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Anti-prohibition news from over the world

Collected live from our allies' blogs.
Note: All opinions expressed below are those of the authors only, not necessarily TICAP's.

Rue89: " Contre le racisme, la France supprime le mot « race » de la loi

Published on 2013-05-18 17:22:36.
Website: Accueil

Rue89: "Faire disparaître le mot « race » de nos lois : c’est l’objectif du texte adopté jeudi soir par l’Assemblée nationale. Mais il reste encore à le faire disparaître de la Constitution... comme François Hollande s’était engagé à le faire dès le « lendemain de la présidentielle ».

"Il fallait « mettre un terme à [une] incohérence », selon les auteurs de la proposition de loi, le communiste André Chassaigne et Marc Dolez (ancien membre du Parti de gauche) :

« [...] La “race” constitue une catégorie juridique, alors que l’ensemble de notre législation vise à combattre le racisme [...].

"Il convient [...] de supprimer de nos textes le mot “race”, qui n’a pas de valeur scientifique et sur lequel les idéologies racistes fondent leur conviction [...]. »

Blog Books

Published on 2013-05-18 17:02:35.
Website: Frank Davis

Leggy’s got an interesting idea. Make up a book of blog posts: Here’s my thoughts. We smoky bloggers can put out our own blog books and do with them what we will…. Copyright to anything in this freebie stays with … Continue reading →

Rebecca Taylor MEP On E-Cigs

Published on 2013-05-18 11:12:00.
Website: Dick Puddlecote

I'm going to do something very dirty now, that is to praise a Liberal Democrat for being - surprise, surprise - fairly liberal.

MEP Rebecca Taylor agreed to be in this short three minute film about e-cigs after attending the shocking EU workshop on the 7th of May chaired by the most dangerous European alive today. I predicted on the morning of the shebang that it would be a farce and it didn't disappoint, as Rebecca found out a bit later on.

Link Tank 18/05

Published on 2013-05-18 03:00:00.
Website: Dick Puddlecote

Back whether you like it or not.

Where will the plain packaging slippery slope slide to next?

Wetherspoons boss says pubs are better focussing on food VAT cut than minimum alcohol pricing

More idiotic politicians move to tax e-cigs

Menaces contre un élu: Rielle morigène la cible !

Published on 2013-05-17 18:24:33.
Website: Accueil

Le récent désordre survenu au Conseil municipal de la Ville de Genève n'est pas le seul est unique qui ait émaillé la présidence de Jean-Charles Rielle (photo à g.). Le 15 avril 2013, à la séance de 21 h. 30, un élu du MCG, Denis Menoud (photo à dr.), a révélé en séance publique les menaces dont il fut l'objet dans l'espace public, sur un réseau social. Un auteur (identifié) incitait tout un chacun à punir Denis Menoud de...pendaison ! La cible de tels propos a voulu, au détour de son discours, faire état des menaces qui le visaient. Il fut aussitôt interrompu sèchement par le président fulminant et incitant la victime de l'outrage à régler ses comptes à l'extérieur de l'enceinte municipale. La scène, révélatrice, est immortalisée dans les archives video de Léman Bleu. A ne pas manquer.

Nation of Lazy Porkers

Published on 2013-05-17 16:06:09.
Website: Frank Davis

This caught my eye today: Britain a “nation of lazy porkers”: Health expert hits out over spiralling type 2 diabetes figures He hit out after new figures showed the number of Brits under 40 with type 2 diabetes had spiralled by … Continue reading →

Some Nasty Animals Shouldn't Be Kept As Pets

Published on 2013-05-17 11:23:00.
Website: Dick Puddlecote

As I was laughing throughout this BBC article, I couldn't help but be reminded of stories where big cats have assaulted those who loved and cared for them.
Alcohol Concern's survey suggested that 31% of Labour MPs, 20% of Conservatives and 19% of Liberal Democrats thought their colleagues drank too much and the charity called for a change in drinking habits among politicians at Westminster. Chief executive Eric Appleby said: "If a quarter of employees reported an unhealthy drinking culture in any other organisation it would provoke immediate action by bosses." That's the Alcohol Concern, created by government in the mid-1980s, which has been reared and nurtured by the love and financial sustenance of politicians as a pet to snarl, bully, and intimidate a previously content public.

La Chancellerie perd la partie face à la société d'Eric Stauffer

Published on 2013-05-17 07:40:22.
Website: Accueil

La Tribune de Genève: "Le Ministère public a classé jeudi la plainte de la Chancellerie d'Etat contre la société Medinex dirigée par les MCG Eric Stauffer et Carlos Medeiros. L'Etat lui reprochait d'utiliser abusivement l'écusson du canton de Genève.

"La Chancellerie d'Etat genevoise n'aura pas réussi à faire condamner la société Medinex, en mains du président d'honneur du MCG Eric Stauffer et de son vice-président Carlos Medeiros. Jeudi, la plainte déposée fin janvier par l'Etat contre l'entreprises spécialisée dans la téléphonie mobile a été classée par le premier procureur Yves Bertossa, relève le quotidien 20 Minutes

L'imposture du DSM V dénoncée: nous sommes désormais tous fous !

Published on 2013-05-16 16:57:51.
Website: Accueil

RTS - CQFD: " CQFD vous propose ce matin (16.05.2013) une émission spéciale. Une heure consacrée aux maladies psychiatriques. En effet, la semaine prochaine sort la "bible" des psychiatres; le DSM 5. Cet ouvrage, controversé et qui fait polémique, répertorie l'ensemble des pathologies psychiatriques.

"Les invités en direct: Martial van der Linden, professeur de psychologie clinique à l'Université de Genève, Pierre Bovet, médecin chef à l'Hôpital de Cery et professeur de psychiatrie à l'Unil, ainsi qu'Alexandra Rageth, experte en psychiatrie légale aux HUG."

"Des sujets préparés par Stéphane Délétroz et Christophe Ungar."

English Weather

Published on 2013-05-16 16:19:48.
Website: Frank Davis

It was sunny when I got up this morning. And checking the satellite view of the UK, I saw that it was sunny nearly everywhere: I checked the other available images, and they showed light winds and no cloud … Continue reading →

The Honest Campaign

Published on 2013-05-16 14:11:00.
Website: Dick Puddlecote

I read something in Westminster records today which very much reminded me of this chutzpah from ASH.
The tobacco industry has run a well-resourced and mendacious campaign against standardised packs. If it does not proceed with the proposal, the UK Government risks being seen as bowing to this pressure. Mendacious campaign? Are they serious?

The past couple of weeks have seen politicians (mostly Labour) queueing up to lie outrageously to their respective houses.

Rielle incapable d'assurer l'ordre au Conseil municipal de Genève !

Published on 2013-05-16 07:47:30.
Website: Accueil

La Tribune de Genève: " Grave dérapage au Municipal de la Ville

"Des propos tenus hier soir par un élu MCG en pleine assemblée du Conseil municipal de la Ville ont conduit à l’arrêt de la séance.

"Mais que se passe-t-il donc au Conseil municipal de la Ville de Genève? Alors que le très attendu vote sur l’ultime étape de la rénovation de la plaine de Plainpalais devait passer l’examen du plénum, les déclarations du conseiller municipal MCG Denis Menoud ont suffi à pousser le président de l’assemblée, le socialiste Jean-Charles Rielle, à suspendre la séance. Ses propos? Accuser le groupe socialiste de faire de la «propagande pour les pédophiles». Pour mieux comprendre la fureur des élus de gauche envers le conseiller municipal, il faut revenir un peu plus tôt dans la soirée."

Malgré les plaintes, la justice donne raison à un bar bruyant

Published on 2013-05-16 05:59:33.
Website: Accueil

La Tribune de Genève: " Malgré les plaintes, la justice donne raison à un bar bruyant.

"Le sommeil des voisins passe après le chiffre d’affaires du Roi Ubu.

"Au moment où Ville et Canton prennent des mesures pour réduire les nuisances sonores, la justice rend une décision à rebrousse-poil. Entre l’intérêt des uns à bénéficier d’un peu de calme après minuit et le chiffre d’affaires d’un établissement public ouvert jusqu’à 2 h du matin, les juges choisissent ce dernier.

"Dans un arrêt de la Chambre administrative de la Cour de justice que nous nous sommes procuré, Au Roi Ubu obtient gain de cause malgré les plaintes des habitants et les rapports de police dénonçant les débordements. S’il n’y a pas de recours au Tribunal fédéral (TF), le jugement pourrait faire jurisprudence. Du pain bénit pour les bars, une épine dans le pied des autorités. Alors même qu’elles viennent de décider, comme le révélait GHI , de limiter le bruit sur les terrasses."

Mesquineries du PDC: Ils coupent les vivres à la Préposée à la protection des données !

Published on 2013-05-15 18:03:28.
Website: Accueil

DDG - RTSInfo - Le Matin: " Les préposées genevoises à la protection des données se rebiffent.

"Les préposées genevoises à la protection des données (photo d'Isabelle Dubois, Préposée) se plaignent de ne plus pouvoir assurer leurs missions et menacent de porter l'affaire devant les tribunaux, a appris la RTS. Une procédure administrative est déjà en cours."

Filthy Smears

Published on 2013-05-15 16:24:31.
Website: Frank Davis

Couple of things from the comments. First, H/T Roobeedoo, the Telegraph: Depressing: just nine per cent of Britons trust stats over our own experience. Depressing? I found that rather heartening. The author goes on: They’re the only tool we have … Continue reading →

Italy To Propose Tax On E-Cigs By The End Of The Week?

Published on 2013-05-15 13:24:00.
Website: Dick Puddlecote

Following swiftly on from yesterday's article about how Italian MEP Giancarlo Scottà has been floating the idea of sin taxes on e-cigs, comes this from German news source Südtirol Online.

(I'll try my own paraphrasing as Google translate comes out like something from the Swedish Chef)
Tax on E-Cigarettes looming The Italian Treasury is now targeting electronic cigarettes The Letta government wants to tax them in the economic measures decree that should be adopted by the end of this week, this is expected to raise 14 million euros for ailing state coffers in this year alone. Next year it could be up to 50 million euros. The state wishes to make up for the losses in tobacco tax revenue. The state complains that, due to the increasing success of electronic cigarettes ... tobacco sales are declining by 80 million euros with negative effects on treasury coffers. [...] The extension of tobacco tax to e-cigarettes would mean that they would equate with normal cigarettes. Idle rumour? Well, it's possible since this is a regional German operation reporting it, but there seems to be a fair amount of detail. It would be interesting if any Europeans have seen the report elsewhere.

The Darwinian Imperative

Published on 2013-05-14 19:51:19.
Website: Frank Davis

My mention of Survival of the Fittest in last night’s post sent me off on a slightly new train of thought today. I usually think that the problem smokers are facing originates in the medical profession, which is perhaps by … Continue reading →

Monbiot on university funding

Published on 2013-05-14 16:02:00.
Website: Freedom-2-Choose (Scotland)

Further to a recent blog post (scroll down for the relevant quote), this article from George Monbiot has popped up in the Guardian concerning the ability of corporations to fund university research.

Many of the comments on this piece, seem to miss his point, accusing Monbiot of wanting to live in a cave because he doesn't like Shell, whereas the argument seems to be more about whether corporate funding comes with strings attached. Not just Shell: the argument extends to any other industry that finances university education.

We're Losing Revenue! Quick, Let's Tax E-Cigs!

Published on 2013-05-14 12:45:00.
Website: Dick Puddlecote

Could this be what it's really all about?

Italian MEP Giancarlo Scottà tabled this extraordinary written question a couple of weeks ago.
I wish to put a question to the Council regarding an issue which has recently been attracting a great deal of interest, but which has never been addressed from the point of view set out below. I am referring to ‘electronic cigarettes’, devices considered to be ‘nicotine-containing products’ which therefore fall within Article 18 of the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products (COM(2012)0788 — 2012/0366 (COD)).

La CEDH accorde à une Suissesse le droit de s'euthanasier

Published on 2013-05-14 05:05:32.
Website: Accueil

ATS: " Une Suissesse âgée désireuse de mourir obtient gain de cause

"La Suisse devra revoir sa réglementation relative à l'aide au suicide des personnes qui ne sont pas atteintes d'une maladie mortelle. La Cour européenne des droits de l'homme a accepté la requête d'une Zurichoise âgée de 82 ans.

"Cette femme ne souffre d'aucune pathologie clinique mais ne souhaite pas continuer à subir le déclin de ses facultés physiques et mentales. Elle avait cherché en vain un médecin disposé à lui remettre une dose mortelle de pentobarbital et s'était aussi adressée à la Direction de la santé du canton de Zurich.

"En 2010, le TF avait confirmé le refus des autorités cantonales zurichoises. Il avait considéré que l'Etat n'est pas tenu de garantir à un individu l'accès à une dose mortelle de médicament. "

Where but California ... staying in a hotel that provides smoking rooms can seriously damage your health

Published on 2013-05-14 01:25:00.
Website: Freedom-2-Choose (Scotland)

A new study warns non-smokers off using hotels that provide smoking rooms. Go for hotels that don't provide smoking rooms, because otherwise your health will be at risk.
Non-smokers should give hotels that allow smoking in certain rooms a wide berth, say the authors, and instead choose completely smoke free hotels.The researchers analysed the surfaces and air quality of rooms for evidence of tobacco smoke pollution (nicotine and 3EP), known as third hand smoke, in a random sample of budget to mid-range hotels in San Diego, California.The smoke gets into non-smoking rooms (self-closing fire doors notwithstanding) and of course hallways. They even tested the non-smoking guests.

Genève: "Chuchoteurs obligatoires sur toutes les terrasses de bistrot ! "

Published on 2013-05-13 13:37:57.
Website: Accueil

GHI: " Terrasse: Ultimatum adressé aux restaurateurs

"NUISANCES NOCTURNES • Les autorités exigent des restaurateurs l'engagement d'un chuchoteur pour ouvrir les terrasses au-delà de minuit.

"L'Association des chuchoteurs gère les nuisances sonores à la sortie des bars depuis mi-février.

"Nouveau rebondissement dans l'affaire des fermetures des bars après minuit. Pour lutter contre les nuisances nocturnes et exploiter une terrasse après minuit, les restaurateurs devront engager un chuchoteur par bar, du jeudi au samedi entre 22 heures et 2 heures. Le Service du commerce et la Ville de Genève ont mis la centaine d'exploitants devant le fait accompli par courrier le 8 mai. Ces derniers ont jusqu'au 22 mai pour confirmer l'engagement d'un médiateur de nuit. «Je suis étonné par des mesures aussi sévères, s'emporte un cafetier de Plainpalais. L'Association des chuchoteurs (GHI 11.04.13) propose des médiateurs de nuit depuis mi-février. Il y a ainsi actuellement trois médiateurs travaillant pour six établissements dans la même rue. Et maintenant on va être obligé d'en engager un par bar! C'est inadmissible, ça va nous coûter cher.»

"Dans le panel des nouvelles mesures imposées, les tenanciers seront aussi tenus de proposer en terrasse, dès minuit, des gobelets consignés et recyclables."

Perils Of Puddlecote Update

Published on 2013-05-13 12:49:00.
Website: Dick Puddlecote

I thought you might be interested in an update on the case of the shunted and towed vehicle.

I recounted the whole sorry tale back in March so do go have a read if you're unfamiliar with it. That first episode in what promises to become a saga was left something like this.
All I will say is that now - three weeks on - we are still £300+ down; have heard not a peep out of the police; and are pretty unimpressed with the whole experience. It's true that we've probably expended about the same £300 in time, effort and expenses, but what would you do? We have, however, now heard from the police ... but it wasn't very encouraging.

Le dossier informatisé bientôt accessible à tous

Published on 2013-05-13 05:22:25.
Website: Accueil

La Tribune de Genève: " Après des années de préparation, l’Etat lance son projet «e-toile». Les médecins le jugent intéressant, mais pas assez mûr.

"Au centre, le patient. Entre ses mains, une carte et un code qui lui donnent accès à son dossier médical informatisé. Dossier qu’il peut, s’il le désire, partager avec ses médecins, son pharmacien, son infirmier à domicile… Genève en rêve depuis quinze ans. Ces jours-ci, le Canton franchit une nouvelle étape dans le projet «e-toile», pionnier suisse dans le domaine de la cybersanté.

"L’objectif? Améliorer la prise en charge des patients. Comment? En rassemblant l’information médicale, aujourd’hui très éparse, sur un seul support électronique. Après une phase de test lancée en février 2011 dans quatre communes (Lancy, Bernex, Onex et Confignon), l’Etat juge le projet assez solide pour l’élargir au grand public. Conseiller d’Etat en charge de la Santé, Pierre-François Unger présentera aujourd’hui le dossier médical en ligne – rebaptisé «MonDossierMedical.ch» – et annoncera qu’il sera mis à disposition de l’ensemble de la population dès mercredi."

Ireland: EU Leader In Tobacco Control Failure

Published on 2013-05-12 10:38:00.
Website: Dick Puddlecote

While the tantrums of the tobacco control industry over plain packs are still ringing in our ears, it's worth pointing out how their 'bash tobacco companies' idea has yet more anti-smoker failure written all over it.

For example, let's look at the EU's pioneer in tobacco control, Ireland. In February, their Minister for Health, James Reilly, was ranting about how bad Ireland's smoking rates were.
"The overall prevalence rates for Ireland are more or less similar to the EU average with 29% of Irish adults being current smokers. This is simply not acceptable." This is the Ireland which was the first EU country to implement a comprehensive smoking ban; the first to hide tobacco behind screens; the first to place restrictions on vending machines; and the first to ban packs of 10.

Politics as it should be done

Published on 2013-05-11 08:36:00.
Website: Velvet Glove, Iron Fist

If only we had more politicians like Chris Davies MEP. He knew that the Tobacco Product Directive was being revised, but he knew nothing about e-cigarettes. So he decided to ask people to educate him. Now he knows a lot about e-cigarettes and will be responding to the European Commission accordingly.

Until a few months ago I had never heard of e-cigarettes. Since then I have had many letters and e-mails from users, have met with manufacturers, and have read widely on the subject. I am convinced that they can play a very effective role in helping confirmed smokers reduce or eliminate their dependence upon tobacco. Although the long term effects of using e-cigarettes has yet to be established it seems very likely to me that their use, rather than the continued smoking of cigarettes, is likely to be much less harmful to health and will prolong lives.

Plain packaging in an independent Scotland?

Published on 2013-05-11 07:09:00.
Website: Freedom-2-Choose (Scotland)

Handwringing has occurred at the failure of the Queen to announce that Her Majesty's government was about to force tobacco into plain packaging. Here's an example, provided by the Telegraph, in which a vast quantity of medics berate the government over the omission and hammer home the notion that health is key to government policy:
The health of the people is surely the highest purpose of government, so it is chilling to hear that the Coalition does not consider the prevention of ill health and premature mortality to be part of its roleI suppose that is what you would expect doctors to say, and as it happens I agree that a Conservative government would prioritise corporate interests over public health more than I would like. But as it happens, I don't happen to believe that plain packaging is a policy that has any particular merit – the evidence for it has been collated entirely by people employed specifically as tobacco control advocates and suffers disastrously from a lack of objectivity. Government sources know that most people start smoking before they can buy tobacco legally, indeed it is only a matter of years since the legal age of purchasing tobacco was raised, and smokers generally tell you that they were given cigarettes by friends before they could purchase legally.

The Creatures Outside Looked From Pig To Man, And From Man To Pig ...

Published on 2013-05-10 13:47:00.
Website: Dick Puddlecote

Busy in Puddlecoteville again, and likely will be for the next few days.

However, after yesterday's revelation that Labour despise the working man (and woman) so much that they will lie to deprive them of their meagre pleasures, I couldn't help but notice this exchange in the commons yesterday.
Angela Eagle (Wallasey, Labour): Many of us were shocked by the omission from the Gracious Speech of the promised legislation to ensure plain packaging for cigarettes. The public health Minister, Anna Soubry, publicly supported the proposal, and when the Leader of the House was Secretary of State for Health he said: “The evidence is clear that packaging helps to recruit smokers, so it makes sense to consider having less attractive packaging. It's wrong that children are being attracted to smoke by glitzy designs on packets.” Note: Anna Soubry supported the proposal when she had no business doing so as a minister before a public consultation has been concluded. If this was done by a Tory about a policy Labour disagreed with, they would be scandalising Soubry and calling for her resignation.

Forbidden dissent

Published on 2013-05-10 08:40:00.
Website: Velvet Glove, Iron Fist

A couple of weeks ago, a bunch of medical temperance types held a meeting in the European Parliament to push for minimum pricing. I nearly fell off my chair when I read this comment attributed to a representative from the Royal College of Physicians...

When mentioning the Scottish MUP scheme he explained that the measure was part of the Scottish Nationalist Party Manifesto and that, as a rule, it was forbidden to oppose the Manifesto once voted on. Thus, he highlighted that the current debates were actually profoundly anti-democratic.

Lies And Loathing In Labour

Published on 2013-05-09 13:52:00.
Website: Dick Puddlecote

It was interesting to read how Diane Abbott accused a government which - almost tiresomely - consistently insisted it had an open mind on plain packaging of somehow reneging on a "promise".

As Simon Clark observed:
As anyone who has followed the plain packaging debate knows, David Cameron has not broken any promise nor done a u-turn. The Coalition Government, bless 'em, never promised to introduced standardised packaging. Nope, it's a big fat lie from a politician who could be described in the same way.

The wages of failure

Published on 2013-05-08 08:24:00.
Website: Velvet Glove, Iron Fist

That's all sorted then. The Queen's Speech contained no mention of minimum pricing or plain packaging so it is likely that both of these ill-considered policies have been kicked into the long grass until after the next election. Well done to the government for seeing sense. Let's hope the puritanical, prohibitionist juggernaut is starting to turn in this country.

Let's also hope that the government takes a closer look at the Department of Health's countless astroturf groups who have squandered millions of pounds of taxpayers' money on these two campaigns. They will be crying into their mineral water today, as will a certain Australian sociologist (be sure to read Nannying Tyrants' investigation into Simple Simon, by the way).

The Final Throw Of The Dice For Plain Packs Is So Predictable

Published on 2013-05-08 02:45:00.
Website: Dick Puddlecote

There has been more desperate activity at the start of this week by those in favour of plain packs.

They've thrown insults, cast aspersions about MPs, issued threats, occupied Twitter with predictions of Armageddon, and are now saying it must be because the Tories' campaign strategist once worked on a tobacco campaign that reports are suggesting the coalition might not include legislation in today's Queen's speech.

The one possibility they refuse to consider is that their case was quite simply shite.

© 2013, The International Coalition Against Prohibition