|
Don't Let Philip
Morris
Hide Behind a New Name
Take
Action!
March 2002
On April 25th, Philip Morris will hold its annual shareholders meeting
and officially change its name to "Altria." Many organizations
are planning counter-events on that day, to send the message that a new
name can't cover up the company's global shame. Here's how global partners
can get involved:
PHILIP MORRIS: DOES WORLD'S
TOP CORPORATE CRIMINAL HAVE A RIGHT TO EXIST?
If you're a drug dealer, you lie under oath, and you bury evidence, you
go to jail, right? Not if you're a corporation. Phillip Morris is one
of the biggest corporate criminals in history, and in Adbusters Media
Foundation's new television commercial, the organization questions its
very existence. The ad shows footage of tobacco company executives testifying,
under oath, to the U.S. Congress that tobacco is not addictive, ending
with the message: "How much harm does a company need to do...Before
we question its right to exist?" Check out a preview at http://adbusters.org/campaigns/corporate/
TAKE ACTION!
How you can participate:
- Secure airtime for the commercial on a TV station in your community/country
-- Adbusters will send you a broadcast-quality copy of the spot when
you do. [Adbusters has confirmed that it can send copies to groups outside
the U.S. and Canada]. Email Paul Dechene <[email protected]>
- Organize a protest, die-in, or letter-writing campaign on April 25
to coincide with Philip Morris's annual shareholders meeting. Let PM
know they can't hide their crimes so easily! Show Phillip Morris and
the rest of the world that a cigarette manufacturer by any other name
still smells like an ashtray.
- For some real fun, plan a roadtrip to Richmond, VA for Philip Morris's
annual shareholders meeting. If you can obtain a shareholder proxy,
you can go into the meeting itself. Otherwise, join the crowds outside
and help make this an international media event!
- Issue a press release leading up to April 25, detailing all the ways
that Philip Morris has NOT changed around the world. Include quotes
and examples from your global partner. Sample
press release
LET US KNOW IF YOU AND/OR
YOUR PARTNER PLAN TO TAKE ACTION!
Tell us if you plan to secure airtime for the Adbusters ad and/or organize
an event on April 25th. We will compile a list of your events, share them
with all GPTC participants, and incorporate them in the press release.
For more background information on Philip Morris' annual shareholders
meeting, why it was listed as one of the Top Ten Worst Corporations of
2001, and the growing movement to revoke the corporation's charter see
below.
2001 PHILIP MORRIS SHAREHOLDERS
MEETING
Last year Essential Action and GPTC participants Christine Kuck and Olivia
Osborne of Taking ACTION (ID-US) attended the Philip Morris's annual shareholder's
meeting where tennis star (and PM Director) Billie Jean King autographed
a cigarette coupon for us, Olivia confronted CEO Geoffrey Bible during
the Q & A, and PM employees said that it would be "illegal"
to evaluate their sham "youth smoking prevention" programs.
Read
the full report
PHILIP MORRIS
Multinational
Monitor names Philip Morris to list of Top Ten Worst Corporations of 2001
BACKGROUND ON THE GROWING
MOVEMENT TO REVOKE PHILIP MORRIS' CHARTER
Revoking Philip
Morris' Charter
" 'Corporate
death' penalties plus making shareholders criminally liable for corporate
misbehaviour"
by Kalle Lasn, Adbusters
|