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Last Updated: Jan 31st, 2007 - 10:58:43 |
Tobacco whistle-blower clears air about smoking
Nov 17, 2006, 17:08
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Few would be better suited to tell children the dangers of smoking than Dr. Jeffrey Wigand. The former high-ranking tobacco executive earned fame when he took on the powerful industry and exposed the dangers of cigarettes. "They put people in harm's way, for what? For money," said Wigand, 64, who stood before 300 eighth-graders at Houston Middle School on Thursday. During his hourlong presentation Wigand showed clips from "The Insider," the movie that chronicles his choice to blow the whistle on his employer, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., the nation's second-largest tobacco company. Wigand may not sport the chiseled profile of actor Russell Crowe, who portrayed him in the film, but he captivated the students with his story. In particular, the teens were fascinated that ingredients ranging from butterfat to nail polish remover can be found in cigarettes, according to the scientific researcher. "Did you say cigarettes have antifreeze in them?" asked a stunned Emily Hogan from the student-filled bleachers. After confirming her disgust, Wigand spoke about the years he spent as vice president for research and development for the Kentucky-based cigarette maker. Hired from a healthcare company, Wigand was brought onboard to help develop a cigarette with a lower health risk. Wigand quickly discovered producing a safer cigarette was not really on the company's agenda. Instead, he witnessed the company knowingly supplementing tobacco with addictive chemicals and carcinogens. In 1995, Wigand decided to disclose what he knew. His testimony helped spur lawsuits across the country against "big tobacco." Wigand said doing the right thing isn't always easy. As he planned to go public, his family received death threats and the company threatened to sue him. A gasp went up from the audience when Wigand described finding a bullet in his mailbox. Through his nonprofit organization, Smoke-Free Kids Inc., Wigand visits schools throughout the year speaking about deceptive tobacco advertising and the health risks of smoking. "Tennessee has a higher rate than average of youth smoking," Wigand noted. The high-profile guest was invited to speak by school resource officer Gary Wheeler as part of the 30th annual Great American Smokeout, a day dedicated to quitting smoking. Pricier to book than the average school presenter, Wigand's visit was paid for by donations from the Germantown Police Department, Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital and other local health clinics. Wigand also visited Riverdale Elementary and St. George's Independent Schools. When student Taylor Ostheimer heard about the visitor coming to Houston Middle she started reading about tobacco companies on Wigand's Web site. Vowing she'd never smoke, she said she had asked her mom, a smoker, if she knew what she was inhaling. "I told her ... it's made of nail polish remover."
© Copyright 2006 by CigarettesOn.Com
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