Lies

Published in Le Monde
(France) on 23 May 2009
by Robert Solé (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Merl Storr. Edited by Patricia Simoni.
So-called light and ultra light cigarettes are in fact no lighter than you or I. According to the United States Court of Appeals, the tobacco industry has knowingly been deceiving smokers by labeling cigarettes “light” when, in reality, they are no less harmful than any other kind. The manufacturers now risk prosecution at the hands, or rather the lungs, of countless sufferers of smoking-related illnesses. They know that people are becoming litigious, and that their lights could soon be feeling the heavy hand of justice. They will doubtless be taking an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Men and women used to smoke light-heartedly, believing that their “mild” cigarettes contained little tar, nicotine or carbon monoxide. We might think they should have taken the risks less lightly, but that’s not really the point – the bottom line is that this is a case of false advertising, pure and simple. Thank goodness, a cigarette manufacturer was recently prevented from putting the word “bio” on its packaging. After decades of lies, smokers no longer believe anyone. For some time now, cigarette packs have borne the words, “smoking kills”. Survivors are able to take legal action against the government.


Les cigarettes "light", ou même "ultralight", ne sont pas plus légères que vous et moi : selon une cour d'appel américaine, l'industrie du tabac a sciemment trompé les fumeurs en les labélisant ainsi, alors qu'elles sont aussi nocives que les autres. Les fabricants risquent d'être poursuivis par d'innombrables poumons malades. Ils savent que les gens deviennent procéduriers et que, pour du light de ce genre, la justice peut avoir la main lourde. Sans doute déposeront-ils un recours devant la Cour suprême des Etats-Unis.

Des hommes et des femmes fumaient donc le coeur léger, persuadés que leurs cigarettes "douces" contenaient peu de goudron, de nicotine et de monoxyde de carbone. Entre nous, ils faisaient preuve d'une certaine légèreté, mais ce n'est pas la question : nous nous trouvons bel et bien devant une affaire de publicité mensongère. Encore heureux qu'on ait empêché récemment un fabricant de cigarettes d'indiquer "bio" sur ses paquets... Ayant été trompés pendant des décennies, les fumeurs ne croient plus personne. Il est écrit depuis quelque temps sur les paquets de cigarettes que "le tabac tue". Les survivants sont capables de se retourner contre l'Etat.
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