Wednesday
Nov032010
Forest goes global
Wednesday, November 3, 2010 
Above: how the smoking breaks story was reported today in Brazil's largest circulation newspaper Folha de S. Paulo. The Portuguese-language daily describes me as "diretor da Forest, grupo cujo nome significa Organização Libertária pelo Direito de Divertir-se Fumando". I like it.
The story, with quotes from Forest, has also been reported in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Holland, China and the United Arab Emirates (to name a few).
Update: In Romania I am "directorul Forest, grup de lobby pentru drepturile fumatorilor". I realise this is of no interest to anyone (not even members of my family) but it amuses me.
Reader Comments (7)
Before you get too carried away with newspaper headlines Simon, I do think you should think seriously about opening a branch of Forest in Spain, before they attempt to bring in their proposed ban next January.
The Spanish, especially the Andalucians, are not ones to take the ban lying down, like we did here in the UK, and in my opinion, it would only take a small initiative on your behalf to get them onto the streets and stopping the anti-smoking taliban before they start.
In Spain at the moment, owners are free to operate smoking or smokefree bars provided they meet the legislative requirements. Bars display a sign on the door to state their policy. Perhaps the antis might argue, that there are not enough smokefree bars in Spain. This doesn't mean its right to ban though. No doubt the usual stuff about bar staff being exposed to shs reducing smoking prevalence,faked heart attack studies would all be argued, which again doesn't justify it. Its not right to treat people like social pariahs and boot them outside, when ventilation and a choice of rooms and or adult venues solves the perceived problem.
Please Simon, help stand up for Spain and end this unwanted dictatorship and disproportionate interference, in the lives of ordinary people.
Set up a branch of Forest for Spain?
Peter, that is a great idea and one I totally endorse.
Simon, would it be in anyway possible to achieve something like Peter has suggested?
Spain/Majorca has been my refuge for a couple of weeks a year where I have been able to live like a civilised human being. It would be devastating if Spain were to end up like Britain!
I visit Benidorm regularly. There is an area in the Levante part, the size of an average town centre, where there are a dozen large cabaret clubs on three streets. It is like condensing all your favourite Northern working mens clubs, non stop comedians, singers and tribute acts. I am over in a couple of weeks. I will ask owners and artists their plans and give you an update.
For those who don't yet know, it is planned to make smoking illegal in all bars and clubs on January 2nd 2011.
It would have been interesting, Simon, to have a translation. It would have been interesting to see how the translation handled the difference between clocking 'out' and clocking 'off'.
The good news is that people world-wide are being fore-warned of what is in store. People are beginning to be aware that they are being Americanised (if I can coin a phrase). And beginning to ask: 'how come'. Unfortunately, the Irish have not got round to it yet.
As regards Spain (and, in particular, Majorca), something extremely curious seems to be happening. I was in conversation with a bar owner whom I know personally last month. He is English, as many are in the resort of Magalluf. He told me that the Central Government of Spain are intent upon imposing a ban similar to ours as from 1st Jan 2011. He was of the opinion that such a ban would be 'devastating', not only to himself and other small bar owners, but also to the hotels.
That was his opinion, and if it is true (and I feel sure that it is), how can the local authority, based in Calvia, the centre of Government for Majorca, agree to see their income 'devastated'? It is hard to believe that the local authority is not very much reliant upon income from local taxes derived from the tourist industry.
What would be interesting would be to know what the 'devious plan' is (if there is one), devised by the Central Gov of Spain) to replace to income derived from tourism with some other 'grant', or something similar, temporarily. Some such idea would enable the politicians in Madrid to see out their time and pass the problem to a later generation.
And thus we see the inevitable 'short term ism' of politics. Do it NOW - and then walk away - as we have seen with the Patricia Hewitt.
I hope that the bar owner and hotel owners of Spain have learned from the political dishonesty which has occurred in the UK and are determined to resist. Will that happen? If only!
If they do not, then we are lost.
Excellent development - but I commend the views of Peter and Lyn above. This IS a Global problem, and requires a Global response at grass-roots level. A little Spanish passion would be most welcome. The cool apathy of the British is doing us few favours at the moment.
Dont rely on the Irish to make any waves.
The 'I'm all right Jack' retailers who are now beginning to feel the pinch have set up an assoc 'Retailers Against Smoking' because of the amount of business they're loosing to the smugglers, half a billion in revenue this year, and want the cigarette smugglers treated the same as drug smugglers!
It just wouldnt occur to them to demand a repeal of the smoking ban.
I think there's a clue here how that all the bankrupt countries, whose govts had proven inept and corrupt, are stepping over themselves to bring in a full smoking ban and are all getting a bail out from the EU brokers .
I hope Simon will set up a branch in Spain before all us smokers end up having nowhere to go on hols.