I read the news today oh boy! Page 685

Despite having been a massively heavy smoker for many years, I would like to see more anti-smoking laws. Nothing to do with rights or second-hand smoke, but I have seen places where the tobacco firms encouraged rural villagers to plant nothing but tobacco. A few years down the track, these areas have become net food importers and now suffer child malnutrition because farmers stopped growing food so other people could get cancer. Smoking in pubs doesn't bother me, provided there's good ventilation.

Quote: Kenneth @ February 22 2012, 1:50 PM GMT

Despite having been a massively heavy smoker for many years, I would like to see more anti-smoking laws. Nothing to do with rights or second-hand smoke, but I have seen places where the tobacco firms encouraged rural villagers to plant nothing but tobacco. A few years down the track, these areas have become net food importers and now suffer child malnutrition because farmers stopped growing food so other people could get cancer. Smoking in pubs doesn't bother me, provided there's good ventilation.

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Using the same logic, make up, bio fuels and coffee should all be banned, as they take up valuable food production land.

Quote: Timbo @ February 22 2012, 1:42 PM GMT

The smoking ban in pubs has saved me much laundry.

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Yes, after a 4-hour pub quiz surrounded by smokers, a previously clean shirt is rendered too pongy for wearing to the mosque the next morning.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ February 22 2012, 1:47 PM GMT

Smoking Ghettos.

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That would be cool, especially in trendy Dalston. Just me and the art chicks hanging out having a smoke and bullshitting about Satre. Whilst the non-smokers could go to their chain pub and buy fish and chips for £9.95.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ February 22 2012, 1:52 PM GMT

Using the same logic, make up, bio fuels and coffee should all be banned, as they take up valuable food production land.

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Bio-fuels, specifically olein, absolutely should be banned. It is causing massive deforestation and disaster in Borneo.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ February 22 2012, 1:53 PM GMT

bullshitting about Satre.

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Sartre. If you fancy a trip to Malaysian or Indonesian Borneo or Sumatra, I can show you how terrible these olein plantations are. Sumatran tigers won't be around much longer. Orangutans also under threat, partly due to olein plantations. Dreadful. Joe Public may not care about child malnutrition, but he seems to become upset when cute animals face extinction. I can also get you a great fish and chips for under three quid.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ February 22 2012, 1:53 PM GMT

That would be cool, especially in trendy Dalston. Just me and the art chicks hanging out having a smoke and bullshitting about Satre.

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With your can of special brew and cardboard sign bearing the legend "Will dance for change"....

Quote: Kenneth @ February 22 2012, 2:00 PM GMT

Sartre. If you fancy a trip to Malaysian or Indonesian Borneo or Sumatra, I can show you how terrible these olein plantations are. Sumatran tigers won't be around much longer. Orangutans also under threat, partly due to olein plantations. Dreadful. Joe Public may not care about child malnutrition, but he seems to become upset when cute animals face extinction. I can also get you a great fish and chips for under three quid.

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It's a bit of double edged sword, if countries don't produce and export items, they can't get money into the economy and malnutrition and other ills really begin to sky rocket.

There's no easy answer.

Quote: Rooface @ February 22 2012, 2:03 PM GMT

With your can of special brew and cardboard sign bearing the legend "Will dance for change"....

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I got £9 quid out of you with that sign. Sorry my Running Man wasn't up to scratch, I've got a bad back.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ February 22 2012, 2:05 PM GMT

I got £9 quid out of you with that sign. Sorry my Running Man wasn't up to scratch, I've got a bad back.

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Also, when I said use the Pole, I didn't mean Victor. That cost you £5 there.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ February 22 2012, 2:05 PM GMT

It's a bit of double edged sword, if countries don't produce and export items, they can't get money into the economy and malnutrition and other ills really begin to sky rocket.

There's no easy answer.

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The profits from forcing people off their land to make way for olein plantations are not being used for public welfare (health, education, whatever). Again, I urge you to visit Borneo so you can see the reality, rather than glibly dismiss massive deforestation as a double-edged sword. It generates huge profits for a tiny number of people who do not give a toss about the general public and those forced off their land. The easy answer is for MNCs and governments to boycott Indonesian CPO and its downstream products.

Has this conversation jumped threads?

Quote: Timbo @ February 22 2012, 2:19 PM GMT

Has this conversation jumped threads?

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Nah they are still discussing smoking. Just making the argument about land being used to grow tobacco. It's all linked...

I, meanwhile, am going to curl up in a corner of the thread and power nap.

I used to work in a rather rotten homeless shelter. Where I was literally the only member of staff who didn't smoke. I needed the job at the time so I sort of shrugged when it was raised in the staff meeting that,
"no one minds if we smoke during meetings do they Joel?"

It's easy to forget just what a revolting habit smoking is. It's not cool, it's not sexy it's just stinky and expensive (and yeh I smoke about 12 fags a year). Second hand smoke may be not so lethal but it's also just horrid.

And if you smoke every day. It's not relaxing or fun or sociable. Your physically addicted to a substance that will blight your health. ANd the assholes who profit producers and governments are laughing whilst they wipe their bums on £20 notes you freely gave them.

Quote: sootyj @ February 22 2012, 2:41 PM GMT

it's not sexy

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Unfortunately, sticking a phallic symbol in your mouth can't help but be sexy. The colostomy bag you later need when you've got cancer, less sexy.

If I said I find it works the other way round would you worry?

Quote: Rooface @ February 22 2012, 1:40 PM GMT

On that day, Ellie will actually get a bag of willies.

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