September 23, 2014
Learn more at September 21, 2014
Action on Smoking and Health released an excellent report on what localities and states in the US can do to implement the WHO FCTC, including
- prevent tobacco industry interference,
- Raise tobacco prices,
- Protect citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke, e
- Effectively educate the public,
- Limit tobacco advertising,
- Promote cessation, and
- Limit youth access to tobacco products.
The report is available here and a searchable database of actions is available here.
September 21, 2014
The chief justice of the Australian Supreme Court, RS French, gave a thoughtful speech entitled "Investor-State Dispute Settlement — A Cut Above the Courts?" to the Supreme and Federal Courts Judges' Conference on 9 July 2014. It is well-worth reading by anyone interested in how investor-state provisions of free trade agreements are undermining democracy.
Here is the intorductory section:
The High Court of Australia and the Egyptian Court that recently sentenced Al Jazeera journalists, including Australian Peter Greste, to long terms of imprisonment, have something in common. Along with many other courts, their decisions may be called into question in arbitral proceedings under investor-state dispute settlement ('ISDS') processes. This paper concerns the use of those processes by private investors to bring claims against countries which are parties to bilateral investment treaties ('BITs') or free trade agreements ('FTAs'). Its focus is on the tension that can exist between those arbitral mechanisms and the legitimate functions of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of governments.
September 21, 2014
Erich Schwartzel, an enterprising reporter for The Wall Street Journal, published an article last week about the e-cigarette industry’s use of paid product placement in American movies (Coming soon to theaters near you: E-cigarettes, 14 Sept 2014). Among other revelations, the story notes that Ryan Kavanaugh, CEO of the “mini-major” movie studio Relativity, serves on an e-cigarette company’s board and aims to use mainstream films to promote the products. Billionaire Ron Burkle, a major political contributor, is Relativity’s second-largest investor.
The Wall Street Journal also notes that domestic tobacco giants, barred from placing tobacco products in films by the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with state attorneys general, could soon be swarming Hollywood to promote the products of their own e-cigarette divisions.
