The Wall Street Journal-20080204-Whether Here or There- Cigarettes Still Kill People

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Whether Here or There, Cigarettes Still Kill People

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Despite Philip Morris's corporate social-responsibility push in the U.S., the company hasn't changed its business practices ("Philip Morris Readies Global Tobacco Blitz," page one, Jan. 29). By spinning off Philip Morris International and pushing its new products into developing nations, the company will achieve one thing not stated in its business plans: an increase in the number of tobacco-related deaths world-wide.

Tobacco was the cause of approximately 100 million deaths in the last century and is projected to be responsible for one billion deaths world-wide this century. Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of death in the world. Its use is associated with 15 types of cancer, as well as heart and lung diseases, and there simply is no demonstrably safe way to smoke or chew tobacco.

It is disturbing that PMI plans to introduce new products, including one with higher nicotine levels, into developing countries. Nicotine is addictive, and higher nicotine content will make it even easier for youth to be addicted and harder for smokers who want to quit to do so. Addicted children and adults may help PMI's bottom line, but they will hurt the bottom line of countries around the world as smoking-related illnesses are costly and claim entirely too many lives.

The planned spinoff of PMI may be good news for shareholders, but it will allow the company to duck regulators and introduce ever-more addictive and harmful products, and that is very bad news for everyone else.

John R. Seffrin, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

American Cancer Society

Atlanta

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Everyone, world-wide, who has died from tobacco-related diseases leaves heartbroken loved ones behind. But that doesn't seem to matter to Philip Morris or Philip Morris International as long as they can make a profit for their shareholders and themselves.

Laurie J. Comstock

Elk Grove, Calif.

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After watching my dear father die of emphysema after four torturous months in a nursing home, I'm left with nothing but contempt for these "businesspeople" who blithely talk about making their products more appealing to the customer while ignoring the devastation they wreak upon the ignorant and vulnerable.

How Mr. Calantzopoulos or anyone in this industry can sleep at night with a clear conscience is a mystery to me.

John G. McCann

Grapevine, Texas