Sprecher(in) und Anschrift
Johannes Spatz,
( (030)
7475-5922, Fax: -5925
c/o BA Friedr.-Kreuzberg, Plan- u. Leitstelle Gesundheit
Möllenhoffstr. 17
10967 Berlin
Giselly Leinenbach, (
(030) 897 49007
Dr. Jörn Reimann, (
(030) 256 33829
Wolfgang Nitze,
(
(030) 747 55974
Press release
Berlin, 26.07.06
Forum Rauchfrei is calling for a boycott of the Philip Morris Research Prize. The 100,000 Euro prize is meant to hide the responsibility of the tobacco company for sickness and death. In Germany alone, more than 140,000 people die from the effects of smoking.
Johannes Spatz, spokesperson for Forum Rauchfrei, has absolutely no understanding for the recipients of the prize: Prof. Hannah Monyer, neurobiologist; Prof. Thomas Carrell, chemist; Prof. Joachim Ullrich, physicist, Dr. Robert Moshammer, physicist; Prof. Bernhard Rieger, chemist. Recalling the proverb, "Money doesn't smell," they intend to accept the prize at 6 o'clock this evening in the Heraldry Hall of the old Munich-Riem airport. Spatz thinks that the behaviour of these scientists is shameless and devoid of any sense of ethical or social responsibility.
Philip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the world, controls 35% of the cigarette market in Germany. For years the company has endeavoured to improve its societal image with the Research Prize, and it always finds scientists to help it achieve this. A good omen is that no representatives of the state ministries will be present today. Spatz is certain that they were kept away by the public debate about the close relationships linking the tobacco industry with politicians and scientists. In recent years the science minister Thomas Goppel and state minister Erwin Huber have been guests at the event.
This evening, representatives of the German Medical Action Group on Smoking or Health (ÄARG), the Non-smokers Initiative of Germany (NID) and the Smokefree Study Network will demonstrate at Munich-Riem against the awarding of the Research Prize.
The Forum spokesperson is also calling for the boycott of other sponsoring activities by Philip Morris. He asks that people sign the Forum Rauchfrei "Against Tobacco Industry Sponsoring" code (http://www.forum-rauchfrei.de/). Numerous organisations and individuals have already supported the code; these include State Health Senator Dr. Heidi Knake-Werner for Gesundheit Berlin e.V., Prof. R. Loddenkämper for the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, as well as the poster artist Klaus Staeck. The concern of the Forum was recently confirmed by a resolution of the World Conference on Smoking or Health held in Washington from 12 to 15 July 2006. In its final resolution, the congress of more than 4,000 delegates from more than 130 countries called upon state and civilian institutions not to accept donations from the tobacco industry.
For further information: Johannes Spatz Tel.: 030 / 74755922, 017624419964