Email
Password
(Forgot Password?)
Some critics also worry that 4-H's reputation might suffer because of its involvement with Philip Morris.
"If you are a youth-development organization -- especially one with four H's in its name, one standing for health -- it's not appropriate to take money from a company that makes a product that is so seriously unhealthy and that presents a serious health risk for youth," says Gary L. Heusel, head of Nebraska's 4-H program. . . 4-H leaders in as many as half the states have declined to participate in the national council's anti-smoking program. . . But critics inside and outside the 4-H system still worry about the tobacco company's involvement. They note that Philip Morris officials participated in planning meetings; that the company will, by agreement with the council, have access to all research and other information from the program; and that the company's name may appear on the program's materials.
Jump to full article »
We realize we are going to have people skeptical of our efforts to reduce youth smoking. . . The only thing we can do is ask that our actions be judged in the long term.PM spokesman Brendan J. McCormick. Quoted in <i>4-H Defends Anti-Smoking Program Financed by Tobacco Company</i>
The 8-month 4-H, Yes! Philip Morris, No! campaign -- representing unprecedented cooperation between 4-H state programs and tobacco prevention advocates -- achieved both of its objectives: (1) depriving the nation's #1 tobacco company of the chance to define the direction of tobacco prevention for 4-H youth programs across the United States and (2) forging a new spirit of partnership and cooperation between tobacco prevention workers and 4-H/Cooperative Extension Service programs in dozens of states.
Despite a $4.3 million "gift" from Philip Morris USA to fund a National Youth Smoking Prevention Program in collaboration with the National 4-H Council, the majority of 4-H state programs decided AGAINST accepting any funds from Philip Morris USA for tobacco use prevention programs.
What is troubling so many in our organization is the underlying belief that there are simply no areas in which the tobacco industry and 4-H have a common ground. They are trying to sell cigarettes, and 4-H is committed to children's health. . . Phillip Morris may say publicly that they don't want kids to smoke, but their internal documents have proved otherwise. In addition, by entering into this partnership, a venture which Philip Morris obviously feels is in its best corporate interests, we view the National 4-H Council as also sending a clear signal of disregard for the health of adults, both in the United States and around the world. Among the obvious ironies of such an association is the fact that Phillip Morris has, within the past two years, spent more than $100 million to defeat legislation . . . In the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary how can anyone seriously believe Phillip Morris is in the business of unselling cigarettes to youth? . . The unanimous decision of the Advisory board is that we do not want this affiliation. . . Phillip Morris may improve its corporate image, but 4-H will certainly not. As one older 4-H youth said, "4-H does not belong in Marlboro country."
The unanimous decision of the Advisory board is that we do not want this affiliation. . . Phillip Morris may improve its corporate image, but 4-H will certainly not. As one older 4-H youth said, "4-H does not belong in Marlboro country." Ann Brosnahan, California 4-H Advisory Committee. Quoted in <i>Letter from the California 4-H Statewide Advisory Board on the National Council's decision to partner with Philip Morris to deliver tobacco prevention education programs.</i>
I cannot emphasize enough our commitment to reduce youth smoking. However, I think it is important for your to know that we are equally committed to protecting our right to responsibly market our products to adults who choose to smoke. At Philip Morris, these two beliefs go hand in hand. . . We recognize that smoking is associated with significant health risks. We agree with our society's determination that only informed adults have the judgment and maturity to make the choice to smoke. . . Through the years we have demonstrated our responsible marketing practices in a number of ways.
The National Youth Smoking Prevention Program is a multi-year effort to develop, implement and evaluate a nationwide approach to reduce youth smoking, targeted at 10-14 year olds. The program is being developed by National 4-H Council in a cooperation with a national design team. The program will focus on positive youth development and life skills development as an approach to preparing young people to make healthy lifestyle choices. Funding for this innovative, youth-adult approach is provided by Phillip Morris USA.
The National Youth Smoking Prevention Program design team members represent a wide variety of experience, assets, ages, ethnicities, careers, roles in previous anti-tobacco efforts, and geographical locations. The one thing the design team members have in common is the desire to reduce youth smoking.
National 4-H Council strives to get youth at the table for planning programs designed for youth. Input and experience from the 14 youth members on the design team will be critical to the program’s success.
OBJECTIVE:
The National Youth Smoking Prevention Program is a multi-year effort by National 4-H Council to develop, implement and evaluate a nationwide, collaborative approach to reduce youth smoking. The program is funded by Philip Morris USA. The program will focus on positive youth development and life skills development as an approach to preparing young people to make healthy lifestyle choices. The guiding voice of the proposed program will be a national level group of youth and adult partners representing 4-H/Cooperative Extension, other youth organizations, education, government, health, nonprofit and business experience and perspectives. The overall program will focus on community action.
A health prevention specialist attending thanked National 4-H Council for taking the money from Philip Morris and starting a prevention program. She thinks that this program is a great idea and that we should ask for more money. . . Sauer indicated that it appeared most of the flak we have been hearing and receiving is connected back to the work of The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (Bill Novelli is the Pres.).The CEOs acknowledged that Novelli, President of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, had written to each of them asking them to write to Sauer and encourage National 4-H Council not to accept the grant. None of them chose to write. Kim Brown, from the Center for Study of Youth Policy at University of Pennsylvania, said they have funding from Philip Morris and Novelli has tried to criticize them.
Other youth organization CEOs were outraged that the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids would write directly to the "local affiliates" (in this case, state 4-H offices). The CEOs applauded National 4-H Council and 4-H for having the courage to move ahead, amidst criticism, with this critically important youth development work. . .
National 4-H Council’s commitment to the National Youth Smoking Prevention Program is driven by the need to help youth make the decision not to smoke . . . Personally, I am disheartened to hear that youth are not first and foremost on the tobacco prevention community’s agenda. . . We continue to see old references, often from 20 or more years ago, about what Philip Morris or another tobacco company did or did not do. None of us today can do anything about the past. I believe that Philip Morris USA, which is under new corporate leadership, has recognized its responsibility to prevent underage smoking and has made a commitment to fulfill that responsibility by funding this program for two years.
We continue to see old references, often from 20 or more years ago, about what Philip Morris or another tobacco company did or did not do. None of us today can do anything about the past. I believe that Philip Morris USA, which is under new corporate leadership, has recognized its responsibility to prevent underage smoking and has made a commitment to fulfill that responsibility by funding this program for two years.Richard J. Sauer, President and CEO of National 4-H Council, in <i>Letter to Bill Novelli, 03-23-99</i>
National 4-H Council is a not-for-profit educational organization which uses private and public resources to fulfill its mission. Council focuses on diverse groups of youth in all geographic locales. National 4-H Council helps provide experiential coeducational programs and activities to young people nationwide in collaboration with the youth development education initiatives of the Cooperative Extension System of USDA, land grant universities and county government. [No tobacco mentioned; background info only]