Tobacco

If You Can't Beat 'Em, Hire 'Em

by Judith Siers-Poisson — July 23, 2008 - 4:31pm

Daniel Troy served as chief counsel for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from 2001 to 2004. Starting September 2, 2008, he will be head counsel for the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd) July 23, 2008

The Answer to Smokers' Prayers?

by Anne Landman — July 21, 2008 - 3:21pm

Smoking was officially banned July 1 in Dutch bars and cafes. Since then, smokers have started flocking to a new religious movement in the Netherlands known as the "The Only and Universal Smokers Church of God," or the "Smokers Church." Michiel Eijsbouts, who founded the church in 2001, insists that the new smoking law does not apply to members of the Smokers Church.

Main Source: 
The Telegraph (UK), July 17, 2008
Op-Ed

Who Really Benefits from Voluntary Corporate Codes of Conduct?

by Anne Landman — July 2, 2008 - 3:55pm
  • Topics: Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporations, Ethics, Public Relations, Tobacco

    • A recent investigation by BBC Television showed British American Tobacco (BAT) violating its own voluntary marketing and advertising codes in Malawi, Mauritius and Nigeria. Contrary to BAT's public pronouncements that it doesn't want children to smoke, the company was caught using marketing tactics in these countries that are known to appeal to young people, like advertising and selling single cigarettes, and sponsoring non-age-restricted, product branded musical entertainment.

    As trading has become more global and corporations have become more multinational, countries started discovering that they have little recourse to rein in the harmful behavior of corporations. As public clamor to regulate multinationals has grown, companies have increasingly responded by adopting "voluntary codes of conduct." But what are the real purposes for these codes? Are they just window dressing, or worse?

    American Association of Public Health Physicians: "Tobacco Bill Is a Scam"

    by Anne Landman — July 1, 2008 - 12:28pm

    The American Association of Public Health Physicians (AAPHP) has published an updated analysis of H.R. 1108, the massive bill currently under consideration by Congress that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products. AAPHP concludes, "This bill is a scam.

    Main Source: 
    American Association of Public Health Physicians, June 19, 2008

    The Hidden War: Big Tobacco and the GOP Team up Against Southern Democrats

    by Anne Landman — June 27, 2008 - 11:59am

    When the major American tobacco companies signed the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with the 46 states who sued to recover the costs of treating sick smokers, the companies agreed to nominal advertising restrictions and massive yearly payouts to the states.

    Main Source: 
    Raw Story, June 24, 2008

    The Secret of Marlboro's Success: Freebase Nicotine

    by Anne Landman — June 23, 2008 - 4:21pm

    Most American cigarette makers, including Philip Morris (PM), have used ammonia in their manufacturing processes for decades, to "puff up" tobacco to increase its volume, highlight certain flavors, help hold together reconstituted tobacco sheet and reduce the amount of

    Main Source: 
    American Journal of Public Health (sub req'd), July 2008
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