|
For Release Monday,
8th January,
2001
PALM BEACH COUNTY FL- Students working Against Tobacco (SWAT) today launched a statewide public awareness campaign to call attention the hypocrisy of Philip Morris’ latest public relations campaign that used charitable contributions as a smokescreen to hide the fact that they make a product that kills.
A string of good PR is not going to hide the fact of what tobacco companies do, said Jason Jones a SWAT representative from Palm Beach County.
SWAT is asking companies like Philip Morris, who have spent millions promoting their charitable contributions in slick magazine ads and expensive television commercials, to put their money where their mouth is and donate their PR campaign budgets directly to the charities. From 1998 to 1999 Philip Morris’ corporate image advertising increased by more than 800 percent. In the first half of 2000, the company spent $142 million on corporate advertising.
Philip Morris has also infiltrated public schools through the donation of 13 million free illustrated book jackets nationwide. Although the covers supposedly have an anti-smoking message on them, school officials fear that the tobacco company is using them to show that smoking is cool. Some officials say the designs are reminiscent of cigarette packages. Others believe some of the images resemble tobacco leaves, a lighted cigarette and cigarette smoke.
Beginning in January, SWAT will fan out to communities in all 67 Florida counties with petitions, pledge cards and demonstrations that call attention to Philip Morris’ duplicity in trying to appear like a good, corporate citizen as a way to shift attention from their bad practices.
SWAT youth have even taped a video message that puts tobacco executives on notice: Stop telling us the good you’re doing. Put your money where your mouth is and help more people with that money.
The campaign will culminate in a statewide press conference February 23, 2001 in Tallahassee.
SWAT is a youth led anti-tobacco advocacy group. SWAT programs are active statewide as part of the Department of Health initiative funded from the $11.3 billion settlement reached with tobacco companies in 1997.
Tobacco-Free Community Partnership
<<
Back to Press
|
