Dirty Money - University of Alberta

[lovelplants]

cool they protest about the dirty money.. hmm.. well using tobacco is our own choice anyway..

[nelrish24]

Why is it called Dirty money?

[kingneary]

people make there own desitions

[xmattydx]

money is money! something dirty and bloody is always attached to money

[CaptainZeep]

Boring.

[svillethomas]

Shouldn't these guys be studying instead of being douche bags. And, probably, in some way, this money has helped these students protesting in some way.

[roadwarrior514]

See what the anti smoking groups lie to you more than the tobacco companies do. The tobacco companies can't even show commercials any more so where do these statistics come from. Do you just pull em out of your ass? Look here's the point most anti smoking groups just make up bull shit because they just don't like smoking they don't care about the other people they just don't personally like smoking. Another thing is everyone these days knows the hazards of smoking,but they choose to do. Freedom

[magmystio]

1. All statistics quoted are true, and from reputable sources like CTUMS and WHO.

2. You are right in that a lot of anti smoking groups do what they do because they personally dislike smoking. What you also must realise is that they are a part of an overwhelming 80% (approx) of the Canadian population. (approx 80% are non-smokers)

Don't be prejudiced. Do your research.

[roadwarrior514]

I see what your saying, but i have done my research and don't get me wrong i don't care for smoking, but YOU must also realize that, well for one im not in Canada, but most everyone in the U.S smokes and they know the risks to it because of the law passed in 1965 putting the surgeon general warning on the boxes, there fore every one knows the risks but still choose to smoke and that is what America is about and anti smoking groups are wrong to try and stop the smokers.

[RK5000]

So what, some people think that tobacco companies have immoral business practices, there is nothing stupid about that.

"The tobacco companies can't even show commercials any more so where do these statistics come from."

Do we need television commercials to provide us with statistics?

Oh and we all know about the hazards of drunk driving/crack or any number of things, but people choose to do those things. Freedom . . . right?

[CyZanne]

Since u brought it up,can u show proof that tobacco kills 50% of its users, at what age & from what illnesses that r unique to smokers. Pls show the quantities of tobacco products these victims consumed & if they were current or ex-smokers when they died.For ex-smokers,I'd like to know what the definition of an ex-smoker is & how many years since they had quit. For current smokers I'd like to know what the definition of a current smoker is.

[divestfromtobacco]

Youtube won't let me post links. I have messaged you instead.

[CyZanne]

Thank you. I will take the time to read them and message you some statistics directly from the CDC that don,t correlate with any of the rhetoric. No I am not angry at you, I am angry at those who are brainwashing you.

[CyZanne]

Have you had a chance to look at the CDC statistics I sent you and if so, what is your opinion on them?

[CyZanne]

We could also take this discussion at your blog where it's a lot more convenient.

[Cantiloper]

Would Alberta's refusing all Big Tobacco $ ensure "independent research"? No, the opposite is true. If Alberta rejects all studies funded by those supporting one view while welcoming money from the opposers, this does NOT "ensure independent research". Tobacco-tax government $ would also have to be barred. To be ethical, the Univ. needs to adopt the same policy for all grants from organizations promoting smoking bans.

Michael J. McFadden

Author of "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains"

[snowboard987]

Do you think the Provincial government accepts 'dirty money'from The Tobacco Industry when they tax smokers??

[divestfromtobacco]

No. I do not wish to explain the premise of taxation in itself, but I would like to point out that one of the main ideas of taxation is to have to pay "extra", where the "extra" goes to the government, while the price of the commodity itself remains the basis of the industry's income. If you pointed out taxation of the industry itself...

[divestfromtobacco]

that would fall under taxation of corporations, and therefore the government must not stop taxing this industry. Moreover, paying taxes is not the same as donations.

[StaingInsane]

why do you believe taking money from these companies is bad? give a real reason with proof, not the ones like "it kills Canadians". this reason has absolutely nothing to do with the money (if you believe otherwise, let's also ban taking money from automobile industry - they kill Canadians). and also disclose who funds you. Amen

[divestfromtobacco]

you do realise that the automobile industry does not actively engage in addicting its customers to buying vehicles that if "used as directed" WILL kill over 50% of its users. Therefore, accepting money from or investing money in an industry that commits murder by ethical if not legal standards, is despicable.

From your words, unfortunately, I see that the fact that an industry is killing your fellow countrymen means little to you.

[divestfromtobacco]

In terms of our funding, we are 100% volunteers, and Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada has supported us with a couple of small grants when we required the money.

[nikamungus]

@StaingInsane Meh. These guys just have nothing better to do with their trustfunds. Winesipping communist dicksucks. Watch this post get removed. Opposition to our great non tobbaco doctrine? cant have that now.

[snowboard987]

Is money automaticaly tainted just because some other person diagrees with your ideals??

If that is the case, then there is a lot of tainted money floating around the world

[divestfromtobacco]

You are right in saying that there is a lot of tainted money floating around the world. And something should definitely be done about it, I'm sure you'll agree. for your second question, it must be noted that tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in Canada. Also it kills 50% of its users when its products are used as directed...

[divestfromtobacco]

However, to refute your argument, you do realise that the automobile industry does not actively engage in addicting its customers to buying vehicles that if "used as directed" WILL kill over 50% of its users. Therefore, accepting money from or investing money in an industry that commits murder by ethical if not legal standards, is despicable.

[edmontonguys]

Tobacco companies are the posterboys of corporate scumbag-dom, no argument. There are 10-12,000/year adverse drug reaction deaths from using prescription drugs AS DIRECTED and Big Pharma companies have multiple criminal convictions but no one protests taking their money...

[divestfromtobacco]

Note the "50%". If 50% of drug users died because of using the drug "as directed", the number of deaths would be unreal. That is not to say that we support all pharmaceutical companies. One student group cannot address every single social issue effectively, and at the same time concentrate on university.

[CyZanne]

Ok let's see. What this video is actually telling us, is that all studies done at universities can be biased,since it is not the researchers'/students' integrity that matters, but where the funding comes from, whether it is Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, Big Food, Big Alcohol, Big Oil. Pretty insulting for these researchers and students, if you ask me. But if it's how it is, I appreciate the warning !

[edmontonguys]

Where is your funding coming from?

What ties do you have to professional anti-smoking organizations funded by Big Pharma?

Don't you think it's a bit hypocritical to be focusing solely on Big Tobacco funding?

What about all that funding from multinational pharmaceutical companies - shouldn't you be protesting that? What about all that multinational oil company funding? You do know about Global Warming, don't you?

[arviat95]

100% of our funding comes from Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.

We have no ties to Big Pharma.

E-BUTT would love to focus on multiple ethical issues but it would be impossible. Our target is tobacco funding.

Your concerns emphasize the need for U of A to creat a transparent policy concerning who they take money from. They must also be held accountable for their actions.

[edmontonguys]

I'm not reassured, since PSFC has serious ties to Big Pharma. I think you are dodging the issue - Big Tobacco is an easy target, contributing little funding at this time. Confronting other equally corrupt industries might threaten YOUR funding so you don't. I promised Tyler I wouldn't trash you, so you get off lightly here.

[divestfromtobacco]

It is important that you know that we are 100% volunteer-based. We are NOT getting paid to do any of this. We are university students who happen to have a strong sense of moral and ethical values that we would also like our respective institutions to uphold to maintain ethical credibility.

[divestfromtobacco]

and i emphasize - we are 100% volunteers

[edmontonguys]

The last "student-led" anti-tobacco group I investigated turned out to be staffed by paid employees of a political lobby group - Action On Smokung & Health - using monies granted to ASH by AADAC. And then it was revealed that the guy who ran AADAC's tobacco control unit - Lloyd Carr - had a criminal record, lied about his qualifications for the job and embezzled $640,000 from AADAC's tobacco control grant funds.

[arviat95]

Rest assured all of our members are Canadian university students. We are an independent organization run by students to represent the interests of the Canadian student community.