-Caveat Lector- ------- Forwarded message follows ------- Date sent: Thu, 3 May 2001 13:07:29 -0400 (EDT) To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: LP Release: U.N.'s War on Smoking From: Libertarian Party Announcements <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- =============================== NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org =============================== For release: May 3, 2001 =============================== For additional information: George Getz, Press Secretary Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] =============================== U.N. bureaucrats are drafting treaty to declare 'World War' on cigarettes WASHINGTON, DC -- United Nations bureaucrats are drafting an international treaty to try to get everyone on Earth to stop smoking -- a troubling development that could mark the beginning of a "World War" against cigarettes, the Libertarian Party warned today. "It's bad enough that American politicians are trying to tax your cigarettes, and regulate or prohibit your right to smoke," said Steve Dasbach, the party's national director. "But now, instead of having to fight local and state battles over smoking, Americans need to be concerned about politicians from France, Zimbabwe, and Brazil who want the power to decide whether you will be allowed to smoke." This week, representatives from 190 governments are meeting in Geneva, Switzerland to negotiate the terms of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) -- a multi-national treaty designed to battle what they call the "devastating" effects of tobacco around the world. Cigarette smoking is such a global problem, say U.N. bureaucrats, that it calls for a "coordinated international response." The conference, sponsored by the U.N.'s World Heath Organization, is expected to result in a treaty that will call for: * Dramatic increases in cigarette taxes to discourage smoking, and an agreement to make cigarette prices the same everywhere in the world. * Severe restrictions on cigarette advertising. * A ban on tobacco companies' sponsorship of sporting events. * Some undefined action, such as multibillion-dollar lawsuits, to hold cigarette companies "responsible" for tobacco-related health problems. The World Health Organization says it wants the FCTC ratified by U.N. member nations and in effect by 2003. But the Libertarian Party says that American adults have the right to decide whether they will smoke -- without U.N. bureaucrats trying to make that decision for them. "Smoking is a personal choice, not an international crisis," said Dasbach. "Adult Americans should have the right to engage in behavior that hurts no one but themselves, as long as they are willing to take responsibility for the health consequences. "We don't need United Nations politicians trying to lecture us about the dangers of smoking. And, more importantly, we don't want United Nations politicians trying to raise cigarette taxes, attack the First Amendment with advertising bans, or encourage nuisance lawsuits against legitimate, legal businesses," he said. "In fact, the only international crisis here is the eagerness of politicians from 190 nations to try to run our lives." The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control treaty is ironic, said Dasbach, given that the original intent of the United Nations was to help nations prevent war. "It's a classic case of mission creep," he said. "U.N. bureaucrats apparently don't have enough real wars to keep them busy, so they have started declaring war on behavior they don't like. "With this proposed international treaty, we've met the New World Order -- and it's a global nanny state with a 'No Smoking' sign in its hand." -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBOvG3yNCSe1KnQG7RAQG7gwQAgULEyZGrrYFX/g3sm31t0TG1MuN8X80t 1PrbEA8XVq+TLl+ihK4x61cqql8RkHseiObm/kTdk7i1dhW2DL1vAP1JVjm5TkHu U05UdppAWuUJ73sXjo4owoUsYeT9v0k7F2nQ16q6DZI9lfA5ZT19TQHhPEh1zZGJ p4Y1jY8EzVY= =BfPH -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/ 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 100 voice: 202-333-0008 Washington DC 20037 fax: 202-333-0072 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For subscription changes, please use the WWW form at: http://www.lp.org/action/email.html Alternatively, you may also send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with just the word "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" in the subject line. ------- End of forwarded message ------- -- Best wishes When robbery becomes the purpose of the law, and the policeman's duty becomes, not the protection, but the plunder of property -- then it is an outlaw who has to become a policeman. -- Ragnar Danneskj÷ld <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. 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