"Did you know that every product pictured here is owned by Phillip Morris, the world's largest cigarette company? Chances are that you've been helping to promote Marlboro cigarettes without even knowing it. You can withdraw that support by personally boycotting these products. It's like giving money to a health organization that is working to find a cure for cancer - but in this case you are taking money from a corporation that causes it. So next time you go buy food- try it. You'll like it."

-- http://adbusters.org/spoofads/food/products/

I sent the above to a few of my friends...

and here is what one friend sent to me. A MEAN reply but sort of enlightened me up (sort of cos I'm still not sure I can give up my 5-min-copy-paste habit.) PLEASE READ.

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" completely incorrect - dont forward emails like this if you dont know the story. these were separate independent companies that were acquired by philip morris (now called altria). the people working at these companies - whose jobs you may threaten by encouraging a boycott - have no connection to the parent company, they were simply bought out by a conglomerate and did what they could after the buyout - continue to work and feed their families.

supporting cigarettes by buying macoroni and cheese? wake up. businesses always have, and probably will continue to report earnings separately by business segment or product. if johnson and johnson is selling less tooth brushes, does this affect their shampoo? no. they are separate business units - completely unrelated. these companies are legally and financially separate and their earnings are only pooled by whats called a holding company, or a company that has no interest beyong paper ownership (phillip morris). if youre unsure of this, try checking the securities and exchange commission.

this is part of psuedo-impowerment gained from the internet. youre no more aware than you were yesterday, youre no more global, moral, or consciencous of anything unless you do your homework and look beyond emails like the one below which are basically a 5 minute cut + paste fallacy designed to empower the creator, and then all of the sheep who read it and forward it along. be brave enough, and frankly, show that you aren't ignorant, in doing minimal background research, or at least using your brain and basic logic (i.e. Johnson and Johnson example).

does someone in my family work at one of these places? one of my friends? does someone i know hope to pay for one of their children's Univ. education through the use of stocks that may include kraft cheese? think before you do. realize that not everything that comes through this computer is worth reading. "

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I was WTF when I was reading it half way. Then I thought to myself and later told him that he rocked! He said he sent a MEANER letter to adbusters.org already. I was glad I did not get the meanest message.

What he said is COMPLETELY correct. You should not be ignorant and don't just believe whatever you see, even it's on one of the most popular/ respectable/ infamous/notable -whatever sources, before you really look into the details...this I mean on different sources, see if they match.

Anyway, I still wish I could smack his frigging head.

If everyone stopped smoking, as they should, Phillip Morris would have to sell it's holdings. Do I buy products from Phillip Morris holding companies? Yep. Will I continue to buy them? Yep. Do I smoke? At the moment, yes, but soon to be discontinued for sure. And if cigarettes are going to kill me, I buy locally-made Wonder brand at 25 baht/pack. At least I'll die saving money!

will come to read later... WinK

Need to snooze... am too tired...

MwaahhHH X

~*P' RiYa*~

didnt read the details but a) i dont buy any of those products, not because they are connected to Philip Morrris, but coz they suck. i dont even buy J&J brand QTips, coz other ones are cheaper.

the whole reason companies like PM and RJR are diversifying and merging is that they are selling less cigarrettes. mainly due to americans are smoking less. they are still insidiously pushing their cancer sticks elsewhere in the world. so if you wanna kill the motherfuckers, DONT SMOKE.

c) what your friend said is basically true, although health-wise i think macaroni and cheese out of a box isnt THAT much better for you than smoking. shopping is like voting, except you vote for the product rather than the corporation.

c) doesnt matter who owns the shampoo. you support the tobacco industry BY BUYING TOBACCO. FULL STOP.

oh but you can ***** slap that guy anyway.

I agree with nuclear pollution because my friend works in that.

I agree with torture cause my dad did it in Algeria.

I agree with rape cause my bro in in jail for that.

I agree with hiting kids cause my sis does it to hers.

And so on...

My point is: buying ANYTHING you will help some bastard make money. If not this one, it's another. At least, buy good quality.

BTW, I just stoped smoking TODAY!!! AAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!

LMAO@David!!! I can notice that as well...LOL!! But good for you Oniel!

I wish I could ***** SLAP him, smuggle me in your suitcase to Beijing will ya?

if you smoke macaroni and cheese you are not supporting the tobacco industry

smartass u sooooooooo clever friend is talking BOLLOCKS. by buying any philip morris product u r HELPING the tobacco industry. he is simply diversifying his interests to protect his investment.

same bullshit arguement was used to try and lift/prevent sanctions against the apartheid south african goverment. it didn't hold water then and it doesn't now.

ps. i don't use any of the above products, but this is not through any deeply held belief or conviction, they r simply **** !!!

Well said Ciaran and its all about money...