Tobacco.org Updates

THIS WEEK'S HOT SPOTS:

It's all over but the remedying! The 11-year saga of the DOJ RICO suit was partially ended at the Supreme Court. The tobacco defendants were found guilty of racketeering, but will pay no monetary penalty. The case goes back to District Court for implementation of court-ordered remedies in light of the FDA's new regs.
Late-Breaking DOJ Trial News is here: http://www.tobacco.org/articles/lawsuit/doj/
Visit: http://www.tobacco-on-trial.com.

Latest Top Tobacco Headlines

Latest Quotes

  • “All the talk is about commerce, about land claims, about sovereignty. We just want to remind the court and all of the parties that what this is really about, is public health.”
    Russ Sciandra, a tobacco policy specialist for the American Cancer Society, on New York's furor over taxing Indian cigarettes.
    » American Cancer Society Getting Involved In Cigarette Tax Battle , News Radio 930 WBEN (Buffalo, NY) (Friday, September 3, 2010)
  • “If you smoke a pack of cigarettes, that means you are giving more to help solve social problems such as boosting demographics, developing other social services and upholding birth rates. People should understand: Those who drink, those who smoke are doing more to help the state.”
    Russia's finance minister Alexei Kudrin.
    » Russians urged to smoke, drink more, Agence France Presse (AFP) (fr) (Wednesday, September 1, 2010)
  • “There will be quite an uprising and protest to this, but I am going to maintain this policy. This is a very dangerous situation. There is a - I think - high alert. The State Police tells us over and over again that there could be violence and death as a result of some of the measures we're taking.”
    New York Gov. David Paterson on WOR-AM Thursday. He has promised to finally start collecting taxes on cigarettes sold by Native American stores to non-natives.
    » Governor promises NY cigarette tax collection, Associated Press (AP) (Thursday, August 26, 2010)
  • “If trying to avoid thoughts of something in an attempt to give it up actually unwittingly triggers a subsequent increase, it's a poor method of achieving self control. This work may stop people using quitting techniques that are ultimately harmful.”
    Dr. James Erskine, co-author of the study that tested whether smokers experienced behavioral rebound--the phenomenon where trying not to think about something leads to an increase in the behavior.
    » Smokers trying to give up -- don't stop thinking about cigarettes, EurekAlert (Wednesday, August 18, 2010)
  • “In future we may not have fruits.”
    Julius Mukalazi, director of research at the Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute in West Nile, on the effects of tobacco curing. Companies have run out of natural forest in Uganda, and are now cutting down mango trees.
    » Uganda’s forest cover fast dying out as tobacco industry booms, The East African (ke) (Monday, August 16, 2010)
  • “[T]he Court has determined to grant the proposed amici leave to participate, primarily because plaintiffs in this case are represented by numerous large law firms and illustrious counsel, whereas the defendants are represented only by the perennially understaffed office of the Corporation Counsel of the City of New York. In such circumstances, where there is such a glaring disparity in the parties legal resources, a modest participation by amici is not inappropriate and may well prove helpful to the Court. ”
    JED S. RAKOFF, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York. Tobacco companies and grocery stores are fighting NYC regulations that requires tobacco retailers to display health warnings.
    » 23-34 94TH ST. GROCERY CORP. v. NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF HEALTH (PDF) ($$), U.S. Courts ECF (PACER) (Wednesday, August 11, 2010)
  • “I might as well say to anyone watching, if you can hold it down on the smokes and the cocktails you may be well advised to do so.”
    Christopher Hitchens, battling esophageal cancer, issues a stern health warning, in his own way.
    » Christopher Hitchens On Cancer: I'm 'Realistic' About Odds Of Survival, Pray For Me If You Want (VIDEO), Huffington Post (blog) (Friday, August 6, 2010)
  • “Too many people do not face up to the hard facts, as they perceive them to be an attack aimed, in particular at the poorer members of our society. But it is impossible to argue on medical or ethical grounds that such behaviour is acceptable. GPs are not spoilsports. We genuinely want people to be able to live healthy, fulfilling and productive lives. But every day we are confronted with the harm caused by smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and obesity.”
    Steve Field, Britain's leading GP, in an op-ed today.
    » FIELD: Don't take offence if we lecture you on how to stay alive and healthy , The Observer (uk) (Sunday, August 8, 2010)
  • “You need to face facts and take responsibility. Support is out there and it could save your life – and save the NHS a fortune.”
    Steve Field, Britain's leading GP, in an op-ed today.
    » FIELD: Don't take offence if we lecture you on how to stay alive and healthy , The Observer (uk) (Sunday, August 8, 2010)
  • “It was Charlie's choice to be stupid enough to believe us. It was stupid for him to believe what we were telling him and everyone else for decades. He must have learned the truth despite our lies.”
    Attorney Jack Scarola, summing up tobacco's argument on the last day of the Piendle trial.
    » Lawyers wrap up Palm Beach County's first Big Tobacco trial; jury to begin deliberations, Palm Beach (FL) Post (Tuesday, August 3, 2010)
MORE QUOTES »