Since 1992, the marketing of tobacco in developing countries has intensified. The resistance of the tobacco industry to health regulations has hardened. The evidence of the human suffering due to tobacco use has continued to mount, and the denials and equivocation of tobacco industry leaders on this urgent health issue have astounded and alarmed the public. Tobacco companies have become owners and marketers of many leading food brands.
The industry leaders are Philip Morris, which sells Marlboro, Chesterfield, Maretti, Lark, Ambassador, L&M, Parliament, Alpine, Cambridge, Merit, Bristol, Bucks, Benson & Hedges, and Virginia Slims cigarettes while marketing many common food products, including Kraft, General Foods, Oscar Mayer, Miller Brewing, Post Cereals, Entenmann's, Jell-O, Log Cabin, Maxwell House, Kool-Aid, Uncle Ben's, Country Time, Miracle Whip, Parkay, Cracker Barrel, Tang, and Velveeta; and RJR Nabisco, which entices untold numbers of young people into tobacco use through Joe Camel cartoon advertising.
Public concern about the marketing strategies of the tobacco industry, especially as they affect children and youth and persons in developing countries, has generated a growing grassroots movement of education and action coordinated by INFACT.
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5. We commend the General Board of Pensions for its longtime exclusion of tobacco manufacturers from its portfolio of securities and ask it to intensify dialogue with public media in which it is part owner and which carries advertising or promotion of tobacco products.
6. We ask all United Methodist agencies and related institutions to establish purchasing policies that take into account the Church's Social Principles and resolutions on tobacco concerns, and specifically to consider the role of Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco in tobacco marketing as a factor in any decision as to whether to buy a food product manufactured by Philip Morris or RJR Nabisco.
7. We instruct the United Methodist Association of Health and Welfare Ministries and the Board of Higher Education and Ministry to communicate, interpret, and advocate for this concern with their affiliated institutions.
8. We ask all local churches, annual conferences, and church members also to take into account the Church's position on tobacco use and marketing when making decisions about purchasing food products from Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco.
9. We direct the General Board of Church and Society to communicate this resolution to the tobacco companies, serve as continuing advocate of the United Methodist position with The United Methodist Church and with the companies, and monitor the implementation of this resolution for report at the next General Conference.
10. We request that the General Board of Church and Society explore the institution of a formal United Methodist boycott of all Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco products, following the "Guidelines for Initiating or Joining an Economic Boycott" adopted in 1988 (1992 Book of Resolutions, pages 423-426), and make a specific recommendation regarding such a boycott at the next General Conference.
General Conference Webmaster: Susan Brumbaugh
PETS Creator: John Brawn
Petition Text: 22337-CS-R235-U
1996 United Methodist General Conference