Mexico's Farmers Face Crisis
Regarding the series ``Mexico: Surviving the Crisis,'' May 29 to June 4: The article ``Farmers Avert Doomsday,'' June 4, shows clearly that the need for broad-based rural development is the real story behind the issues of drugs and migration in Mexico. The author shows how democratic peasant movements are finding ways to grow in spite of economic crisis and political repression. Jonathan Fox, Cambridge, Mass., Assistant Professor, M.I.T.
The article ``Mexicans Farm Drugs to Make Ends Meet,'' June 1, seems deceiving. As a student of Mexican History at the University of California at Santa Cruz, I have dedicated considerable time to living in and studying Mexico and its people. The author quotes Mexican farmer Gilberto Morales, who says that ``If [government officials] really wanted to catch all the people involved in drugs, they would have to arrest the whole country.'' This reinforces North American mistrust of our southern neighbors. Gregory Green, Santa Cruz, Calif.
Smoking and sports The article ``Cigarette Ads Not Good Sports,'' May 24, does not tell the entire story.
Anti-smoking organizations like Group Against Smoking Pollution (GASP) are committed to stigmatizing tobacco use. They want people to think that tobacco - a legal product - is illegitimate.
Tobacco companies advertise in sports arenas for the same reason all companies do: to increase awareness of their brands. No one starts smoking because they see tobacco advertisements. But adults who have already made the decision to smoke may be interested in trying another brand. Anti-smokers say cigarettes should not be advertised in baseball stadiums because smoking has nothing to do with sports. But spark plugs, fast foods, and mortgage banks have nothing to do with sports either.
When Philip Morris sponsors the Virginia Slims Tennis Tournament or Indy Car racing, we are promoting those sports. Our goal is to provide the best tennis and racing possible to the widest audience of fans - smokers and non-smokers. At the same time, we want to increase awareness of our brands among adult smokers. John R. Nelson, New York, Philip Morris
Malibu's good example In the article ``Malibu Gets Set to Vote on Cityhood,'' June 1, Malibu residents express a desire to control the area's fate by themselves. What a unique idea! Increasingly, government and private interests groups such as the Wilderness Society, are determining how public and private land in the United States should be used, despite what local people want.
Anyone contributing money to a land preservation group is supporting the idea that it's okay to control someone else's land. Suzanne Favreau, Shelburne, N.H.
