Artiest neemt het op voor de rokers
De bekende Engelse kunstschilder David Hockney heeft zich met grote woede in de anti-rokendiscussie gestort die momenteel hevig in Engeland woedt. Afgelopen week sprak hij Labour leden toe die voor een congres bijeen waren. Later werd hij voor de BBC geinterviewd. De opnamen van dat interview laten een steeds bozer wordende David Hockney zien.
“Death awaits you whether you smoke or not. Pubs are not health clubs. People go to drown their sorrows. We could save a lot more lives if we refuse to serve alcohol, you could argue. This is ridiculous. It’s bossy.”
He added: “You get rid of smoking and they are all on anti-depressant pills. You think that’s better; I don’t.”
On Wednesday a photocall with Mr Hockney was disrupted by veteran anti-smoking protester Stuart Holmes, who was brandishing a placard calling for a prohibition on all tobacco products.
Mr Hockney said he was not perturbed by Mr Holmes’ protest. “He was stubborn, I like that. I’m stubborn. I recognised a fellow.”
Simon Clark, director of pro-smoking lobby group Forest, said: “The British public have repeatedly said that they want politicians to keep a sense of perspective when legislating on smoking in public places.
“The vast majority want a choice of smoking and non-smoking facilities with decent ventilation.”
BBC News (28 September 2005)
Independent (29 September 2005)
Daily Telegraph (29 September 2005)
Yorkshire Post (29 September 2005)
Times Online (28 September 2005)
Western Mail, Wales (28 September 2005)