Joe Jackson live and kicking
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 14:12 I value public displays of support even if, privately, there may be the occasional disagreement.
Joe Jackson doesn't agree with everything Forest says or does. On some issues he is perhaps our fiercest critic.
He is however incredibly discreet. He makes his point privately, not on Facebook or some other public forum. To the best of my knowledge he has never disclosed to anyone a private exchange of views and I respect him enormously for that.
Better still, his comments are always constructive. And when we disagree (usually on strategy), he never sulks or threatens to withdraw his support.
I mention this because one of the issues that Joe and I disagree on is smoking rooms. Actually, I don't disagree with his view that smoking rooms are anathema in comparison with a genuine choice of smoking and non-smoking pubs and bars.
I simply take the view that, as things currently stand in the UK, the option of separate, well-ventilated smoking rooms is the only policy that is likely to attract the support of a substantial number of politicians.
Despite his reservations, Joe has signed AWT's petition. He has also posted a link on his new website. Like the old one the new site includes a section devoted to smoking with links to several smoker-friendly blogs and websites.
These include Dick Puddlecote ("Very readable ‘anti-Anti’ blogger") and Velvet Glove Iron Fist which Joe describes as "one of the best sources for the debunking of current antismoking myths". No disagreement there.
The site also features information about what Joe calls his "best live album yet". Live Music was recorded on his 2010 European tour and you can buy it here, via Amazon or on iTunes.
Recommended.
Simon Clark
A link to AWT's petition has been added to The Joe Jackson Band's Facebook page. If you're on FB you may wish to comment.
Reader Comments (6)
Ideally, I have to agree with Joe. I would prefer smoking pubs not smoking rooms, the choice left to the Landlord. Pragmatically, though, it would probably have to be smoking rooms as I can't see the trade agreeing with smoking pubs. They know they would loose a lot of trade if they chose to remain non smoking throughout which some of them would. (filthy habit, innit? makes yer clothes smell and stuff)
I'm surprised that Joe Jackson is listing Sad Ireland among his links. Correct me if I'm wrong, but absolutely nothing has appeared on that site for years. If you want a current and active Irish website, then Smoking Out The Truth would be a far better example, as well as Forest Eireann.
Slightly O/T but in the comments section of the Independent's piece headlined 'TM's War on Science', relating to PM's FOI request from Stirling university, is the comment:
"This could set a very dangerous moral and legal precedent?"
Too bloody true, it could! And about time, too. Needless to say, the rest of the Infantilism isn't worth mentioning.
I agree that ventilation does work.
About 1.5 million die from cooking fumes around the world and yet ventilation is sufficient for restaurants.
Alcohol and alcohol fumes are carcinogenic and yet most pubs no longer have ventilation systems.
I agree to..many people died in this kind of cases, maybe it's about time for them to realize the bad effect.
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