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TOBACCO NEWS December 31, 1995
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Contents:
- FEDERAL
- LOCAL
- NJ Cig Tax Hike?
- INTERNATIONAL
- EUROPE: EU Blasts Philip Morris over Ads
- CHINA: Zhuhai bans public smoking
- CHINA: Beijing Bans Public Smoking
- MALAYSIA: Smoking Bans Expanding
- BUSINESS
- Ex CT Gov Weicker on UST Board
- Mystery Death of Foreign Tobacco Worker
- PM Asks Oscar Mayer Employees to write FDA on Tobacco
- Kimberly-Clark Filter Div. Spins Off
- RJR CEO Steps Down Suddenly
- LAWSUITS
- SOCIETY
- 33% of 17-year-olds smoke: Survey
- Software Exec Quits to fight tobacco
- PM Warns Knight-Ridder on Cig Ad Ban
- Artists Continuing to Protest PM Sponsorship
- NEW WEB SITES
- Tobacco Industry information
- Memphis Restaurant Guide
- Marlboro Country
- Join Together Online
- "Tobacco Indian Poetry"
- CourtTV's Tobacco Case Trove
- Tobacco Situation and Outlook
- Tobacco Seed Varieties for sale
- THE FUNNY PAGES
FEDERAL
FDA Regulation Won't Affect US Trade Policies, Says Kantor
November, 29, 1995. Raleigh, NC. US Trade Representative--and chief advisor on international trade policy to President Clinton--Mickey Kantor said that even if the Food and Drug Administration declares nicotine addictive, it will not affect efforts to promote US tobacco abroad
Kantor made the statement at the North Carolina Governor's Summit on Agriculture, according to Martha Chalk of the News and Observer.
"Any action by the FDA would have no effect on our trade policy or what we're trying to do with your product," Kantor said in response to a question from a representative of the Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corp about how FDA regulation might affect the markets overseas.
Kantor said he couldn't predict how other countries might react if the US declared nicotine addictive, but that "You have every right, as a legal product and as a product of the United States, to be treated fairly in world markets."
Kantor, 55, became Clinton's presidential campaign manager in 1992. Until recently he was a partner in the politically-connected law firm Manatt, Phelps, Phillips and Kantor, which has lobbied for Philip Morris, and Kantor has helped organizations fighting California restaurant smoking bans.
The Office of the US Trade Representative has been criticized for breaking down a number of tobacco trade barriers. It has been accused of bullying Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan into accepting highly increased cigarette advertising to accommodate the wishes of American exporters.
Two years ago, in response to charges of a US double-standard on tobacco, Kantor formed a task force to examine tobacco export issues, and in October of 1993, announced his office would attend to foreign countries' health concerns, and would no longer challenge foreign countries health-related measures as violations of US trade laws.
-----------------------------------------------------------------LOCAL
NJ Cig Tax Hike?
New Jersey Governor Christine Whitman is reportedly considering a massive tax increase on tobacco and alcohol to pay for indigent health care.
-----------------------------------------------------------------INTERNATIONAL
EUROPE: EU Blasts Philip Morris over Ads
November 21, 1995. Brussels, Belgium. On the eve of a meeting of European Health Ministers who will "make every effort to take action" to restrict tobacco advertising, the European Commission today blasted Philip Morris for issuing a wave of ads attacking the EU's efforts to restrict smoking in public buildings as a violation of smokers' civil rights.
One EU spokesperson said the ads were "a mega-blast of what we consider to be misleading information," and Social Affairs Commissioner Padraig Flynn said, "The public should not be misled by this publicity . . . Smokers should give priority to the rights of non-smokers. . . In particular, they should bear in mind that the inconvenience to them of certain restraints on when and where to smoke are far less serious than the health consequences for non-smokers of inconsiderate smoking."
The 15 Health Ministers will meet Nov. 30.
CHINA: Zhuhai bans public smoking
Zhuhai, December 14, 1995. The Zhuhai Municipal Government has banned all tobacco advertising and smoking in public, according to the China News Agency. The restrictions begin on Jan. 1, 1996.
Smokers can be fined up to 50 yuan, and public building owners and managers may be held personally liable for not taking steps to prevent smoking in their buildings.
Zhuhai is located on the Pearl River about 60 miles from Hong Kong, and is part of the developed--and rapidly expanding--Zhuhai delta, which also includes Guangzhou and gambling mecca Macau. Zhuhai is noted for its high tech industries and attractive incentives to scientists.
CHINA: Beijing Bans Public Smoking
Beijing, China. December 21, 1995. Beijing today passed a law to ban smoking in public places. The ban was passed by the standing committee of the Beijing People's Congress passed the ban, and will take effect May 15, 1996. Other major Chinese cities like financial titan Shanghai, Wuhan, Shenyang and Chongqing already have similar laws in effect, and high-tech center Zhuhai city's ban will take effect in 1996..
Fines will be the equivalent of $1.20. The average weekly salary of a worker in Beijing is $48, according to AP.
China is the largest producer of cigarettes in the world, and has the world's largest number of smokers--350 million, or 35% of the entire population; nearly every adult male smokes. Smoking rates in China are rising 2% per year. Smoking rates are higher in urban areas--50% of Beijing residents smoke, and there is concern about how enforceable the ban will be.
In related news, last week China banned the use of "1997"--the momentous year Hong Kong returns to China after 150 years as a British colony--as a trademark for alcohol or cigarettes. One factory had begun production of a "1997" cigarette, which at about $2 per pack would have been one of the most expensive cigarettes in China. Several liquor producers had been due to bid on the trademark at an auction this week.
MALAYSIA: Smoking Bans Expanding
Dec. 27, 1995. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he favors extending Malaysia's public smoking restrictions in order to discourage smoking, AP reports.
"It is good if it can be banned altogether, but we don't know whether we can do it or not," Mohamad said.
Smoking is banned in hospitals, government offices, restaurants and movie houses, according to AP, and recently Islamic authorities in two states have forbidden Muslims to smoke.
.In other Malaysian news, Malaysian Airlines announced that starting Jan. 1, 1996, all the airline's flights would be nonsmoking, except those into and out of Japan.
RJ Reynolds, lagging behind giants BAT and Philip Morris in international expansion, has said it will spend $59 million to upgrade its Malaysian tobacco plant in Shah Alam.
-----------------------------------------------------------------BUSINESS
Ex CT Gov Weicker on UST Board
Greenwich, CT. November 21, 1995. Smokeless tobacco company UST announced it has elected Lowell P. Weicker to its Board of Directors. Weicker has been a three-term Republican Senator from Connecticut, and was Connecticut's independent Governor from 1991-1994.
Weicker served on the Senate Watergate Committed, and has won the Wayne Morse Political Integrity Award, the Albert Lasker Public Service Award, and the Profiles in Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.
The number of directors was raised from 9 to 10. The appointment is effective immediately.
Political insiders say Weicker's acceptance of the $60,000/year post is a sign he will no longer seek public office.
Mystery Death of Foreign Tobacco Worker
November 22, 1995.Clinton, NC. Advocates for Latino tobacco workers are demanding an investigation into the death of a Nahuac Indian from Mexico who disappeared after taking sick while harvesting tobacco near a pesticide sprayer, and whose body was found in a field three months later, according to the Nov. 22 Raleigh News and Observer.
Last July, Raymundo Hernandez, a newly arrived worker participating in the government's H2A program which allows foreigners to work US farms, became dizzy and disoriented in the field, and was vomiting. He was last seen with a farm owner who was taking him to get help. The farm owner claims Hernandez disappeared while he had stopped to talk with another employee.
Several dozen Latino workers showed up recently for a candlelight vigil for Hernandez which also tried to raise funds for his family in Mexico. A lay missionary told the News and Observer that workers often complain of headaches and nausea after working sprayed fields.
Tobacco is increasingly being harvested by migrant Latinos, and a small community of hundreds live and work around rural Clinton.
PM Asks Oscar Mayer Employees to write FDA on Tobacco
December 1, 1995. Philip Morris president Geoffrey Bible has sent letters to Oscar Mayer employees asking them to write to the FDA to oppose regulation of tobacco, according to an article in the Capital Times.
The article claims PM has written at least two previous letters asking Oscar Mayer employees to oppose cigarette excise taxes.
Oscar Mayer makes meat products and has no interest in tobacco, but it is one of several food products companies, including Kraft, General Foods and Miller Brewing, owned by Philip Morris Cos.
Kimberly-Clark Filter Div. Spins Off
December 1, 1995. Schweitzer-Mauduit, the supplier of paper products to the tobacco industry (as well as specialty papers for tea bags, coffee filters, vacuum cleaners, etc.) has completed its spin-off from Kimberly-Clark.
RJR CEO Steps Down Suddenly
New York, NY. December 1, 1995. RJR Nabisco CEO Charles Harper stepped down suddently, reportedly because of severe family medical problems. Harper will remain as chairman, concentrating on strategic issues, while the day-to-day duties as CEO are being taken over by Steven F. Goldstone, 49, a lawyer who, though he has been with RJR for only 10 months as President, has been a frequent consultant since 1978.
In fact, seven years ago, Goldstone advised then-CEO Ross Johnson against a management buy-out of RJR. Johnson disregarded the advice, and the resulting debacle led to the largest LBO of all time, and was eventually chronicled in the best-selling "Barbarians at the Gate." The book opens with Johnson conspicuously enjoying the good life, and contemplating a management buyout; at his side, Goldstone counsels him that he could lose it all. After an-all-out financial war, financier Henry Kravitz's KKR finally bought the company in 1988 for $24.9 billion, ousting Johnson.
Goldstone will also join James Johnston and John Greeniaus in the 3-man office of the chief executive. His mission is to raise the stock price--to which his compensation is tied.
He has some considerable obstacles: the industry is facing increased public criticism due to leaked memos , possible FDA regulation, and a rash of lawsuits, including the state "medicaid" actions. RJR itself is facing pressure from a shareholder group led by financiers LeBow and Icahn, stagnant sales both domestically and abroad, and a more powerful Brown & Williamson, whose parent company, BAT, has trounced RJR internationally.
Goldstone has indicated he will continue to fight the LeBow/Icahn plan to immediately split the companyu's food & tobacco divisions.
Goldstone, appreciated for his sharp strategic thinking, is apparently a conciliator with an easy-going style, unlike the desk-pounding, 6-foot-6-inch Harper. The Wall St. Journal reports both Harper and Goldstone are ex-smokers, Mr. Goldstone having quit several years ago. "My doctor really yelled at me to stop, and I just did," he told the Journal.
-----------------------------------------------------------------LAWSUITS
Lorillard Wins a Micronite Case
December 2, 1995. Lorillard and its filter supplier Hollingworth & Vos have won another "Micronite" filter lawsuit, the fifth win out of six lawsuits settled so far. The asbestos-tainted filters were used in Kent cigarettes between 1952-1956.
The strikingly unusual, month-long lawsuit involved the still-preserved lung tissue of Norman Braun, who died of mesothelioma last Feb. at 63.
Though mesothelioma is an asbestos-related lung disease, and though smoking Kents was the only known significant exposure Braun had, none of the asbestos fibers found in his lung were of the type (crocidolite) used in the Kent filter, according to most experts who examined the tissue. One expert, however, did find 2 such fibers, but the judge ruled the expert's methods were unreliable.
The jury found Lorillard had not been negligent in its ignorance of the hazards of asbestos in 1952.
There are 10 other "Micronite" lawsuits pending, according to The New York Times.
-----------------------------------------------------------------60 MINUTES CASE UPDATES
B&W Sues Wigand
November 21, 1995: Jeffrey Wigand has been sued by Brown & Williamson for "theft, fraud, and breach of contract." The company called him "a master of deceit." A Louisville circuit judge has imposed a restraining order forbiding Wigant from providing testimony in any other court case. WIgand's lawyer said CBS will adhere to its prior agreement, and provide Mr. Wigand's legal fees. Mr. Wigand is countersuing B&W, accusing B&W of "extorting" his signature on an especially strict confidentiality agreement.
November 22, 1995: Mississippi's attorney general today accused B&W of obstructing justice.
Ex-B&W exec Jeffrey Wigand had been scheduled to give a deposition and turn over documents in the Mississippi Medicaid case in Pascagoula on Nov. 30, but the Louisville judge's restraining order forbids that.
"I believe Brown & Williamson is attempting to obstruct justice ... all they are trying to do is keep us from getting the truth out here in Mississippi," Moore said, "They are attempting to interfere with an official investigation of the attorney general of Mississippi, which has both criminal allegations and civil allegations, and we will not allow that," Mike Moore told Reuters.
Moore said he might intervene in the Louisville case, or send a letter to the judge that Wigand had been under a prior subpoena.
Meanwhile, in Louisville, Reuters reports that B&W is expected to ask for an "emergency deposition" from Wigand before he leaves for Mississippi.
Wigand Caught Between Two Rulings
Kentucky court could cite him for contempt if he deposes in Mississippi for state and federal prosecutors tomorrow morning.
November 28, 1995
On Monday a Kentucky court issued a restraining order against Jeffrey Wigand forbidding the ex-Brown & Williamson exec from testifying in any court case without notifying B&W and "cooperating" with the tobacco company.
But on Tuesday a Mississippi court ruled the Kentucky restraining order is not valid in Mississippi and ordered Wigand to give a deposition on Wednesday morning. Federal prosecutors also scheduled a deposition with Wigand in connection with a Federal investigation into tobacco company fraud and perjury charges.
Brown & Williamson issued a statement claiming they should Wigand testify without first notifying and "cooperat[ing] with B&W "to assure protection of the company's confidential information and trade secrets," the company would have no choice but to request Wigand be cited for contempt of court.
A B&W attorney, Gary Morrisroe, is quoted by B&W in a press release: "Since Wigand has not cooperated with B&W as required by his agreements and the restraining order, we have no choice but to seek to hold him in contempt."
Morrisroe, the press release states, was "astounded by Wigand's contemptuous disregard for the court's order, but, after all, such conduct is consistent with his prior acts of deceit. . . . This is the first time I have ever heard of a lawyer advising one of his clients to deliberately put himself at risk of being in contempt of court to directly benefit another of his clients."
Morrisroe was referring to Wigand's attorney's other major case--the Mississippi "Medicaid" suit.
Meanwhile, in other lawsuit news, Brown & Williamson, Philip Morris and other tobacco companies said they had filed motions in Massachusetts and in Texas to halt those states' plans to file similar lawsuits to Mississippi's.
The Particulars:
- The Mississippi judge: Jackson County Chancery Judge William Myers, Pascagoula, MS
- The Kentucky judge: Jefferson (County) Circuit Court judge William Knopf, Louisville, KY
- Attorney for Wigand: Jeffrey Scruggs
- Mississippi Attorney General: Mike Moore
Wigand Speaks
Gives deposition to federal, state prosecutors
Pascagoula, MS. November 29, 1995. Jeffrey Wigand spoke with the Justice Department here this morning, apparently violating a Kentucky court's restraining order.
He was scheduled to speak in the afternoon with Mississippi state prosecutors who are working on the state's "Medicaid" lawsuit, which claims that the tobacco industry knew about the health effects of smoking long ago, and hid their knowledge.
While federal authorities refused to comment, it is known there are two federal investigations in process, one examining allegations of perjury stemming from tobacco executives' testimony before Congress in April of 1994, and one an anti-trust action looking into a possible industry-wide conspiracy not to develop of a fire-safe cigarette.
Moore told the AP: "Jeffrey Wigand's testimony will be very devastating to the tobacco industry. . . This is a man who has been on the inside for four years, a man who knows where all the bodies are buried and we just want to see if we can find some of those bodies."
Wigand Testimony Aftermath
Testimony is sealed
"He is an incredible source of information, [who has] barely scratched the surface"
--Ronald Motley, questioning attorney for Mississippi.Among the developments in the case:
- Wigand has been subpoenaed again by the Justice Department, according to his attorney, Richard Scruggs. This subpoena is believed to be in regards to allegations tobacco executives lied to Congress in April of 1994.
- B&W filed a request that Wigand be held in contempt. Wigand has been ordered to appear in the Kentucky court on Jan. 26 for a hearing.
- Details of Mississippi's subpoena of Wigand for Wednesday's testimony have emerged. The subpoena addresses 11 topics, and in fact names two B&W researchers in regards to "marketing research on under aged teenagers and children": Corky Newton and Henry Huber, who observers say conducted market research on many age groups.
- One of those waiting outside the courthouse was Lowell Bergman, "60 Minutes" producer who said he hoped new CBS owner Westinghouse would be more agreeable to a segment featuring Mr. Wigand.
- Wigand appeared for his deposition wearing a tie that read, "Save the Children."
60 Minutes Updates
The motion points out that the seal covers areas not traditionally thought of as "trade secrets," such as falsifying business records, false court testimony, falsifying health research and illegal tobacco seed smuggling.
The news organizations which filed the motion in the Mississippi court on Monday are: the New York Times, Gannett Co., National Broadcasting Co., Cable News Network, American Broadcasting Cos. and CBS Inc.
B&W Requests Merrell Case Go Forward
New Orleans, LA. December 4, 1995. B&W today asked the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to overturn a Mississippi federal judges's decision to shelve the case, and allow its lawsuit against Merrell Williams to proceed. A PR release by the company says the case involves "bed-rock ethical and legal issues," such as whether an individual should be rewarded for stealing, whether an attorney should encourage his client to steal confidential papers, and whether an attorney should utilize documents stolen from other lawyers for his case.
B&W is also suing Mississippi attorney Richard Scruggs, the attorney for Merrell Williams--as well as for Jeffrey Wigand and the state of Mississippi (in the Medicaid suit). B&W charges Scruggs bought Williams a house, 2 cars and a sailboat after receiving stolen documents.
RELATED LAWSUIT NEWS:
- Wigand's testimony may also be used for another Mississippi case, the Burl Butler ETS case. Butler, a lifelong nonsmoker, died of lung cancer, claimed by plaintiffs to have been caused by exposure to secondhand smoke in his barber shop.
- In the Massachusetts fire-safe cigarette case, Wigand has been barred from reading Philip Morris documents on fire-safe cigarettes.
- In related Kentucky whistleblower news, former paralegal Merrell Williams may now speak to his lawyers about the documents at the center of B&W's lawsuit against him. (The inability to talk about the documents was also mentioned on the "60 Minutes" program last November 12.) However, according to Judge Wine's ruling, if the information is ruled to fall under the attorney-client privilege, Williams' lawyers could be barred from representing him.
SOCIETY
33% of 17-year-olds smoke: Survey
December 15, 1995. The 21st annual University of Michigan survey of licit and illicit drug use has found not only that illegal drug use has been rising among teens, but that smoking cigarettes has sharply increased in just one year. The survey found that 64% of high school seniors say they had smoked in the last 30 days, up from 1994's 62%, and that 33% of 17-year-olds say they smoke cigarettes, up from 1994's 31%.
The precent of black teens in the 10th grade who reported smoking in the last 30 days has almost doubled since 1992--from 6.6% to 11.5%
PAST MONTH SMOKING RATES Year 8th Grade 10th G 12th G 1991 14.4 20.8 28.3 1995 19.1 27.9 33.5 PERCENT WHO SAY IT'S FAIRLY EASY TO GET CIGARETTES Grade Percent 8th 76% 10th 90%
Government drug prevention information may be found by calling 800-729-6666.
Lloyd Johnson, one of the authors, said, "These increases in smoking among our children are very broad, occurring among virtually all social classes, all regions of the country, communities of all sizes, those who do and do not plan to attend college, boys as well as girls, and so on. This suggests that there are culture-wide forces leading to these substantial increases."
In related news, the American Psychological Association last month released its study of tobacco marketing over the past century, and found that everytime the tobacco industry targeted a group with its advertising, smoking rates in that group rose.
"Notable among the marketing plans are those aimed at women and teenagers, especially those strategies touting possible health benefits to the former group, including smoking as an aid in weight loss or maintenance," said the study.
An APA spokesperson said, "It was amazing. A real case can be made that the tobacco industry purposefully and successfully targeted specific segments of the population at different times to stimulate young people to smoke."
"With such evidence, we must urge policymakers to extend the broadcast advertising ban to all tobacco marketing practices, including print and billboard advertising, sponsorships and even sale of promotional merchandise," he said.
The study, "A Historical Analysis of Tobacco Marketing and the Uptake of Smoking by Youth in the United States: 1890-1977," was published in the November issue of the APA's "Health Psychology."
Software Exec Quits to fight tobacco
December 1, 1995. Dow Jones reports that Michael Tacelosky, former president of Globalink, Inc., has quit his position as director and advisor to the president in order to devote himself full time to tobacco control issues.
Tacelosky has been an important developer of language translation programs. Globalink's latest translation capabilities will be based on their new "Barcelona" technology, which features grammar and style guides written by non-programmers.
A free demo of "Barcelona" may be downloaded from the Fairfax, VA company's WWW site.
http://www.globalink.com
or
http://199.170.0.118/PR11695.html
PM Warns Knight-Ridder on Cig Ad Ban
--Kraft, Miller ads at risk, reports Advertising Age.November, 20, 1995. Philip Morris has issued a thinly veiled warning to publishers considering a cigarette ad ban: refuse to run our cigarette ads, and you might just lose our other ads
Philip Morris also owns Kraft Foods, General Foods and Miller Brewing. AA quotes Karen Daragan, manager of media affairs for PM: "We will not under any circumstances allow publishers to dictate the contents of our ads. Based on a case by case study, we and our other operating companies will make a judgment [on whether to buy ads in] individual newspapers and magazines."
"[O]ur product and advertising is legal and accurate and is not designed to appeal to minors. Once publishers succumb to pressure, where does it end?" she asked.
As AA points out, the Knight-Ridder guidelines seem to be aimed more at PM's rivals that at the company's oft-criticized Marlboro or Virginia Slims ads. The guidelines specifically suggest banning ads with cartoon characters (RJR's Camel), or phraseology like "cool" (Brown & Williamson's Kool) and "alive with pleasure" (Lorillard's Salem).
In contrast, perhaps in reflection of recent shareholder pressure to split its food and tobacco arms, RJR/Nabisco Holdings evaluates its food and tobacco ad accounts separately, according to a spokesperson.
Consumer advocate group INFACT has been running a 2-year boycott of the food products of tobacco companies Philip Morris and RJR/Nabisco.
Some Philip Morris non-tobacco products include:
BEER
Red Dog
Miller High Life
Molson Ale
Lowenbrau
BAKERY
Entenmann's
Freihofer's
POST CEREALS, such as:
Shredded Wheat
Raisin Bran
Grape Nuts Flakes
COFFEE
Maxwell House
Sanka
Yuban
KRAFT CHEESE PRODUCTS
Polly-O mozzarella and ricotta
Cracker Barrel
Velveeta
Philadelphia cream cheese
Cheez Whiz
DAIRY & SPREADS
Sealtest Ice Cream
Light n' Lively
Breakstone Butter
Parkay Margarine
Chiffon
Kraft mayonnaise
Miracle Whip
Cool Whip
FROZEN
Tombstone pizza
Budget Gourmet
SALAD DRESSINGS
Good Seasons
Seven Seas
SOFT DRINKS
Jell-O
Kool-Aid
Tang
OTHER
Oscar Mayer Meats
Log Cabin Syrup
Shake-N-Bake
Stove Top Stuffings
Minute Rice
Earlier this month, Kraft Foods bought the shelf stable pudding business of Del Monte Corp.
Some RJR/Nabisco non-tobacco products include:
COOKIES & CRACKERS
Oreo Cookies
SnackWells
Chips Ahoy!
Stella D'oro
Newtons
Nilla Wafers
Teddy Grahams
Premium Saltines
Ritz Crackers
Triscuit
Wheat Thins
Barnum's Animals
Better Cheddars
Waverly
CANDY, GUM, NUTS
Life Savers
Planters peanuts
Beech-Nut gum
Breath Savers
Bubble Yum
Care*Free gum
MISC
A.1. steak sauce
Cream of Wheat
Grey Poupon mustard
Blue Bonnet margarine
Fleischmann's margarine
My-T-Fine pudding
Ortega
Vermont Maid syrup
Milk-Bone dog biscuits
Lorillard is a unit of Loews Corp., which has holdings in oil drilling equipment, insurance: (CNA Financial, Continental Corporation) and the Loews Hotels chain.
Brown & Williamson's parent company B.A.T Industries PLC has holdings in retailing, paper, financial services and insurance (Farmers Group, Inc.)
Artists Continuing to Protest PM Sponsorship
Los Angeles, CA. November 24, 1995. The show has moved to Los Angeles, but another artist represented in "1965-1975: Reconsidering the Object of Art," is protesting the sponsorship of Philip Morris.
Adrian Piper wanted her 10 pieces replaced with pictures of her parents, both of whom died of smoking-related diseases.
The LA Museum of Contemporary Art refused her request, according to Carol Vogel in today's New York Times.
Ms. Piper said, "I took this action as soon as I found out about Philip Morris's sponsorship. I wanted very, very much to be in this brilliantly conceived, beautifully executed and historically very important exhibition. But there is nothing in this world I want so much that in order to get it I will knowingly help Philip Morris kill people."
Last month in New York, 11 of the 55 artists represented hung statements next to their pieces protesting the show's Philip Morris sponsorship.
New Web Sites
Tobacco Industry information
Those "secret" documents you won't find anywhere else, plus editorial cartoons, the Tobacco Victims Association and more. Word to the wise: keep a close eye on this one.Memphis Restaurant Guide
Indoor air ratings.Marlboro Country
Join Together Online
Join Together Online is a resource center and meeting place for communities working to reduce the harms associated with the use of illicit drugs, excessive alcohol and tobacco. Join Together Online is a project of Join Together and is funded by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to the Boston University School of Public Health."Tobacco Indian Poetry"
CourtTV's Tobacco Case Trove
Full Text::
- Tobacco Companies v. FDA
Confidential Info on Tobacco
N.Y. Smoking Complaint
RJR Nabisco Complaint
Florida v. U.S. Tobacco Companies
Broin v. Philip Morris Companies
Tobacco Company Sues Informer
Tobacco Companies Sue Texas
Media Attempts to Unseal Informer's Deposition
Tobacco Situation and Outlook
Economic (Agricultural/Business/Export) reports from USDATobacco Seed Varieties for sale
Southern Business Express Seed Division sells tobaccos. "While everyone is familiar with the smoking and chewing products derived from this plant, few people realize its many other uses. It has medicinal values, makes an extremely valuable ornamental plant and flower garden specimen and is used to make one of nature's finest biodegradeable, all natural pesticides."For planting and growing instructions, you can order the "Home Tobacco Kit."
THE FUNNY PAGES
Jay leno, 12/29/95
The Clinton Administration wants to ban cigarette machines; they say the machines make it too easy for kids to get cigarettes. Well, I think that's probably true, although it's the tobacco industry--you see they came out with their compromise plan today--they want to move the knobs on the machines up high, so only the 7th and 8th graders can reach them.
From News Of The Weird By Chuck Shepherd
Laina Baumann, 17, was crowned the 60th queen of the Charles County Fair in LaPlata, Md., in September. Because the county has historically been a leading tobacco producer, the pageant winner has long been referred to as Queen Nicotina.
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