Tobacco Documents Online

0 0 Copyright 1990 PR Newswire Association, Inc. PR Newswire December 12,1990, Wednesday SECTION: State and Regional News DISTRIBUTION: TO CITY EDITOR LENGTH: 563 words HEADLINE: NONPROFIT HEALTH AGENCIES, PUBLIC FIGURES SPEAK OUT AGAINST PHILIP MORRIS TOUR DATELINE: MORRISTOWN, N.J., Dec. 12 BODY: Nonprofit health organizations, public figures and cancer patients spoke out against Philip Morris' sponsorship of a Bill of Rights tour today with the theme "Bill of Rights -- yes; Philip Morris -- no." The American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and American Lung Association (which make up the New Jersey Coalition on Smoking OR Health), the New Jersey Group Against Smoking Pollution and the New Jersey Commission on Smoking OR Health joined forces at a press conference in Morristown's Pioneer Park to bring to the public's attention what they called "the hypocrisy of the world's largest cigarette producer trying to cloak itself in the Bill of Rights." In addition, Joanne DiNapoli, program director of the Smoke-Free Hospital Program, New Jersey Hospital Assocation, and cancer patient Henry Baran addressed the dangers of cigarette smoking, and "the facade of the tour." At the press conference, the following statement was issued: "Cigarettes kill 390,000 Americans each year. Cigarette manufacturers such as Philip Morris promote a product that is as addictive as cocaine and heroin. Cigarette manufacturers target children with misleading advertising claims -- an important fact when considering that the Bill of Rights tour is expected to attract many children. "Unless we take steps to reduce the incidence of tobacco use, we are sacrificing our children's heritage to tobacco addiction, disease and premature death," said Stuart C. • Finch, M.D., president of the American Cancer Society, New Jersey Division.

* "If Philip Morris was truly interested in trumpeting the Bill of Rights, they should do so, anonymously, through independent commissions such as those set up for the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty and the 200th anniversary of the Constitution," added William Tansey III, M.D., president of the American Heart Association, New Jersey Affiliate. Jacqueline C. Flowers, MPH, chairperson of the Smoking OR Health Committee of the American Lung Association of New Jersey, noted, "If Philip Morris wants to practice corporate responsibility and promote good will they should stop making a product that kills hundreds of thousands of its best customers every year." According to Dr. Douglas Chester, president of New Jersey GASP, "Philip Morris makes 72 percent of its profits from sales of cigarettes. For Philip Morris to pretend to be a patriotic, benevolent corporation is absurd. For us to go along with it is obscene." John Slade, M.D., chairman of the state's Commission on Smoking OR Health, declared, "If Philip Morris really wanted to act responsibly, it would not advertise to children, and it would give all the money it has made on illegal, underage, dangerous, addicting drugs to the Department of Health. For Philip Morris, the Bill of Rights is a scoundrel's refuge." • Press conference speakers agreed that Philip Morris' Bill of Rights campaign is not about freedom or civil rights. They said it is about nothing more than a tobacco company's efforts to hook children, minorities and others on a product which eventually will addict and kill many of them. CONTACT: Bruce Inverso of the American Heart Association, 201-821-2610; Everett Merrill of the American Cancer Society, 201-297-8000; or Jim Hanney of the American Lung Association, 201-687-9340 LANGUAGE: ENGLISH LOAD-DATE: 121290 NY020 0 0

• 0