Our Board supported this legislation, which would have helped to regulate tobacco as a drug and reduce youth smoking. We want to see the same outcome for Philip Morris's Marlboro Man. The tobacco industry has been forced to admit their products are dangerous. The State Attorneys General tobacco settlement allocated money to states to compensate for tobacco-related health care costs. The GBCS has been involved in this process and will continue to participate to ensure that effective, comprehensive international tobacco control measures are enacted.
Boycotts have a long history in the Methodist movement.
John Wesley urged his followers not to purchase goods made with slave labor. The United Methodist Church and its predecessors have participated in many boycotts, including boycotts related to farm workers , apartheid in South Africa, and infant formula manufacturers. The 10.5 million members of The United Methodist Church could make a significant difference if they boycotted Kraft. Changes in advertising are a key measure of whether a corporation's image is in trouble. To increase the pressure on Philip Morris, thereby increasing the boycott's effectiveness, a key target is Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, one of its most-advertised and valuable products.