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Maximize impact of Philip Morris's
Action of the Month
The report's basic conclusion is that smoking is good for the Czech economy thanks, in part, to "health-care cost savings due to early mortality." In other words, killing people is justifiable on economic grounds. Elderly people are not worth the expense of their health care, pensions, and housing -- so boosting Marlboro sales is actually a national public service! While Philip Morris has made this basic argment many times before, never before has it caught the fascination of the world's media is such a big way. Even The Daily Show, a 1/2 half hour comedy show in the U.S., did a brief, humorous segment last night on the Czech study. TAKE ACTION! 1. Local Media. You and your partner can maximize the impact of PM's Czech report by generating additional press coverage in your local communities.
2. Know of Similar Studies? It was Eva Kralikova (a GPTC participant) of the Czech Republic who alerted colleagues abroad to PM's latest ploy in her country. If you or your partner know of similar studies done by PM (or any other tobacco company) in your country, please contact us so that they can be passed on to reporters. In particular, copies of the studies and related press articles and analyses would be useful. 3. Collect Other Examples! As this case has clearly proven, what PM does in one country can be news in all. If you see or hear of something outrageous that PM or BAT is doing in your community or country, let your partner and Essential Action know immediately. Any media coverage that is damaging to the tobacco industry is good for tobacco control. With GPTC participants in over 90 countries, we have a tremendous opportunity -- if we keep our ears and eyes open -- to monitor the industry's worldwide activities. 4. Write a Letter to the Czech Government. If you would like to express your opinion on this "study" and send it to Czech political leaders, Czech GPTC participants would be very thankful to you. Your message will help not only the Czech tobacco control advocates but also all colleagues in neighbouring countries. If have a local newspaper clipping about the story, it would be a nice touch to include it with your letter. See http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/letter/czech0107.html If you haven't already, we encourage you to read some of the press on
the report. Please see below for links to several articles, an editorial,
related press releases, and the report itself. 'Smoking Can Help Czech Economy,' Philip Morris-Little Report Says Cigarette
Smokers' Frequent Early Deaths Offset Federal Medical Costs, Study Finds,'
by Gordon Fairclough, The Wall Street Journal, 7/16/01 'Smoking is good for state funds' Tobacco giant apologises over claim
after worldwide fury.' Source: Irish Independent, 7/18/01 The Prague Post story is at: Quote from: Health warning, Editorial, The Independent, 01/07/18
(warning: heavy sarcasm!) Smoke and Mirrors Campaign, by Art Buchwald, 02/08/02
(warning: heavy sarcasm!) Related press releases: The full report is up at: Also, if you are interested in reading about some of the faulty economic
assumptions and calculations in the report, read comments by Clive Bates,
Action on Smoking and Health (UK): Finally, Phillip Karugaba of The Environmental Action Network (TEAN)
in Uganda reports that the story was alluded to yesterday at the country's
High Court where TEAN is currently representing a non-smokers rights case:
"The Attorney General was arguing that we need to bring the scientists
who made the reports we relied upon to say that second hand smoke is dangerous.
The Judge retorted by asking the lawyer how he would prove the Pythagoras
theorem. In the ensuing laughter, the judge said 'on a lighter note I
was reading in the news papers that tobacco is good because it kills early'." Essential
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