Is the tobacco industry morally acceptable if it is generous with its money in helping mothers and children?

The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration donated 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) to the China Women's Development Foundation on Wednesday to set up the Golden Leaf Fund. The fund aims to improve the well-being and health of mothers and children in Northwest China. "Golden leaf" literally means tobacco leaf in Chinese.

The administration is clever. Its generosity has put its critics in an awkward position. The money is a significant sum for a charitable organization that has difficulty finding helping hands.

The administration is having to work hard to win over sympathizers as it knows its good days are numbered. The government has promised to ensure that all public places, workplaces and public transport will go smoke free by Jan 2011.

The administration has been racking its brains over ways to cover up its ugly image. In June, China Tobacco gave the China Literature Foundation 10 million yuan to help the latter establish reading rooms throughout the country.

It is not hard to understand why the tobacco sector has more tactful PR approaches than other industries. It has been peddling a product that never improves. It causes illness and makes people unhappy.

But there is a lot of money in it. It puts a roof over many people's heads.

Countries all over the world have exerted strict controls over tobacco commercials thanks to the United Nations Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. They don't allow tobacco producers to sponsor sports and cultural events.

Our tobacco sector is trying to butter us up by picking mothers and children. Impressive though its initiative may be, its real intention can't be condoned.

The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration only cares about its image. It wants to tell us that it isn't just about profit.

However, its efforts, though extending a helping hand to mothers and children, goes against the international treaty on controlling tobacco. Ratifying the United Nations Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, China is committed to banning tobacco advertisements and sponsorships.

Whatever the tobacco industry does to project a positive image, the product it produces does harm to smokers. Hence, its "generosity" misleads the young people.

The harm tobacco will do to children will be much more than the benefits poor mothers and children receive.

(China Daily 11/19/2010 page8)