Norwegian County Backs Smokers' Rights (a basic human right)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040414/ap_on_fe_st/norway_smoker_s_rights ^ | Wed Apr 14,2004 | OSLO, Norway

[RickGolden]

Norwegian County Backs Smokers' Rights

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.

[DonaldDuke]

Go back to the texts of our Constitutional writers and get a brigher perspective.

Please cite where, according to the Constitutional writers, "your" airspace begins. And what must be done to keep it free of things you don't want up your nose.

A portable oxygen-tent may be the solution for you, Spoot ;).

[CSM]

You sound like John Fn Kerry in this post. You get all high and mighty, and after a sanctimonous rant you fail to answer any of our questions. Nice.

Now, I will ask again, where in this constitution that you reference does it give you the right to dictate the use of the property owned by another person? Where can you dictate they not allow smoking in their private establishment? Where does it state that you are forced to enter private property where smoking is allowed?

If you aren't a troll, this is the perfect time to prove it!

[A CA Guy]

First, you might need a better set of friends than the ones in prison.
What was the need for growing the pot, is he a libertarian or a cancer sufferer?

[A CA Guy]

Yes, some day you will vote your vote... :-)

I think people should have areas to smoke, but I understand non-smokers not wanting to smell or breath it all in either.

Voting isn't going to help I don't think because smokers are declining and by the vote they make up at most 20% of the vote.

I am for a balance and believe every work area and some places in public need smoking areas.

[DefCon]

"...Your disregard for humanity and goodness in general
is what has become so ugly in this world..."
- - -
p-s-s-s-t
Put down that bong and look out your window.
I think 'they' are watching you.

[Great Dane]

great news, there is some sanity left..... somewhere.

[Great Dane]

Can we ever agree on this issue????

Not as long as you think the air belongs to you alone.

[Great Dane]

Didn't waste any time, did you.

[zoyd]

Where is our American freedom?

That's a question I ask, every day, after reading anti-freedom rants from people who seem to think that business owners deserve none.

A smoking ban is... well, think about that word. Ban. Smoking BAN. Does that sound like a freedom-embracing principle?

[spootiskerry]

If it's open to the public, then the private property thing doesn't apply. These right you are referring to are not basic rights, they are your own society-created rights. I'm talking about "the right thing."

I play music in public pubs and don't want the smoke up my nose. I feel it is my "right" to breathe, while you (generic to the list) believe it is your right to puff. Who's right, then?

btw, I just came across this site on a browse, and this is my second return.

[Just another Joe]

If it's open to the public, then the private property thing doesn't apply.

Excuse me? Just because the public is invited in doesn't mean that it is not private property, which should allow the OWNER of the property to allow, or disallow, a legal activity.

These right you are referring to are not basic rights, they are your own society-created rights.

Which "rights" are you referring to? I have never said that I have a "right" to smoke anywhere anytime I want to.
As for the "right thing", the right thing is to let the property owner decide what legal activities they will, and will not, allow on their property.

If you don't want, "...smoke up your nose", convince the bar owner to disallow smoking when you play there. See if your band, or their customers, are more important to the bar owner.
Don't use the big brother govt to legislate your likes and dislikes.
If they can legislate a smoking ban they can also legislate that smoking MUST be allowed anywhere. Would you go for that?

btw, I just came across this site on a browse, and this is my second return.

Just a word to the wise, when you come to a tobacco related thread, or any other type of thread for that matter besides a vanity or humor thread, on this forum, bring PROOF of your statements and not your likes and dislikes. Have your ducks in a row because the private property rights advocates have theirs in a row already from the attacks we've taken to date.