Gates, Bloomberg put $375 million into global anti-smoking campaign

I quit smoking cigarettes on 3/20/1993 @ 1600. Best half a cigarette I ever had. I just want one more.

I applaud the campaign. < :-)

"billionaire philanthropists"

That's what I strive to be.

adaydream - Congratulations on quitting smoking. My last ciggie was sometime in '84. I think I was lucky. It was easy for me to quit - I just became to dislike the smell and taste. When I was a stupid kid, I would pick up butts on the street, smell them and say "Mmmmm, this smells so good!" ha ha ha But for the vast majority of smokers, it's next to impossible to quit.

I know and agree that smoking is a serious issue and it ought to be stamped out. But I also think Africa has alot of problems that are greater and more pressing than cigarette smoking. I wish these American billionaires would contribute money to a campaign to stop smoking here in the United States.

Ha, 375 million is a drop in the bucket for Altria.

sarge, Aday: what kind of dates are you guys putting up? sarge 84? were you old enough to smoke then?

I can't stand smoking. Smoking is weak, un-cool, not sexy, and if you notice, only out of shape mofo's smoke. Should be fines for walking and smoking on the streets too.

skip - Yeah, I was!

"Smoking is un-cool"

You've never been to Shibuya have you ha ha ha

I started stealing my Mother's cigarettes when I was 7 or so (about 1959) and my next door neighbor would call Mom to tell her that her son was behind ther brooderhouse smoking again.

When I started working at 12 (about 1964) she said if I wanted to smoke, buy my own.

I smoked until 3/20/1093. I smoked about 34 years. I was 41 when I quit.

I read your post, Smoking is weak, un-cool, not sexy, and if you notice, only out of shape mofo's smoke

Weak - No, I sm oked 34 years and quit. that's strength. Un-Cool - Depends on the smoker and the looker. There was a time when it was the sexiest thing on TV. Out of shape mofos - You need to relook at that. I ran 1st class in all PFT while on active duty and even though I quit I rode the MS-150 and I work out like mad 4 days a week.

I don't know about Sarge, but it was easy to continue to smoke. I loved the taste of a cigarette. Nothing like a smoke after a good meal. And after sex, well never has been complete since I quit smoking.

I'm not defending smoking. It's a dirty habit that can kill you, but your image of smokers is up in smoke. < :-)

I smoked until 3/20/1093.

And there are still people out there who spout rubbish about the supposed negative health effects of tobacco.

Altria would like to use this fine gentleman as a research subject.

OPPS - 1993 < :-)

Good, Goodrich take on Bad rich with $375 million campaign.

This campaign might inspire JT - king of tobacco maker - exporting worldwide.

People do get addicted to uncool and unhealthy things that make big money, like alcohol and guns. I am not convinced BG's money is going to have much of an impact and he probably couldn't care less. He is trying to be cast as a philanthropist now after decades of ripping of people.

aday: I meant weak in regards to the mind, not the strength part. I was in the Army and seen some fast runners who smoked like a choo choo trains. Is it really difficult to quite? I wonder if it would better to target the triggers that get people hook on it in the first place than to find ways to have people quit.

I think making smoking uncool is the best idea. The Australian government actually succeeded in doing just that with massive advertising campaigns and now smokers are seen as losers who want to quit but can't. And smoking rates plummetted.

Of course, increasing taxes so that a packet of 20 cigarettes costs about 1100 yen probably helped too...

It was hell quitting. I had to convince myself after years of smoking, telling myself I need to quit, because I plan to see 100 years old.

There was 2 weeks of intense withdrawls. And the want for a cigarette has never ceased.

Now I still want my next cigarette. They still smell great. < :-)

Sometimes I even dream that I'm still smoking. < :-)

good for these guys, smoking is a disgusting habit that harms not just the junkie who uses smokes but those around him as well.

It really is for losers only.

...most specifically China, India, Indonesia, Russia and Bangladesh.

How about using the money for problems in your own country like the homeless victims of Katrina and Americans without health insurance?