A Billion Thanks
Filed under: Inspiration
Billionaires Bill Gates and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on Wednesday that they would pool their resources and dedicate $500 million to stop people around the world from smoking.
That's the way to do it! Put your money where your mouth is!
The World Health Organization estimates that tobacco will kill up to a billion people in the 21st century, 10 times as many as it killed in the 20th.
This time, most are expected to be in poor countries like Bangladesh and middle-income countries like Russia.
In an effort to cut that number, the mayor's foundation plans to commit $250 million over four years on top of a $125 million gift he announced two years ago.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is allocating $125 million over five years.
Smoking is just all-around bad. And, keep in mind you vain Perezcious ones, smoking=wrinkles.
Yuck, yuck!
[Image via WENN.]
Re: ken –
Shut up hippie
Re: gfyah – DAMN! Just where do you live…that smokes are $6 a pack?? I pay $38.51 per carton (with tax).
You want to know where my money goes, otherwise…smartass? Let's see…
I am a single mom, retired at the age of 40 (whoo hoo), supporting a 13yo son.
I pay for food, clothes, household items…that sustains us both.
I pay for medical treatments and meds, each month (not everyone has insurance).
I am responsible for home and vehicle insurance.
I pay every utility in full, and on time, each month.
I fill up my vehicles gas tank.
I am responsible for paying my property taxes, each year.
I am responsible for paying my sons school expenses (which includes field trips, summer school and lunch programs).
I pay for my sons sports activities (whether school sponsored or not).
I pay for any and all home repairs.
I pay for my sons orthodontia work.
We also support the ASPCA….a donation is made monthly. Would you like the names of the dog and cat, that we sponsor? They are absolutely beautiful. We have their photos framed, BTW.
Contrary to what you may believe…..each person is NOT obligated to contribute to ANY organization. They should , FIRST, contribute to their own household. When, and ONLY when, they FEEL that they are able to contribute…should they do so……WITHOUT shame being put upon them.
Perez help me!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a 4 year old and want to quit terribly!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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honestly, we need population control.
What a fucking waste. No amount of money would ever stop people from smoking, period. Give this money to people/organizations who need it. What idiots.
Hmmm. I've smoked almost 46 yrs and I'm just starting to get faint lines around my mouth. I'll be 60 in less than 2 months, but most people take me to be in my mid to late forties. I think I just got good genes.
Poor countries? We have dumbasses that live here in the states that still smoke and we have to breathe their second hand smoke. Hopefully soon, they can all be tried for attempted murder.
Re: sp00ky – STFU! You have no idea how much money any of us have or how we spend it!
Re: DIANE – I'm 44, smoked for 9 years, quit 22 years ago (yes I started at 13, not proud of it) and I'm just starting to get those deep wrinkles around my lips. My sister is 52, has never smoked ever, and has not one wrinkle. It definitely causes wrinkles, among other nasty things.
Re: L.V. – Fuck you, asshole. Since I smoke outside my home (even in the winter), and never in my vehicle or in restaurants, the ONLY secondhand smoke you could possibly inhale, while in my home or on my deck….. would be from the closest main employment, in my area…the papermill.
Go ahead…slander the papermills, take them to court and put them out of business. You will end up writing your grocery list and notes to the spouse on your jeans, skin or freshly painted walls. Oh, yeah…pens and pencils don't work on walls….be sure to use an indelible marker…the list will NEVER be forgotten or misplaced.
are. you. fucking. serious.
out of all the things that need a donation.
cancer research, global warming, homelessness and poverty, genocide in darfur, helping other countries.
and you want to donate it to…smoking.
a person's ultimate choice.
not disease or illness, but a choice.
i'm against smoking, but seriously, what can you do?
are you gonna make a bunch more annoying sing songy commercials with that $500 mil?
im sorry but this pisses me off, royal.
Re: L –
Did you read that I'm just STARTING to get FAINT wrinkles around my mouth? I'm 16 yrs older than you. As a life long smoker, it's pretty remarkable that I only have faint wrinkles around my mouth, and no where else at age 60. At my last facial, they couldn't believe my age, and wanted to know my secret. I also have not one sister, but four sisters. Two have never smoked and we are all 13 months apart in age. All of us are starting to get lines around our mouths, and no place else. Gee, maybe it's just our genes, and has nothing to do with smoking. I'm almost a decade older than your older sister, and maybe her wrinkles will appear someplace else. Oh, by the way, our mom, who quit smoking 30 years ago, and is now 80, is often taken for someone in her 60's. Go figure.
What about that country across the way…. I think its called Africa or something?
Re: Julia – NO, we need to help OUR country k? not agreeing with spending millions on this smoking bullshiz but trust me this country could use that money on other stuff like what Britn has posted.
SMOKING?!?!? Are they serious??? Im a smoker and know full well that its not anyone's fault but my own that I am hurting myself, and have no ill will towards any buisness or property that want to go non smoking, cause I have my backyard and car to smoke in. $500 MILLION?!?!? How about health care? Education???? FUCK give it away on a reality show a la Oprah's big give or what have you, but smoking??? Gimmie a fucking break
OMFG!!! Bill Gates the founder of Microsuck will invest millions to stop people from smoking….. hmmm do I rich white man Bullshit!! Nope he can't spend the millions on real issues like the the hundreds who die of aids, starving children, child prostitution or other such whimsical problems.
We're going to invest money in a matter that is legal and the free choice of millions of other people. Way to go Bill!! The only money he should be investing is getting rid of the smoke he's blowing up the ass of the masses.
Re: Lynne –
ROFL!!!
OMG I can just picture the ads:
SAVE A HOMO!!! BAN BUTT SEX!!
Did you read that I'm just STARTING to get FAINT wrinkles around my mouth? I'm 16 yrs older than you. As a life long smoker, it's pretty remarkable that I only have faint wrinkles around my mouth, and no where else at age 60. At my last facial, they couldn't believe my age, and wanted to know my secret. I also have not one sister, but four sisters. Two have never smoked and we are all 13 months apart in age. All of us are starting to get lines around our mouths, and no place else. Gee, maybe it's just our genes, and has nothing to do with smoking. I'm almost a decade older than your older sister, and maybe her wrinkles will appear someplace else. Oh, by the way, our mom, who quit smoking 30 years ago, and is now 80, is often taken for someone in her 60's. Go figure.
L, I just want to add this. Why should I believe that smoking causes wrinkles, when two of my sisters who have never smoked, are getting the exact wrinkles, in the exact same place that I'm getting them? Did they suck on straws too much, or just maybe it's just predetermined genetics?
I would love it if I was given the chance to quit smoking. I'm 42, married, have 3 kids, and have smoked since I was 6….yes, 6 years old. It's an addiction, and unfortunately, a way of life for me. And I hate it.
What a fucking waste of money!! How about feeding people, you idiots!!!
Re: JBABE –
well instead of paying for people who die in a year from lung cancer, you'll be paying for people who live to be 150 with other expensive, chronic health problems….but have it your way…
and yes, that money could feed a lot of people or provide clean water for the over 1 billion people without access to it!
FUCK THAT!!!
What about $500 million to starving kids in Africa.
If those rich bastards really wanted to make a change, they could have done it light-years ago!!!!
Have to light a cigarette on that one! You know, when you smoke American Spirits like me, you don't get wrinkles. I don't have wrinkles. And I'm so f****** cool! Hah! Does this mean I'll get some of Gates millions, if I stop smoking? Because if he'd pay me $10 million I'd stop at once! At least, I would only smoke secretly on the toilet. Toilet. Am I allowed to say this word on an english website?
it's their money, but public health is a government deal, so that money could go elsewhere. then again, if i had that cash, i'd likely booze myself to death in style!
Yes! Please give millions to people who choose to suck in cancer and turn into leather faces… because Katrina victims, real cancer patients, people in Africa with aids, underprivelaged and starving children and people that can't afford college don't need that money at all
I'm always admiring Mr and Mrs Gate's dedications and supporting for suffering people ! And Mr and Mrs Bono of U2 supporting for Africa is amazing ,too ! m(_ _)m I'm appreciating their supports .
Bloomberg doesn't want anyone to quit smoking. He's spending the money on anti-smoking propaganda and simultaneously increasing cigarette taxes. In Nazi Germany, Hitler had one of historys most extreme anti-smoking campaigns and studies showed that the result was that MORE people smoked than ever! So it's a win-win for Bloomberg, he will look like a saint for trying to save those smokers and at the same time make billions in tax dollars. Don't underestimate Bloomies capacity to make the billions of dollars- he's very good at it.
You smokers are feisty today.
Burning smoke in your lungs, always a great way to start a day!
Enough with the smoking crap perez. Respect peoples personal choices.
SCREW THAT. People choose to smoke of their own will and I think that spending $500 million dollars on this is completely unnecessary. Why not spend so much money on helping to find a cure for diseases that are not willingly inflicted? Or helping those less fortunate? I am completely against this.
Re: !!! – NEIL IS RIGHT I AM DYING, DYING FROM COMMENTS MADE BY FUCKTARDS LIKE YOU!
fuck you all… I've got a fucking right to smoke! I live in fucking America. I hate Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg. If I ever come in contact with either of them I will blow my steamy, smelly cigarette smoke right in their gay faces
Re: itsonlyme – SORRY IT'S MYCHOICE.CA
Yeah way to go Perez all you do is bitch abouit all the lay offs, do you not realize by cutting out smokingu are getting rid of thousands of americans/farmers jobs! That would be real fucking awesome for the ecomony. Oh and the states that use that tax dollars for schools where is the money gonna come from then?!? Our children will continue to suffer in school if there is no money coming in to fund them. What is really the difference between smoking and drinking? they are bother personal choices the both have canerous side effects and put other peoples lives in jeopary(i.e. drinking and driving). Bring on the prohibition next!!! That would fix everything.
If he gave me a million dollars, I would totally stop smoking. Only a million of that would greatly help me get over nicotine fits. Plus, that leaves $499 million left for other people.
Re: dfds – Actually Meth is more popular amongst heterosexuals especially in the south. Alabama is having a major problem with meth. The south will rise again! LOL!
THAT IS CRAZY! OBESITY KILLS 400,000 PEOPLE A YEAR AND YET WEHERE ARE ALL THE EXTRA TAXES ON BIG MACS AND FRENCH FRIES????? THIS ANOTHER ATTEMPT BY BLOOMBERG TO HELP OUT HIS BED BUDDIES IN THE PHARM INDUSTRY AND SELL THEIR NICOTINE PATCHES AND PILLS.
Um…that $$ could go to starving children in countries where they don;t even have safe drinking water - instead they're going ot dish out this much money to smokers in RUSSIA??? one of the fastest growing countries of wealth? People can choose with their own free will whether to smoke or not - give me a FN break! CHANTIX ANYONE?!??!?! Thie world is so backwards
Typical liberals. Smoking is an individual decision, you idiots, you can't force people to stop. People know the dangers and choose to do it anyway, no "education" is going to help. This money could have been better used.
My Mom died of lung cancer from smoking. sure, it was her choice to smoke, but she was so addicted, she just couldn't seem to quit. I feel like smoking stole my mother from me at a young age. I think it's great that people are doing something to stop this from happening to anyone else. And like someone else said on here– it is an extremely painful, long, drawn out death. There wasn't enough morphine in the hospital to keep my Mommy comfortable. Please don't smoke. Especially if you have kiddies- they want you around for a long time!
a billion deaths from smoking in the 21st century sounds good !
smoking deaths = population control !
How about they pool their resources and start up better energy resources for this country! Build some windmills guys! People have a choice as to smoke or not to smoke.
Give me a break…If people want to smoke and kill themselves …LET THEM…but putting that money towards helping feed those less fortunate than us would make a bigger impact globally not to mention makes more sense.
THAT MONEY COULD BE PUT TO A LOT MORE WORTH WHILE CAUSES. PEOPLE SMOKING IS THEIR CHOICE. HOW ABOUT SOME HUNGRY KIDS OR ANIMAL CAUSES. I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING TO DO BUT A LOT BETTER CAUSES TO PUT THAT KIND OF MONEY TOWARDS.
it would be great if they put that $500m to give new yorkers a reasonable subway system that wasn't rat infested.
thats perfect the bill and melinda gates foundation already invests in cigarette companies. now they're putting some ice on the fire.
I dont completely agree with the smoking gives you wrinkles i am almost 30 and not a wrinkle in sight… sorry..
and I agree with a lot of your faithful readers.. why aren't they devoting their money to something like world hunger, homelessness.. or even alcoholism. The last time I checked no one got in there car and killed someone by having too much to smoke… can't say the same about alcohol…. can ya…
so… put that in your pipe and SMOKE IT!!!
Do I need these two assholes telling me how to live my life or doing me the "favor" of forcing nonsmoking programs down my throat? I don't want or need your "help," you arrogant SOBs.
Thats cool and everything but why not pool their funds and figure out a way to LOWER THE FRICKIN PRICE OF FUEL????
as a scientist it is ignorant and unprofessional to use the word "cause" in any relationship. This implies that one sole object or action is the "cause" of that one problem.
Yes, smoking has a direct relationship with cancer and a direct relationship with wrinkles, but it doesn't necessarily "cause" them. There are many other factors that play into an individual's general health and overall appearance. For example, the things we eat and exposing ourselves to too much sun. Therefore, it is important to consider all possibilities when talking about one's health and appearance.
And for the record, spending that much money on something so insignificant in regards to world issues, is ridiculous and most likely, a publicity stunt.
FEED PEOPLE INSTEAD! EDUCATE PEOPLE INSTEAD!!
Geez, it's so nice to see the man behind the current push to "insource" (bring in 65,000 Indians from India to replace American programmers) being deified. Gates is God? Sure, as long as you're not one of his employees!
ya thats a great way to spend $500 million, trying to influence people not to do something that should be their choice. guess what, its not a secret that cigs are bad for you. Almost everyone that smokes knows the risks and side effects. Using $500 million to try to squash free thinking and personal choice is fucking retarded. They should have used that money for research on the diseases that are caused by smoking if they're so concerned. But using the money to try to influence what people do is wasteful.
get the fuck out - what about the people who will be affected by the pollution from rapidly developing countries, vaccinations, clean water, tents for malaria, SCHOOLBOOKS SO THAT TEACHERS DONT HAVE TO XEROX COPIES and if you're really concerned what about alcohol!!! what a horrible allocation of money
even better - how about loaning it to the government so they can fix this mortgage shit
are you fucking serious???? if people want to kill themselves and smoke then let them, why the fuck should you waste your money trying to stop that.. THEY ARE GIVING ALL THIS FUCKING MONEY TO HELP PEOPLE QUIT HOW ABOUT AIDS??? PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN POVERTY IN SHITHOLES WITHOUT WATER OR FOOD KIDS ARE STARVING AND YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO WASTE ON A PACK OF CIGARRETES????? YOU ARE FUCKING IDIOTS
So, I'm guessing that all you people saying that the money should go towards feeding the starving do know that the tobacco industry PURPOSELY markets their products to developing countries? And that the money that many people make just goes towards buying more ciagrettes?
I'm not sure if you realize this, but maybe helping people quit smoking will actually help the whole starvation problem in the long run.