(Please Note: The
date of this correspondence is 6/6/02)
Hi RX (name?)
Thanks for your
email.
I found your
website as it appeared as an open letter on a search engine asking for information on
cigarette butt litter. I initially was hoping to gain some statistics on litter the US and
Canada or links that people may have forwarded you.
I'll stress
again that we have a mission and a goal to reduce cigarette butt litter hitting the ground
by gaining the support of smokers in a positive way.
We are not
about to tell people whether they should smoke or not or tell tobacco companies they
should not produce cigarettes. As a strong non smoker I would prefer the world was smoke
free. Both you and I know that's not going to happen as too many people have a vested
interest in tobacco companies surviving.
The
negative impact of the tone and comments such as "fraud etc" was my main
concern. We have worked hard at establishing a positive rapport and support from smokers
and in fact tobacco companies in addressing this issue. We have built bridges between
organisations who hate tobacco companies and the tobacco companies themselves by showing
it is better to work together than against each other.
We feel
that to deviate from the single-minded positive message that has been the foundation
of our campaign would be detrimental to our expansion.
I hope that
this has cleared up how I found you and why I approached you. I could not find out much
detail from your website except how to contact you. Maybe I was not directed to the right
site.
Steve
This web site is equipped with the
"Get 1 on 1" guest response system.
If I am in my office, you can contact me in "real time."
If I am out of my office you will be prompted to send me an e-mail.
I will get back to you as quickly as I can.
