(Please Note: The date of this correspondence is 6/7/02)

Dear Steve,
The "RX" stands for Robert Xavier, just so you can know.  :o)

As for how you found our web site, at least now I know how you "found" us, yet we have never placed our organization via any open letter into any search engine requesting information on cigarette butt litter, so it appears someone out there has attempted to link our good name, reputation and credibility to an issue we were not inquiring about.

So, in that respect, it indeed appears that you were directed to the wrong web site for the information you were seeking.

In terms of not being able to "not find out much detail from your website except how to contact you," aside from being a silly statement to have made, I guess we both would have to agree that that depends upon the nature of the information you are seeking.

Our web site is quite clear to schools, teachers, students and the general public, not to mention national organization leaders, legislators and the media in finding information on any number of topics relating to tobacco industry fraud & false claims issues.

Utilizing the Table of Contents located at the very top of each and every page, not to mention the internal search engine utility within our site, you can, by simple keyword, be directed to hundreds of specific tobacco issue locations within our web site.

Once again, I and my staff here wish you continued success in your work.

It is both regrettable and unfortunate that the common ground issues we share shall go by the wayside, as terms such as "fraud", etc., are terms of fact in dealing with tobacco companies and to avoid confronting the issues of criminal activity on the part of tobacco companies only empowers them to continue such crimes now and in the future would be more to their liking rather than they realizing and experiencing responsible people taking responsible and legitimate steps to address these activities by them by also working with them to correct these crimes, so that they no longer occur.

These crimes, including the "litter"/waste disposal problems our organization also addresses, are not going to go away by themselves, and we clearly will not compromise principle and corporate responsibilty for the sake of having a "friendly" relationship with them.

It only would serve their interests in being more successful in duping the public and organizations preferring their "friendship" rather than taking them to task for this irresponsible, unprofessional and, in fact, criminal behavior.

It is this kind of dialogue, opposing viewpoints yet presented in a "friendly" manner, that would benefit both of our organizations and the general public at large, but it clearly isn't going to happen, at least not yet, as far as your organization is concerned, and we can accept that, regrettably.

I hope that you do at least keep our web site in mind (http://www.rxshuster.org), review it from time to time...no one said it was an easy read, but nothing worthwhile ever is... and should you ever see a "fit" between us, as I did almost immediately, get back in touch with me for I still see common ground between us worth sharing with our memberships and the citizens of our two countries.

Continued Best of Luck!
R(Robb) X(Xavier) Shuster
Executive Director
The Shuster Project
http://www.rxshuster.org
6/7/02

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