Even as early as 1939, ads bought silence, which is why people in decades past never learned the full extent of tobacco’s harms. Newsweek, Time, US News & World Report, and even Mother Jones suffered enormous ad losses by committing the unpardonable sin of publishing the truth. No magazine or newspaper made that costly mistake often.

Considering how tobacco ads typically buy silence (and even tobacco-positive articles like 1972’s “It IS Safe to Smoke”) I ask Mr. Welch if, in the 3 years since carrying these ads, any of Ogden’s magazines have published an item on, say, how ferociously addicting cigarettes are, or on how cigarettes are marketed to kids, or even on the fact that it is the _tobacco_ in cigarettes–NOT additives–that is the proven, primary addicting and health-destroying ingredient of ALL tobacco cigarettes–whether they are certified organic, blessed by the Pope or whatever tagline a tobacco company thinks will sell product.

Considering how many people, even teens, may be getting addicted or needlessly continuing their addiction thinking this product is endorsed by Ogden, or at least found acceptable to be advertised (despite Ogden’s feeble protests to the contrary), this would seem vital knowledge for Ogden’s readers, and a responsible journal should address it. So, Mr. Welch: how have RJR’s ads helped Ogden “distribute important information [about the health risks of ‘natural’ cigarettes] to millions of people each year at an astonishingly low cost to the consumer?”

PS: I’d gladly pay a higher cost just to have had a few more years learning from and enjoying my time with my dear uncle and father. And to have my kids not think tobacco was just fine by the despicable, money-driven standards of the Mother Earth News or Utne Reader.

PPS: Does Mr. Welch know that the tobacco industry’s campaign against the health effects of cigarettes was a trailblazer in corporate defense, and has now provided other industries with a blueprint on how to fight scientific reality? Does he or his readers have any idea how the tobacco industry’s disinformation and political campaigns have now led to other industries’ battle against the science of Climate Change–a PR campaign which not only uses the same tried-and-true techniques, but even uses the exact same pseudoscientific shills, like Fox News’ Steven Milloy? Does he or his readers know that Reynolds was a major part of all that? These are the lovely people, with such estimable contributions to society, that he does business with?

Finally - why do the other magazines also taken over by this Ogden Publishing also now carry cigarette ads - even Utne Reader?? Could it be that OGDEN PUBLISHING is owned by a TOBACCO COMPANY? Just a thought. Worth checking out, folks!

Finally - why do the other magazines also taken over by this Ogden Publishing also now carry cigarette ads - even Utne Reader?? Could it be that OGDEN PUBLISHING is owned by a TOBACCO COMPANY? Just a thought. Worth checking out, folks!

What adds to my annoyance is that I believe they are AWARE of how obvious it is. They’re too smart not to.

Profit motive is conveniently blinding, I suppose. Sad.

Screw the people who smoke; they can make their own decision to kill themselves. This is hypocrisy towards the very name of the magazine. How about all of the tobacco companies that are snatching up land in developing countries to take advantage of cheap labor and land?

And all of the pollutants? Cigarettes pollute their immediate environment; including second-hand smoke. Not to mention that the tobacco used in these cigarettes is probably not grown organically; hence, pesticides (pesticides that are more and more being linked to cancers and birth defects).

I found this statement on the Pesticide Action Network: “In the U.S., tobacco is grown on more than 650,000 acres in over 20 states, primarily in the southern region of the country. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that at least 25.6 million pounds of pesticides are used on this crop each year. The list includes pesticides that are extremely acutely toxic, pesticides that may cause cancer or birth defects, and others that are potent nerve toxins. In fact, over 450 different pesticide products are registered for use on tobacco by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.”

So how is a product that is so grossly pollutant of Mother Earth, being advertised in a magazine called “Mother Earth”?

That would be like advertising Cattlemen’s Ranch in “Vegetarian Times”.

Why not just be open and above-board about that and be done?!

Dr.Mani
(who has dealt with the ravages of smoking induced health disasters for most of his professional life!)