A news story from New Tang Dynasty Television: Anti-Smokers Protest Bangkok Trade Show
or, The Thai Anti-Tobacco Movement ROCKS. BIG TIME!
Until today, the biggest anti-tobacco protest (and I mean ‘protest’, as opposed to convention/conference) I’d ever attended was in Washington DC about 3 years ago. Of the 5,000 attendees at the 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health, about 200 of us marched through the streets of DC (with a large police escort) to the White House, where we demanded (that’s right, we demanded, dammit!) the US take serious action against tobacco, including long overdue ratification of the FCTC (which, as far as I know, still has not been done). In any case, that whole trip — the conference, the protest, the networking, etc. — was incredible, BUT…
I just got ‘home’ from the biggest, best and most powerful anti-tobacco protest ever! And when I say ‘powerful’: If we’re talkin’ earthquakes, all previous protests (great as they’ve ALL been), have been ‘minor tremors’, barely registering on the Richter scale…and hardly noticeable by anyone, especially the tobacco industry (TI).
But this one rocked those bastards… and has triggered a tsunami that just might, with any luck at all, wipe them out!
In typical ‘Errol’ fashion, I was late getting to the protest site this morning. With many curious onlookers (including hotel staff), I loaded the Grim Reaper costume, the SICKARET and 3 placards into a taxi for the 5-minute drive to the convention centre (BKKCC). With the temperature in the mid to high 80s (yes, fahrenheit) and very high humidity, I’m hoping an Arctic front will blow in. No such luck.
Having scouted out the BKKCC area a couple of days earlier, I knew exactly where to go. And besides, I’d been reminded that, with 150 – 500 people protesting, I couldn’t possibly miss it. Well, I missed it!
Not seeing any sign at all of a protest, I got the cabbie (who spoke virtually no English) to pull over. A security guard approached and, seeing my gear (especially the SICKARET) in the back seat, asked an unspoken question by putting his hand to his mouth in a smoking gesture. I said yes. He pointed and, in Thai, told the cabbie where to go, as it were.
A couple of blocks further and I see about 100 people (mostly highschool-aged kids) on the sidewalk… some in costumes (including less-elaborate [if I may be so bold] Grim Reapers, cigarettes, etc.), most carrying placards (in English and Thai)…and ALL wearing very cool t-shirts that say, “TOBACCO KILLS!” in big bold letters on the front and “5,400,000″ (plus some other text) on the back. And there are at least 2, maybe 3 dozen helmet-wearing police officers. And I’m thinkin’, “This is cool!”
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In an extremely rare and brief display of sadness and sombre reflection, the normally cold, callous and emotionless Grim Reaper marked the (albeit ‘accidental’, as in a helicopter crash) death of the 123rd Canadian soldier in Afghanistan today (July 7, 2009) by announcing that he is firing the Taliban. In fact, he is severing his ties with all combatants — the good, the bad and the ugly — in all conflicts around the globe. Why? Because his lifelong friends at the tobacco industry kill far more people than ALL of the bullets and bombs ever will!
“The Canadian mission to Afghanistan began in 2002. That’s 7 years ago! Many says it’s been a failure…and I couldn’t agree more: To date, the world’s most feared terrorist organization — the Taliban — have managed to kill just 123 Canadian soldiers…
IN SEVEN YEARS…
IN A BLOODY WAR ZONE! My pals at the nicotine cartel…I mean, tobacco industry…kill that same number of Canadians EACH AND EVERY DAY!!!”, Grim said.
“I need dead bodies! The more the merrier! I thought the Taliban could produce more, but they have failed, miserably!”
Grim continues, “To put it all into perspective: For every Canadian soldier killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, tobacco has prematurely killed — by an average of 10 – 15 years — more than 2,500 Canadians! Obviously, most of those dead Canadians are ‘civilians’, but that tragic toll includes dozens of (perhaps 100 or more) veterans as well!”
With a devilish smirk on his face, he adds, “Kind of ironic, isn’t it: So many veterans survive the absolute hell of war only to have their lives cut short by a weed that has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, contains the most addictive drug known (nicotine), is a leading cause of brush and forest fires, is the leading cause of (residential) fire fatalities, is one of the biggest drains on our ‘in-crisis’ health-care system, etc.”
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Needless to say, the Grim Reaper is choked, pardon the pun.
Adrian Dix has driven yet another nail into the coffin of Grim’s good friends at the nicotine cartel.
Grim — speaking on behalf of Arminda Mota (well-paid tobacco ho… I mean, president of the tobacco industry front group mychoice.ca), Stephen Hartwell (former president of Smokers’ Rights Canada, until he was replaced by Grim) and Giant Turkey — expressed his deep concern. “Fortunately, there are enough terrorist attacks, wars, murders and non-tobacco-caused diseases out there to keep me ‘in business’ for a very long time to come. But if these damn radical, fanatical and militant anti-smoker zealots continue at the current rate, I’m going to lose a huge chunk of my business.”
A letter to the editor of the Globe and Mail from the Grim Reaper:
In response to Gable’s editorial cartoon (Aug 2) and Stan Shatenstein’s subsequent letter (“Cough, cough”, August 5) — and on behalf of the entire tobacco industry, globally — I’m here to tell you that 1) nicotine is not addictive, 2) tobacco/smoking does not kill and 3) we [tobacco executives] are not sewer rats!
Sincerely,
Catherine Doyle
Imperial Tobacco smokesperson
and
The tobacco industry’s biggest fan and cheerleader,
The Grim Reaper
Greetings, dying people. What the hell are you waiting for? Get on with it! Start smoking! Or, if you already smoke, smoke more, dammit… in all public places, workplaces, at gas stations and dynamite factories!
As much as I truly appreciate the efforts made by Order of Canada recipient Henry Morgentaler, Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda, all suicide bombers, drunken/stoned drivers et al, they just can’t compete with my heroes (and Order of Canada recipients too): Paule Gauthier, Doug Bassett and Pierre des Marais II.
They’re Canadian tobacco executives. Okay, enough niceties: They’re butchers! They’re no different than pedophiles, certainly in terms of their targeting of young, impressionable and vulnerable children! They are murderers! And they’re proud of it!
But here’s the really funny part: They’ve actually managed to convince the world that they are “good corporate citizens” who are simply providing just another consumer product. That’s hilarious! I love ‘em!
The Grim Reaper, accompanied by Airspace Action on Smoking and Health, will conduct yet another protest in front of the Georgia Straight office, 1701 W. Broadway in Vancouver, on Friday, May 30… the day before the WHO’s World No Tobacco Day 2008.
Vancouver-based Airspace Action on Smoking and Health — Canada’s leading all-volunteer anti-tobacco organization — has had a running battle with the Georgia Straight for more than a decade now. At issue: The Georgia Straight‘s unrepentant insistence on running tobacco ads, whether they be for chewing tobacco or for some supposedly “new” — and “improved?” (???)– cigarette brand.
The federal Tobacco Act is clearly part of the problem: It’s so full of loopholes that you could drive a stolen semi loaded with contraband cigarettes through it! Be that as it may, while the Straight may not be violating the letter of the law, it is clearly violating the spirit and/or the intent of the law. Additionally, Canada ratified a World Health Organization treaty; the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control a few years ago. Again, while the enforcement component of that treaty is not as effective as it should be, any and all tobacco advertising is in clear and blatant violation of that treaty… and the Georgia Straight knows it!
Bottom line: The Georgia Straight, like the tobacco industry, has freely chosen to put its profits ahead of the comfort, health and safety of its readers/customers.
Please call your MP and urge her/him to take a stand and get tough on tobacco advertising. Then call the Georgia Straight at (604) 730-7000… and let them know you’re not impressed with their tobacco advertising. And last but not least, please seriously consider donating to — or becoming a member of — Airspace Action on Smoking and Health.
On May 5, 2008, the Grim Reaper and members of Airspace Action on Smoking and Health protested a Joe Jackson concert, held at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia.
Why was Airspace protesting this event? So glad you asked.
We learned about Joe Jackson and his “allegiance” to the tobacco industry a few months ago. At that time, Airspace president Errol Povah attempted to contact singer/songwriter Jackson (via his website), to challenge him to a public debate on any and all aspects of smoking/tobacco control. While Povah didn’t get through to Jackson, directly, one of Jackson’s reps did the talking for him… and made it clear that Jackson had neither the time nor the energy — nor the inclination — to debate the issue, “now or ever.”
We urge you to check out Jackson’s website — www.joejackson.com — and click on the “SMOKING” link at the top of the home page. As you will see, Joe is not just your average, run-of-the-mill smoker; he’s clearly a puppet of the tobacco industry. He denies getting paid by the tobacco industry; we have no way of proving otherwise, but obviously, we have our doubts about that. In any case, whether Jackson likes it or not, he’s a celebrity and a role model… and as such, he should be ashamed of himself for so aggressively promoting such an addictive, disease-causing, debilitating and deadly product…the only legal product which kills when used exactly as intended by the manufacturer!
As we stated in our hand-out — or “Program!” as we called it — we didn’t seriously expect any Joe Jackson fans to, after reading our material, change their minds about going to the concert… and leave. But we do encourage everyone to think about the issue… and Jackson’s role in promoting a product which is, ultimately, responsible for one of the biggest drains on our “in-crisis” health-care system.
Here’s an e-mail we got from one now-former Joe Jackson fan:
I attended the concert in Vancouver, last nite… had I been aware of Joe’s position on smoking, I would not have attended. There can be no excuse for supporting this vile and sickening addiction. I’m thankful to Vancouver Airspace for enlightening me on Joe’s position … I will not buy any of his music until he comes clean.
An editorial in the Boston Herald: Monsters in the boardroom.
Here’s what it says:
The makers of Marlboro cigarettes, Altria Corp., plan to spin off a company to make and sell cigarettes overseas, beyond the reach of American law, courts, regulation and public opinion.
What creates not just a place in hell for these people, but a special place in hell, is that many of the cigarettes they plan to sell will be even more dangerous than today’s.
One such cigarette is “Marlboro Mix 9,” a high-nicotine, high-tar smoke offered in Indonesia since July. According to The Wall Street Journal, the new company will be particularly interested in expanding sales in China , whose 350 million smokers prefer “the stronger taste of full-tar cigarettes.”
Or how about this clever little coffin nail, “Marlboro Intense,” half an inch shorter than the regular kind. It reportedly is aimed at giving “seven potent puffs apiece” to “customers who, due to indoor smoking bans, want to dash outside for a quick nicotine hit but don’t always finish a full-size cigarette.”
How long such a company can stay in business is anybody’s guess, but apparently the organizers believe it will be worthwhile. European countries are following the United States in outlawing smoking in many public places and it will be only a matter of time before the rest of the globe wakes up to the enormous health costs of the smoking habit and seeks to reduce them.
What would we think of a company that arranged to sell foreigners some harmless but addictive little pleasure (think gumdrops) daily but 20 years later for some, 25 for others, 30 for still others and so forth, coerced gumdrop-eaters into taking a revolver loaded with one bullet, spinning the cylinder, putting the muzzle to their temples and pulling the trigger?
We’d think it was a moral offense of the worst kind. This is not an exact statistical analogue to the dangers of a lifetime of smoking, but the risks are in the same ballpark.
We fail to see how Altria executives can be distinguished from such monsters.
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Boy, oh boy. Grim loves monsters. And a special place in Hell? I’m all for it.