Reverting back to this post in which it was shown how countries introduce legislation, not necessarily voluntarily but as a member of an international body at which certain 'policies' have been agreed, it is worth looking at another example.
We will all, no doubt, recall that only last month the Guardian reported that Denmark had imposed a tax on certain foods and that, lo and behold, David Cameron was reported in the Mail as being inclined to follow the Dane's lead.
Following the 'trail' we have to go back to 2006 and a conference held in Istanbul, Turkey, one promoted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), at which all EU countries signed up to the European Charter on Counteracting Obeisity (ECCO); and on which further comment can be found here. According to the November/December 2011 Newsletter, 'Free Britain', from the Campaign for an Independent Britain the treaty commits signatory nations to 'economic measures to facilitate healthier food choices'.
There is currently, the second reading debate being on 20 January 2012, a bill going through Parliament entitled: 'Public Bodies (Sustainable Food) Bill' which will enforce low-fat, high-carb diets upon all public institutions - including schools, hospitals, care homes and prisons. Whilst this Bill may be a Private Members Bill, hey what the hell does it matter how legislation, to which agreement has previously been reached by nations, is actually put on the statute book - but I digress.....
Let us now return to the matter of honour and principle in politics and the Coalition promise of transparency in public life. From the Foreward:
"And we are both committed to turning old thinking on its head and developing new approaches to government. For years, politicians could argue that because they held all the information, they needed more power. But today, technological innovation has – with astonishing speed – developed the opportunity to spread information and decentralise power in a way we have never seen before. So we will extend transparency to every area of public life."
So where, pray, is there any mention in the Bill, the Guardian article, or the Mail article; of the WHO, the EU, or the ECCO? Cameron and the rest of our political claque maintain that our nation is 'self-governing' - well, you could've fooled me (not)!
3 comments:
I always thought the word 'epidemic' was associated with disease.How can obesity be regarded as a disease. Or has it been redefined so that these health fanatics can justify poking their noses into things which are none of their business?
Many of our health problems are caused by food processors. We could investigate ourselves and pass our own controls. British bread is Chorleywood junk but didn't used to be so.
Our problem is supermarket lobbying power and food de-naturing for profit. We don't need Denmark, we need our own FSA to bring forward ideas
jic: I suppose it could be termed a disease of the mind? Either way, the interference is part of the 'post-democratic age'?
TT: Food processors? Pourquoi? Didn't know that....
Remainder of your comments agreed
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