U.S. Shocks with Promise to Back Anti-Smoking Pact (Tommy Thompson told journalists (WHO)) )

reuters ^ | 5/18/2003 | Karen Iley

[TLBSHOW]

U.S. Shocks with Promise to Back Anti-Smoking Pact

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States said Sunday it would fully support a global anti-smoking treaty at this week's world health meeting, startling observers by dropping its objections to the pact.

"I'm going to support it -- much to the surprise of many around the world," U.S. Health Secretary Tommy Thompson told journalists on the eve of the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual assembly.

Despite having some of the world's toughest anti-smoking rules, the United States, along with Germany, had opposed a clause to ban advertising saying it went against constitutional guarantees to free speech.

In what appeared to be an about-turn on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world's first international treaty on health, Thompson said he would not call for alterations to the text.

"I'm not going to make any changes. We have no reservations. The delegation here, headed by me, is in support of the tobacco treaty," he said.

Health activists said they were thrilled by the U.S. change of heart on tobacco.

"It's an astonishing departure from the obstructionist position the United States has taken throughout the negotiations," said Kathryn Mulvey, executive director of U.S. anti-smoking alliance Infact.

However Thompson stopped short of saying the United States would ratify the pact, which aims to wean the world off a habit that kills almost five million people a year.

President Bush, bogged down with other issues such as Iraq and getting the economy back on track, had not yet had a chance to review the text with his lawyers, he said.

"The president is going to make a determination as to if and when he signs it... He's still reviewing it. It got up on his personal radar screen this past week, I've given him my pitch and he was quite supportive," he said.

The treaty seeks to tackle the consequences of tobacco use with measures ranging from a halt in advertising to a crackdown on smuggling and a ban on cigarette sales to minors.

The United Nations health agency predicts the number of people dying each year from cancer, cardiovascular disease and other conditions linked to smoking could exceed 10 million by 2020, with 70 percent of the victims in the developing world

[Just another Joe]

If you don't put your post in one of the Big Four sidebars (Front Page, Extended News, Breaking News, or Editorial), then people aren't going to see it.

Very rarely does a tobacco related thread get put into any of the 'big four' sidebars.
As most could care less, at least at this point, about property rights and individual liberties it's not a PC subject.

[Gabz]

I'm sorry, but you're confusing me here:

Don't focus on "the crap". Keep a keen eye on the overall issues. Leave the crap for the Dimecrats to focus on while Dubya' keeps his focus on the overall gains to personal freedoms we all hold dear.

The "crap" you are referring to deals with our First amendment as well as private property rights. IMO, Thompson's comments on this work to destroy personal freedoms.

As I said, you have me confused, could you please clarify a bit?

[dalereed]

"Dubya' keeps his focus on the overall gains to personal freedoms we all hold dear"

He's destroyed more freedoms in his short tenure than have been destroyed in such a short period of time in my 65 years here.

As far as smokers on FR, it's been my experience that well over half smoke.

[Blue Screen of Death]

The U.S.A. is supposed to be the land of the free, but when foreigners see that in the U.S.

At about the time California was getting ready to ban smoking in bars, I was working there on a contract. When I went outside to smoke, I usually met a Chineese gentleman who had a PhD from Yale, but was an employee of the Chineese government. He was laughing at the smoking ban. He said, that the communist government in China would never even think of doing something like that. They might do a lot of other dumb things, but this would never be one of them.

[Cagey]

"The president is going to make a determination as to if and when he signs it... He's still reviewing it. It got up on his personal radar screen this past week, I've given him my pitch and he was quite supportive," he said.

It sounds like Thompson has been smoking something and it's not made by RJ Reynolds. In one breath he tells the world he's going to support it and in another he says the President is still reviewing it. Who's in charge here?

[Gabz]

Just trying to be a good girl.


The expletives that came out of my mouth as I read this would make even a retired sailor blush.

[Great Dane]

The United Nations health agency predicts the number of people dying each year from cancer, cardiovascular disease and other conditions linked to smoking could exceed 10 million by 2020, with 70 percent of the victims in the developing world

The lies grow by a mile every day.

[headsonpikes]

"As far as smokers on FR, it's been my experience that well over half smoke."

And at any given moment, several are about to burst into flame! ;^)



I hope this is merely a cynical gesture by Thompson and the U.S., as it may very well be.

[Great Dane]

70% of the population in the third world, dies whether they smoke or not.

[Gabz]

You're right Joe.

So many here are all in favor of private property rights as long as it does not mean people are permitted to use tobacco products.

Mention cigarettes and all of a sudden private business establishments become "public" places.

I know a lot of bar and restaurant owners in Delaware that would love to be "public" places - that is funded by tax payers which is the true definition of public places.

[Timesink]

Very rarely does a tobacco related thread get put into any of the 'big four' sidebars.

That's the fault of the posters, not FR readers.

[oceanview]

tobacco is going to be a controlled product, taxed by the state. like it or not, this is where it is heading.

[A. Pole]

The United States said Sunday it would fully support a global anti-smoking treaty at this week's world health meeting, startling observers by dropping its objections to the pact.

Why not global Prohibition? It would be more fun.

[Gabz]

Who's in charge here?

It sure as *&^% better not be tommy-boy - I don't remember him being on the ballot in 2000.

[Gabz]

tobacco is going to be a controlled product, taxed by the state. like it or not, this is where it is heading.

Where have you been? It's been that for decades.

[Just another Joe]

tobacco is going to be a controlled product, taxed by the state. like it or not, this is where it is heading.

Tobacco is already a controlled product and is already taxed by the federal AND state governments as well as the 'secret' tax brought about by the Master Settlement Agreement between the states and the tobacco companys.

If you mean it's going to be controlled like narcotics, It's going to be a looong time before that happens. It's too big a tax to let go of.

[A. Pole]

Leave the crap for the Dimecrats to focus on while Dubya' keeps his focus on the overall gains to personal freedoms we all hold dear.

I would enjoy if you gave some examples of those "gains to personal freedoms", please?

[Just another Joe]

That's the fault of the posters, not FR readers.

That's a possibility but there are those of us that have been politely warned by TPTB to keep it toned down.

[headsonpikes]

"tobacco is going to be a controlled product, taxed by the state...."

I'm guessing you're being ironic.

After all, aren't we already there?

[metesky]

Not as slow as they used to...