Posted on 05/31/2010 8:09:18 PM PDT by uglybiker
International Tobacco Growers' Association Exposes the Likely Loss of Millions of Jobs Due to WHO Proposal on Tobacco Ingredients
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) expressed outrage today at the devastating impact that the latest set of recommendations from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) would have on the jobs and livelihoods of millions of tobacco growers around the world.
“In some parts of the world, entire communities depend on the tobacco growing sector. I want to know what these bureaucrats have to say to the people whose lives they are going to ruin for no good reason whatsoever.”
Draft guidelines of articles 9 & 10 of the FCTC recommend a ban of ingredients used in the manufacturing of tobacco products. If implemented this would virtually eliminate traditional blended cigarettes which account for approximately half of the global market. The impact on growers who supply the tobacco varieties used in these products would be dramatic.
“These recommendations have been made by bureaucrats, mostly from wealthy countries who know nothing about tobacco growing. Their recommendations could wipe out the livelihoods of millions of tobacco growers all over the world,” said António Abrunhosa, CEO of the ITGA. “For some inexplicable reason, tobacco growers, the very people most affected by the guidelines, are officially excluded from any discussions. Even ministries of agriculture or economy seem unaware of the discussions taking place within the FCTC. There doesn’t seem to be any balanced form of representation whatsoever.”
Numerous countries, including some of the poorest nations, such as Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania now face the prospect of seeing millions of jobs lost and a huge decline in the export of tobacco. Tobacco cultivation is critical for the economy in these countries and one of the few agricultural activities to have remained buoyant during the recent worldwide economic crisis. The latest guidelines drafted by bureaucrats in Geneva threaten to undo that for no clear benefit.
“These guidelines are just plain wrong whichever way you look at them. Nobody has explained to me how banning some cigarette products and ignoring others will have any benefit for people’s health,” said Roger Quarles, President of the ITGA. “It will just be a disaster for those growers who grow leaf for traditional blended products.”
“It’s not just tobacco growers whose livelihoods are threatened here,” continues Abrunhosa. “In some parts of the world, entire communities depend on the tobacco growing sector. I want to know what these bureaucrats have to say to the people whose lives they are going to ruin for no good reason whatsoever.”
ITGA represents more than thirty million tobacco growers across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. “We call on governments all over the world to support growers by adopting a common sense approach and discarding these irrational and potentially economically devastating guidelines.”
Common sense means little to the nico-nazi crowd. You'll have as much luck trying to persuade them with facts.
Is there still a Smoker’s PING List?
If someone has it, add me in.
I don’t smoke anymore but liberals want to legalize pot but ban smoking. These folks are idiots.
I saw some History Channel or Discovery show (maybe Modern Marvels) about cigarettes once. I always just figured they were dried tobacco leaves wrapped in paper. Turns out there’s all sort of weird things in them.
There was a movie called “The Insider” w/Russel Crowe about the additives Big Tobacco put in cigarettes to make them more addictive. I was living in the Louisville area when the actual events took place and it was pretty wild.
The WHO has absolutely no authority to mandate global laws. The IGTA should simply tell them to piss off. IMHO, it sounds like they’re just blowing smoke anyway...
Me, too.
Conversely, the Communist/Socialist side believes that controlling the citizens, government, and even votes is the ultimate goal. Our side soon needs to recognize that it's not ever going to be a battle at the ballot box that will decide which side prevails. Rather, it's going to be a much more committed struggle. Oilbama isn't going to just give up his power ... EVER.
While the WHO doesn’t make laws, it has the clout, money and connections to put pressure on those who do.
Thank your globalist/socialist masters. Of course you have no representation in those decisions. Socialism is the opposite of representative governance.
There are over 800 additives used in cigarette manufacturing. Not all 800 are put in every brand. The U.S. FedGov requires manufacturers to provide a list of those additives every year. By Federal law that list is locked away and no one is allowed to see it or publish it. American Spirit tobacco company sent me a reprint of an article in a nationally syndicated publication about it in the early ‘90s. (don’t remember which one now)
Back in 1974 one of my wife's Uncle's who lives in Canada 'was' a Tobacco Farmer. 'On paper' he was worth well over $1 Mil. That was until Canada went 'anti-tobacco' and at the same raised taxes through the roof.
He literally went from 'the Penthouse to the outhouse' and had to resort to selling Pickled Herring he made to Lithuanians in Chicago - through his brother, my FIL. They would bring (sneak) 5 gallon buckets in their car trunk (its one heck of a loooong drive). They made this run iirc about 4 times a year. (reminded me of moonshiners).
So yes. the Nico-Nazis don't give a carp about whom they ruin.
It took some time but the wife's uncle made after a few (10?) years when they switched crops, but they had to pay all back taxes first. They were hurtin for a long time.
while the effects of this article are disturbing, i never wouldve guessed that the continent of africa was capable of growing anything...and if they were to eliminate tobacco, maybe they could grow their own food ???.../s
Actually they do an okay job of growing their own when not having to deal with wars or dipsh*t dictators.
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