Clearing The Air

Saturday, June 27, 2009

South Dakota smoking ban supporter South Dakota Tobacco Free Kids is a tool of RWJF, better known as Nicoderm Nicotrol Nicorette marketing department

According to Argus Leader:

Supporting the smoking ban is the South Dakota Tobacco Free Kids (SDTFK) Network

New readers to CTA may not realize it but SDTFK's national chapter National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) was funded by and remains to this day, a tool of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

RWJF is the political partner of Johnson & Johnson company which manufactures & markets Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Nicorette, Commit, etc. As a tool of the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical nicotine empire, SDTFK's demand for tighter smoking ban laws is obscured by special interest profits and conflicting interests that make their motives less than forthcoming and possibly downright criminal.

For more information on the $84 million J & J's partner RWJF provided CTFK, or the annual revenues of $500+ million from U.S. sales of Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Nicorette, Commit, etc. read the following articles:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/02/smoking-bans-good-public-policy-or.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2008/06/nicoderm-manufacturer-alza-is.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2006/10/how-drug-industry-uses-non-profits-to.html

Thursday, June 25, 2009

South Dakota organizer successfully delays statewide smoking ban

Larry Mann, who represents the Video Lottery Establishments of South Dakota, as well as South Dakotans for Better Health AND Freedom and at least 16,776 petitioners provided enough signatures to delay a new smoking ban which was scheduled to be implemented July 1, 2009 until voters can decide the issue on the November 2010 ballot.

More here:

Smoking Ban Delayed, Will Go To Public Vote

The South Dakota smoking ban will not take effect as scheduled next week because sufficient signatures have been filed to put the measure to a statewide public vote in next year's November election.

A coalition of bar and casino owners filed petition signatures Monday to refer the smoking ban to a public vote.

Secretary of State Chris Nelson says his office has determined that enough valid signatures exist to put the measure on the ballot.

The law passed earlier by the South Dakota Legislature would ban smoking in bars, Deadwood casinos and video lottery establishments. It extends a ban that has outlawed smoking in most public areas and workplaces since 2002.

It's great to see democracy in action, as opposed to most bans which are forced upon citizens by an ill-informed legislative body. "Ill-informed" because lawmakers are lobbied by Nicoderm special interests (ALA, AMA, CTFK, RWJF, etc.) who are simply concerned about propping up pharmaceutical nicotine profits without fully understanding the impact on business and job losses caused by smoking bans.

Furthermore, lawmakers are not provided the air quality test results by Johns Hopkins University, the American Cancer Society, a Minnesota Environmental Health Department, and various researchers whose testing and report was peer reviewed and published in the esteemed British Medical Journal......which proves that secondhand smoke is 2.6 - 25,000 times SAFER than occupational (OSHA) workplace regulations:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2010/09/new-st-louis-aq-study-published-by.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/11/johns-hopkins-air-quality-testing-of.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/04/bmj-published-air-quality-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2004/04/american-cancer-society-test-results.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2006/02/air-quality-testing-and-secondhand.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2008/03/british-medical-journal-who-conclude.html

All nullify the argument that secondhand smoke is a workplace "health hazard".

Good luck to those who still believe in the free market system and freedom of choice......it's obvious that both are under assault these days in South Dakota and in our nation's capitol.

BTW some may not realize it, but South Dakota already has a statewide smoking ban in place:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2006/07/lawmakers-looking-for-common-sense.html

Obviously however, that doesn't seem to satisfy the Nicoderm marketing department (RWJF) which funds all sorts of non-profits to lobby their pharmaceutical nicotine agenda a.k.a. smoking bans:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/02/smoking-bans-good-public-policy-or.html

11/09 Update on South Dakota's delayed smoking ban found here.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

As activists continue trying to claim smoking bans do not harm jobs, a 495 employee factory announces its closing due to smoking bans

Lately there's been alot of media coverage about a "new study" by U of M / OSU student Liz Klein which "finds" that smoking bans do not harm jobs, however, we've thoroughly debunked that 2003-2006 "study" here:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2009/05/clearway-minnesota-funds-new-study-to.html

Well, we hate to let more facts get in the way of the lies being told by Nicoderm special interests such as RWJF. But here's a newspaper report about a factory closing which is a direct result of the rent seeking legislation (smoking bans).

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jun/23/231900/hav--tampa-cigars-closing-tampa-plant/news-metro/

Excerpts:

Updated: 06/23/2009 07:00 pm

TAMPA - Tampa will lose part of its cigar heritage in August when Hav-A-Tampa shuts its factory near Seffner and lays off about 495 employees, closing a factory that has been operating since 1902......Employees on Tuesday were digesting how they would find work in an economy where more than one in 10 people in the area already are unemployed.....Several things conspired to hurt Altadis' sales, said Richard McKenzie, a senior vice president of human resources for Altadis USA, which owns Hav-A-Tampa., including.....indoor smoking bans. The bans have especially hurt sales in cold-weather states, where it's impractical to smoke a cigar outdoors in the winter, he said.

The full impact of job losses due to smoking bans exceeds several hundred thousand, which of course doesn't take into account the indirect support jobs.

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2009/03/worldwide-economic-meltdown-and.html

The facts are clear, smoking bans have destroyed a significant number of jobs, decimated our economy and continue to do so today and well into the future.

It's time to hold those responsible for these needless laws accountable to provide compensation to those whose jobs were eliminated simply so RWJF / J & J could increase profits and sales of Nicoderm, Nicotrol, Nicorette, Commit, etc.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

South Dakota efforts to delay statewide smoking ban until voter's decide

Organizer: S.D. petition on smoking ban a success

MITCHELL– The coordinator of an attempt to have South Dakota voters decide whether to enact a tougher smoking ban says more than enough petition signatures have been gathered.

“We’re in good shape as far as signatures needed. Now we’re just trying to build a buffer,” said Mann, of Rapid City.

The revised ban, set to take effect July 1, would make it illegal to smoke in public places such as bars, restaurants and video lottery establishments.

If at least 16,776 valid petition signatures are turned in by June 29, the ban won’t be enacted until voters decide the matter in November 2010

Good luck Mr. Mann, we at CTA will closely monitor the situation. Defeating this smoking ban is the only way to save South Dakota's hospitality and gaming industry from the fate that their neighbors in Minnesota have experienced.

Smoking bans in MN closed 327+ bars and restaurants eliminating 10,000+ jobs and decimated state gaming revenue here with losses of $100 million annually.

11/09 Update on South Dakota's delayed smoking ban found here.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Nationwide smoking ban increases total number of smokers

Well then, it's no wonder that the tobacco companies aren't doing more to fight smoking bans. Tobacco companies realize the rebellious nature of humans, the more you tell someone they can't do something, such as smoking, the more likely they are to engage in the forbidden activity.

The proportion of people who smoke in Ireland has increased over the past seven years despite the introduction of the workplace smoking ban and significant increases in the price of cigarettes.

New figures from the Department of Health put the overall smoking rate at 29%, compared to 27% in 2002.

The rate of smoking is higher among women at 31%, compared to 27% of men.

Online story found here:

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/smoking-rate-up-from-27-to-29-since-2002-1774733.html

The apparent long term legacy of smoking bans will be that they destroyed tens of thousands of businesses, eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs; with no benefit of reducing the overall smoking rate.

Then again, the reality is that the bans were lobbied and enacted for one reason and one reason only.........to increase product sales of Nicdoderm, Nicoderm CQ, Nicotrol, Nicorette, Commit, etc.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Smoking ban decreases beer sales

We already know that smoking bans decrease customers and revenue in the hospitality industry across the board, now there is proof that the same special interest (Nicoderm) funded laws negatively affect liquor industry sales.

Is the reduction of alcohol consumption an unintended consequence of the smoking bans.....not exactly. You see, smoking ban instigator and major funding source, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is partner to Johnson & Johnson Company who not only manufactures Nicoderm, Nicoderm CQ, Nicotrol, Nicorette, Commit, (see pgs 32,33,56) but also makes drugs used as an alternative to alcohol, primarily used to treat people forced to abstain from liquor consumption.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Worker's union overturns Pennsylvania smoking ban

Teachers Union's Objections Sink Smoking Ban in Pennsylvania

The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF), the union that represents the 6,000 faculty members and coaches in the state school system, objected to the smoking ban — and last month the state's Labor Relations Board overturned it, ruling that the education board had failed to negotiate with with the union.

Also cross referenced here:

http://banthebanwisconsin.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/freedom-of-choice-victory-in-pennsylvania/

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Will smoking ban promoter Robert Wood Johnson Foundation come to Robert Wood Johnson IV's rescue?

Federal prosecutors are expected to unseal indictments today in a massive tax-evasion investigation involving former officers of the Seattle investment firm Quellos, accusing them of operating offshore tax shelters used to hide hundreds of millions of dollars from the government...report focused on a portfolio offered by Quellos to a handful of very wealthy clients, including Robert Wood Johnson IV, an heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune...

Rest of the story online here:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009298327_quellos04m.html

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Defeating a smoking ban is "good for business"

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090603-708987.html

Louisiana smoking ban defeated....

That was a wise decision. Smoking bans leave closed hospitality businesses and heavy unemployment in their wake.....something Nawlins doesn't need right now.

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Worldwide press release exposes the fraud behind tobacco control, smoking bans, and nicotine replacement product manufacturers

Found online here:

http://www.pr-inside.com/international-tobacco-control-corruption-exposed-r1291951.htm

Excerpts:

“For too long now we’ve been brainwashed by propaganda spewed out by Tobacco Control agencies, funded by the large pharmaceutical companies to push their products,” states chairman Eddie Douthwaite. “The pharmaceutical industry has an enormous stake in the war against the tobacco industry.”

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Johnson & Johnson Inc) has funded numerous anti-smoking organisations with millions of dollars in grants to lobby for the introduction of smoking bans and for those same organisations to promote their Nicotine Replacement Products.

“Smoking bans are just big business to the pharmaceutical companies and another way to make profits, at whatever cost to society,” continues Eddie Douthwaite.

The loss of jobs in the hospitality trade is indisputable as a result of smoking bans and has even been documented by anti-smoking organisations.

Huh.....who'd have thought there was hidden agenda?

Sarcasm aside, read more here:

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2007/02/smoking-bans-good-public-policy-or.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2010/10/air-quality-testing-of-secondhand-smoke.html

http://cleanairquality.blogspot.com/2009/03/worldwide-economic-meltdown-and.html