Hey Greg - Looks like Iowa is having a problem. Can we post.
thanks
Sheila
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19748916&BRD=1304&PAG=461&dept_id=180485&rfi=6
SL Police: No manpower to enforce new smoking ban
Don't expect Storm Lake Police to become anti-smoking stormtroopers any time soon."We were contacted by the State of Iowa about enforcement of the new smoking ban, and we stated at that time that we neither have the time or the people to enforce the ban," Public Safety Director Mark Prosser said."In my mind, this is truly an unfunded mandate, and it will not be very high on our priority list at all."
Bonnie Mapes, director of the health department's division of tobacco control, said this week that either businesses or people smoking illegally could be fined by local police. She said the health department will oversee the complaint system, but it's up to law enforcement to take further action.Law enforcement officials across the state were under the impression that the health department would be primarily handing smoking ban complaints, using an 800 number that is to be set up for people to report smoking lawbreakers."
As we read the information at this time, they can defer to local law enforcement," Prosser said - which could take officers away from patrols and other community safety work.Preliminary rules from the state seem to put the burden on business operators. They are to put up signs at every entrance, and if someone still smokes, they first are supposed to ask them to stop; if the smoker refuses the businessperson is supposed to stop providing service to them and then can tell them to leave the property if necessary, Prosser said.
If a smoker still won't leave, the business can call police, and the issue could become one of trespassing or other charges."If the business asks a person to leave, they need to leave," Prosser said.Assitant Chief Todd Erskine will be attending a briefing from the Iowa Attorney General's office later this month - likely to include discussions of the smoking ban impact.
Prosser is not certain how effective the legislation will be, without resources to enforce the rules."I'm not sure we want our officers very involved with this at all. It presents itself with a variety of problems including customer relations and public relations," Prosser said.He hopes that businesses are able to step up and prevent smoking, and that citizens are aware of the law and respect it without law enforcement policing it.Police will continue their efforts in the area of spot checks for illegal sale of tobacco to underage kids, Prosser said, "but as far as specific checks to see who is smoking where, I don't see that happening."
Police and sheriff officials around the state are probably reaching the same conclusion - that they don't have the staff or resources to enforce the state's new ban."It is not uncommon to address an issue - including important issues - with well-minded legislation, and then realize later that there may have been problems in the details that hadn't been foreseen at the time," Prosser said.
In Storm Lake, the Public Safety Director is particularly concerned about how the ban is to be applied at outdoor public events."How is this going to be addressed in our city parks. When we have large concerts and celebrations or activities, how are we supposed to prevent people from smoking? In a large crowd situation, trying to stop them could cause a bigger problem than it solves."City officials are planning a brainstorming session on how they will have to deal with the smoking ban.It is possible that they will have to put up signs in all the parks as well as other public places."We would at least want to be in compliance with signage regulations - although we are going to need more information to know what we need to do."The smoking ban is currently scheduled to take effect July 1.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Short "red rant" and guest commentary I recieved via email.
Red Rant: Some interesting points. I still remember the "smoking patch" TC commercial where the person using the "patch" goes over and talks to people smoking there. If you want to quit smoking it's best to avoid smoke completely. I quit before Minnesota's original Clean Air Act and had to avoid smoking situation and alcohol for six months. I quit and haven't restarted in more than 30 years. After the six months second hand smoke didn't give giving smoking urges. Enjoy the comments below, Greg Lang
Greg - Thank you for your updates and great work on the web site. I saw this on the MN Dept of Health Web site under the frequently asked questions section:What can I do if I lose my job in the hospitality industry as a result of FTB? "The Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership Board will provide services under the dislocated worker program to certain employees who become unemployed between October 1, 2007 and October 1, 2009, because of the provisions of the act."
Now, if the State set up a program to help dislocated workers due to the ban, why couldn't an owner of a bar that goes under sue the state, seeing they already knew this was going to have an effect on small business employees? Regardless of what anyone says about the ban affecting businesses, the State already made provisions for those that will lose their livelihood. They knew what was going to happen, but put the law in anyway. These are the same people who said that a ban will be better for these businesses because all the non-smokers will start showing up. Ya right.
This is also a post I put up on a web site called http://fishingminnesota.com
______- You asked about OSHA, as I have 3 different times. I had also posted a link to this earlier that showed the results, but the bottom line is this:The only way smoking bans have been able to be passed is based on the dangers of second hand smoke. One study will say 53,000 have been killed, another will say 3,000. Bottom line is NO ONE KNOWS!!!!!! The City of St. Louis Park was considering a ban and commissioned an independent study. The results threw them for a loop."The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) specifies that .5 mg of nicotine per cubic meter is an acceptable level. Testing conducted in 2004 of 18 restaurants in St. Louis Park, Minnesota disclosed that none of the restaurants had second hand smoke levels close to the allowable minimum specified by OSHA. In fact, most were far, far below the minimum."Another study:"The measurements taken by the St. Louis Park Environmental Health Department in 19 restaurants that had smoking sections had a full range of between <1 (too low to detect) to a maximum 32.5 (and that one establishment was the only one above 7.5 micrograms, the other 18 were all below that). The absolute worst establishment, the one that was nearly 5 times worse than all the others, was still 85% below the safe exposure limits."The whole smoking ban issue hinges on one thing. That second hand smoke is dangerous to the employees and/or patrons. Not unpleasant, but dangerous. As in life threatening.
The City decided, rather than a ban, they would enforce air quality controls and have each establishment that allowed smoking post them. Now that's something that makes sense.But this movement isn't about what's really right. And like our whole political landscape, there is no such thing as compromise. Believe me, in my 20 plus years of trying to fight environmentalists from taking away 25 horse motors in the exterior of the BWCA, your eyes get opened very quickly about how things work. This is no different.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has 5.3 billion dollars in holdings. The board of directors is made up of CEOs & former CEOs of some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in America. Here is just a partial list of grants this organization has handed out to lobbyist groups over the past 10 - 15 years to push this type of legislation all across the country. All of this is completely verifiableRecipient: American Medical Assoc. $88,000,000.00 Recipient: American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association $99,000,000.00
Smoking cessation products are a multi billion dollar industry."Since the 1998 election cycle, employees of the pharmaceutical and health product industry, their family members and industry political action committees have given $133 million in campaign contributions to candidates running for federal and state offices......
"Now ask yourself, which non profit organizations are screaming the loudest about the dangers of second hand smoke? And Why? And why is the local tavern the one to take it on the chin? Over 150 bars and restaurants in the Twin Cities area have closed since than ban. That doesn't include out state. All because of smoking? I doubt it, but it IS an interesting number for those that feel it's had no effect. (I have a list of the places just in the Twin Cities that closed.)
Greg - Thank you for your updates and great work on the web site. I saw this on the MN Dept of Health Web site under the frequently asked questions section:What can I do if I lose my job in the hospitality industry as a result of FTB? "The Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership Board will provide services under the dislocated worker program to certain employees who become unemployed between October 1, 2007 and October 1, 2009, because of the provisions of the act."
Now, if the State set up a program to help dislocated workers due to the ban, why couldn't an owner of a bar that goes under sue the state, seeing they already knew this was going to have an effect on small business employees? Regardless of what anyone says about the ban affecting businesses, the State already made provisions for those that will lose their livelihood. They knew what was going to happen, but put the law in anyway. These are the same people who said that a ban will be better for these businesses because all the non-smokers will start showing up. Ya right.
This is also a post I put up on a web site called http://fishingminnesota.com
______- You asked about OSHA, as I have 3 different times. I had also posted a link to this earlier that showed the results, but the bottom line is this:The only way smoking bans have been able to be passed is based on the dangers of second hand smoke. One study will say 53,000 have been killed, another will say 3,000. Bottom line is NO ONE KNOWS!!!!!! The City of St. Louis Park was considering a ban and commissioned an independent study. The results threw them for a loop."The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) specifies that .5 mg of nicotine per cubic meter is an acceptable level. Testing conducted in 2004 of 18 restaurants in St. Louis Park, Minnesota disclosed that none of the restaurants had second hand smoke levels close to the allowable minimum specified by OSHA. In fact, most were far, far below the minimum."Another study:"The measurements taken by the St. Louis Park Environmental Health Department in 19 restaurants that had smoking sections had a full range of between <1 (too low to detect) to a maximum 32.5 (and that one establishment was the only one above 7.5 micrograms, the other 18 were all below that). The absolute worst establishment, the one that was nearly 5 times worse than all the others, was still 85% below the safe exposure limits."The whole smoking ban issue hinges on one thing. That second hand smoke is dangerous to the employees and/or patrons. Not unpleasant, but dangerous. As in life threatening.
The City decided, rather than a ban, they would enforce air quality controls and have each establishment that allowed smoking post them. Now that's something that makes sense.But this movement isn't about what's really right. And like our whole political landscape, there is no such thing as compromise. Believe me, in my 20 plus years of trying to fight environmentalists from taking away 25 horse motors in the exterior of the BWCA, your eyes get opened very quickly about how things work. This is no different.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has 5.3 billion dollars in holdings. The board of directors is made up of CEOs & former CEOs of some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in America. Here is just a partial list of grants this organization has handed out to lobbyist groups over the past 10 - 15 years to push this type of legislation all across the country. All of this is completely verifiableRecipient: American Medical Assoc. $88,000,000.00 Recipient: American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association $99,000,000.00
Smoking cessation products are a multi billion dollar industry."Since the 1998 election cycle, employees of the pharmaceutical and health product industry, their family members and industry political action committees have given $133 million in campaign contributions to candidates running for federal and state offices......
"Now ask yourself, which non profit organizations are screaming the loudest about the dangers of second hand smoke? And Why? And why is the local tavern the one to take it on the chin? Over 150 bars and restaurants in the Twin Cities area have closed since than ban. That doesn't include out state. All because of smoking? I doubt it, but it IS an interesting number for those that feel it's had no effect. (I have a list of the places just in the Twin Cities that closed.)
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
MinnesotaDemocratsExposed.com Mike Cerisi may reenter senate race.
Red Rant: Greg Lang
MDE reports that Mike Ceresi of the Minnesota Tobacco Trial might consider reentering the race for US Senate. The MN Democratic nominating convention is this weekend. Here is a link to the MDE post followed by the comment #5 I posted.
http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2008/06/03/ap-ciresi-leaves-door-open-to-senate-race/#comments
"Greg Lang Says: June 4th, 2008 at 7:18 am
If Mike Ceresi decides to run perhaps he can explain why his law firm took almost half a billion dollars in Tobacco Lawsuit settlement money upfront when the annual amount to the state of Minnesota has undergone a double digit decrease.
Many of those traditional “lunchbox” democrats smoke. Perhaps Mike Ceresi could explain to them why the MN tobacco settlement and the the National agreement that followed resulting in the price of their cigarettes going up around one dollar a pack. Gosh darn! Who would have known that the big tobacco bosses would not take the losses?
MDE reports that Mike Ceresi of the Minnesota Tobacco Trial might consider reentering the race for US Senate. The MN Democratic nominating convention is this weekend. Here is a link to the MDE post followed by the comment #5 I posted.
http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2008/06/03/ap-ciresi-leaves-door-open-to-senate-race/#comments
"Greg Lang Says: June 4th, 2008 at 7:18 am
If Mike Ceresi decides to run perhaps he can explain why his law firm took almost half a billion dollars in Tobacco Lawsuit settlement money upfront when the annual amount to the state of Minnesota has undergone a double digit decrease.
Many of those traditional “lunchbox” democrats smoke. Perhaps Mike Ceresi could explain to them why the MN tobacco settlement and the the National agreement that followed resulting in the price of their cigarettes going up around one dollar a pack. Gosh darn! Who would have known that the big tobacco bosses would not take the losses?
Sheila Kromer: Theater Night Update 6-4-08
Hello Everyone -
Time for another update. Mark Benjamin is getting ready to appeal the Marinaro ticket case and will put out a press release soon. The demise of bars is picking up speed and a bowling alley just went under. I hope the legislators are happy....they knew this would happen and just didn't care. New York has "hardship" waivers for these small bars but Minnesota legislators didn't think that was necessary so out of business they go and we can THANK our elected officials for that. Greg recently posted another article on www.freedomtoact.com about chartiable gambling profits falling. Look at the article below about what Colorado did for their casinos....I'll bet the bars & restaurants are not too happy that the casinos are getting bailed out from the smoking ban but not any of them. The only problem our casinos are having is the problem of expansion...a nice problem to have don't you think! Someone that plays bingo at one of the casinos, just told me that the casino they go to has expanded the smoking section 3 times since the ban went into effect. Again, nice job legislators!
Did you see the recent article in the Pioneer Press about obesity? Apparently, our obesity epidemic has leveled off based on a new study from the CDC. Quote "The stunning three-decade increase in childhood obesity that prompted the government to declare an epidemic of fat appears to have leveled off, ..." They say the Health campaigns may be working and that childhood obesity has not increased since 2004. Isn't it just amazing how one day we have an epidemic and the next day it's gone. Wow!
On another topic, in case you are not aware of what is going on in Congress right now...they are debating a cap & trade bill called the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. I would encourage you to take a look at this and perhaps send an e-mail to voice your opinion.
Below is the e-mail I sent to McCain, Coleman and Klobuchar.
Reminder: Fund Raiser at Bugg's Place in South St. Paul on June 14, starts at 6:00. For more information visit WWW.MYSPACE.COM/BUGGSBAR.
Have a great day...the show must go on!
Sheila
E-mail to McCain, Coleman, Klobuchar:
June 3, 2008
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],The Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act will result in higher prices, higher taxes for consumers and the exportation of jobs from America. It is a struggle now to survive with the high gas prices and taxes on everything from A - Z. What is wrong with you people? How about coming down from your ivory tower and living like the real people do...lets see how well you survive.
Sheila Kromer
Colorado casinos get tax relief after smoking ban
By The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 05/23/2008 11:32:41 AM MDT
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — Colorado regulators are giving tax relief to some casinos hurt by revenue declines ranging in the double digits after smoking was banned.
The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission approved the new formula Thursday. Casinos that have revenue between $4 million and $15 million a year will pay less next year.
The Colorado Gaming Commission says the maximum tax cut for a single casino will total about $80,000 a year.
Gaming division spokesman Don Burmania says the commission concentrated the tax relief on mid-sized casinos because they were hit the hardest this year.
Casino revenue has declined every month this year in wake of a smoking ban that took effect in January.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9359399?source=rss
E-mail from a Reader:
Hi Sheila....I agree with the comment from the reader...you are doing a great job of informing us of what is happening around us. Too much information/ happening all at once. Our brains are on "overload'!!!! There are so many important things going on its hard to know what to fight for first. But for sure our rights are being taken away faster than we can respond to it. Thanks for all your work. Diane
More Italian Healthists Thrown in Jail
Gian Turci, Italian correspondent28th May 2008
Those who recite the line that “active and passive smoking kill” have been caught taking payolas from Big Pharma, once again, in Italy.
"Public health" was paid off to whitewash and promote a very dubious pharmaceutical. The chemical name of the drug is Nimesulide. The commercial name is Aulin. It is produced by Roche. Aulin is a multi-purpose anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Many of our readers may not know of it because it was never approved in the United States and Japan, and it was pulled off the market in 2002 by Spain and Finland, and in 2007 by Ireland.Why? Because those who use it often develop liver lesions or total liver failure. The damage occurs rapidly after the use of the product. This is unlike the "smoking-attributed" disease that can occur after 40 or 50 years of habitual smoking. Such "attributions" are opinions: there is no disease unique to smokers. Aulin on the other hand demonstrably and immediately affects the livers of persons young and old, the adverse side effects can appear suddenly, and can devastate healthy livers quickly, and irrecoverably.Everywhere else where the drug is still commercialized, it is available only through prescription, but in Italy it is available over the counter. Those who, in this country, highlight the obvious dangers of the drug are shouted down with the reverse of the lie that is used to counter those who point out the obvious benefits of smoking. The "authorities" always say the potential benefits of smoking must be ignored: focus only on the risks. With Big Pharma's Aulin they have said: ignore the risks, focus only on the possible benefits.When Ireland removed the drug from the market entirely in 2007, the Italian mass-media, which as in most nations toadies to its Big Pharma advertisers*, behaved predictably. Softball interviews with crooked "authorities" appeared. The public was reassured that Aulin “safe.” Many knew it was not and said so. Their opinions were ignored by the mainstream press (watch this video of the main Italian TV channel, RAI 1 – Italian). Once again, the weight of pharmaceutical advertising counts more than the truth, and lies spoken by cons in white coats are presented as gospel.The situation changed a few days ago. Why? The answer is in a two-minute movie recorded with sophisticated spying technology by the Italian police. In the movie, big stacks of Euros clearly change hands from the Big Pharma crooks to the “public health” crooks – specifically, those of AIFA, the Italian equivalent of the American FDA. The bundles changed hands with a specific request, clearly recorded: “Leave Aulin alone.”The investigation actually started in 2006 (please note that the antismoking mass-media crooks “reassured” the population in 2007!), and now a good number of people are behind bars, where they belong, including Big Pharma executives Matteo Mantovani, Sante Di Renzo, Mario Umbri, Piera Campanella, and Francesca Fiorenza. A sixth Big Pharma representative is believed to have fled the country.AIFA executive Pasqualino Rossi is also in jail. Another AIFA executive, Antonella Bove, has been placed under house arrest. Yet another Italian "public health" official, Nello Martini, denies being investigated. However, it is reported that, in line with a related investigation, police taped a conversation between Martini and top dogs of Glaxo, which took place in a "bugged" Verona hotel room.The trial is scheduled for July 31st in Rome. Readers may note that AIFA is a relatively new agency. AIFA was founded fifteen years ago to replace a similar institution called the CUF. The CUF had been dissolved following on another pharmaceutical corruption scandal concerning HIV and hepatitis B and C.The corruption goes on and on. Do not misconstrue that Italy is uniquely corrupted by pharmaceutical interests. Do not assume that "things are better" elsewhere. The blatant prostitution of the health establishment to Big Pharma is a global plague that really effects every nation today equally. It reached the vertex of international “public health” (i.e. the World Health Organization) long ago.Once again, all one has to do to convince himself of this pervasive corruption is to look at the incredible, blatant lies and frauds on active and passive smoking vomited by the health “authorities” all over the world. The plague of anti-tobacco, anti-alcohol, anti-food, and anti-life, together with the promotion of often dangerous pharmaceuticals to everyone who does or does not need them, is a truly international scandal.This latest Italian episode is just a tip on an iceberg. The pharmaceutical cancer is everywhere, and it has permeated every fibre of society with its Healthist ideology. The next big epidemiological frauds on alcohol and food are already lined up, the World Health Organization has become newly energized, and the rotten “public health” authorities have started beating the drum louder than ever to engineer our culture, values, and behaviour – and to turn us all into Big Pharma consumers.Big Pharma is the enemy to destroy, for it is the driving force behind “public health’s” deranged policies. In the meantime, “public health” authorities are not to be believed – so smoke in public, eat and drink as you please: the “anti” laws are based on their frauds.http://forces.org/News_Portal/news_viewer.php?id=1168
Time for another update. Mark Benjamin is getting ready to appeal the Marinaro ticket case and will put out a press release soon. The demise of bars is picking up speed and a bowling alley just went under. I hope the legislators are happy....they knew this would happen and just didn't care. New York has "hardship" waivers for these small bars but Minnesota legislators didn't think that was necessary so out of business they go and we can THANK our elected officials for that. Greg recently posted another article on www.freedomtoact.com about chartiable gambling profits falling. Look at the article below about what Colorado did for their casinos....I'll bet the bars & restaurants are not too happy that the casinos are getting bailed out from the smoking ban but not any of them. The only problem our casinos are having is the problem of expansion...a nice problem to have don't you think! Someone that plays bingo at one of the casinos, just told me that the casino they go to has expanded the smoking section 3 times since the ban went into effect. Again, nice job legislators!
Did you see the recent article in the Pioneer Press about obesity? Apparently, our obesity epidemic has leveled off based on a new study from the CDC. Quote "The stunning three-decade increase in childhood obesity that prompted the government to declare an epidemic of fat appears to have leveled off, ..." They say the Health campaigns may be working and that childhood obesity has not increased since 2004. Isn't it just amazing how one day we have an epidemic and the next day it's gone. Wow!
On another topic, in case you are not aware of what is going on in Congress right now...they are debating a cap & trade bill called the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. I would encourage you to take a look at this and perhaps send an e-mail to voice your opinion.
Below is the e-mail I sent to McCain, Coleman and Klobuchar.
Reminder: Fund Raiser at Bugg's Place in South St. Paul on June 14, starts at 6:00. For more information visit WWW.MYSPACE.COM/BUGGSBAR.
Have a great day...the show must go on!
Sheila
E-mail to McCain, Coleman, Klobuchar:
June 3, 2008
Dear [recipient name was inserted here],The Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act will result in higher prices, higher taxes for consumers and the exportation of jobs from America. It is a struggle now to survive with the high gas prices and taxes on everything from A - Z. What is wrong with you people? How about coming down from your ivory tower and living like the real people do...lets see how well you survive.
Sheila Kromer
Colorado casinos get tax relief after smoking ban
By The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 05/23/2008 11:32:41 AM MDT
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — Colorado regulators are giving tax relief to some casinos hurt by revenue declines ranging in the double digits after smoking was banned.
The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission approved the new formula Thursday. Casinos that have revenue between $4 million and $15 million a year will pay less next year.
The Colorado Gaming Commission says the maximum tax cut for a single casino will total about $80,000 a year.
Gaming division spokesman Don Burmania says the commission concentrated the tax relief on mid-sized casinos because they were hit the hardest this year.
Casino revenue has declined every month this year in wake of a smoking ban that took effect in January.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9359399?source=rss
E-mail from a Reader:
Hi Sheila....I agree with the comment from the reader...you are doing a great job of informing us of what is happening around us. Too much information/ happening all at once. Our brains are on "overload'!!!! There are so many important things going on its hard to know what to fight for first. But for sure our rights are being taken away faster than we can respond to it. Thanks for all your work. Diane
More Italian Healthists Thrown in Jail
Gian Turci, Italian correspondent28th May 2008
Those who recite the line that “active and passive smoking kill” have been caught taking payolas from Big Pharma, once again, in Italy.
"Public health" was paid off to whitewash and promote a very dubious pharmaceutical. The chemical name of the drug is Nimesulide. The commercial name is Aulin. It is produced by Roche. Aulin is a multi-purpose anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Many of our readers may not know of it because it was never approved in the United States and Japan, and it was pulled off the market in 2002 by Spain and Finland, and in 2007 by Ireland.Why? Because those who use it often develop liver lesions or total liver failure. The damage occurs rapidly after the use of the product. This is unlike the "smoking-attributed" disease that can occur after 40 or 50 years of habitual smoking. Such "attributions" are opinions: there is no disease unique to smokers. Aulin on the other hand demonstrably and immediately affects the livers of persons young and old, the adverse side effects can appear suddenly, and can devastate healthy livers quickly, and irrecoverably.Everywhere else where the drug is still commercialized, it is available only through prescription, but in Italy it is available over the counter. Those who, in this country, highlight the obvious dangers of the drug are shouted down with the reverse of the lie that is used to counter those who point out the obvious benefits of smoking. The "authorities" always say the potential benefits of smoking must be ignored: focus only on the risks. With Big Pharma's Aulin they have said: ignore the risks, focus only on the possible benefits.When Ireland removed the drug from the market entirely in 2007, the Italian mass-media, which as in most nations toadies to its Big Pharma advertisers*, behaved predictably. Softball interviews with crooked "authorities" appeared. The public was reassured that Aulin “safe.” Many knew it was not and said so. Their opinions were ignored by the mainstream press (watch this video of the main Italian TV channel, RAI 1 – Italian). Once again, the weight of pharmaceutical advertising counts more than the truth, and lies spoken by cons in white coats are presented as gospel.The situation changed a few days ago. Why? The answer is in a two-minute movie recorded with sophisticated spying technology by the Italian police. In the movie, big stacks of Euros clearly change hands from the Big Pharma crooks to the “public health” crooks – specifically, those of AIFA, the Italian equivalent of the American FDA. The bundles changed hands with a specific request, clearly recorded: “Leave Aulin alone.”The investigation actually started in 2006 (please note that the antismoking mass-media crooks “reassured” the population in 2007!), and now a good number of people are behind bars, where they belong, including Big Pharma executives Matteo Mantovani, Sante Di Renzo, Mario Umbri, Piera Campanella, and Francesca Fiorenza. A sixth Big Pharma representative is believed to have fled the country.AIFA executive Pasqualino Rossi is also in jail. Another AIFA executive, Antonella Bove, has been placed under house arrest. Yet another Italian "public health" official, Nello Martini, denies being investigated. However, it is reported that, in line with a related investigation, police taped a conversation between Martini and top dogs of Glaxo, which took place in a "bugged" Verona hotel room.The trial is scheduled for July 31st in Rome. Readers may note that AIFA is a relatively new agency. AIFA was founded fifteen years ago to replace a similar institution called the CUF. The CUF had been dissolved following on another pharmaceutical corruption scandal concerning HIV and hepatitis B and C.The corruption goes on and on. Do not misconstrue that Italy is uniquely corrupted by pharmaceutical interests. Do not assume that "things are better" elsewhere. The blatant prostitution of the health establishment to Big Pharma is a global plague that really effects every nation today equally. It reached the vertex of international “public health” (i.e. the World Health Organization) long ago.Once again, all one has to do to convince himself of this pervasive corruption is to look at the incredible, blatant lies and frauds on active and passive smoking vomited by the health “authorities” all over the world. The plague of anti-tobacco, anti-alcohol, anti-food, and anti-life, together with the promotion of often dangerous pharmaceuticals to everyone who does or does not need them, is a truly international scandal.This latest Italian episode is just a tip on an iceberg. The pharmaceutical cancer is everywhere, and it has permeated every fibre of society with its Healthist ideology. The next big epidemiological frauds on alcohol and food are already lined up, the World Health Organization has become newly energized, and the rotten “public health” authorities have started beating the drum louder than ever to engineer our culture, values, and behaviour – and to turn us all into Big Pharma consumers.Big Pharma is the enemy to destroy, for it is the driving force behind “public health’s” deranged policies. In the meantime, “public health” authorities are not to be believed – so smoke in public, eat and drink as you please: the “anti” laws are based on their frauds.http://forces.org/News_Portal/news_viewer.php?id=1168
Monday, June 2, 2008
Mark Benjamin: RE: Reaction to Ruling
Hi ____
--I don't know if you've read the judge's decision but I think that it leaves room for an appeal. He actually referenced Dictionary.com in his opinion to define a "theatrical production".
Our position is that the term "theatrical production" defies any kind of specific definition or activity. How do you define Art?
I will be sending out a press release when we file our Notice of Appeal.
Our show goes on.-- Mark Benjamin
--I don't know if you've read the judge's decision but I think that it leaves room for an appeal. He actually referenced Dictionary.com in his opinion to define a "theatrical production".
Our position is that the term "theatrical production" defies any kind of specific definition or activity. How do you define Art?
I will be sending out a press release when we file our Notice of Appeal.
Our show goes on.-- Mark Benjamin
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