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Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Smoke-free debate begins; On your marks, get set... bounce! Low take up of illex licences; Three ships this week; First cross-sound ferry today.

On your marks, get set... bounce!

GLORIOUS sunshine blessed the Infant and Junior School's Sports Day held on the Community School field yesterday. Parents gathered to cheer on their children as they took part in a variety of events from beanbag throws and jumping contests, to sack races and running events. Photo:It's smiles all round as some of the Year Five girls gear up for a sack race. More photographs next week.

Smoke-free debate begins

HALF of Falklands councillors would like to follow the United Kingdom's lead and ban smoking in pubs and clubs while the rest support a "less drastic" move. British MPs this week decided in a free vote to introduce a total ban on smoking in England and Wales' pubs and clubs in 2007. Scotland and Ireland already have a ban in place. MPs decided by a margin of 328 to ban smoking from all pubs and then voted by 200 to extend this to clubs. The proposals will now return to the House of Lords for consideration. Penguin News contacted councillors to ask if they would support the introduction of a similar ban in the Falklands. Councillor Andrea Clausen is in favour of a total ban. She commented, "I know I'll be shot ? at least by some of my family ? but I think a total ban would be the way forward. "We can pussy-foot around it arguing about whether we believe passive smoking kills or in fact if smoking kills (and there are plenty out there who are yet to be convinced) and that one will never receive a consensus view. "We can also use the argument that you shouldn't go to a pub if you don't want to enter a smoky environment and that as a non-smoker it's your choice; I would argue equally why shouldn't I have the right to go to a pub and breath smoke-free air. I like to socialise as much as the next person, but I don't see why I should have to get my asthma inhaler out the next day to recover." She described the UK Parliament's vote as "a very positive step in the battle against smoking-related illness." Councillor Richard Davies also supported a total ban on smoking. He commented, "The experience in Ireland seems to be that it has not had a huge impact on business. What it has done is encourage large numbers of people to give up. That is good in human and economic terms." Councillor Davies, who also works as a doctor at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, estimates smoking causes about five premature deaths per year in the Falklands. "In purely economic terms, smoking is hugely expensive because of the time it causes lost from work, expensive medical treatment, etc." He said he was aware of the civil liberty argument against a smoking ban but replied, "...this particular liberty costs the taxpayer a lot of money, is unpleasant to the general public and occasionally kills third parties through passive exposure to smoke. "We don't tolerate other dangerous addictions, so why this? There are more important liberties to defend." He said banning smoking in public places is effective and would show a commitment to the health and well being of our population. "It would be good to see the Falklands set an example. We don't need to wait and see what other countries do, in fact why not steal a march and do it before the UK?" Councillor Mike Rendell was also in favour of an "all out ban". He commented, "Thank goodness Parliament has decided, on a free vote, that England and Wales should follow on behind Scotland and Ireland despite obviously heavy commercial pressures to accept a partial ban." He said it may be too late for some older smokers to get any benefit from a ban but added, "...any measures that can be taken to reduce early deaths from cancer must be encouraged. A total ban here would encourage a substantial number of young people to give up the habit, before they get totally addicted." Councillor Cockwell believes the Falklands will eventually follow the UK's ban on smoking in public places. However he does not believe that we are ready for such a "drastic move" at this time. "We have to work harder on helping people to understand the reasons for discouraging smoking before we start legislating against it." He said he supports the concept of a total ban, "...but would not wish to create what would be a major and divisive issue with many people before ensuring that a proper understanding of the health risk is in place. "A smoker could see a move like this as being promulgated by people who just do not like the smell!" Admitting to being "biased" as he suffers from asthma, Councillor Ian Hansen said, "I would actually go to pubs more if there was a no smoking policy in place." He said he would like public places to be smoke-free zones. "If people want to smoke in the privacy of their own homes, fine, but they should be made aware of the potential results of passive smoking, especially if they have children." Surprisingly though, he does not support a total ban. "I do feel for a government to demand a total ban on smoking wouldn't actually achieve too much, it would be far better to educate people. "It does concern me that there seems to be a fairly large percentage of our young folk who do not seem to realise the dangers of smoking. So I think it does come down to an educational issue." Councillor Janet Robertson said that while she would not object to a total ban, she felt it would be a very unpopular move, "...and businesses would certainly feel affected if a partial ban was in place." She said a process of "education and discussion" would be "a more positive option at this stage." More on page 3

Low take up of illex licences

THE Falklands illex squid season opened on Wednesday and 36 applications for jigging licences have been received by the government, much less than in previous years. Sixty-eight licences were sold in 2005 while in the past a maximum of 125 licences have been taken up. Director of Fisheries, John Barton, said some illex has been caught by trawlers in Falklands zones, however he added that it is, "...still rather early to gauge what the season will be like." Reports on the internet indicate that catches in the Argentine zone have been reasonable. Mr Barton said, "Catches on the high seas have reduced in recent days, particularly for trawlers and hence, the spate of trawlers entering Stanley and Port William in recent days to collect licences and commence fishing in Falklands zones." Penguin Newsasked him if the government was concerned about poaching taking place in Falklands waters. He said, "As ever we will be on the look out for any evidence of poaching, and believe the current system provides effective deterrence and the capacity to deal with any poaching. The Fishery Protection Vessel Dorada and the Falkland Islands Defence Force are due to hold a gunnery exercise and rehearse procedures this weekend, Mr Barton said, "...but we hope the deterrent aspect will be sufficient."

Three ships this week

IT'S A bit of a quiet week ahead for the Falklands tourism industry with only three cruise ships due to visit. Blue Dream will spend the day in Stanley today, bringing approximately 800 passengers. On Sunday Explorer IIwill visit with 430 passengers. Norwegian Crown (1052) comes in on Tuesday.

First cross-sound ferry today

THE first of the regular scheduled ferry crossings between East and West Falkland goes ahead this afternoon. A spokesperson for Island Shipping Ltd said, "We have almost a full passenger load travelling over to the West and a handful of people coming across to the East."

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