Hosting tobacco forum contradicts Spores values

Bic_Cherry · May 26, 2014

Hosting tobacco forum contradicts Singapore's values
FROM DELANE LIM ZI XUAN - 24thMAY2014 [Voices: TODAY]
I have learnt that the World Tobacco (WT) Asia 2014 forum, which will attract visitors in the tobacco industry, will be hosted in Singapore.

In March 2012, the city hosted the World Conference on Tobacco or Health, in which Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said Singapore would focus on creating an environment where being smoke-free is the norm.
We have just increased tobacco taxes and there are programmes for non-smokers to help smokers quit. In 1971, Singapore was the first in Asia to ban tobacco advertising. Since then, the Government has done a good job in banning smoking in public places.
In 2004, Singapore was the first in Asia to require graphic pictures on cigarette packets to warn smokers about the dangers of smoking. All these were done to ensure the well-being of Singaporeans, especially the youth.
After doing much to create a tobacco-free environment, it is disappointing that we will be hosting WT Asia. This contradicts our values.
WT Asia 2014 was supposed to be held in Indonesia, but was called off due to criticism.
WT Asia organisers have said the Asia-Pacific added six million new smokers in 2009 and will add another 30 million by this year. Through WT Asia trade fairs, which promote tobacco consumption and its perceived benefits, tobacco companies can capitalise on this growing market by exhibiting their products.
On average, seven Singaporeans die each day from smoking and tobacco will kill one of every 13 Singaporeans born from the year 2000.
Hosting WT Asia would send the wrong signal to our youth that Singapore discourages smoking, but supports tobacco industry players by allowing them to organise their event here.
We are held in high regard for our tobacco control policies. We must stand firm on what is good for our future generations
Hosting tobacco forum contradicts S
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All this talk of "dignity", " moral authority", yet promoting health-destroying tobacco addiction/ consumption just to give CEO bonuses and boost shareholder dividends, and by extension increase Minister's salary (linked to CEO/ top salary benchmarks, short term (annual) GDP growth etc) makes all the talk about moral integrity sound like a big wayang show ("make believe") to me...

"Moral authority":

TRANSCRIPT OF PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG’S INTERVIEW WITH US TELEVISION JOURNALIST CHARLIE ROSE ON 14 APRIL 2010 IN THE UNITED STATES
...
CHARLIE ROSE (Q): “You seem to be sensitive to the issue of what is called nepotism?”
Mr LEE HSIEN LOONG: “We are very sensitive.”
Q: “Tell me about this sensitivity?”
Mr Lee: “The whole of our system is founded on the basic concept of meritocracy. You are where you are because you are the best man for the job and not because of your connections or your parents or your relatives. If anybody doubts that I as Prime Minister am here not because I am the best man for the job but because my father fixed it or my wife runs Temasek because I put her there, not because she is the best woman for the job, then my entire credibility and moral authority is destroyed. I am not fit to be where I am and it is a fundamental issue of fitness to govern. First you must have the moral right, then you can make the right decisions. It is a basic Confucian precept.”
Q: “Only when you have the moral right?”
Mr Lee: “Then can you govern and make the country right and in Singapore people expect that. If there is any doubt that this is so and people believe that I am there because my father fixed it or the whole system really is just a make believe, then the system will come down. It is not tenable. If it is true, it better be proven and I better be kicked out. If it is not true, it better also proven to be not true and the matter put to rest.”
Q: “So if some journalist writes about nepotism and you think it is not true?”
Mr Lee: “Then we sue him as we did recently.”
...
http://www.pmo.gov.sg/content/pmosi...terleehsienloongsinterviewwithustelevisi.html
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'Dignity'= impressing(/scaring) others with our Ministerial level salaries:...

"If the annual salary of the Minister of Information, Communication and Arts is only $500,000, it may pose some problems when he discuss policies with media CEOs who earn millions of dollars because they need not listen to the minister's ideas and proposals. Hence, a reasonable payout will help to maintain a bit of dignity."
[IMG URL]
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Further screenshot evidence from Brochure | World Tobacco Asia about their addiction promoting 'criminal' activities:

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Hosting tobacco forum contradicts Spores values

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Hosting tobacco forum contradicts Spores values