Scotland hails Terminator who Credits Escutia; Wales next to rid schools of fizzy drinks

Kyle Reese from Terminator (1984) said: "Listen! And understand. That Terminator is out there! It can't be bargained with, can't be reasoned with! It doesn't feel pity or remorse or fear, and it absolutely will not stop. EVER!"

The Motion laid before the Scottish Parliament in November 2005 called on the Scottish Executive to take action and ban fizzy drinks in schools.

The full text of the motion read:

"Terminate Fizzy Drinks in Schools—That the Parliament is surprised to be congratulating free marketeer and Republican Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has banned fizzy drinks, including Coca-Cola, from all schools in California in an attempt to target childhood obesity; notes that the 'Terminator' has terminated the sale of these drinks in schools in the same period that the Scottish Executive has been unable to decide what to do; further notes that Scotland is now lagging behind many countries which have also banned junk food and drink from their schools, and believes that decisive action on banning junk food and drink in schools cannot come soon enough in Scotland, where child obesity levels in Scotland have doubled in the last 10 years."

Ministers will reveal the details of the new laws this month when they launch a consultation on the Health Promotion, Nutrition and Schools Bill.

After both England and France banned "fizzy drinks," officials in Wales echoed those in Scotland in voicing support for strong action.

Back in California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was lavishing praise on state Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Norwalk in his state of the state speech last week for her six-year crusade to get junk food out of schools:

"One day I ran into her and she told me about her bill to get sodas and junk foods out of the schools. And I said, `I love that idea. It's great to fight obesity. Let's do it together.' And we did. And we got it passed."

"She told me she that had been working on the bill for six years. It shouldn't have to take six years to address the health of our children. But the thing that really impressed me was her perseverance, her stamina, her commitment. That is what was so unbelievable."

Escutia told a local newspaper: "It shows there are some issues that are nonpartisan."

It's surprising that such lame half-measures are still being debated in places like Arizona and Illinois -- and still being proposed by the American Beverage Association and the industry's lobbyists.

Some of the Districts that have gone soda-free K-12 -- that's both diet and regular -- include New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami-Dade, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Boston, District of Columbia, Seattle, Austin, Baltimore, Albuquerque, Buffalo, Guam, Fresno, Oakland, Montreal, Quebec City, Sioux Falls, DesMoines, New Haven, Pierre and many dozens more.

Doesn't the soda industry realize yet that the power of a good idea is unstoppable?