Taking Liberties

Coinciding with the introduction of smoking bans throughout the UK, plus proposals to ban junk food advertising and prosecute parents for giving alcohol to children under 15, FOREST director Simon Clark has launched a new blog, Taking Liberties. "It's going to be an interesting journey," says Simon, "so welcome aboard and enjoy the ride." To comment on the above, and other freedom-related issues, click HERE.

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PETITION THE PRIME MINISTER - ONLINE

E-Petition
Taking advantage of No 10's latest, shameless gimmick, "pro-smoker" Brendan Padmore is asking smokers and tolerant non-smokers to add their names to the following petition: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to cease the persecution of smokers and allow indoor smoking areas in private establishments." It won't change Government policy but you'll see your name on the No 10 website. Sign now.

NEWS

BBC News Online
news.bbc.co.uk

Useful archive of information on smoking-related issues, although you need to bear in mind that BBC News is on the whole pretty biased against smoking. Click on 'Health' or use the search facility.

NewsNow
www.newsnow.co.uk
There are plenty of aggregation sites for news headlines but most are American. NewsNow is British through and through and provides a one stop shop for some of the latest stories from the UK and around the world. By clicking on the specific categories on the right hand side of the screen users can see headlines associated with their particular interest. combative.

Tobacco News and Information
www.tobacco.org
Looking like the inside of a filing cabinet, which reflects the well ordered information, this site meticulously reports all tobacco-related news from around the world, albeit with an anti-tobacco emphasis. An excellent resource, the large quote section is particularly interesting. combative.

World Tobacco News
www.worldsmoking.com
Comprehensive coverage of the main tobacco stories from around the world. No search facility but you can look through new stories day by day. 

PRO-CHOICE

The Big Debate
www.thebigdebate.org 
Lively pro-choice discussion forum which began as a publican initiative and has developed into a vehicle for those who want a choice of smoking and non-smoking pubs instead of a blanket ban.

Freedom To Choose
Like its sister site, The Big Debate (above), Freedom To Choose is a grassroots initiative driven by people whose laudable aim is to raise tens of thousands of pounds in order that a Swindon publican can challenge the public smoking ban via a Judicial Review. Watch this space. 

Forces
www.forces.org
American pro-smoking site packed with information, links and worldwide info. No smoking stone is left unturned. Highly combative, which can be a bit unnerving to the more moderate ear, there is nevertheless some good stuff here  that warrants attention. Don't let the more bellicose diatribes put you off.

Mychoice.ca
www.mychoice.ca
Canada's first online smokers' rights association was launched in 2004. Targeting "those adults who choose to smoke [and] anyone who believes in fairness and government accountability when it comes to laws that infringe on personal choices", it's easy to navigate and features some interesting reports and studies. An interesting innovation are the PSAs (video public service announcements) which can be downloaded at the click of a button.

We Can Smoke Party
www.wecansmokeparty.com
Derek Platten wants to become Prime Minister so he can "repeal all unjust anti-smoking legislation". Once this has been done, Derek told FOREST, the party will resign and a new election can take place. "In order to achieve this objective I am looking for funding as it will require a full-time team to organize and vet potential candidates throughout the country." Good luck!!

United Pro-Choice Smokers Rights Newsletter
www.smokersclubinc.com/

In the Land of the Free there's a community of hard-assed campaigners fighting to preserve freedom of choice for smokers. The old-fashioned, rather sombre design doesn't do the site any favours but visitors are rewarded with loads of information and opinion including forums, chat rooms and a vast array of links to other pro-choice sites. Sign up and you will instantly be part of a new family, albeit one that is several thousand miles away.

Smoking Causes Web-Links
www.kidon.com/smoke
Useful English-language Dutch site with links to websites offering all kind of smoking-related information and  organisations (including FOREST). There's even a section on smoking fetish sites some of which are, ahem, a tad seedy.

ANTI-SMOKING

Action on Smoking and Health
www.ash.org.uk
Extensive news and information, albeit deadly dull. ASH say they are in the process of redesigning the website and would appreciate your feedback "using this brief questionnaire" (see home page). Over to you!!

ASH Scotland
www.ashscotland.org.uk
Straightforward site that covers smoking from a rather puritannical Presbyterian perspective. ASH Scotland is on a mission to save Scottish smokers from their horrible habit. No ifs and definitely no butts.

British Medical Association
www.bma.org.uk
These are the 'experts' who say there is 'no safe level of environmental tobacco smoke' which is why we should ban smoking in all public places. Doh!

British Medical Journal
bmj.com/cgi/collection/smoking
Useful collection of reports about smoking, but treat with caution and don't believe everything you read! Even the editor admitted that last year's online debate following the publication of the Enstrom/Kabat study into passive smoking was characterised by its passion rather than a serious analysis of the facts.

Repace Associates
www.repace.com
Under the guidance of James L. Repace, MSc. Health Physicist, these self-styled 'Secondhand Smoke Consultants' offer a range of services including 'lectures on passive smoking' and courses on everything from 'environmental smoke science' to 'cotinine analysis in body fluids, assessment of engineering controls' etc etc. 'On-site or telephone consultation'. Is there anything Repace Associates can't (or won't) do - for a price?

International Tobacco Control Network
www.globalink.org
International site with restricted access for non-members. Main focus is to pool information and resources in the fight against Big Tobacco.

QUIT SMOKING

Allen Carr
www.allencarrseasyway.com
The late Allen Carr, a former 100-a-day man, claimed to be the 'world's leading expert in helping smokers to quit'. But if you want to find out why you'll have to buy the book, attend a meeting or do the full Internet course. And that costs money. Ingenious.

NHS
www.givingupsmoking.co.uk
Plenty of good motivational stuff to help smokers who want to give up. But then they blow it by inviting friends, family and colleagues to join in. 'You can't make them give up but you can help them ...' Ugh! That e-card is sure to make all the difference.

The Time Is Right
www.thetimeisright.co.uk
Good, clear, concise site. If you're a level-headed smoker who wants to avoid the industry paranoia or American psychobabble of other quit smoking sites, The Time is Right has tips, info, help, assessment and advice.

No Smoking Day
www.nosmokingday.org.uk
No Smoking Day is a tedious, past its prime publicity stunt that costs the taxpayer £600,000 a year. Alternatively it's a genuine aid to those who wish to stop smoking. You decide. (You're right, it's a tedious, past its prime ....)

QuitNet
www.quitnet.com
Loads of info and chummy good wishes. Offers support and has a fun feel with cartoon characters and bright colours. You can create your own 'quit plan', ask questions and use 'quitticisms', the dialect of the site. Cute.

Quit
www.quit.org.uk
Quit is the UK charity that runs the helpline Quitline (0800 002200). Sleek looking site that offers some useful strategies to help you stop smoking. 

Smoke Free Accommodation Guide
www.smokefree.co.uk
Cheap and not so cheerful UK site. Predictably spartan. After all, who would want to commit commercial suicide by telling a third of the adult population they're not welcome?

TOBACCO INDUSTRY

Tobacco Manufacturers Association
www.the-tma.org.uk
Lime green and white colour scheme and simple structure. The issues are well covered and there are press releases and publications plus a variety of useful facts and figures.
A newsletter is available to download as well.

British American Tobacco
www.bat.com
User friendly site, written in 'plain English', offering a good overview of the company's ethos and activities in the manufacture and marketing of cigarettes. Crisply designed in neutral colours, there's something for everyone - consumer, investor, activist or researcher. Our only criticism is the menu bar. It's at a neck-stretching 90 degree angle. Why?

Gallaher
www.gallaher-group.com
Simple format: side navigation bar and text. No pictures or illustrations, just information about the company and its products. Trade website can be found at www.gallaher.co.uk.

Imperial Tobacco
www.imperial-tobacco.com
Similar format to Gallaher (above) but with a bit more colour. More news, too, with regular updates on tobacco-related stories and company press releases. Emphasis on company information rather than the issues surrounding tobacco.

Philip Morris International
www.pmintl.com
Looks at the health issues in a frank and candid manner. Clearly designed to appease the anti-smokers, it offers links to sources such as the World Health Organisation and US Surgeon General reports. Also provides an extensive list of the ingredients used in cigarettes. Worthy but, dare we say it, dull, dull, dull.

Japan Tobacco International
www.jti.com
Interesting company. Swish looking site with a spacious feel. Different coloured sections handle news, brands, careers, and who and what JTI stand for. Covers all the major issues but not in great detail.   

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HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

The Publican
www.thepublican.com
If you want to keep up with all the smoking-related news that affects the pub and restaurant industry, this is the place to do it. Click here for the smoking section or check the home page for the latest stories and follow the relevant links. An excellent interactive facility allows readers to comment on stories and articles, so it's also a good way to monitor opinion in the hospitality industry - including Wetherspoon MD Tim Martin's accurate observation that "As I understand it, the medical arguments about passive smoking are weak and debatable."

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MISCELLANEOUS

Atmosphere Improves Results
www.airinitiative.com
Tobacco industry funded group with close links to publicans that promotes ventilation as a solution to the problem of environmental tobacco smoke.

Butts Out
www.buttsout.co.uk
The jury is still out on this 'British' anti-litter initiative whose parent company was launched in Australia in 2001. Are they anti-smokers, considerate human beings, or simply entrepreneurs with an eye for the main chance?

Junk Science
www.junkscience.com
Interesting site that takes a step back and divides the science on smoking between 'real science' and 'scaremongering'. Search for 'smoking'.

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CHILL OUT ZONE

Spiked!
www.spiked-online.co.uk
'Spiked is an online publication with the modest ambition of making history as well as reporting it. Spiked! stands for liberty, enlightenment, experimentation and excellence.' Sharp design and navigation is allied to informed and thought-provoking features. Some of the articles on smoking, especially those by Dr Mike Fitzpatrick, are essential reading. 

Joe Jackson
www.joejackson.com
Musician Joe Jackson ('I'm The Man', 'It's Different for Girls', 'Is She Really Going Out With Him?') has strong views about smoking bans and is not afraid to speak out. His personal website features links to articles he has written for the New York Times, Daily Telegraph and the Guardian and you can even download his protest song about the NY smoking ban.

Reason

www.reason.com

Reason is a libertarian magazine published in Los Angeles. Reasononline follows the attractive clear cut design of the magazine which was styled by Wired founder Louis Rossetto. The content lives up to the gloss. There is plenty of copy to keep you amused on a wide variety of subjects and it is a truly dogma free zone.

Institute of Ideas
www.instituteofideas.com
'Expanding the boundaries of public debate', the Institute of Ideas organises some of the best and most challenging debates in the country. Director is Claire Fox, a panellist on Radio 4's The Moral Maze and a long-standing friend of FOREST.   

Filed 13/01/03 
Updated 21/02/07