The Mouse House kicks the butt; the truth behind the "anti-smoking" movement
Two on smoking -- First comes word Disney will remove smoking from all films released under its own label (which isn't too difficult I guess -- when was the last time you see some one light-up in one of their family flicks?).
Also, the Burbank-based company will "discourage" smoking in films released under its Touchstone and Miramax arms. Now that's going to be tougher. YOU try telling Quentin Tarantino or Kevin Smith or some European auteur snuff out the butt in their films...
via Associated Press:
By GARY GENTILE, AP Business Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Walt Disney Co. will eliminate smoking from all its films released under its label and will discourage smoking in films released under its Touchstone and Miramax brands, the company said Wednesday.Disney chief executive Robert Iger made the pledge in a letter to U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass, chairman of the House Telecommunications and the Internet Subcommittee, who last month held a hearing in Washington, D.C., on the topic.
“The Walt Disney Co. shares your concern regarding deaths due to cigarette smoking,” Iger wrote.
Iger also said that a public service announcement will be included on any DVD of a film that includes smoking and that the company would encourage theater owners to show an anti-smoking message before screening films that depict characters lighting up.Universal Pictures said it instituted a policy to reduce smoking in youth-oriented films in April, but did not announce it publicly until Wednesday.
The studio said it will include a health warning along with films that do include smoking.
“We believe it’s possible to do that while respecting filmmakers’ creative choices and we are committed to partnering with them in this effort,” Universal Studios chairman Ron Meyer said Wednesday.
In May, the Motion Picture Association of America said it would begin considering smoking as a factor in rating films.
Markey praised Disney’s decision.
“Now it’s time for other media companies to similarly kick the habit and follow Disney’s lead,” Markey said.
Meanwhile, Lynn Chase of the Smoker's Club, Inc. had this to say about the anti-smoking movement, which came via email...
Most people don't realize that the anti-tobacco "movement" is largely comprised of well paid lobbyists, who are funded by the punitive MSA (Master Settlement Agreement) tobacco taxes, and the huge (tax deductible!) 'charitable' contributions made by pharmaceutical companies who produce and sell nicotine replacement products. This is NOT a people's 'grass-root' movement, but a well orchestrated, corporate-led and government sanctioned scheme, which is designed to:A) convince the public that "second hand" smoke is dangerous to bystanders (even though ETS has an actual "Relative Risk" akin to that of fluoridated water); and,
B) raise the discomfort level of smokers so high as to 'strong arm' them into quitting.
The resulting 'clean air' legislation sweeping this country has put thousands of small businesses out of existence (abridging the Constitutional right to 'private property' - i.e., their INCOMES - by dictating how and where their former patrons can use a LEGAL product).
Moreover, this modern day form of PROHIBITION has abridged the Constitutionally guranteed right of American citizens to decide for themselves where, with whom, and when they can 'assemble' with each other.
Now OUTdoor bans are becoming 'de riguer' in the "crispy state"? This should signal to anyone with a shred of common sense that the 'danger' of ETS exposure is not the real issue here. What's next? Lining us up
against a wall and shooting us?I invite you to look at the other side of the coin before disseminating more 'anti-smoking' rhetoric in your pages.
Yours sincerely,
Lynn M. Chase
Verona, NJ
Member: http://www.smokersclubinc.com