Zware nederlaag voor Amerikaanse anti-rokers
Vandaag deed een Amerikaanse federale rechtbank uitspraak over de aanspraken van Amerikaanse anti-tabaksorganisaties om de tabaksfabrikanten, over de ruggen van de rokers, nog meer geld afhandig te maken. De rechtbank wees een claim van de Amerikaanse overheid af om de sigarettenmakers nog eens $280 miljard te laten betalen voor ‘door hun veroorzaakte gezondheidsschade’.
Deze zaak werd zwaar gesteund door vele Amerikaanse anti-rokersorganisaties die daarmee hun financiële toekomst zeker wilden stellen.
Forces International bracht vandaag een persbericht uit waarin ze, samen met een groot aantal andere organisaties, de uitspraak van de rechter prees.
The following is a statement by FORCES, Inc., who works closely with Citizens for Choice & Common Sense, Cambridge Citizens for Smokers’ Rights, Delaware U.S.A., Gallery Of Famous Smokers, Hawaii Smokers Rights, MA Citizens for Freedom, NYC C.L.A.S.H., Ontario Smoking Rightsite, Real Texas Freedom, Smoker’s Club, Cigarette Smokers’ News, Colorado “No Smoking Ban” , Connecticut “Smoke Signal”, Dave Hitt’s Collection of Facts, Dave Hitt’s “The Hittman Chronical”, Florida Smokers Rights, Illinois Smokers Rights, In Defense of Smokers, Kentucky “Fight the Smoking Ban”, Maine Smokers’ Rights, Michigan “Say No to Unfair Taxes”, Michigan Smokers Club, Minnesotans Against Smoking Bans, New York “The Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association”, Ohio “Smokers Have Rights” , Ohio “Save Cleveland Jobs” , Ohio Greater Cincinnati, Hospitality Coalition, Smokinaloud, Save OHIO’s Jobs, Smoking From All Sides, Terry’s Tidbits, Tennessee “Smoking In Restaurants”, Texas “Keep Austin Free”, Texas “Tulsa Tobacco Party”, The Making of ETS, Cigarette Smokers’ News, Colorado “No Smoking Ban” , Connecticut “Smoke Signal”, Dave Hitt’s Collection of Facts, Dave Hitt’s “The Hittman Chronical”, Florida Smokers Rights, Illinois Smokers Rights, In Defense of Smokers, Kentucky “Fight the Smoking Ban”, Maine Smokers’ Rights, Michigan “Say No to Unfair Taxes”, Michigan Smokers Club, Minnesotans Against Smoking Bans, New York “The Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association”, Ohio “Smokers Have Rights”, Ohio “Save Cleveland Jobs” , Ohio Greater Cincinnati, Hospitality Coalition, Smokinaloud, Save OHIO’s Jobs, Smoking From All Sides, Terry’s Tidbits, Tennessee “Smoking In Restaurants”, Texas “Keep Austin Free”, Texas “Tulsa Tobacco Party”, The Making of ETS, Citizens for Civil Liberties, Pub Coalition, Smoke Out Hypocrisy”, Fair Air Association of Canada, Europeans Against Smokers Discrimination, F.O.R.E.S.T., Smokers Against Discrimination:
PUBLIC IS PLEASED WITH SUPREME COURT DECISION
(Forces Press Release)
USA – October 17, 2005 – As the direct victims and payees of the federal government’s lawsuit against the tobacco companies, we are elated by today’s decision of the U.S. Supreme Court not to hear the government’s appeal of a lower court ruling barring the blatant theft of more tobacco consumers’ money.
The government-funded non-profit organizations that are constantly demanding more of our money, to lobby our lawmakers to make more laws against us, are those who should be held accountable under the RICO laws – not tobacco companies.
Despite today’s decision, the antismoking extremists say that there is a “wide range of other remedies” to continue to receive funding – such as forcing tobacco consumers to shell out tens of billions of dollars to fund smoking cessation and public “education” campaigns that were intended for our youth, but now include adults.
However, the government’s own statistics have shown that antismoking campaigns have resulted in increased youth smoking; furthermore, research has shown that the number of those affected by the so-called “tobacco-related diseases” has substantially increased since the inception of the campaigns in spite of the claimed substantial decrease of smokers. This clearly shows that tobacco is not necessarily the source – and certainly not the only source – of the ailments attributed to it. Yet, the health industry keeps turning a blind eye to this reality, as funding for scientific studies continues to flow to attack tobacco and smoking, while other research is discouraged or not funded at all.
Today’s decision shows that there is hope, and that the law will see through the massive structure of lies and deception that these “non profit” groups have built over the last few decades for their own financial gain.
These organizations should not be let off the hook – and we do not intend to do so. Our on-line publication shows beyond doubt that these groups have been involved in decades-long misrepresentation of scientific evidence – thus they have to be, and will be held accountable.
We believe that the government should aggressively pursue all available remedies on behalf of the American people – the sooner the better.
