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In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Aviation is hard to make green with current technology. According to researchers, the best step is to reduce the flight demand. And raising tickets can greatly assist with it. Some other solutions are also implementing higher taxes on frequent flyers, and ending subsidies for the aviation sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Current technology can not make aviation green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviation is hard to make green with current technology. According to researchers, the best step is to reduce the flight demand. And raising tickets can greatly assist with it. Some other solutions are also implementing higher taxes on frequent flyers, and ending subsidies for the aviation sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
However many from the aviation industry strongly disagree with it. There\u2019s a split between some international associations resisting change and European Union low-cost carriers that favours it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Current technology can not make aviation green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviation is hard to make green with current technology. According to researchers, the best step is to reduce the flight demand. And raising tickets can greatly assist with it. Some other solutions are also implementing higher taxes on frequent flyers, and ending subsidies for the aviation sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
At the same time, Ewbank noted that IATA and Airlines for America are strangely using scientific uncertainty to argue against a policy meant to reduce that uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However many from the aviation industry strongly disagree with it. There\u2019s a split between some international associations resisting change and European Union low-cost carriers that favours it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Current technology can not make aviation green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviation is hard to make green with current technology. According to researchers, the best step is to reduce the flight demand. And raising tickets can greatly assist with it. Some other solutions are also implementing higher taxes on frequent flyers, and ending subsidies for the aviation sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The International Air Transport Association(IATA) also stands in favour of the United States' view. According to them, it is not good to expand the European rules including flight outside Europe. This can cause international issues and also create many doubts. Such as it is a great hurdle in the scientific process to track the non-CO2 emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, Ewbank noted that IATA and Airlines for America are strangely using scientific uncertainty to argue against a policy meant to reduce that uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However many from the aviation industry strongly disagree with it. There\u2019s a split between some international associations resisting change and European Union low-cost carriers that favours it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Current technology can not make aviation green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviation is hard to make green with current technology. According to researchers, the best step is to reduce the flight demand. And raising tickets can greatly assist with it. Some other solutions are also implementing higher taxes on frequent flyers, and ending subsidies for the aviation sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
This proposal has split the aviation industry. US airlines oppose including international flights in these rules, while European budget airlines argue that excluding long-haul flights would be unfair and possibly illegal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association(IATA) also stands in favour of the United States' view. According to them, it is not good to expand the European rules including flight outside Europe. This can cause international issues and also create many doubts. Such as it is a great hurdle in the scientific process to track the non-CO2 emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, Ewbank noted that IATA and Airlines for America are strangely using scientific uncertainty to argue against a policy meant to reduce that uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However many from the aviation industry strongly disagree with it. There\u2019s a split between some international associations resisting change and European Union low-cost carriers that favours it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Current technology can not make aviation green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviation is hard to make green with current technology. According to researchers, the best step is to reduce the flight demand. And raising tickets can greatly assist with it. Some other solutions are also implementing higher taxes on frequent flyers, and ending subsidies for the aviation sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Different gasses are emitted by the aeroplane engines. It includes nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. These emitted gasses caused the planet to warm up even though scientists are still doing research on it to find the exact effects. The new rule of European Comiosns has plans to close the knowledge gap. This can be done by making an airline's track and emission report under these new rules. Climate scientists are clearly opposed to these new regulations and say that science is not ready to accept them. They also said that focusing on the issue and suggesting a solution is also the top priority for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This proposal has split the aviation industry. US airlines oppose including international flights in these rules, while European budget airlines argue that excluding long-haul flights would be unfair and possibly illegal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association(IATA) also stands in favour of the United States' view. According to them, it is not good to expand the European rules including flight outside Europe. This can cause international issues and also create many doubts. Such as it is a great hurdle in the scientific process to track the non-CO2 emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, Ewbank noted that IATA and Airlines for America are strangely using scientific uncertainty to argue against a policy meant to reduce that uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However many from the aviation industry strongly disagree with it. There\u2019s a split between some international associations resisting change and European Union low-cost carriers that favours it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Current technology can not make aviation green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviation is hard to make green with current technology. According to researchers, the best step is to reduce the flight demand. And raising tickets can greatly assist with it. Some other solutions are also implementing higher taxes on frequent flyers, and ending subsidies for the aviation sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The long-haul flights are the basic reasons for climate damage and the US airlines are trying to avoid their responsibilities. Lucca Ewbank from InfluenceMap reported that non-CO2 emissions from planes could be responsible for up to two-thirds of the climate impact of flying. Despite this fact, airlines are lobbying against these measured figures in order to hide the damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Different gasses are emitted by the aeroplane engines. It includes nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. These emitted gasses caused the planet to warm up even though scientists are still doing research on it to find the exact effects. The new rule of European Comiosns has plans to close the knowledge gap. This can be done by making an airline's track and emission report under these new rules. Climate scientists are clearly opposed to these new regulations and say that science is not ready to accept them. They also said that focusing on the issue and suggesting a solution is also the top priority for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This proposal has split the aviation industry. US airlines oppose including international flights in these rules, while European budget airlines argue that excluding long-haul flights would be unfair and possibly illegal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association(IATA) also stands in favour of the United States' view. According to them, it is not good to expand the European rules including flight outside Europe. This can cause international issues and also create many doubts. Such as it is a great hurdle in the scientific process to track the non-CO2 emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, Ewbank noted that IATA and Airlines for America are strangely using scientific uncertainty to argue against a policy meant to reduce that uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However many from the aviation industry strongly disagree with it. There\u2019s a split between some international associations resisting change and European Union low-cost carriers that favours it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Current technology can not make aviation green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviation is hard to make green with current technology. According to researchers, the best step is to reduce the flight demand. And raising tickets can greatly assist with it. Some other solutions are also implementing higher taxes on frequent flyers, and ending subsidies for the aviation sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
It seems that the main purpose of these airlines is to protect their profits rather than address the urgent complexities of climate change. It is important to find every possible solution to these climate problems instead of finding excuses to avoid responsibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The long-haul flights are the basic reasons for climate damage and the US airlines are trying to avoid their responsibilities. Lucca Ewbank from InfluenceMap reported that non-CO2 emissions from planes could be responsible for up to two-thirds of the climate impact of flying. Despite this fact, airlines are lobbying against these measured figures in order to hide the damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Different gasses are emitted by the aeroplane engines. It includes nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. These emitted gasses caused the planet to warm up even though scientists are still doing research on it to find the exact effects. The new rule of European Comiosns has plans to close the knowledge gap. This can be done by making an airline's track and emission report under these new rules. Climate scientists are clearly opposed to these new regulations and say that science is not ready to accept them. They also said that focusing on the issue and suggesting a solution is also the top priority for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This proposal has split the aviation industry. US airlines oppose including international flights in these rules, while European budget airlines argue that excluding long-haul flights would be unfair and possibly illegal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association(IATA) also stands in favour of the United States' view. According to them, it is not good to expand the European rules including flight outside Europe. This can cause international issues and also create many doubts. Such as it is a great hurdle in the scientific process to track the non-CO2 emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, Ewbank noted that IATA and Airlines for America are strangely using scientific uncertainty to argue against a policy meant to reduce that uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However many from the aviation industry strongly disagree with it. There\u2019s a split between some international associations resisting change and European Union low-cost carriers that favours it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Current technology can not make aviation green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviation is hard to make green with current technology. According to researchers, the best step is to reduce the flight demand. And raising tickets can greatly assist with it. Some other solutions are also implementing higher taxes on frequent flyers, and ending subsidies for the aviation sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
During this meeting, Airlines for America <\/a>argued against including flights outside Europe <\/a>in new pollution reporting rules. They claimed there\u2019s still uncertainty about the science behind contrails, those white lines planes leave in the sky that can trap heat. They are also worried that due to this rule, the price of tickets getting higher will limit the number of travellers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n It seems that the main purpose of these airlines is to protect their profits rather than address the urgent complexities of climate change. It is important to find every possible solution to these climate problems instead of finding excuses to avoid responsibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The long-haul flights are the basic reasons for climate damage and the US airlines are trying to avoid their responsibilities. Lucca Ewbank from InfluenceMap reported that non-CO2 emissions from planes could be responsible for up to two-thirds of the climate impact of flying. Despite this fact, airlines are lobbying against these measured figures in order to hide the damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Different gasses are emitted by the aeroplane engines. It includes nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. These emitted gasses caused the planet to warm up even though scientists are still doing research on it to find the exact effects. The new rule of European Comiosns has plans to close the knowledge gap. This can be done by making an airline's track and emission report under these new rules. Climate scientists are clearly opposed to these new regulations and say that science is not ready to accept them. They also said that focusing on the issue and suggesting a solution is also the top priority for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This proposal has split the aviation industry. US airlines oppose including international flights in these rules, while European budget airlines argue that excluding long-haul flights would be unfair and possibly illegal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association(IATA) also stands in favour of the United States' view. According to them, it is not good to expand the European rules including flight outside Europe. This can cause international issues and also create many doubts. Such as it is a great hurdle in the scientific process to track the non-CO2 emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, Ewbank noted that IATA and Airlines for America are strangely using scientific uncertainty to argue against a policy meant to reduce that uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However many from the aviation industry strongly disagree with it. There\u2019s a split between some international associations resisting change and European Union low-cost carriers that favours it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Current technology can not make aviation green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviation is hard to make green with current technology. According to researchers, the best step is to reduce the flight demand. And raising tickets can greatly assist with it. Some other solutions are also implementing higher taxes on frequent flyers, and ending subsidies for the aviation sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
It is very concerning that United States<\/a> airlines are actively opposing the efforts of those who monitor the environmental damage due to aeroplane pollution. Recently it was explored that the meeting between US officials was a meeting with the European Commission<\/a>. The conversation between them was secretly hidden. There is no official record of this meeting. So this move raises serious concerns.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n During this meeting, Airlines for America <\/a>argued against including flights outside Europe <\/a>in new pollution reporting rules. They claimed there\u2019s still uncertainty about the science behind contrails, those white lines planes leave in the sky that can trap heat. They are also worried that due to this rule, the price of tickets getting higher will limit the number of travellers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n It seems that the main purpose of these airlines is to protect their profits rather than address the urgent complexities of climate change. It is important to find every possible solution to these climate problems instead of finding excuses to avoid responsibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The long-haul flights are the basic reasons for climate damage and the US airlines are trying to avoid their responsibilities. Lucca Ewbank from InfluenceMap reported that non-CO2 emissions from planes could be responsible for up to two-thirds of the climate impact of flying. Despite this fact, airlines are lobbying against these measured figures in order to hide the damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Different gasses are emitted by the aeroplane engines. It includes nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. These emitted gasses caused the planet to warm up even though scientists are still doing research on it to find the exact effects. The new rule of European Comiosns has plans to close the knowledge gap. This can be done by making an airline's track and emission report under these new rules. Climate scientists are clearly opposed to these new regulations and say that science is not ready to accept them. They also said that focusing on the issue and suggesting a solution is also the top priority for them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This proposal has split the aviation industry. US airlines oppose including international flights in these rules, while European budget airlines argue that excluding long-haul flights would be unfair and possibly illegal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association(IATA) also stands in favour of the United States' view. According to them, it is not good to expand the European rules including flight outside Europe. This can cause international issues and also create many doubts. Such as it is a great hurdle in the scientific process to track the non-CO2 emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, Ewbank noted that IATA and Airlines for America are strangely using scientific uncertainty to argue against a policy meant to reduce that uncertainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However many from the aviation industry strongly disagree with it. There\u2019s a split between some international associations resisting change and European Union low-cost carriers that favours it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Current technology can not make aviation green. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aviation is hard to make green with current technology. According to researchers, the best step is to reduce the flight demand. And raising tickets can greatly assist with it. Some other solutions are also implementing higher taxes on frequent flyers, and ending subsidies for the aviation sector. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By 2028, new rules might be proposed including non-CO2 emissions costs in the EU emissions trading scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the researchers from Lund University, Stefan Gossling also said that United state airlines has always become the hurdle in environmental rules, especially in places like the European Union<\/a>. According to him, this is due to the fact that their business model relies on a very minor profit margin and constant growth. They always refuse to accept more beneficial ways to handle air travel. The meeting of these notes also explored some parts of their talks. Airlines for America, Penta, and major US airlines like United, FedEx, and Delta were part of this conversation. It clearly represents that not every person in the industry wants to accept these new rules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no response to the requests for comment from Delta and Penta.\u00a0 United and FedEx pointed to Airlines for America, which said it regularly meets with EU counterparts and follows all rules. The European Commission<\/a> mentioned that in order to get various opinions, there are many meetings with different stakeholders. They also shed light on their decision and said it would be in favour of Europe. However, they got strong criticism from IATA, which was not present at the meeting. This opposition is due to moving forward too quickly on such an important issue without fully understanding all aspects.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US airlines prioritize profits over climate responsibility","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-airlines-prioritize-profits-over-climate-responsibility","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7146","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7142,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-29 10:33:47","post_content":"\n Back in 2017, when an Israeli diplomat in London asked for action against Alan Duncan. He is the British <\/a>foreign minister who wrote a letter in his diary. According to him, he had joked with colleagues about the Conservative Friends of Israel and the Israelis seemed to control the Foreign Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the Left clearly said that these complaints are not right and there is no fact in it. According to them, Israel\u2019s influence is overstated and also Israel stands in favour of the United States' interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n David Wearing, a British writer, says that Israel\u2019s role as an important ally in a key region is clear and doesn\u2019t need special lobbying to be understood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a recent book, scholar Hil Aked argues that claims about Israel being against American interests are mistaken or even xenophobic. He thinks these ideas are not based on real evidence. Similarly, Andreas Malm disagrees with the idea that a powerful lobby controls U.S. policy on Israel. Instead, he believes that Israel is part of US imperial interests, a view supported by both historical and current evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is always correct that the United States supports Israel just because of a fixed imperial goal. According to this theory, US leaders always stand in favour of Israel without question to serve a constant, unchanging imperial interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With respect to this view, many facts are overlooked. It includes that the foreign policy of the United States<\/a> changes and becomes more complex with the passage of time. Joe Biden's statement clearly highlights the importance of Israel. According to him, if Israel did not exist then the United States would have to create it. But that belief might be mistaken.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n US leaders also made wrong decisions about what was beneficial for the nation. For example, many thought that George W. Bush\u2019s decision to invade Iraq was based on imperial interests, but now it\u2019s seen as a harmful choice. This belief that Israel's presence is important for the nation's progress is not correct. Everyone should question this belief rather than accept it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historical comments, like those from Henry Kissinger in 1975, suggest that Israel isn\u2019t necessarily key to stopping the spread of communism. Today, there is considerable debate within the US government about the risks of always supporting Israel, showing that the issue is more complicated than it might seem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people on the left still believe old ideas about how imperial power works, especially when it comes to the influence of the Israeli lobby. They think that supporting Israel<\/a> is good for the US progress but it is always true.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US support for Israel can actually hurt the US interest, especially in this complicated political world. The influence of Israel and its lobby is important here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, the idea that supporting Israel is always beneficial for the United States is outdated. Some places are not important now, such as the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is trying to handle the severe conflicts in different parts of the world. This effort makes it hard for this nation to keep up its military power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, Israel's action made it difficult for the United States to maintain stability in the Middle East.\u00a0 Experts like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt say that US support for Israel can makes other countries the biggest threat to America.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the belief that smaller countries can\u2019t influence big powers ignores history. Even small states can have a big impact. Bill Clinton\u2019s frustration with Israel\u2019s influence shows this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the passage of time, it becomes complicated to support Israel. The lobbying efforts have been done to convince Western leaders that supporting Israel is good for the nation. But the ongoing conflict in Gaza changed the people\u2019s support. They stand in favor of Israel. So, it is not wise to agree on Biden's policy that Israel is important for America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people believe Israel has total control or that we need to destroy Western civilization for Palestinians to be free, but these ideas aren't helpful. It's becoming clear that Israel is less important to America, so the lobby has to work harder to keep support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of focusing on the details of the US-Israel relationship, the Left should make ethical and strategic arguments against supporting Israel. To challenge the situation in Palestine, we need to fight against the Israel lobby's influence.<\/p>\n","post_title":"US-Israel relation: What is the complex reality of it","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"us-israel-relation-what-is-the-complex-reality-of-it","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7142","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7117,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_date_gmt":"2024-08-11 12:35:23","post_content":"\n Every year, tobacco firms spend millions of dollars on lobbying in the United States in an effort to undermine, postpone, or eliminate public health regulations that might save lives. In the middle of a worldwide respiratory epidemic in 2021, ASH started monitoring the registrations of lobbying firms and lobbyists for the tobacco industry. At that time, the business was spending significantly more at the federal level to undermine measures related to public health and tobacco control. Regretfully, lobbying efforts have kept Big Tobacco's powerful influence in Washington, DC until an undisclosed future, delaying the crucial decision to outlaw the sale of menthol cigarettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nearly half (538) of the 2024 registrations are for businesses such as Reynolds American, Inc. (RAI), Juul, and Altria that are either controlled by or have a license arrangement with federally adjudicated racketeers. This is an important point to make because lobbying itself is not bad; the trouble comes when you are advocating on behalf of a sector of the economy that is controlled by federally adjudicated racketeers, particularly those whose goods are lethal when used as intended. There were 315 lobbyists or lobbying firms registered with Altria (formerly known as Philip Morris USA), spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 48 states were covered by the 197 lobbyists and lobbying companies that Reynolds American has registered. With combined ownership of Swedish Match since 2023, Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services has 145 lobbyist or lobbying company registrations altogether, spanning 38 states. The majority of lobbyists and lobbying firms in the tobacco business were also registered to represent a wide range of other clients. Interestingly, public data show that, as opposed to individual lobbyists, 12 states and the District of Columbia let or mandate lobbying companies to register. The tobacco industry is frequently able to conceal from the public the precise number and identities of specific lobbyists operating on their behalf in certain states due to the fact that lobbying companies frequently hire a large number of lobbyists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some areas, registrations have climbed and in others, they have declined since ASH started monitoring tobacco industry lobbying in 2021. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia had the same number of registrations in 2024 as they did in 2021, while 23 states had more than that number. Overall, 2024 registrations represent a 2.5% rise over base year registrations from 2021 and a 10.7% increase above statistics from 2023. There will be 100 more registrations in 2024 compared to 2023. This overall growing trend for tobacco lobbying registrations continues, even if Juul had an 81% decline in registrations as of 2024. In particular, 927 people registered in 2023 and 1027 in 2024. The number of lobbyists that Philip Morris International (PMI) Global Services and Swedish Match together employ in the US has significantly increased since 2023. This merger has demonstrated a significant change in lobbying tactics, as PMI Global Services, to our knowledge, has never before had any registered lobbyists in the US. Swedish Match employed 8 lobbyists and 3 lobbying companies in 2021; by 2024, they employed 128 lobbyists and 17 lobbying firms, a 200% increase under PMI's management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent study from the anti-smoking advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, tobacco industry lobbyists are flooding statehouses around the country, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Tallahassee, Florida. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of tobacco company-affiliated lobbying registrations increased<\/a> by more than 10%. Based on data on lobbying registration that is accessible to the public, ASH's total figure is probably an underestimate because several states only require lobbying firms, not individual lobbyists, to register with them. Keep a close eye on the tobacco industry's lobbying efforts in your state to understand its impact over policy and work to resist it. Recognize patterns in the tobacco industry's lobbying endeavors to remain knowledgeable and aggressive in your advocacy work. Use tracker data to target legislators and local leaders with outreach that emphasizes the need to bar the tobacco business and its lobbyists from government policy-making, as well as the harm that tobacco industry lobbying does to public health. Utilize the tracker's findings to strengthen your activism by developing proposals for policies based on solid facts and pushing for strict laws to counteract the influence of the tobacco industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In order to campaign for particular legislation in decision-making organizations like the US Congress, special interest groups pay well-connected professional advocates, frequently attorneys, to engage in paid lobbying in the US. Journalists and the general public in America frequently see it poorly; detractors see it as a kind of extortion, influence peddling, or bribery.<\/p>\n","post_title":"The US tobacco lobby: A register of interests and influence","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"the-us-tobacco-lobby-a-register-of-interests-and-influence","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:26","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7117","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":17},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
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