Author Topic: Smoking: A Basic Human Right (Read 710 times)

AKcurly · « **on:** April 15, 2004, 01:22:44 AM »

Interesting.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040414/ap_on_fe_st/norway_smoker_s_rights

Norwegian County Backs Smokers' Rights
Wed Apr 14,10:09 AM ET

OSLO, Norway - A Norwegian county has declared smoking to be a basic human right in a dispute over a ban imposed on one town's workers.

Levanger, a township of about 18,000 people in central Norway, banned all smoking by municipal employees during working hours on or off city property at the beginning of the year.

The ruling, which made national news Wednesday, came after three opponents of the rule, all local council members from the right-wing Party of Progress, asked the county governor's office to assess the ban's legality.

In a letter to the city dated Tuesday, the county declared the ban invalid because it violates the European Human Rights Convention.

It said the city can ban smoking on its property, but not, for example, if a worker was driving their own car or on private property.

The county cited a section of the convention that protects citizens' private lives.

The letter said "a total ban on smoking during working hours is a measure that is not reasonable in relation to the goal of the ban."

Birger Meinhardt and Steinar Holten, two of the politicians who lodged the complaint, celebrated the ruling on the steps of the Levanger town hall by lighting up the biggest cigars they could find.

"Just like before Jan. 1, 2004," Holten told the Troender-Avisa newspaper as he puffed on the cigar.

Saintaw · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2004, 01:39:07 AM »

Finaly a country that sees the light!!!

Wtg Norway!

Naso · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2004, 02:17:22 AM »

Ready to go in Norway here.

Norvegian friends, how's the work situation there?

Nilsen · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2004, 03:15:03 AM »

Work situation is not good here atm Naso but that is gonna change soon.

That ban was just plain retarded and it was just a matter of time before it was gonna be removed.

rpm · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2004, 03:28:44 AM »

Hopefully some of the Anti-Smoking Nazi's in the U.S. will feel the same sting. You are worried about the carbon monoxide and carcinogens I am emitting while you ride around in a V-8 Escalade spewing more polution in a minuite than all the cigarettes I can smoke in a month? When you show up on a horse, we can talk about it.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2004, 03:34:53 AM »

Hey RPM? Your avatar offends me, please remove it.

rpm · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15, 2004, 03:38:52 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by DiabloTX
Hey RPM? Your avatar offends me, please remove it.

Sorry, too bad. But I do respect your freedom of religion in your avatar!

Nilsen · « **Reply #7 on:** April 15, 2004, 04:04:17 AM »

rpm371

Dago · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2004, 07:45:09 AM »

What do you expect from a country that soaks cod fish in lye, makes it into a gelled mess, then eats it?

I don't care if someone smokes or not, I just don't agree they have a right to force others to breath it, or have to stay home just to avoid it. If the health risks aren't bad enough, it just plain stinks!

dago

Kweassa · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2004, 07:54:49 AM »

Take heed, that even the Nazis at Auschwitz gave their Jew prisoners 3 cigarettes per week!

I can live with bans against cigarettes in public places, but it just seems nowadays the "public" areas grow larger and larger

Damn!

AdmRose · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2004, 08:07:39 AM »

Your right to smoke in public ends where my fist begins.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2004, 08:09:43 AM »

Farting in public is a God-given right too. I wonder how many restaurant smokers would mind if I did alittle crop-dusting past their tables?

gofaster · « **Reply #12 on:** April 15, 2004, 08:49:50 AM »

Crazy Norwegians!

We had a cold snap come through recently, complete with high winds and chilly air. I was walking out of the credit union and noticed all the workers in business suits huddling on the leeward side of the building, smoking. They looked like well-dressed homeless people. Ah, the face of addiction.

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #13 on:** April 15, 2004, 10:09:58 AM »

Workers will be permitted 1 cigarette daily following the 2 minutes of hate.

Ridiculous policy...

BUG_EAF322 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 15, 2004, 10:29:37 AM »

Yep WTG

Smokers are big income for the state here in holland
my pack chesterfield cost me 4.6 euro now.
Still smokers die younger so they are cheaper in the end for the state.

Think of everybody healthy become over 100 years old.
what would cost the care.

Now what if we all stopped smoking.

What would the state do missing all the money,and that is a lot.
A litre gaz would cost 2 euro than
or even more.

They would tune up taxes to a point where all the "healthy" non or anti smoke whining lobby would beg us to smoke again.

It's my choice and i won't sue anyone.