CSR - Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance

25/02/53
Dr Mary Assunta
Regional Workshop on
Industry Surveillance & Monitoring
Bangkok
Nov 2009
CSR – Last Frontier, Post FCTC Bans on
Advertising, Promotions & Sponsorship
 By far the most challenging issue
 Tobacco company names are used, instead of
cigarette brand names
 Carried out through foundations
Industry efforts to rebirth or reposition its image
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WHO Report on CSR
Tobacco industry and
corporate responsibility...
an inherent contradiction
2004
http://www.who.int/tobacco/communications
/CSR_report.pdf
Fundamentally...
An industry that kills half its customers
prematurely cannot be considered
„socially responsible‟
“Corporate Social Responsibility”
and
“Tobacco industry”
is an “OXYMORON”
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Issues Targeted for CSR
Issues that buy public support and gain political
mileage
 Youth Smoking Prevention (YSP) Programme
 Environmental programmes
 Women‟s causes
 Children‟s plight
 Poverty/community activities
 Disaster relief
 Cultural and sports awards
What CSR activities mean to the industry
“Feel-good „social-responsibility‟ campaigns by
tobacco companies help the industry not only to
sway political and public opinion but to continue
to recruit effective sales people and boost
employee morale.”
Source: American Journal of Public Health, Burning Love: Big Tobacco Takes Aim at GBT
Youths, July 2002, Vol 92, No. 7, ww.ourbodiesourselves.org/uploads/pdf/apha.pdf
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Industry CSR activities in SE Asia
Philip Morris‟ CSR in SE Asia
Country
Recipient
CSR Activity
$$$
Indonesia
PT Sampoerna Foundation
SF University Project
5,000,000
PT Sampoerna Foundation
Computer Donation Program
89,993
Jakarta Society for Disabled Children
(YPAC)
Medical and Educational Facilities
Donation
6,445
Yayasan Salam Malaysia (SALAM)
2008 Back-to-School Program for
Farmer's children
80,000
Yayasan Salam Malaysia (SALAM)
IT centers to promote computer
literacy
47,988
Yayasan Salam Malaysia (SALAM)
Donation of refurbished computers &
DVD-ROM drives
In-Kind
Philippine Band of Mercy
Cigarette Butt Litter Campaign
49,201
Philippine Band of Mercy
Sustaining the National Social
Development Fund Y5
196,802
Philippine Band of Mercy
Support to Capacity Building
Programs of RHRDC
49,200
Philippine National Red Cross
Disaster Relief for Typhoon Mina
7,541
Philippine National Red Cross
Disaster Relief for Typhoon Fran
45,310
Philippine Band of Mercy
Support for the Poor
375,940
Knowledge Channel Found Inc.
Proficiency Measures for Quality
Education 2008
733,191
American Chamber Foundation
Philippines Inc
Additional Development Fund for
Child Labor Study
15,000
Malaysia
Philippines
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Country
Recipient
CST Activity
$$$
Thailand
Human Development Foundation
(HDF)
School Sponsorship & Nutrition
for HIV/AID patient
46,950
Population and Community
Development Association
Water from Health to WealthRainwater
151,699
Population and Community
Development Association
Community Capacity Building &
Village Bank
61,030
Dr Kovit Vorapipat Foundation
Support to the educational system
6,091
Thai Rath Foundation
Thai Rath Witthaya Schools
6,091
Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC)
Emergency relief to typhoon/flood
victims
49,900
Vietnam
Industry Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
programmes – YSP Programmes
Country
PM
BAT
Cambodia
Indonesia
Laos
Malaysia
Philippines
Taiwan
Thailand
Vietnam
Japan
X
X
X
X
JT
Others
(Sampoerna) and Eaprindo
X
X
X
CMTM
X
X
Taiwan Tobacco Asso
Thailand Tobacco Monopoly
Vietnam Tobacco Corp
X
TIOJ
X
X
X
X
X
X
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YSP Programmes Across ASEAN
BAT-VINATABA funded School YSP
through Youth Union in Ho Chi Minh City.
(Source: Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union, 2007)
Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco
Manufacturers (CMTM) produced
YSP posters such as this
The logo for Philip Morris‟ YSP
programme since 1999
What Philip Morris says about YSP
“As we discussed, the ultimate means for
determining the success of this (youth) program
will be: 1) A reduction in legislation introduced
and passed restricting or banning our sales and
marketing activities; 2) Passage of legislation
favourable to the industry; 3) Greater support
from business, parent, and teacher groups.”
- J.J. Slavitt, Philip Morris, 1991
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Why Industry conducts YSP Programmes?
 Help the industry to lobby against effective tobacco





control laws – continue promotions
Increase industry credibility
Preserve the industry’s access to youth
Create allies and preserve industry’s influence with
policymakers and regulatory bodies
Diffuse opposition from public health advocates,
educators and parents.
Marginalize public health advocates by making them
appear ‘extreme’
Environment:
CSR Programmes prey on the vulnerable
Thailand: Train the trainer : Children’s Rivers
and Stream Sponsorship Investigation Project
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Supporting Environmental Causes - Diversion
from its Destruction of the Environment
Cambodia: A tree nursery in Kampong Cham,
October 2006
Vietnam: Publicity around BAT-VINATABA
Reforestation programme, 2005
Philippines: PM exploitation of the Poor
Philip Morris Philippines
 Individual small-scale irrigation
facility given to selected tobacco
farmers in Ilocos Region
 Tanauan, Batangas, training 70
youths from 15 barangays, on auto
detailing, masonry and painting.
 Contributes to organizations that
work to make an impact in the
areas of education, the
environment, arts and culture,
social services, and disaster relief
throughout the country.
Photo: http://pbsp-abetterlife.blogspot.com/
Source: http://pbsp-abetterlife.blogspot.com/
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Activities that Enable close association with
Key Government Departments
An event organized by the American
Chamber of Commerce and Royal Thai
custom and sponsored by companies,
including Philip Morris (Thailand, 2007)
How Industry Silences Public Criticisms
Offering scholarships to poor students
(particularly females) buys public
favour (Indonesia, 2007)
Source: http: www.sampoernafoundation.org
Photo: Courtesy NCCP
Exploiting public festivals through
sponsorship activities puts the
company within easy reach of the
public, especially minors
Cisadane 2007 (Indonesia, 2007)
Photo: Courtesy NCCP
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Exploiting the Poor
Exploiting the poor in
Thailand: TTM establishing its
public relations by providing
fund to support the community
(2007)
Big Publicity for Small Handouts
Sai Gon Tobacco company donated
2 houses to Tam Phuoc Commune,
Chau Thanh district, January 2007
(Source: Ben Tre province website)
What is the price of 2 houses to the
profits?
Big publicity around BATVinataba US$6,817 for victims of
a typhoon in Central Vietnam,
2006
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BAT in Vietnam
Yet another new term - CSI:
“In Vietnam, our Corporate Social Investment Programme
focuses on improving the economic and social life of needy
people. We also look to working with relevant partners on
environmental projects. As such, the Programme covers a
wide range of activities including: Funding for poverty
alleviation, transfer of sustainable agricultural
techniques from experts to farmers, upgrading
communal libraries, supporting the afforestation
programme.”
Source: www.batvietnam.com
Special Awards
Very few ASEAN countries still allow Philip Morris Art Award
Philippines Art Award received
publicity in the media.
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BAT’s Social Report Dialogue with Stakeholders
Asia Pacific Region
 2001/2002: Australia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Malaysia
 2002/2003: Bangladesh, Fiji, New Zealand
 2004/2005: Korea, Pakistan
A Lesson in Ethics for the Industry
Dropped
after protest
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Advocacy Lessons
 It is possible to stop an unethical industry activity
 It only takes a few persons to get things moving
 There are allies willing to cooperate
 Possible to easily consolidate similar distaste in
many areas of the business community
 Actions to “denormalise” the tobacco industry by
stopping its efforts to associate itself with other
industries
Arguments against CSR activities
1. Industry sponsored YSP:
 Implement FCTC Article 13 Guidelines
 FCTC Article 5.3 warns Parties to protect tobacco
control measures from interference from the tobacco
industry
 Industry sponsored YSP don’t work, public education
should be the responsibility of government
 Graphic pack warnings are an effective way to educate
public and the young
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Arguments against CSR activities
2. How much does the industry spend on scholarships
 How much does the industry make from minors?
3. How much does the company hand out to community
projects?
 How much $$$ do the poor spend on tobacco?
Discussion
 What is your source of CSR activities?
 How much detail information is needed?
 Who do you talk to for more information?
 How do you verify information about CSR?
 How do you handle sensitive information on CSR?
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