The Tobacco Conspiracy: Truth And Lie?
The term tobacco conspiracy refers to a set of strategies carried out by the tobacco industries. They are suspected of having sought to manipulate people into addiction, to conceal medical data on the harms of smoking and to use lobbying mechanisms to prevent any legislation contrary to their interests.
There are many intriguing so-called conspiracy theories circulating around the world. They tell us about global threats, covert actions and the like. Most of them are bogus and only serve to captivate the interest of the unwary and earn money from the publications.
However, the tobacco conspiracy has some supporting evidence. The World Health Organization (WHO) itself has published studies and evidence in this regard. By now the conspiracy seems to have been exposed. However, new threats are emerging.
Tobacco, a gold mine
For the Native Americans, tobacco was (and, in fact, is) a sacred plant. For this reason, it is not in daily use, but it is used during rituals and specific times. When Christopher Columbus arrived in America, he saw that the Indians were smoking, although to a greater extent they chewed the leaf.
The Spaniards brought tobacco to Europe. At first, it was not used for smoking, but for snuffing it, that is to say sucking it through the nose. Its use quickly spread. So much so that priests prized when they said mass, until Pope Urban VIII had to ban this practice.
From the 18th century onwards, tobacco use spread and tobacco was therefore marketed all over the world. Its level of profitability was / is very high, as it is a plant that grows in virtually all climates. In addition, its cultivation is inexpensive and the result is very productive.
A massive company
Tobacco companies have done everything in their power to massively increase tobacco consumption, especially among young people. During the First World War, cigarettes were part of the ration given to soldiers. In the 1920s, the idea spread that smoking was a sign of gender equality.
Later, cases of respiratory problems began to appear all over the world. Science has warned against this situation. Cigarettes were the cause of many of these problems. Nicotine was found to be highly addictive.
The most problematic point is in what is called “the sauce”. A cigarette is not made up of tobacco alone, but of a large number of other elements. This is called “the sauce,” which includes mercury, ammonia, acetone and other dangerous compounds.
A new phase of the tobacco conspiracy then began. Its producers have used means such as bribery, counterfeiting and outright lies to cover up or minimize the damage caused by tobacco. It was not until much later that they were actually discovered.
The tobacco conspiracy
One of the preferred means for tobacco farmers to survive in the face of the social movement against tobacco has been to penetrate the very structures of the state. Over time, they have become sponsors of state programs in many places. They have placed people subject to their interests in various governments and even in the World Health Organization.
At the same time, it is believed that they started to use more and more addictive strengths and combinations for users. They deceived consumers into believing that light or “low nicotine” cigarettes were less harmful. It was all a lie.
One of the turning of the tobacco conspiracy took place when Ian Uydess, a former employee of Philip Morris (the world’s largest tobacco company), has revealed practices of this company to make the most addictive cigarettes. The case ended up in court and the trial ended with a sentence in his favor.
A new threat
Once the harmful effect of tobacco was proven, the laws of most countries became more rigid to curb its consumption. It had an impact on the market. Then, around the world, initiatives began to emerge, with a tendency to change the patterns of tobacco consumption, using technology to do so.
The tobacco conspiracy has entered a new phase. Industries began to promote the idea that smoke was the problem. They therefore focused on developing cigars, or similar items, that do not produce smoke. This is how electronic cigarettes were born.
Philip Morris himself has undertaken a campaign called “A Smoke Free World” and already has an e-cigarette on the market. Insiders have said that such devices are unsafe. In fact, they can be dangerous due to their high nicotine content.
Yet, they already have millions of consumers around the world. Apparently, the tobacco conspiracy is not over and is still producing “hits”.
Our thoughts “Habit is stronger than reason” (George Sanayana)
