Dirty Money - University of Alberta

The University of Alberta has invested $2.2 million in tobacco industry stocks. Moreover, the University has also accepted nearly $ 1 million in tobacco industry funding during 2006-07. A researcher at the university is currently conducting research into the benefits of smokeless tobacco on behalf of the American tobacco company, US Smokeless Tobacco.

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in Canada, claiming over 37,000 lives annually according to Statistics Canada.

Tobacco companies have established relationships with academic institutions in an effort to help promote tobacco use, to distort the science, and create diversions, regarding the harmful nature of tobacco.

Moreover, the Board of Governors has ruled that the Students Union cannot accept tobacco industry funding thereby creating an unacceptable double-standard.

The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, the Faculty of Nursing and the School of Public Health have all recently voted to eliminate acceptance of tobacco industry funding.

A number of Canadian universities have severed financial ties with the tobacco industry including the University of Lethbridge, the University of Toronto, and McGill University.

The University of Alberta's financial ties with the tobacco industry are compromising the integrity of the institution, its faculty and its students.




Please sign the online petition so that the Administration knows that there are students who care, and who believe that accepting money from or investing money in the Tobacco Industry is wrong, if not by legal, but by ethical standards.

University of Alberta students, faculty, alumni and staff:
http://www.petitiononline.com/uoatdp/

Public petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/uoatdpb/

For more info:
http://divestfromtobacco.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/divestfromtobacco/

Or email me:
agrao@ualberta.ca

Thank you,

Aditya Rao
President, Education - Bringing Youth Tobacco Truths, Alberta

Tyler Ward
Executive Director, Education - Bringing Youth Tobacco Truths, Canada
tylerward.ebutt@gmail.com

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Bruce
• Saville
• tobacco
• university
• of
• alberta
• magmystio
• activism
• anti
• dirty
• money
• ebutt

[CyZanne]

Since u brought it up,can u show proof that tobacco kills 50% of its users, at what age & from what illnesses that r unique to smokers. Pls show the quantities of tobacco products these victims consumed & if they were current or ex-smokers when they died.For ex-smokers,I'd like to know what the definition of an ex-smoker is & how many years since they had quit. For current smokers I'd like to know what the definition of a current smoker is.

[divestfromtobacco]

Youtube won't let me post links. I have messaged you instead.

[snowboard987]

Do you think the Provincial government accepts 'dirty money'from The Tobacco Industry when they tax smokers??

[divestfromtobacco]

that would fall under taxation of corporations, and therefore the government must not stop taxing this industry. Moreover, paying taxes is not the same as donations.

[StaingInsane]

why do you believe taking money from these companies is bad? give a real reason with proof, not the ones like "it kills Canadians". this reason has absolutely nothing to do with the money (if you believe otherwise, let's also ban taking money from automobile industry - they kill Canadians). and also disclose who funds you. Amen

[divestfromtobacco]

you do realise that the automobile industry does not actively engage in addicting its customers to buying vehicles that if "used as directed" WILL kill over 50% of its users. Therefore, accepting money from or investing money in an industry that commits murder by ethical if not legal standards, is despicable.

From your words, unfortunately, I see that the fact that an industry is killing your fellow countrymen means little to you.

[divestfromtobacco]

In terms of our funding, we are 100% volunteers, and Physicians for a Smoke Free Canada has supported us with a couple of small grants when we required the money.

[lovelplants]

cool they protest about the dirty money.. hmm.. well using tobacco is our own choice anyway..

[nelrish24]

Why is it called Dirty money?

[kingneary]

people make there own desitions

[nikamungus]

@StaingInsane Meh. These guys just have nothing better to do with their trustfunds. Winesipping communist dicksucks. Watch this post get removed. Opposition to our great non tobbaco doctrine? cant have that now.

[xmattydx]

money is money! something dirty and bloody is always attached to money

[CaptainZeep]

Boring.

[svillethomas]

Shouldn't these guys be studying instead of being douche bags. And, probably, in some way, this money has helped these students protesting in some way.

[RK5000]

So what, some people think that tobacco companies have immoral business practices, there is nothing stupid about that.

"The tobacco companies can't even show commercials any more so where do these statistics come from."

Do we need television commercials to provide us with statistics?

Oh and we all know about the hazards of drunk driving/crack or any number of things, but people choose to do those things. Freedom . . . right?

[roadwarrior514]

I see what your saying, but i have done my research and don't get me wrong i don't care for smoking, but YOU must also realize that, well for one im not in Canada, but most everyone in the U.S smokes and they know the risks to it because of the law passed in 1965 putting the surgeon general warning on the boxes, there fore every one knows the risks but still choose to smoke and that is what America is about and anti smoking groups are wrong to try and stop the smokers.