GUBU

GUBU
An Irish woman's social, political and domestic commentary

Thursday, January 30, 2003

Ban on Smoking in Pubs

Ireland's Minister for Health, Michael Martin, has announced that from January 2004, there will be a complete ban on smoking in the workplace to include pubs and restaurants. The reaction from non-smokers and smokers is overwhelmingly positive. From a nation normally highly suspicious of government regulation of personal behaviour, this is a welcome surprise. We are usually vulnerable to accusations that we are a peasant race willing to disobey the government at any opportunity. Anti-government behaviour, usually interpreted (in an adulatory fashion) as some form of post-colonial inevitability, can range from false claims for welfare payments, tax-dodging, littering, total disregard for planning regulations and electing one-issue nutters to the Dail.

The welcome for this anti-smoking move seems to acknowledge that the general public can spot a move that is related solely to public health and safety and isn't some unnecessary bureaucratic move that will stifle our legendary character. Hats off to Minister Martin. This smoking ban of his will capture the public imagination and this decision will be ranked alongside those of Mary Harney's coal ban, Bobby Molloy's taxi deregulation and Seamus Brennan's introduction of penalty points. All ministers who were given 1001 reasons why something which the people wanted couldn't be done. All Ministers who went ahead and made their move anyway.

The Tobacco Companies will of course be furious. Philip Morris recognised in 1994 that workplace bans were really bad for business "The immediate implication (of smoking bans) for our business is clear. If our consumers have fewer opportunities to enjoy our products, they will use them less frequently and the result will be an adverse impact on our bottom line." (see White Lies site) But here's the funny thing. Philip Morris themselves have been forced into implementing a workplace ban in their own factories, not just in Australia but even in their own offices in New York ( can't locate that link just now).

Clearly this is influenced by the threat of litigation. But, I'm wondering...if they've accepted that smoking is on the way out, it can only mean two things. Firstly they are giving up on the 'developed' world and are going to devote themselves to targeting developing nations (does China fall into that bracket). In addition they are giving up on the tobacco industry and are sneaking into other industries. Just take a look at their website - the sanitisation as begun. Philip Morris the brand (signifying evil corporate behaviour) is gone and the harmless and benign Altria group takes his place..that guess what...owns Kraft. They've gone from tobacco to food. Will you look at Kraft foods in a slightly different way now?

posted by Sarah | 17:18 0 comments

Wednesday, January 29, 2003

Anti-War Rant

I've been holding back , but no longer. There are so many themes one can explore in relation to Iraq, the Middle East, the US, and that creep/idiot Bush: but here are some thoughts for today. Al Quaeda is a movement originating in Saudia Arabia. Saudia Arabia is an absolute monarchy which has no respect for human rights - check out chop-chop square any day and you'll know what I mean. Osama bin Laden is Saudi Arabian. He became disaffected from that country because it is a client state of the US. That means that the US pours billions of dollars a year into that country to keep it on their side - democracy or no democracy; human rights or no human rights. Al Quaeda supports a fundamentalist Islamic state. (ref: Afghanistan...)

Iraq is a secular state. Saddam hates the fundamentalist states. He suppressed Al Quaeda and threw them out of the country. This was a fact acknowledged by Blair/Bush until a few weeks ago when they very slyly started adding 'terrorism' into their Iraq centred rhetoric. SADDAM HUSSEIN HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH 9/11.

So what has he done? Brutally suppressed his own people with chemical weapons SOLD to him by the US! Fought Iran supported by the US! Put into power by the US! He invaded Kuwait (another absolute monarchy) and was punished for it - by a UN led mission. In fact the US could easily have dismantled his regime then but chose not to because they very cynically thought that a weak Saddam was better than SHOCK HORROR a new unknown leader elected by the Iraqis.

The only reason this new crisis has been manufactured by the US is because they have copped on to the fact that their ally Saudi Arabia is a breeding ground for terrorists (see above) and want to replace it as its Arab base in the Middle East.

Anyone who blindly believes the absolute rubbish sold to them by George's Daddy's mates from the 80's seriously needs to do more research. They are not even pretending any more to obey international law. Don't you just love that line about how Cheney's former employers Haliburton will 'keep in trust' the oil wells for the Iraqi people. Imperialism is so last century.

I have to laugh at American references to the US being a sovereign state that can decide its own foreign policy. The countries it decides to invade are sovereign states as well. Protecting sovereign states from invasion was the reason the UN was set up in the first place. That's why they agreed to go to war over Kuwait. That's why they don't like the US claiming the right to invade who ever they wish. US self-interest does not count as a legitimate reason to invade a sovereign state. I'm sure Hitler claimed he invaded Poland and Belguim in Germany's interests. Pity the poor American people who are fed all this rubbish from the self-censoring media organisations in the US.

I can understand that they've been conned into believing all this war crap: but Blair what on earth are you doing?

posted by Sarah | 11:04 0 comments

Tuesday, January 28, 2003

The Spire of Dublin

I'm in favour of the Spire. This might seem in conflict with my recent left wing tendencies but I believe that a capital should have decent monuments and the Spire is certainly magnificent. It is best viewed (imho) from Henry St in the afternoon. The sun hits off the metal and the effect is quite spectacular. It is REALLY tall but impressively rather than ignorantly.

Now the Dublin Corporation must continue its work on O'Connell St. They did a great job with the Ha'penny and Millenium Bridges as well as the boardwalk. The next priority should be to sort out the board of the Abbey Theatre and get them into the old Carlton site. It is the obvious place for them to go and I would love to know what messing and politicking is going on that keeps them in that crappy site off Abbey Street. It is difficult to access and there is nowhere to go for a drink before or after the shows. Moving the theatre to O'Connell Street is the right thing to do because
- our 'main street' should have important buildings on it
- it would give people a reason to go to O'Connell Street (apart from the Savoy cinema)
- it might encourage the opening of a decent restaurant in or around O'Connell Street and dilute the fast food joint domination
- the Carlton is a great building and would be really suitable as a theatre
- it would help improve the atmosphere on O'Connell St and get the commercial sector more enthusiastic about the rejuvenation project.

Come on Minister, its obvious!

posted by Sarah | 12:41 0 comments

Thursday, January 23, 2003

Honeymoon in Cuba

Apologies for lack of recent updates. I was married on 3rd Jan - some photos here - and honeymooned in Cuba. Most interesting place. Upsides are: 100% literacy, great health system, very little crime, fertile country, beautiful architecture, great beaches. Stayed here.

Downsides, communism is a crappy system at the best of times but when you've got the world's biggest economic power 90 miles away devoting itself to crushing you, life is tough. The people are poor, housing is dangerous in some areas, milk rations are only available to children under 7 and there is no investment in infrastructure. No one is hungry but everything is in short supply.

They like Castro and appreciate the fact that he's not corrupt (more than we can say about many other leaders) but the economic policies (well, those they can operate outside the embargo) are disastrous. They are nervous about what will happen when Castro dies, because although they are poor the last thing they want is a US invasion and a McDonalds on every corner. Its a very uncertain time for them. Apart from the US we could also observe the fundamental problems with communism.

Poor Che, his dream of the New Man will never materialise because people will not work harder and innovate unless there is an individual reward. Looks like the Scandinavians are the only ones to get the mix right - high tax but great public services. Pity its so cold and dark there. Utopia appears to be Sweden with a Caribbean climate.

posted by Sarah | 15:14 0 comments