Court rules balcony smoking OK in Helsinki

http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2012/03/court_rules_balcony_smoking_ok_in_helsinki_3364091.html

The municipality had banned smoking on balconies because it disturbed building residents, but a lower court overturned the ban. The city then appealed to the Supreme Court but lost.

Pertti Forss of the Helsinki environment centre says the ruling puts the city at odds with guidelines set by health watchdog Valvira, the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health.

Sounds great right?

The very next day....................................

http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2012/03/balcony_smoking_ban_proposal_gets_support_at_health_ministry_3367224.html 

The ministry is now looking to write the balcony smoking restrictions into law.

“I think that after this [decision] we will have to strongly consider it,” said Paaso. “We are finalising our tobacco strategy, and this proposal is already in the draft.”

Changes to the tobacco law should be presented by ministers to parliament.

I am sickened by outdoor smoking bans,indoor bans,car bans.bans in your own home.It's all insanity.

Someday it has to stop and the end of this stupidity can't come soon enough for me.

Something I'm Proud I Did

Link

I only wish I had been a stronger advocate.


We begin speaking at 21:01.

Why I hate (some) e-cigarette retailers (Not a reblog)

Why I hate (some) e-cigarette retailers

He said: "The cigarette break, just like the coffee break, has been part of office culture for more than a century and many employers and employees alike take them for granted. However, when you actually look at the amount of working hours wasted as staff make their way outside to smoking areas several times a day, it shows just how much they can effect productivity.

"The most prolific smokers we polled were found to waste around five hours per week on cigarette breaks, which is longer than taking every Friday afternoon off. Add that up throughout a typical employment year and this equates to five weeks or more than a full working month off, which is staggering.

"Another problem the breaks cause is the resentment which can often be harboured by non-smokers who feel they are doing more work than their smoker colleagues, which is never good for team spirit or morale."

AAAARRRRGGG!

The hardest part of reading this is knowing that it feeds prejudice and adds insult to injury for no good reason.
People who smoke have taken breaks when working very true but I have worked forever it seems and IMO people who don't smoke waste as much if not more time than smokers do.


This shows how much time the average worker wastes every single day doing things that are oddly somehow not smoke break related.


That little gem about smoker's being lazy can probably be attributed to an ASH press release  here (Linked to a doc stoc because I truly desire to give ASH as little press as possible.)


The best part of this was for me Pat Nurse's comment and I'm going to quote a bit from it.
"I'd also ask those vapers who see it the same way as we do to spread the message to those who haven't quite got it yet that smokers are every bit as good as vapers who too frequently look down their nose at us.

We stand together united or we fall separately. They will be coming for vapers once they've finished with us but the divide and rule tactics suit them for now."

Pat is right. Divide and conquer is the way of the anti. If we never come together cigarette smoker,snusser,pipe smoker,e cigarette smoker,cigar smoker then we will never stand a chance and all will be lost.

Anti-smoking movement gone too far? | Canada | News | Edmonton Sun

Anti-smoking movement gone too far? | Canada | News | Edmonton Sun

Video

Not so sure how I feel about this.

I think it is very compelling once you get past the first five minutes.

Robert Dow: There’s no proof so lighten up and let smokers enjoy their habit

Robert Dow: There’s no proof so lighten up and let smokers enjoy their habit - News - Scotsman.com

IF I suggested that a single cigarette smoked in a car a) causes more “secondary” smoking than a whole evening in a pub; b) is more dangerous than funnelling exhaust fumes into the car and that c) opening a window has no effect, you’d laugh in my face.

The British Lung Foundation would have you believe that.

The mounting hysteria of groups trying to prevent smoking goes beyond invasion of personal choice to near persecution.

ASH Scotland promotes the eccentric view that alluring packaging attracts children to smoking.

Really? With stark “SMOKING KILLS” logos emblazoned on them?

I’d bet most begin by sharing cigarettes among friends.

In any case, they can’t ask for them until the age of 18.

Nothing to add.
:)

LETTER: Smoking ban hits business rights » Evansville Courier & Press

LETTER: Smoking ban hits business rights » Evansville Courier & Press

An independent businessman should have the right to admit or refuse service to anyone. If he wants to allow smokers, then he should be able to post it accordingly in plain sight in his establishment. If you do not tolerate smoking, then do not patronize the establishment.

P.S. I am a nonsmoker!

Common sense.
So refreshing to read.

Bhutan~ Blog Archive » Tobacco, state funding stole the show

kuenselonline » Blog Archive » Tobacco, state funding stole the show

Within a year of its implementation, close to 80 individuals were penalised, almost half the number having to serve a prison term.  Series of online discussions ensued, some mainstream media, especially print, took a radical stand on the issue and had some groups submitting petitions to the government.

Government returned with a proposal to amend about nine sections of the Act.  The end result was a liberalised bill, with increased permissible import amount of tobacco and its products, and much more relaxed penalties.

It was understood the new Act would not be applicable to those, who were already charged under the old one, but would stand to benefit those, whose cases were still under trial or pending.

Coming to the rescue, however, was His Majesty granting royal pardon to 16 people, who were convicted under the previous Act.

It was a big lesson learnt.  For the lawmakers to consider a world of views before endorsing such laws, for implementing agencies to create enough awareness, and the public to learn and stay abreast of the laws affecting them.

Sonam, 15 other tobacco criminals released

Tshering was arrested and detained on January 24 last year after he was caught with 48 packets of chewing tobacco that he purchased from India.

Later in May, a kangaroo court convicted him and passed a verdict slapping him a jail term of 3 years, and became the first tobacco criminal.

It's about fucking time.