World anti-smoking pact in force

[onehandle]

GENEVA, Switzerland (Reuters) -- A global treaty aimed at dissuading children from smoking and helping adults kick the habit came into force on Sunday with the United Nations saying it could save millions of lives.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) applauded the strong warnings on cigarette packages and the eventual ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship laid down in the the world's first international public health treaty.

"It's entry into force is a demonstration of governments' commitment to reduce death and illness from tobacco use," said WHO Director-General Lee Jong-wook in a statement to mark the event.

Tobacco, the second leading cause of preventable deaths globally after hypertension, kills 4.9 million people a year, the U.N. agency says.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/02/27/global.smoking.reut/index.html

[Trillo]

1. While the ideal is lofty, and I certainly support

preventing children from smoking, what kind of precedent does this set for global democracy when only leaders of countries have any voting rights for UN representives?

[JDPriestly]

2. Wonderful.

Smoking tobacco is a scourge. If you think about it, the physiological process in smoking is similar that used in smoking ham or curing other meat -- except that smokers cure themselves from the inside out. That's why smokers seem to dry up and shrivel as they age. Tobacco -- what a horrible addiction. Tobacco companies -- killers -- and mostly politically conservative killers to boot.

I don't understand how liberals/progressives can spend their money on tobacco when tobacco companies do so much to support right-wing causes. Same for certain beer companies.

[Squatch]

4. You leave beer out of this, you hear?

:beer:

[tx_dem41]

10. Well, after reading that, all I can say is...

time to burn one..errr...cure thyself?

[SoCalDem]

17. The report I heard today said that alcohol & junk food was next

:)

Start stocking up on that :beer:

[peacetalksforall]

3. Unbelievably great...a person could want to travel again ....if there is.

ever peace and if we will be welcomed again.

Tourism - the number one industry in the world for decades.

Look at what imperialism has done for those at all levels who were able to subsist and prosper on tourism - a once peaceful endeavor.

[barbaraann]

5. Tobacco is the #1 gateway drug to serious drug abuse.

n/t

[shraby]

6. Working harder to stop wars and genocide would save

millions of lives too.

[barbaraann]

7. Yes, but we also need population control--

humane population control.

[mom cat]

27. The sooner the better, or the results will certainly be very inhumane.

[Warpy]

8. That's truer than you realize

Research on addictive pathways in the brain have shown that nicotine lights these pathways up like a theater marquee. It seems that an early addiction to nicotine establishes these pathways, making subsequent addiction more likely. Nicotine is also one of the fastest substances known to produce addiction. Some people are irreversibly hooked after only a couple of days, as opposed to weeks for illegal drugs like heroin or cocaine. There are addicts who have never used tobacco, but they are rare.

Addicted smokers will undoubtedly point out that everybody who is addicted to drugs or anything else started out on milk, so milk is the gateway drug. Well, sorry about that, but milk doesn't have the same measurable activity in the brain that tobacco does.

Nicotine really is the gateway drug.

[oreocat]

9. Ha - Gateway

I am a smoker and am tired of being the "Bad guy". I am careful not to smoke around kids and always make sure no one will be offended if I light up.
I have not and did not ever "gateway" to drugs in my 45 years.
How's this: No smoking anywhere BUT also no drinking.

See if that will become law. Never.

[noamnety]

11. There's a key difference between smoking and drinking

One has health benefits, the other does not.

I have a family member who is on doctor's orders to have one drink a day because of his history of heart attacks. Drinking in moderation is good for you, whereas smoking isn't.

In other countries, I've been given beer as a hospital patient. I've yet to see a doctor prescribe smoking.

The two are not equivalent.

[Toots]

24. Hoorah for the Marne

I agree with your argument. One or two glasses of red wine every day and cut your risk of heart disease in half. One or two cigarettes a day and double your risk of heart disease. Besides I like the wine better.

[vonSchloegel]

31. That's not true

.There has been evidence to suggest that smoking is beneficial for patients with Altzheimers and Parkinson's

[barbaraann]

12. I didn't know that! I just knew the statistic.

The BFEE probaby knows it, though.

[vonSchloegel]

30. Well actually,

most kids sample caffeine long before they try smoking. Caffeine is not just in soda, but also in chocolate. Caffeine is addictive, and lights up the same neural pathways as nicotine. So Caffeine is the true "Gateway" drug.

Anyway, since Hypertension is the number one preventable killer, shouldn't we be going after salt instead of cigarettes?

[Gyre]

14. Bullshit.

Where's your source?

BTW, Where's your priority lie? Massive death cause by deliberate pre-emptive lies about military capability, illegal, racist wars of occupation? OR Self-destructive hedonistic conduct by a whole class of self-made victims?

If you work for the insurance industry I can see why all of you would get all worked up about this, but it seems rather silly to me in the context of the possibility of nukes getting thrown around in the middle-east in a very short time frame, all because of death-worshipping psychopaths in the WH and Pentagon.

Gyre

[napi21]

13. Well, I'm a smoker, and I don't want to quit! Why do you keep forcing

me? I'm 62 and have been smoking for a LOT of years. You all should wish you were as healthy as I am. I didn't use a sick day in over 30 years.

As the other smoker posted, I don't smoke around children, never in anyone elses home, unless they are a smoker too, and other than out on the street, I don't smoke anywhere else either, you've all made that impossible!

I know I will brobably die of a heart attack, or lung cancer, so I'm well aware of the downside of smoking.

Why don't you people just leave me alone?

[Payback Time]

15. I can see your point as a smoker

who wants to be in control of their own life, but you do have a responsibility to not create secondhand smoke. It sounds like you've minimized that, but what about less responsible smokers? And, of course, the more adults that smoke, the more of an example they are setting that it's ok. In regard to this non-smoking global agreement, though, the U.S. is pretty good compared to Asia and Europe where smoking is a lot more widespread. And, as far as tourism, I'm sure imperalism has done it's damage but don't forget about terrorism. Jihad really does exist.

[napi21]

16. Well, I hope the WHO can't make this fly to the world.

I think it's a great idea to point out to everyone the things that are harmful, offer suggestions of ways to stop any behavior that is harmful...and then STOP! Most people aren't stupid, and should be permitted to make up their own mind how to live their lives.

Damn, now I sound like a Pub or a Libertarian, telling gov't to stay the hell out of my personal life!

[SoCalDem]

19. My insurance rates are affected by pizza-addicts too.

People do all kinds of self destructive thingsm and no one lives forever./ Even the "health nut" will die. Google Jim Fixx..

Tolerance is a wonderful thing and we would all benefit from more of it.

As much as the non smokers complain(ed) about smokers, it always used to amuse me to see people waiting to get a table at a popular restaurant. People would sign in and when asked "smoking or non" they would boldly state NON SMOKING, but if the hostess told them there was a table available in smoking, they would grab their kids' hands and bolt for that table...

Most places out here (when it was still allowed) had many non smoking tables available and a vestibule full of people waiting for tables for smoking:) Some of those places are no longer even open now.

My husband and I enjoy eating at the places with outdoor seating anyway. It;s usually quiet and until a few weeks agom weather was never an issue :)

[sonicx]

21. but we also encourage people not to overeat

especially bad foods.

[SoCalDem]

22. "we"

The personal beahvior police?? :P

[mom cat]

28. What a Catch 22 life is. I quit smoking 26 years ago and "temporarily"

put on weight. A few years ago "they" started saying that being overweight was as bad for your health as smoking.

Life:
you can't win
you can't break even
you can't quit the game.

I am still glad I stopped smoking. I'm working on the weight, but it is tough.

(Yes, I have already tried the suggestion you have in mind...all of them). :shrug:

[Skittles]

20. how about anti-war instead of anti-smoker?

how about that?

[DARE to HOPE]

29. Well, consider being on oxygen when you are 75...

...you are free to do what you want, but our dear friend down the street was as determined as you not to quit. He finally did, 6 months ago, after a small stroke, and now is on oxygen forever. He is out of the Kentucky hills, a hard, wired worker all these years in Chicago. And now he is struggling for life, seeing all the grandchildren run around him, he wants to STAY.

My husband finally quit in his early forties--he loves to breath and eat food he can taste. Sooner or later everybody quits. Why not make it sooner?

[napi21]

32. I doubt I'll ever see age 75.

I have always said any time I get after age 50 was a bonus.

I also don't expect a small stroke, I expect the big one, and gonzo.

I also don't expect to be struggling for life as you put it. Guess you and your friend like it a whole lot more than I do. I've had a lot of good times, and very few bad. If it ends tomorrow, so be it.

[slaveplanet]

34. My 96 year old

grandma , still smokes . It's only one or two a day now. We've long since given up trying to FORCE her to quit.

[98geoduck]

18. I think cheap perfume wearers are much more caustic than smoke.

I'm allergic, and the smell gives me headaches, sinus infections, and nausea to the point of vomiting. It is a manufactured chemical cocktail that may be proven to cause cancer, and mental deformities among people who chose to bath in it. I have worked in office buildings and certain people(both men and woman) would leave a trail of this abnoxious odor in elevator shafts, as well as any vicinity they lingered around. There should be research and a ban on wearing that stuff in public.

[ElectroPrincess]

25. Yes, I fully agree ... in a crowded elevator I'd much rather smell ...

the light remnant scent of a *good deodorant soap* than some nasty a**ed perfume.

I believe that Martha Stewart would agree: The bouquet of body order and perfume is NOT a good thing. :puke:

[NashVegas]

23. Hey That's Great. Now ... About Those Nukes ...

unfuckingbelievable.

[98geoduck]

26. No, wait, the right for a woman to chose an abortion is next...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1270053

the threat of nukes will come around election time.

[Sivafae]

33. Just what we needed, more people living longer.

[Piperay]

35. GOOD nt

:thumbsup: