Monday, 26th January 2009

The first World Conference on Prohibition is going ahead in Brussels in spite of attempts by the European Parliament and lobby groups to stop it. UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom, who is hosting the conference, says: "Attempts by big pharmaceutical companies and taxpayer-funded groups to block freedom of speech have not worked. The truth will out".

The conference, now renamed "Thinking is forbidden", was confirmed as scientists, economists and social commentators from around the world were converging on Brussels for the event on 27 and 28 January

"We have been concentrating on some of the bad science around the smoking ban on this occasion", Mr Bloom said, "but the plan is to highlight the use of such tactics against a host of lifestyle issues at future events."

The conference was to have taken place in the European Parliament, under the auspices of Mr Bloom and The International Coalition Against Prohibition. However, after a mass lobbying campaign by Smoke Free Europe and the European Public Health Alliance, two bodies largely funded by taxpayer handouts and big pharmaceutical firms (who wish to sell "quit smoking" products), the Bureau of the Parliament in closed session decided to ban the conference.

Mr Bloom commented: "That the subject was not on the agenda, not in the meeting notes, and the decision was taken in camera speaks volumes. The fact that they didn't have the courtesy to inform me for well over a week, making it near impossible to re-organise, is even more significant.

"These well-funded people are frightened of free speech and differing points of view. They make false claims and allegations to bully and denigrate. They claimed among other things that having differing opinions aired 'undermines the dignity of the Parliament'. Pull the other one.

"They are a bunch of control freaks whose only pleasure in life is to disrupt another's pleasure. Well I have got news for them. You cannot win when there are still people prepared to make a stand against you."

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