Four weeks ago we launched the 2011 Voices of Freedom series of debates with a discussion entitled 'Civil liberties up in smoke: what are smokers' rights in a free society?'.
Guest speakers included journalist Peter Hitchens (who is anti-smoking), Dan Hamilton, director of Big Brother Watch, and Simon Davies, director and co-founder of the well-respected privacy advocacy group Privacy International. (I invited Deborah Arnott of ASH to speak as well but Debs declined to reply to my email.)
We distributed to members of the audience advance copies of a report by PI's Simon Davies that bore the same name as the event itself – Civil Liberties: Up In Smoke.
The printed report was not released to anyone else (although a pdf was available to download on this blog) because we wanted to find the right moment in a very busy month. Last Tuesday, in advance of the fourth anniversary of the smoking ban in England, we mailed copies of the report to a wide range of journalists with a press release embargoed for today.
This morning we backed this up by emailing the press release to over 500 media contacts. ASH (bless 'em) have responded by issuing the following 'Note to News Editors':
Civil Liberties: Up in Smoke a report by Privacy International
We understand that a report published by the human rights “watchdog” organisation Privacy International has been released today. Please note that this is a tobacco industry funded report published over a month ago in association with the tobacco manufacturers front group, FOREST.
The implication that I draw from this is that we have been economic with the truth about Forest's involvement or how the report was funded. In fact, we made sure that it is there in black and white for all to see.
On the title page of the report it states, very clearly, 'Supported by Forest'.
On the next page it reads:
First published in Great Britain in 2011 by Privacy International ... in association with Forest'.
Simon Davies then begins his introduction by writing:
This paper has been prepared by a team led by Simon Davies of Privacy International at the request of Forest, the UK smokers' rights group. Forest has also contributed to the cost of the research, for which we are grateful.
At the bottom of the press release, in a 'Note to editors', it reads, very clearly:
Civil Liberties: Up In Smoke has been prepared by Privacy International, a leading privacy advocacy group, at the request of Forest, the UK smokers’ rights organisation. Forest has also contributed to the research costs.
How open and transparent is that?!!!
Clearly, ASH will stop at nothing to block discussion of smokers' rights in a free society. It's up to free-thinking journalists and fellow bloggers to make sure they don't succeed.
If you would like to review or comment on Civil Liberties: Up In Smoke you can download the report from the Forest website. Or read the press release for a summary.
PS. ASH's 'note' has been issued by research manager Amanda Sandford. Amenda's email address is Amanda.Sandford@ash.org.uk, should you, er, wish to comment.
Simon Clark
Glad to see not everyone is falling for ASH's spoiling tactics:
Report documents 'persecution' of smokers (Politics.co.uk)
Smokers face increasing discrimination, claims Forest funded report (Retail Times)
Meanwhile a friendly journalist who received Amanda's note writes: "This press notice was brought to you by a DoH front group, ASH."
Quite.