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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. 

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."

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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>