FORCES CANADA

WHO WE ARE THE ISSUES NEW
STATEMENT
OF PURPOSE

WHO WE ARE

Welcome to FORCES Canada.

We are part of an international organization determined to fight irrational smoking bans, and misinformation about primary, and second hand smoke.

For many years now, our government has targeted smokers as the object of psychological persecution, moral lynching, and public apartheid. This affects over a quarter of Canada's population, and it has no precedent in the history of this country.

The anti-smoking industry claims to be based on scientific evidence. We are here to prove that this evidence is largely flawed and manipulated. We believe that the real reason for this persecution stems from the wider and much more dangerous tendency of the state to control the personal choice of citizens, just by deeming some choices "unhealthy".

Smoking prohibition is just one goal of a much broader policy of state interference in our lives, and it must be stopped.

Smoking is a right, not a privilege. While we do not advocate smoking, neither do we advocate the ostracization of a segment of the population based on a widely prevalent view that what they do with their own bodies is unhealthy or undesirable. We believe that tobacco is not a choice to be ashamed of.

The issue of smoking choice should properly be seen in the context of the rights of an individual in our society to control his/her own body and destiny. The battle for this control is currently being waged between the state and advocates of individual rights on a number of fronts.

We believe that smoking is a right because it is a basic human right to do with one's body as one sees fit, and we intend to stop and reverse any anti-smoking policy that does not indicate respect and accommodation for Canada's 6 million smokers.

OUR FOUNDING

FORCES Canada is based in British Columbia, Canada.
We are the Canadian chapter of the FORCES international smokers' rights organization.

FORCES is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of the civil and human rights of smokers. We have no link with the tobacco companies, and we are supported solely by member donations and vounteer work.

The purpose of this organization is to take active action against the rising threat of a very aggressive, government-backed anti-smoking agenda, having as its immediate goal the elimination of smoking from all "public" places, and as a final goal the relegation of tobacco to a heavily controlled or forbidden substance.

We consider this a state abuse, an insult to Canada's six million smokers, and we intend to fight it with any means available, while proposing constructive, practical solutions that can solve this useless confrontation, and accommodate the needs of both smokers and nonsmokers.

In principle, we do not recognize that the state has the right to legislate on the behavior of citizens when it comes to personal choice and lifestyle, regardless of the reason used to justify such interference.

THE ISSUES

These are times of great danger for our liberties. We are going through a powerful backlash of puritanism and repression, in stark contrast to the 60's evolution towards progress and liberalization.

This is the best time for reactionaries to spread their cancer through society. In the 90's we are looking at an unparalleled development of technology and statistics. These are just tools, but in the wrong hands any science and statistic can be twisted into an instrument of repression.

One excellent example is the anti-smoking movement, where a monster industry has been created on the issue of the dangers of smoking. Like every living thing, this industry needs to grow and spread in order to perpetuate itself. When this monster will have consumed all the resources, and destroyed all the liberties on its path, it will move on to other topics.

Backed by the government, and with money extorted from smokers through taxation, highly paid "experts" have an opportunity to aggrandize their reputation and wallets. Fee-charging "quit smoking" courses multiply like rats. More politicians jump on the bandwagon, pointing at tobacco as the greatest killer of the century. Radio and TV talk shows based on the melodramatic abound.

Smokers are intimidated, and while the evidence on the negative effects of tobacco is blown out of proportion, the evidence that tobacco is not so bad -- or even good -- is either suppressed, or ignored.

There is no doubt that the anti-smokers are pushing very hard to prohibit the choice to smoke, many times in unscrupulous ways.

Our job will be to push back with equal force.

NEW STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

August 23rd, 1997

(Note: further amendment March 25, 1998)

At the first anniversary of our Organization, FORCES Canada's Board of Directors has decided to amend the purpose of the Organization.

This amendment was necessary in view of the political developments of the last twelve months.

These developments far exceed FORCES Canada's worst expectations. They are in the definite direction of relegating smokers to the position of true second-class citizens by means of social marginalization, propaganda, political intimidation, and false information.

In view of these developments, FORCES Canada no longer believes that any dialogue turned to peaceful coexistence between smokers and nonsmokers is possible with the antismoking forces.

FORCES Canada now believes that only a direct political and economic confrontation with the antismokers, coupled with public exposure of their frauds can lead to the defeat of this dark force in our society.

THEREFORE,

The amended STATEMENT OF PURPOSE reads as follows:

The main objective of FORCES Canada is to help expose the frauds and deceptions of the antismoking movement, and its accomplices in the government, and, when possible, to secure to justice any member of government or antismoking organization, or other antismoking-related activities who is guilty of fraud, falsification of evidence, racketeering, and other unlawful activities. FORCES Canada will pursue these organizations and/or individuals regardless of their background, political affiliation, profession, social position, or past credibility.

Other objectives are:

  • Provide uncorrupted scientific and statistical information to enable a correct understanding of the real risk -- or lack of risk -- related to primary and/or secondary smoking.

  • Find solutions of accommodations for both smokers and nonsmokers. We do not believe that all-out smoking bans and other prohibitions can offer any real solution to what has been artificially elevated to a social problem.

  • Prevent all-out smoking bans from spreading through the country.

  • Repeal all-out smoking bans already in effect.

  • Counter state or state-funded propaganda degrading the dignity of smokers.

  • Demand an end to direct or indirect funding of special interest groups that exist to promote social intolerance toward target groups of citizens.

  • Counter the effects of anti-smoking organizations supporting the removal of the right of choice, on the basis that this creates a dangerous precedent for the removal of other choices.

  • Help reverse the trend of state interference in the lives of citizens, and fight against new erosions of established freedoms.

  • Point out to the public that "health" or "security" justifications are being casually and irresponsibly offered by government as a means of expediting unneccessary and intrusive programs of privacy violation and social engineering.

  • Expand the social/financial/legal network for the purpose of protecting the freedom of choice.

Remember that when one right of choice is threatened, it is inevitable that other choices will also be threatened.

Please help us to fight with your financial support and/or your cooperation!

Gian L. Turci,
President

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