WHEREAS, more children alive today will
die from tobacco use than from any single cause-including AIDS, alcohol,
car accidents, murder, suicides, illegal drugs, and fires combined; and
WHEREAS, every day, another 3,000 American children
start to smoke, nearly 1,000 of whom will die from lung cancer and other
diseases caused by smoking; and
WHEREAS, the Surgeon General has concluded that nicotine
is a powerfully addictive drug similar to cocaine and heroin; and
WHEREAS, over 430,000 Americans die each year from
tobacco-related illnesses and millions more continue to suffer from
lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease caused by smoking; and
WHEREAS, the tobacco industry’s financial support
of organizations, elected officials and community events is made possible
by addicting, deceiving, disabling and killing millions of Americans;
and
WHEREAS, Philip Morris documents reveal the true intent
of its corporate giving is “to advance the company’s communications,
public affairs, and government relations agendas” to prevent meaningful
regulation of the tobacco industry;
THEREFORE, this organization pledges to neither accept nor solicit any financial contributions, sponsorships, or gifts directly from any tobacco parent company, (ex. Altria, Phillip Morris, R. J. Reynolds, Sante Fe Natural Tobacco Co., Lorillard, Liggett and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco). In addition, we will not allow the sampling, distribution and promotion of tobacco products to occur at events we conduct. |