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Creation of a "Sound Science" movement
by Anne Landman
Philip Morris, through its public relations groups, spearheaded an effort to cloud scientific issues in order to stave off regulation of dangerous products.
- 1994 (est.) Philip Morris' PR firm, Burson Marstellar lays plans for a "sound science" project
- Burson Marstellar (for Philip Morris) lays the plans to involve the chemical, biotech, pharmaceutical, packaging,electric power generating and other industries in a "sound science" project to create a "countervailing" voice in European government on health and safety issues. It plan proposes creating a Europena network of scientists "to intervene on specific issues."
- Mar 1994 Idea to form European "Sound Science group" takes shape
- This document says the industry's European "sound science" coalition "would be supported financially by the industry but governed in a way that its credibility would be maintained."
- 17 Jun 1994 Burson Marstellar Copenhagen makes a rushed attempt to put on a "sound science" seminar
- "The timing of the seminar is of course critical. I will try to focus on September, but given the very short time it could be too early...to achieve a seminar with representation of significant, credicble, opinioin leading scientists...." "It is absolutely vital that we succeed in getting fudning of the seminar from a broader group of sponsors than just PM...because otherwise we would not be able to ensure the credibility of the seminar in relation to the scientists...And if the seminar has not got that credibility, the outcomes of the meeting will not have great value."
- 17 Jun 1994 (est.) Burson Marstellar has difficulty recruiting scientists
- States, "All the interviewed experts have stated that this Project is too ambitious because it should include too many disciplines..." "The last [scientist out of the five interviewed] would prefer to be excluded because of the private companies sponsoring the Project and with particular reference to Philip Morris."