GLOBAL
SOLIDARITY
AGAINST BIG TOBACCO
April 23-24, 2003
Richmond, VA
|
REVOKE
"LICENSE TO KILL" |
|
ALTRIA
SHAREHOLDERS MTG |
|
TEEN
ADVOCACY WORKSHOP |
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Licensed
to Kill, Inc
We're Rich, You're Dead! ™ |
Photo credit: AP/Wayne Scarberry
|
Virginia
State Capitol, Richmond On
April 12, 2003, 200 teenagers from DC, NH, NM, NY, WI, and WV
converged at the Virginia State Capitol to denounce the incorporation
of Licensed to Kill, Inc. A gigantic, inflatable "Licensed
to Kill" cigarette pack, with the capitol behind, served
as the backdrop. AN INTRODUCTION TO LICENSED TO KILL, INC The rally began with "Corrie Prutspin", Licensed to Kill's "Senior VP for Corporate Communications," sharing the story of the tobacco company's humble beginnings. It all began, she said, when "Rich Fromdeth" visited the Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission and asked for a license…
…a company that doesn't hide what its business is all about: manufacturing and marketing tobacco products in a way that kills over 4.9 million people a year! Teen agents of the Licensed to Kill then introduced the company's deadly product line, e.g. Serial Killer, Genocide, Global Massacre, and presented sample commercials for them.
"Corrie Prutspin" also unveiled "Global Massacre" baby cloths that the company plans to distribute in Africa - a promotional strategy that the company's rivals have gotten away with for years. View the competitor's example from Togo (2002) and Senegal (1998) In response to the loud booing and anti-LtK chants of teens, the "Senior VP of Corporate Communications" reminded the audience that despite what it may seem, Licensed to Kill, Inc is really a "responsible corporate citizen." To show it cares, the company plans to make a $1 million donation to Richmond charities. Ain't that sweet? She
continued by outlining the company's plans to pour significant
funds into the coffers of each and every politician in the state.
"Because that's what democracy is all about," Prutspin
exclaimed, while
unfurling a large 'corporate' American flag, "…government
of, by, and for corporations!" The "Senior VP" was drowned out momentarily by additionally booing and tried to regain control by reprimanding the teens, "That's the problem with teens today, they don't know how to behave!" which merely elicited more jeering. Suddenly, the crowd began to part as teens bearing a large coffin labeled "4.9 million" came solemnly forward. They placed the coffin at the feet of the corporate spinmeister, who continued to rant and rave about the Licensed to Kill's right to profit off of killing people. But she was drowned out by the chanting of teens, "L2K! L2K! Go Go Go Away!" A TIME FOR SILENCE AND REMEMBRANCE The teens then held a moment of silence for the 4.9 million people that Licensed to Kill plans to kill (and that the tobacco industry kills each year worldwide).
A CALL TO REIGN IN A ROGUE INDUSTRY Anna
White, Coordinator of Essential Action's Global Partnerships
for Tobacco Control program, briefly described the program and
the importance of strengthening global solidarity against an industry
that is literally licensed to kill. Teens
then did a skit
entitled "Die Another Way" - a take-off of the James
Bond movie "Die Another Day." And Anne
Morrow Donley, President of Virginia
GASP, spoke about Altria/Philip Morris and tobacco control
in the context of Virginia. Two Reality Check teens from NY then recited a poem "Paper Blood" written by one of their fellow teen advocates: Hey Big Tobacco/What is wrong/Why are you bothering/Singing your song…Don't go to other countries/And get them hooked/Because if you continue/We'll throw you the book…Just so you know/We're closing in on you/So don't try anything/Because you still don't have a clue. Read the full poem Next
up was Ed
Sweda, Senior Attorney, Tobacco Products Liability Project,
who spoke about efforts to control the tobacco industry through
litigation. He noted that, "It is both ironic and appropriate
that today we assemble here in Richmond, across from the State
Capitol, to sound the alarm about a rogue industry that is literally
Licensed to Kill hundreds of thousands of Americans each year,
as well as millions of people across the globe," and then
shared a "vivid and eloquent description of the largest of
these corporations, Philip Morris…by a state judge in Illinois,
Nicholas G. Byron." Read
full statement The
Milwaukee, WI FACT group then put on a tobacco-free style
"Bad Boy 4 Life Remix" music video, complete with dancers
in the background. They
were followed by Stacey
Folsom,
a national organizer with Infact,
who praised teens for their activism. "You are looking at
the next generation of activists who will work to stop the abuses
of deadly corporations like US based Philip Morris/Altria,"
she said, "As Americans, we have a particular responsibility
to hold these corporations accountable - corporations based here
in the US are some of the deadliest. We are here today to demand
change!" Read
full statement After more chants and acts from teens, Robert Hinkley, a corporate lawyer and the incorporator of "Licensed to Kill, Inc" took to the bullhorn. "We are gathered here on the grounds of this historic state house," he said, "to expose the Commonwealth for the assistance and continuing cooperation it is providing to Licensed to Kill." While the company could have been incorporated in any state, Hinkley continued, "it is entirely appropriate that we are here today in Richmond. In addition to being the state where America's biggest tobacco manufacturer is incorporated, it is also the home of Thomas Jefferson, America's founding father who best understood the danger corporations pose to our democracy and the public interest. His fears have proven to be well founded." "…[S]omething
is wrong when the State Corporation Commission has no choice but
to issue a corporate charter to a company which boldly states
it plans to make money by killing people…It is time to change
the corporation. Today, the corporate law of Virginia and every
other state says that the purpose of the corporation is to make
money. We are saying that this purpose should be balanced by adding
nine simple words, "but not at the expense of the public
health". Any company, which cannot abide by these nine words
in their pursuit of profit should be denied the benefits of corporate
status conferred by state government. Their "License to Kill"
should be revoked." The teens then launched into their final skit. Today, tobacco companies may have a license to kill, but in the world WE want to live in things would be whole lot different… THE DOWNFALL OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY The final skit opened with a Licensed to Kill board meeting, where corporate executives and directors discuss "old and new business" and profits. "We're making billions of $$$, while killing millions," said one, "The future is bright indeed!" All of a sudden the board meeting is busted by undercover cops who arrest the executives and directors. The company has its license revoked. The skit ends with a rendition of the "Bad Boys" song from the TV show "COPS." The
rally concluded with the coffin - now
labeled "tobacco companies" -- being
carried away, through the crowd. There was no sorrow felt
or tears shed. MISCELLANEOUS PRESS
COVERAGE OF THE EVENT MATERIALS SELECTED PHOTOS… Licensed
to Kill pack in front of Virginia State Capitol Revoke
the License to Kill - human billboard in front of Capitol FACT:
You Will Not Addict Me!...People Over Profits!...Altria = Philip
Morris = Death 250
children alive today will die from tobacco (if we don't take
action!) THANKS!
Thanks
also to teens involved with REAL (Hawaii) for sending the coffin
all the way from Hawaii!!! |
Essential Action's Global Partnerships for Tobacco
Control program links tobacco control groups in the U.S. and Canada
with groups in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Central/Eastern Europe
to monitor and resist Big Tobacco's global expansion.
For more information, visit
our website