond control.” than cigarettes. Nicotine is a highly addictive the habit. School administrations, he added too should drug that makes it hard to stop using tobacco which is easily available A study conducted in 2012 by Social take this problem seriously and find ways to once someone starts. But despite its harmful Rehabilitation Centre and the Research identify students addicted to ‘sweka’.