Dedicated to making the Tobacco Industry a health hazard of the past.

Breathers’ Digest News from the Front Lines Summer 2004 Airspace Action on Smoking & Health Vital Health Advocacy and Legal Action – Since 1986 6200 McKay Ave., Box 141-831 Burnaby, BC, Canada V5H 4M9 www.airspace.bc.ca [email protected] Ph: 1-888-245-7722

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMM…….… UUNNRREEPPEENNTTAANNTT TTOOBBAACCCCOO EEXXEECCUUTTIIVVEE EELLEECCTTEEDD PPRRIIMMEE MMIINNIISSTTEERR (some personal thoughts of an Airspace Member) Much to the surprise and/or Are you now, or have you (P a u l M a rtin 's S p ec ia l A s s is ta n t o f

MANY OF US ARE SIMPLY chagrin of most people on the ever been, associated with O p era tio n s ), a n d h e to ld m e th a t h e'll UNAWARE OF THE DEPTH TO wrong side of The Rockies, Paul the tobacco industry? g et b a c k to m e s o o n (a s th o u g h 2 2 WHICH THE MONEY – HUNGRY "Tobacco" Martin was recently m o n th s is n 't lo n g en o u g h to w a it fo r a n TOBACCO INDUSTRY HAS N o rep ly . a n s w er!). elected Prime Minister of PERMEATED OUR SOCIETY. THE

INDUSTRY HAS TAKEN OVER MANY Canada. I e-m a iled h im a g a in o n 2 1 S E P 0 2 , W h ile w a itin g fo r a rep ly , I d id s o m e COMPANIES AND THEIR 2 4 N O V 0 2 , 1 3 J A N 0 3 a n d 1 2 F E B 0 3 While Martin's job as a tobacco res ea rc h a n d d is c o v ered th e fo llo w in g : SUBSIDIARIES (OR IN THE executive -- or a Pusher in w ith th e s a m e q u es tio n . POLITICALLY CORRECT LINGO, D u rin g th e 1 9 8 0 s , P a u l M a rtin w a s o n e Pinstripes (PIP), as we prefer to THEY HAVE “DIVERSIFIED”) . DID H e h a s y et to rep ly to m y q u ery . o f fiv e m em b ers o f th e E x ec u tiv e YOU KNOW THAT EVERY TIME YOU call him -- officially ended in W o n d er w h y ? C o m m ittee o f Im a s c o , a B ritis h PURCHASE A BOX OF ‘NAME 1988, unofficially, he continues A m eric a n T o b a c c o s u b s id ia ry , w h ic h BRAND’ MACARONI & CHEESE to do more for the nicotine cartel I th en w en t to w w w .lib era l.c a o n YOU ARE ULTIMATELY LINING THE o w n s 1 0 0 % o f Im p eria l T o b a c c o . than all other PIPs combined. 2 2 M A Y 0 4 a n d p o s ted th e s a m e POCKETS OF TOBACCO COMPANY Im p eria l c u rren tly b o a s ts 7 0 % o f q u es tio n . N o th in g y et. EXECUTIVES? AND LET’S FACE Former Airspace President Jerry C a n a d a 's c ig a rette m a rk et, m a k in g it IT: MONEY = POWER. FROM res p o n s ib le fo r m o re th a n 1 0 0 COOKIES TO GOVERNMENT, THE Steinberg has, for just about two I m et h is S p ec ia l A s s is ta n t o f TOBACCO INDUSTRY SEEMS TO years, doggedly pursued PIP O p era tio n s , J o n a th a n M o s er, in th e C a n a d ia n s s la u g h tered b y c ig a rettes HAVE OUR SOCIETY UNDER ITS Martin, trying to get a simple H o tel V a n c o u v er o n 1 J U N 0 4 , a n d ev ery d a y . T o b a c c o k ills m o re THUMB. PERSONALLY, I DON’T Yes or No answer from him a s k ed h im w h eth er M r. M a rtin h a d C a n a d ia n s ev ery d a y th a n a re k illed b y THINK IT IS RIGHT, NOR IS IT regarding his involvement -- b een in a n y w a y a ffilia ted w ith th e a lc o h o l, tra ffic a c c id en ts , c o c a in e, DEMOCRATIC, FOR ANY ONE c ra c k , h ero in , fires , A ID S , h o m ic id e GROUP OF COMPANIES TO HAVE past, present and/or future -- to b a c c o in d u s try . M r. M o s er in d ic a ted a n d s u ic id e c o m b in ed ! THAT MUCH POWER! with the nicotine cartel. In th a t h e d o u b ted it. I a s k ed h im to fin d

typical cartel/snake-in-the-grass o u t fo r s u re fo r m e. WHAT CAN YOU DO IN THE WAR A fter res ig n in g fro m Im a s c o to ru n fo r fashion, PIP Martin and his staff AGAINST THE TOBACCO P a rlia m en t in 1 9 8 8 , h is w o rk fo r Im a s c o seem to be having a great deal I e-m a iled h im o n 1 J U N 0 4 to rem in d INDUSTRY? LOOKING FOR d id n 't s to p . O n e o f M a rtin 's firs t a c ts INFORMATION REGARDING of difficulty responding to Jerry's h im , a n d h a v e y et to rec eiv e a rep ly . I a fter b ec o m in g F in a n c e M in is ter in SMOKING, HEALTH, AND/OR THE very basic and simple question. p h o n ed h im a few d a y s la ter a n d left a 1 9 9 3 w a s to s la s h fed era l to b a c c o TOBACCO INDUSTRY? The email that Airspace m es s a g e o n h is v o ic em a il. S till n o th in g . ta x es a n d to s tro n g -a rm p ro v in c es to EMAIL US AT: received from Jerry reads: I e-m a iled M P H ed y F ry w ith th e s a m e d o th e s a m e, w h ic h c u t c ig a rette p ric es [email protected] I e-m a iled P a u l M a rtin a t q u es tio n o n 2 J U N 0 4 . S till w a itin g . in h a lf in E a s tern C a n a d a in F eb ru a ry OR VISIT: p a u l@ p a u lm a rtin .c a o n 2 6 A U G 0 2 I ju s t g o t o ff th e p h o n e (1 1 :1 5 a .m ., o f 1 9 9 4 , a n d n ea rly d o u b led y o u th www.airspace.bc.ca w ith th e fo llo w in g q u es tio n : S u n d a y , J u n e 2 7 , 2 0 0 4 ) w ith M r. M o s er s m o k in g ra tes in th o s e p ro v in c es . (Continued on page 3) In B.C., smokers can still buy a pack (of cigarettes) at A Tribute:: Warren Zevon 1947-2003 the same place they pick up prescriptions and other Most write love songs or commentary on contemporary culture. Warren Zevon wrote health care products …… love songs, too; "Reconsider Me" is a particularly good one. However, Zevon also wrote songs “Pharmacists should not be about mercenaries ("Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner"), prizefighters with blood on their selling a product that, hands ("Boom Boom Mancini"), psychotic killers (""), and economics ("Mohammed's (when) used as directed, Radio"). His two best known works, "" and "", were kills" humorous. The latter, turned into a monster hit record by Linda Ronstadt, added the concept of See ‘The Ol’ College Try’, "gender" as a synonym for "sex" to the English language. page 3 Zevon had demons. He battled with alcoholism for much of his adult life, but it was cigarettes that did him in. He died of lung cancer at the age of 56. He reportedly quit smoking about six years prior Millions have suffered needlessly or died to his death, but it wasn't soon enough. Like other prominent musicians such as George Harrison, prematurely because of the Mary Wells, and Tammy Wynette, the best medical treatment available couldn't save him. He did actions of tobacco manage to live long enough to record one more CD, "The Wind". When a friend of mine died of a companies. stroke recently, a song from this CD, "Keep Me in Your Heart", was played at his funeral. Yes, Warren, we will keep you in our hearts, but it would have been better if we had kept you on this planet for a lot longer. http://airspace.bc.ca Breathers’ Digest – Summer 2004 Airspace Action on Smoking & Health Page 2 of 4 SSmmuugggglliinngg tthheeiirr oowwnn pprroodduuccttss ffoorr iinnccrreeaasseedd pprrooffiitt On July 9 Philip Morris International mostly via the Akwesasne Mohawk reserve agreed to pay the European Union $1.25 straddling the St. Lawrence Seaway. Lost billion US over 12 years to settle charges revenue in evaded cigarette tax is estimated of money laundering and smuggling. to be over $3-billion, giving then-finance- Similar charges are still pending against minister Paul Martin an excuse to slash R.J. Reynolds. The companies knowingly cigarette prices in half in Eastern Canada in sell cigarettes to international smugglers in 1994, which resulted in Quebec’s youth part to increase market share, but mostly as an smoking jumping to 34% from 19% in 1991 effort to pressure governments to reduce taxes. and the loss of over $10-billion in tax —The tobacco industry About one-quarter of internationally traded revenue. Until running for MP in 1988, has perpetrated the cigarettes enter the illegal market, with much of Martin was a top director of Imasco, largest consumer the proceeds funneled directly into terrorist groups Imperial’s parent company at the time. deception the world all over the planet, including Hamas, Hezbollah has ever seen. Death and al Qaeda. Larry Miller, currently serving 17½ years in a upon death has been US prison for smuggling $1-billion of RJR- the result, but the On the same day, executives of JTI-Macdonald, Macdonald’s cigarettes back into Canada, industry has never Canada’s third-largest tobacco company, made a has admitted he regularly met with RJR- apologized to or brief court appearance on smuggling charges. The Macdonald executives who told him how to compensated the Canadian government filed the lawsuit in the move their smuggled product in Canada. family of any victim. Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Aug. 13, 2003 The RCMP seized about 1,200 boxes of records in a 1998 raid of RJR-Macdonald's Instead, the industry for $1.5 billion in damages for fraud, deceit, Montreal headquarters, and filed criminal has denied fraudulent misrepresentation, document destruction, and civil conspiracy. Also charged smuggling charges in Ontario on Feb. 28, responsibility and 2003 against JTI-Macdonald and eight of its advertised its were about a dozen related companies including top executives. products in a way JTI-Macdonald’s parent company Japan Tobacco that attracts teenage and its former parent company, R. J. Reynolds. On Tuesday, August 10, 2004, the Quebec recruits to replace But the case was put over until Nov. 4, 2004 for government assessed tobacco giant JTI- pre-trial discussions, with preliminary hearing dead customers.“ Macdonald Corp. almost $1.4 billion for lost dates set for next year. JTI-Macdonald (then taxes because of cigarette smuggling in the - Ron Cunningham, called RJR-Macdonald) and Imperial Tobacco sold Author, Smoke & Mirrors 1990s, and obtained a Superior Court order the cigarettes in the early 1990s to US smugglers on Wednesday August 11, 2004 ordering who then smuggled them back into Canada, immediate payment by JTI-Macdonald. PPMM’’’ss TTrraaiinn ooff DDeeaatthh::: The tobacco industry has always responded to restrictions on —We need to address the possibility (probability) of smoking in bed. Can tobacco advertising by finding a way to circumvent those smoke detec tors be installed? " restrictions. Naming tennis tournaments, fireworks displays, or jazz festivals after a brand of cigarettes is an example of the H o w ev er, th is p ro jec t tu rn ed o u t to b e to o ela b o ra te œ ev en fo r o n e o f th e industry’s ability to sidestep the restrictions and maintain la rg es t m u ltin a tio n a l c o rp o ra tio n s o n th is p la n et - to m eet s w eep s ta k es ‘ indirect advertising. Very clever. d ea d lin es . T h e p ro jec t w a s c a n c elled a n d P h ilip M o rris o rd ered th e n ea rly c o m p lete tra in to b e c u t u p a n d s a lv a g ed fo r s c ra p . E m p lo y ees o f D en v er- Holding a sweepstakes, however, is ingenious. It does not b a s ed R a d er R a ilc a r, a s it w a s th en c a lled , w ere n o t o n ly la id o ff, b u t constitute “advertising” per se, but by having people enter a a c tu a lly s ig n ed d o c u m en ts s ta tin g th a t th ey w o u ld n o t ta lk a b o u t th is fa iled sweepstakes draw, the tobacco companies are able to tra in p ro jec t. accumulate a database of names and addresses that they can use as future advertising targets. A s fo r th e c o n tes t w in n ers , m o s t w ere g iv en $ 6 ,0 0 0 in c a s h in lieu o f th e lu x u ry tra in rid e th a t h a d b een p ro m is ed to th em . Iro n ic a lly , o n e o f th e A report, which is based on internal memos of Philip Morris (available as a result of the 1998 settlement between the S w eep s ta k es w in n ers , S ta n D en n is o f W y lie, T ex a s , d ied o f s m o k in g -rela ted tobacco industry and 46 States) released by the American illn es s b efo re c o llec tin g h is p riz e - eith er th e tra in rid e o r th e $ 6 ,0 0 0 . P a m Lung Association of Colorado on June 30, 2003, unveils the D en n is , S ta n ‘s w id o w , w ro te th e M a rlb o ro c ig a rette m a n u fa c tu rer o n O c t. 8 , following tale: 1 9 9 6 : "S ta n p a s s ed a w a y v ery u n ex p ec ted ly ea rlier th is y ea r. A s y o u c a n s ee b y th e a tta c h ed c o p y o f th e d ea th c ertific a te, s m o k in g c o n trib u ted to h is In 1 9 9 6 a n d 1 9 9 7 , P h ilip M o rris s p en t $ 5 0 m illio n o n th e "M a rlb o ro U n lim ited d ea th … . It w o u ld rea lly m ea n a lo t to m e if I c o u ld g o o n th e trip . It w o u ld S w eep s ta k es " p ro m o tio n . E n try c o u p o n s w ere a v a ila b le a t g a s b a rs a n d h a v e b een a d rea m 2 5 th w ed d in g a n n iv ers a ry v a c a tio n fo r S ta n a n d m e." s m o k e s h o p s th ro u g h o u t th e U n ited S ta tes . E a c h o f th e 2 ,0 0 0 w in n ers M s . D en n is h a d ev en m a d e a rra n g em en ts fo r a frien d to a c c o m p a n y h er o n d ra w n w a s to rec eiv e a fiv e-d a y trip o n a c u s to m -b u ilt lu x u ry tra in o w n ed b y th e p riz e trip in p la c e o f h er d ea d h u s b a n d . P h ilip M o rris a n d b u ilt b y a c o m p a n y n o w k n o w n a s C o lo ra d o R a ilc a r. T h is tra in w a s to h a v e, a m o n g o th er th in g s , fiv e h o t tu b s , a 1 6 -s ea t th ea tre, a n d a M s . D en n is n ev er s a w th e $ 5 0 m illio n tra in . N o r d id th e res t o f th e 2 ,0 0 0 c a s in o /n ig h t c lu b . It w a s to tra v el th ro u g h C o lo ra d o , W y o m in g , Id a h o , a n d M a rlb o ro S w eep s ta k es —w in n ers “. M s D en n is w a s to ld th a t th e p riz e w a s M o n ta n a . T h ere w ere, o f c o u rs e, n o n o n -s m o k in g s ec tio n s . T h e w in d o w s —n o n -tra n s fera b le“. w ere m a d e o f b u lletp ro o f g la s s in c a s e a n y o n e h a d a s tren u o u s o b jec tio n to h a v in g a c ig a rette a d -o n -w h eels ro llin g th ro u g h th eir b a c k y a rd , a n d th e tra in P h ilip M o rris n o w ru n s a "P a rty a t th e R a n c h " c o n tes t, w h ere w in n ers w a s eq u ip p ed w ith fire ex tin g u is h ers . A p p ro p ria tely en o u g h , o n e o f m a n y v a c a tio n in M o n ta n a in tern a l P h ilip M o rris m em o s a b o u t th is p ro jec t w h ic h w a s u n c o v ered s ta tes : - Bob Broughton, New Westminster, BC Breathers’ Digest – Summer 2004 http://airspace.bc.ca Airspace Action on Smoking & Health Page 3 of 4

UUnnrreeppeennttaanntt PPrriimmee MMiinniisstteerr ((ccoonntt’’’dd)) (Continued from Page 1) R a tes in W es tern C a n a d a , w h ere W h ile h e w a s F in a n c e M in is ter, h e c h a n c es a re o f g ettin g a p ric es w ere m a in ta in ed , rem a in ed b o a s ted a s u rp lu s , b u t th a t s u rp lu s w a s res p o n s e fro m P a u l M a rtin to s ta b le. b u ilt b y in c rea s in g E m p lo y m en t th is q u es tio n ? In s u ra n c e p rem iu m s a n d red u c in g M a rtin c la im ed th a t th e ta x c u t elig ib ility a n d b en efits , b y s la s h in g th e The bottom line is: w a s n ec es s a ry to red u c e c ig a rette b u d g et fo r C a n a d a 's m ilita ry , a n d b y We don't like to make s m u g g lin g , a lth o u g h it's n o w ren eg in g o n fin a n c ia l o b lig a tio n s in assumptions any more k n o w n th a t R J R -M a c d o n a ld a n d h ea lth c a re a n d ed u c a tio n , a n d o ff- than anyone else does M a rtin 's Im p eria l T o b a c c o lo a d in g th em to p ro v in c ia l a n d but, given PIP Martin's – and o rc h es tra ted m o s t o f th a t Courtesy of Brian Gibbs, m u n ic ip a l g o v ern m en ts . H e w a s a ls o his staff's - reluctance to s m u g g lin g . Globe & Mail, Toronto th e s a m e F in a n c e M in is ter w h o s ig n ed respond to and/or clarify this In 1 9 9 8 , M a rtin to rp ed o ed a a ll th e c h eq u es fo r th e g u n reg is try -- matter, we're left with no PRETENDS TO BE, WHY IS c o m p lete to b a c c o -s p o n s o rs h ip th e c o s t o f w h ic h s k y ro c k eted fro m th e choice. That said, the facts HE BLISSFULLY IGNORING a d v ertis in g b a n ju s t d a y s b efo re es tim a ted 2 m illio n d o lla rs , 5 0 0 tim es to are clear: Paul Martin was, ONE OF THE BIGGEST th en -F ed era l H ea lth M in is ter A lla n o n e b illio n d o lla rs -- w ith o u t a q u es tio n until 1988, a tobacco DRAIN OF TAXPAYERS’ R o c k w a s to g iv e a p res s o r ev en a b lin k a b o u t a ll th e c o s t o v er- executive. The decisions he DOLLARS ON THE HEALTH c o n feren c e a n n o u n c in g it. A n d ru n . made as Finance Minister CARE SYSTEM -- NOT TO clearly favoured his old pals at M a rtin a ls o k illed b ills b y S en a to r If y o u k n o w a n y o n e w h o s ta rted MENTION THE LEADING Imperial Tobacco. And even C o lin K en n y to em u la te w h a t s m o k in g o r c o n tin u ed s m o k in g w h ile CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE when he's not doing anything C a lifo rn ia d id to red u c e its y o u th P a u l M a rtin w a s o u r F in a n c e M in is ter, ADDICTION, DISEASE, specifically for his old pals, by s m o k in g ra te to a th ird o f th eir p rem a tu re d ea th c o u ld v ery w ell DISABILITY AND continuing to do nothing on C a n a d a 's . b e th e res u lt o f h is h elp in g h is frien d s PREMATURE DEATH -- the tobacco file, he is, TOBACCO? M r. M a rtin is n 't s u c h a fin a n c ia l in th e to b a c c o in d u s try . inadvertently, doing them g en iu s , eith er -- a t lea s t n o t fo r P res id en t R o n a ld R ea g a n w a s k n o w n more favours. The only C a n a d ia n s . H is C a n a d a a s "T h e G rea t C o m m u n ic a to r," w h ile questions that remain are: S tea m s h ip L in es h a s b u ilt a n d P rim e M in is ter M a rtin w ill p ro b a b ly g o IS OUR UNREPENTANT reg is tered th eir s h ip s o ffs h o re, in TOBACCO EXECUTIVE / PM d o w n a s "T h e G rea t E v a d er". IF PAUL MARTIN IS AS o rd er to a v o id p a y in g C a n a d ia n CONCERNED ABOUT PAUL MARTIN STILL ON w o rk ers a n d C a n a d ia n ta x es . W h a t d o y o u th in k your HEALTH CARE AS HE THE CARTEL'S PAYROLL? GGiivviinngg iitt TThhee OOll’’’ CCoolllleeggee TTrryy…… For several years the College of (1 ) the pharmac y, or Mart, is in favour of continuing to sell Pharmacists of British Columbia, which tobacco products from within their (2 ) any part of the establishment w here is the regulatory body controlling the premises, and are looking to goods or serv ic es are sold or offered for practice of pharmacology in BC, has government for regulation. Given the sale to the pu blic , or been lobbying government to require the ongoing dispute surrounding this issue removal of tobacco products from retail (3 ) any part of the establishment w here the BCPhA felt it was appropriate to premises containing pharmacies. goods or serv ic es are sold or offered for issue the following Position Statement,

sale to the pu blic and w here c u stomers of approved by the Board June 4, 2004: The College’s regulatory authority is the pharmac y c an pass into the currently limited by provincial legislation • The BCPhA does not support the establishment direc tly or by the u se of a to “the area of a premises licensed College of Pharmacists of British c orridor or area u sed ex c lu siv ely to c onnec t under this [Pharmacists, Pharmacy Columbia’s efforts to expand its the pharmac y and the establishment." Operations and Drug Scheduling] Act jurisdiction beyond the boundaries of the where drugs or devices may be stored, Clearly pharmacists are seeking to be pharmacy area. dispensed or sold to the public”. That taken seriously as competent and defined area excludes where tobacco • The BCPhA supports and encourages knowledgeable health care the voluntary withdrawal of tobacco products are stocked and sold. professionals. The College's Code of products from pharmacies in British Ethics outlines the values to which The College of Pharmacists has Columbia. proposed the following Practice Policy pharmacists are expected to adhere, which include "honesty, integrity and • The BCPhA supports and encourages for implementation: compassion", supporting "the patient's pharmacist supported smoking "T h e C o lleg e w ill w o rk to c o n v in c e th e right to receive competent and ethical cessation products and programs. p ro v in c ia l g o v ern m en t to m a k e leg is la tiv e health care", and ensuring that "the c h a n g e c o n c ern in g th e s a le o f to b a c c o practice environment contributes to safe These two bodies are at obvious odds with one another – what is your stand? p ro d u c ts fro m p h a rm a c ies in c lu d in g th e and effective pharmacy care".

fo llo w in g b y la w : For more details and an in-depth review The B.C. Pharmacists Association A lic ensed pharmac y mu st not be loc ated of the issue, visit www.airspace.bc.ca - (BCPhA), which is the professional body l o o k for the letter of support sent to the in an establishment w here tobac c o consisting, in large part, of the extensive College by Airspace’s Sera Kirk. produ c ts are sold from: chain stores such as Shoppers Drug Breathers’ Digest – Summer 2004 http://airspace.bc.ca Airspace Action on Smoking & Health Page 4 of 4

The use of war to refer to the battles HHeellpp BBrreeaatthhee LLiiffee IInnttoo AAiirrssppaaccee over tobacco is clearly appropriate. The You care about tobacco issues. You z Toxic litter; tobacco ind ustry, a foreign-controlled receive and read Breather's Digest and z Indoor air pollution; and aggressor, knowingly kills tens of support tobacco regulation in theory. z Fires, and resulting injuries, deaths, thousands of Canadian citizens each On those extremely rare occasions pollution, property damage and destruction when someone asks your opinion, you resulting therefrom. year. The industry knowingly addicts tens state it. But have you ever wondered of thousands of children each year, what you can do in an active sense? Even outdoors, tobacco smoke is a health hazard thereby taking away their freedom, CCooonnnsssiiidddeeerrr t tthhhiiisss a aarrrtttiiicccllleee a aa c ccaaalllll t ttooo a aarrrmmsss!!! and an infringement on others’ personal space. perhaps for a lifetime. To protect and Have you ever suffered through, or been forced to With our health care system in crisis leave a bus or entertainment lineup (or any venue expand its empire, the industry uses a and British Columbia facing another - including someone’s home) because the finely tuned propaganda machine. Loss of long summer of fire, we can no longer involuntary inhalation of smoke & toxins was too life, loss of freedom, propaganda – these afford to be complacent or tolerant overbearing?

are the characteristics of war. about tobacco, the primary cause of:

We tend to blame politicians for everything – Rob Cunningham,, Smoke & Mirrors z Preventable premature death and often perhaps, deservedly; however, in all disease in both active and fairness, we cannot expect our politicians to read

involuntary users; minds. The tobacco companies are speaking their minds loudly and consistently. In the absence of our voices, many of our representatives may not know that the industry's wishes are contrary to ours, and how strongly we feel about it. It is true that the first people to complain will be told there is nothing that can be done, no one else has complained, etc. If there were any among us who could afford it, there would no doubt have been lawsuits on some of these issues. If everyone who cares telephones and/or writes to their leaders, appropriate ministers/councilors, and representatives, those who wish to be re-elected will eventually have no choice but to listen. There is power in numbers. You may be surprised to find out how many politicians are simply not aware that this is an issue on which a significant number of people feel strongly.

At the Federal level, write to the Prime Minister, your MP, Minister for Health, and any other ministries relevant to the issue(s) you are addressing. To find out names and contact information, either telephone 1 800 755 7047 or go to this website: http://canada.gc.ca/depts/major/depind_e.html

At the Provincial level, write to your MLA and any other ministries relevant to the issues you are addressing. To find out names and contact information, telephone 1 - 800 – 661- 8683 or go to this website: http://www.legis.gov.bc.ca/mla/3-1-1.htm. —In all fairness,

Premier Gordon Campbell (telephone 250 387 1715; facsimile 250 387 0087; email [email protected] or we cannot [email protected]; address P.O. Box 9041, Stn. Prov. Govt., Victoria British Columbia, V8W 9E1) expect our politicians to At the Municipal level, your local City Hall has names and contact information regarding your Mayor and Councilors. read minds….. DO NOT LIMIT YOUR VOICE TO POLITICIANS! There is power in numbers.“ ∑∑ Let smokers know how you feel about litter. Ask them why they do not use their vehicle's ashtray, have not bought one, and/or do not carry one with them when they know they will be outdoors and that they smoke, instead of littering.

∑∑ Especially during the fire season, report the license plate numbers, vehicle descriptions, time, date, and any other details you can remember of any smokers you see throwing their cigarettes out of car windows. This is actually a hazard year-round, as such irresponsibly discarded smoking materials can hit pedestrians, those riding in open vehicles, or even blow in through the open windows of other vehicles.

∑∑ Let business owners know what you expect. British Columbian provincial smoking legislation is weak. If a venue is smoky in spite of compliance with the law, let the owner and/or manager know. The first people to complain will likely remain unrewarded; however, if a proprietor hears repeatedly that the venue stinks and is putting people off, or that patrons feel sorry for staff who have to work in the designated smoking rooms, the chances of eventual change increase. If you believe that the premises may be in violation of health regulations and the owner does not respond in a satisfactory manner to having this politely pointed out, a complaint to the Workers' Compensation Board (*) should bring results. *1-800-661-2112

∑∑ If a landlord has advertised a property as no smoking, insist that this condition be included in your lease or rental agreement, so that you have legal protection should problems arise.

∑∑ Find out what companies are affiliated with the tobacco industry and boycott them. Take a few minutes to let them know you are boycotting them and why.

∑∑ Support and spend your money at businesses that refuse to deal tobacco or at least keep it out of sight. Especially let health care businesses, such as pharmacies, know how you feel about huge displays of tobacco products at their checkout counters.

The important thing is to let your feelings be known. We, the majority, have been polite and silent for too long. This is why, at a time when everyone but tobacco executives, militant smokers, and those financially dependent on either or both agrees that tobacco smoke pollution and ubiquitous toxic, flammable litter is a hazard and a drain on our resources and quality of life, we still do not have regulation of this product proportionate to the damage it causes.

Yes, you may be given a hard time. You may be called names. You may be told that you are the only one who is bothered by this.

At first – but if we all speak out, together and consistently, change for the better is inevitable. If we remain complacently silent, then we deserve no better than to be ignored and continue paying the ever-increasing costs of the consequences.