The Effects of Secondhand Smoke

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The Effects of Secondhand Smoke

I went on the Internet and started surfing around until I found this web-site called www.no-smoker.org. This site is About Americans for Nonsmoker's Rights. The article I read was called "Things are changing". The issue is secondhand smoke is bad for your health. The argument here is that tobacco companies are saying that secondhand smoke is not bad for your health. In this essay I will talk about this controversial issue.

There are many explicit premises in this article that I will examine. The first premise is that, Tobacco companies have been and continue to be involved in undermining scientific evidence that documents the health hazards of secondhand smoke. This is more than an hidden assumption, reference from the Los Angles Times reported in November 1999 that the major cigarette companies "are engaged in a far-reaching campaign to discredit evidence that secondhand smoke is harmful to human health." This is my second premise. Here, there is an implied notion that the Los Angels Times conducted a study to find these findings true. The third premise states, Tobacco industry allies recycle old myths and propaganda - and continue to plant the seeds of confusion and doubt as to the economic effects of smoke free air policies - before legislatures and city councils. Here we see the strong initiative that the tobacco companies especially Philips and Morris take to attack policies that go against their business. The next premise is the fourth premise, As in the past, tobacco companies have continued to create and hide behind front groups to lobby against tobacco control and public health policies. This is another implied notion, which we can say that tobacco companies are trying to control the regulations on tobacco.

Premise number five, For example, Philip Morris partners with the National Licensed Beverage Association (NLBA) and a ventilation consulting group called Chelsea Group to subvert and dilute strong smoke free air ordinances across the country. A tobacco companies effort to try to destroy a smoke free ordinance policy is a big effort in their part. They would do anything to make their voice heard. Premise number six, In Casper, WY, for example, tobacco companies spent more than $80,000 to fund a local campaign to overturn a smoke free air ordinance via referendum. This is a direct act of tobacco companies trying to tell the public that secondhand smoke is not bad for your health.

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