High Road Down Under

Australia has really taken a stand against smoking, by mandating that cigarettes -- which are quite expensive -- be sold in what amounts to brown-paper packs with very disturbing pictures of the effects of smoking on the human body. With over 80% of people who don't smoke already, it's to be expected that that number will grow, as the shock value of this move sinks in throughout the country.The High Court's decision has come down on the side of public health and against the money and power of the big tobacco companies around the world.

We'll soon see similar laws enacted elsewhere, and how the Supreme Court in other countries react to the legal challenges that they will surely be faced with. Let's hope that they have the same moral courage the Australians showed on this issue.

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