The Unfiltered Truth About Tobacco
February 10, 2011
Welcome to Tobacco Unfiltered, a new blog where you can find news and information about the global movement to reduce tobacco use and its terrible toll of death and disease.
We'll keep you up-to-date on the work of dedicated citizens and public officials in the United States and around the globe who are battling the world's leading cause of preventable death. And of course, we'll expose the tobacco industry's insidious marketing schemes and the smarmy political tactics it uses to block progress.
This blog is for and about the incredible community of people who work to save lives now and protect the next generation from the devastating illnesses caused by tobacco use.
We'll keep you posted on our progress and highlight the efforts of amazing advocates in the United States and around the world as we seek to enact the strategies that we know work: Higher tobacco taxes, tough regulation of tobacco products and marketing, well-funded programs to prevent kids from starting to smoke, insurance coverage for treatments that help smokers quit and smoke-free policies that protect everyone's right to breathe clean air.
We've got tough — and energizing — challenges ahead this year. Here are just a few:
Convincing the Texas Legislature to protect its citizens from the toxic stew of secondhand smoke. The Lone Star State is the biggest without a comprehensive, statewide smoke-free law.
Supporting vigorous implementation of the FDA's new authority over tobacco products and advocating for funding and implementation of the Administration's bold new tobacco control strategy. We must also protect money for the Prevention and Public Health Fund in the new health care reform law.
Ensuring that Russia resists fierce industry opposition and enacts a strong law to implement Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's new tobacco-control plan — which includes smoke-free public places, a ban on tobacco advertising and steep tax hikes.
So watch this space. And help us win the fight against the world's number one cause of preventable death.
Contact us at: unfiltered@tobaccofreekids.org.