The World Health Organization has a series of very informative articles about tobacco on its web site today.
http://www.who.int/en/ May 31 -- Memorial Day for us -- is "World No Tobacco Day" sponsored by the WHO. The WHO articles discuss the link between tobacco and poverty, and also the fact that tobacco products hurt us all in terms of economics as well as health. I commend the WHO articles to all who have an interest in the smoking ban issue. Our tobacco addictions support a global industry that preys upon the poor and poorly educated, that keeps third world tobacco farmers and laborers locked in poverty, exploits child labor, and continues to agressively push a very toxic drug even here in the heart of the American Empire. Poor people are merely highly expendable slave labor for the tobacco industry, which also attempts to ensnare the poor into the vicious cycle of addiction, ensuring that these same people will suffer debilitating diseases and die 13 or 14 years prematurely from smoking-relatedd diseases. I continue to wonder if our local politicians and state representatives have the courage to call for reform which will bring qbout positive change in the world, or will simply remain a compliant and docile, allowing pathological pursuit of wealth to dominate our culture and politics. The usual path for politicians is to follow the money, and to follow the desires of those with enourmous sums of money to throw at the political process we allow to pass for democracy in this country. Which will it be -- mayor, city council members, and state legislators representing Minneapolis? Will you follow the money and the path of least resistance, or will you lead us toward real progress in public health? still pedaling for peace and ecojustice from Kingfield -- Gary Hoover REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
