Bill and Mike don't smoke and are going to pay $375M to try to stop others from doing so

[RB TexLa]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates pledged an additional $375 million on Wednesday to fight what they called a global tobacco epidemic.

The billionaires intend to use the money to help governments in developing countries such as India and China to implement policies and increase funding that could help reduce tobacco use, according to a joint statement.

Bloomberg is adding $250 million over four years to an initiative he established several years ago that already has $125 million committed to it.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will invest $125 million over the next four years.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080723/ts_nm/bloomberg_gates_dc_1

[Auggie]

1. Does the U.S. still subsidize tobacco farmers?

[Sequoia]

2. For crying out loud, that's the best idea they could come up with?

What about helping hungry and homeless children. People will not stop smoking and they don't want to stop so why force them.

[madeline_con]

4. In India and China, homeless children smoke. n/t

[JDPriestly]

5. Nobody is going to force them to stop.

The key is educating people about the choice they are making when they smoke. It's up to the individual from there.

[fadedrose]

6. Agreed

Better they should work on making a safer cigarette....


I quit 1-1/2 years ago, after smoking for more than 50 years. I am 70. Congratulations are not in order in my case.

I'm telling my doctor to let me know when I have 3 months or less to live so I can start smoking again and enjoy the last few months of my life...with or without my children's blessing....

The one thing they just won't mention about smoking is that it's enjoyable and relaxing.

[Sequoia]

12. I used to smoke too but everyone laughed at me and said

I didn't "inhale". My cheeks didn't go in or something. (So Clinton, I got one up on you...er...wait, that was the funny stuff you were talking about) Anyway, when I got my sense of smell back after two years I noticed cig smoke smelled worse than before. Personally, I'd like to smoke a pipe but will have to wait until I get my rocker and wrap-around-porch house so I can point the stem at young 'uns and say, "Sonny, back in my day....".

[Mojorabbit]

10. I agree

there is so much more in immediate needs that money could go toward.

[JDPriestly]

3. This will truly alleviate so much suffering.

This is great. I'm so glad I never smoked. All my friends in high school, or nearly all of them, smoked, and I didn't want to. I'm just so glad I did not bow to peer pressure. I have lost a lot of friends and acquaintances some even younger than I to smoking related diseases.

[enlightenment]

7. Interesting.

I smoked for 25 years and I've known people who smoked (and still smoke) for much longer and I've never lost a single friend, acquaintance or family member to smoking related diseases.

Just lucky I guess.

[fadedrose]

11. That's 2 of us...nt

[TexasObserver]

8. If they don't replace pro tobacco politicians, they're wasting their time & money.

[MindPilot]

9. "...according to a *joint* statement."

There's your solution... :smoke: