World tobacco treaty in effect
p2pnet.net OT News:- The first global treaty on tobacco control goes into effect today, requiring member countries to take specific steps to stop people from using tobacco, and to put stronger tobacco control policies in place.
One hundred and sixty eight nations have signed the WHO (World Health Organization) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and 57 have ratified it, says the American Cancer Society (ACS).
The US is not among them.
The FCTC bans all tobacco advertising, sponsorships, and promotions, except in countries such as the US, “whose constitutions do not allow a complete ban,” says the ACS.
“It also requires countries to put large warning labels on the front and back of cigarette packages, and encourages higher tobacco taxes.
“ACS and other groups sent a letter to President George W. Bush urging him to send the treaty to the Senate for approval,” it states.
“Our nation should be leading on this issue, not watching from the sidelines,” says ACS spokesman Stephen F. Sener, MD. “We should ratify the convention, implement it, and help low-income nations do the same.”
Although there’s no deadline for countries to ratify the treaty, only those that do so before November this year will be allowed to vote on decisions about how to implement the treaty when the member countries hold their first governing conference in 2006.
February 27th, 2005 at 6:46 pm
You should have the right to choose.. the FULL right to choose.. and that includes the right to choose to inhale noxious fumes which substantially shorten your life.
As much as i dislike smoking, i’ll defend to the death other’s right to kill themselves faster. There is no reason to be hypocritical and call for a ban on one’s right to choose to smoke but at the same time criticize the entertainment industry for trying to deny people the right to choose technology.
February 27th, 2005 at 7:07 pm
I agree cigs should not be banned but I would like to see a world wide effort to warn people about the dangers of smoking, factories and smog
February 27th, 2005 at 7:27 pm
I agree that people should have the right to choose. Increased taxes, more warnings and education about smoking do not affect a person’s right to choose, but may reduce the number of people addicted to and slowly dieing from tobacco use. The united states refuses to join the tobacco control treaty strictly because the use of cigarettes places a substantial amount of money in the pockets of tobacco giants and private healthcare providers, all at the expence of the people. Does anyone have the right to knowingly & significantly increase the demands placed upon health care systems (by billions of dollars a year), which usually have to be paid for by others? Should they have the right to also poison the people around them with their second hand smoke? I say no, and I say it loudly.
February 27th, 2005 at 8:13 pm
The second hand smoke issue is stupid, unless you’re also campaigning for the removal of the automobile. If you live in any urban area you’re continually inhaling smog. The odd puff of cigarette smoke is nothing.
I’m cool with making it a little bit harder to smoke, and making it a lot harder for tobacco companies to advertise. I’ve fought with smoking on and off (and sometimes not fought with it, and just enjoyed it), and really hate it, though I’m now clean. That said, I’m 100% against a lot of the stupid smoking bans that are popping up in cities. In my city, you can smoke inside a bar/restaurant (but only if it’s 18+), but not outside on the patio. That’s really stupid, especially when the patio is wedged up against a major commuter roadway.
February 27th, 2005 at 8:52 pm
I started smoking when I was 13 and only gave it up about five years ago. It was hard, hard. It’s a deadly addiction with absolutely no saving graces. Big Tobacco is, however, like the movie and record label cartels: so powerful that it calls a lot of the shots – way too many.
Bob Newhart has a sketch when he has Sir Walter Raleigh trying to introduce tobacco.
— Like… what are some of the uses, Walt?… you can shred it up… and put it in a piece of paper… (ha ha ha)… and roll it up… (ha ha ha)… don’t tell me, Walt, don’t tell me… (ha ha ha)… you stick it in your ear, right? (ha ha ha)… Oh!… between your lips!… Then what do you do, Walt?… (ha ha ha)… you set fire to it!… (ha ha ha) Then what do you do, Walt?… (ha ha ha)… You inhale the smoke, huh!… (ha ha ha)
That says it all.
I saw my mother die a terrible death directly as a result of smoking. Anything which might stop Big Tobacco from killing someone else is OK by me.
http://www.monologues.co.uk/Tobacco.htm
February 28th, 2005 at 12:16 am
There is a warning on every pack. In every print ad. Has been for as long as I can remember.
It puts money in the pockets of the government and healthcare because people continue to buy ciggies despite the warnings. Are they addictive? Probably. Can it be treated? Yes.
If you want to smoke, by all means, do so. You know the risks.
February 28th, 2005 at 12:32 am
— Are they addictive? Probably —
Not probably. Cigarettes are 100%, carved in rock, cast-iron addictive.
— Can it be treated? Yes –
Not even nearly. When the nicotine hook is into you, you’re hooked beyond any hope of a ‘cure’.
— If you want to smoke, by all means, do so. You know the risks —
If you believe that, you probably also believe the entertainment industry has your best interests at heart.
February 28th, 2005 at 5:01 pm
“Not probably. Cigarettes are 100%, carved in rock, cast-iron addictive”
Not to me and others i know who have smoked for periods of time, and yet not felt compelled to continue.
“Not even nearly. When the nicotine hook is into you, you’re hooked beyond any hope of a ‘cure’.”
If you mean a chemical cure, then you may be right (not that a chemical cure would be a good thing mind you), but if there is no cure whatsoever, how do you explain the countless people who somehow manage to stop smoking every year?
“If you believe that, you probably also believe the entertainment industry has your best interests at heart. ”
Forgive my being obtuse, but how is that relevent?
I sense, for it does not need much sensing, that you are a strong supporter of governmental control when it comes to the availability of cigarettes, and that you would rather there be top down legislation than botom up education….
If not, i don’t really see what you mean – pretty much everyone knows before they start that smoking isn’t all that good for you, and if they don’t they soon will, and this had been acheived by education over the past 10 – 15 years, all without a nanny state making sure you can’t choose the “wrong” option.
It has nothing to do with industry or government looking out for your best interests (and nor should it) – you see, as hard as it is to believe, it’s down to you looking out for yourself and those near and dear.
Gah, nanny be gone..
February 28th, 2005 at 5:51 pm
Well People , take a good look whats really going on. Slowly but surely we are losing our rights to choose all together. Laws are needed Yes but not to the extent they are beening thrust upon us all. North Americas Leaders are very slowly making us become Communist Thinkers.
Gun Control Is not dead yet and just wait and see whats next after tobacco. Alcohol & Beer maybe.?????????
Everybody have a nice day and Don’t forget to Buckle Up on your way home.