Recent Camel ads use "To Stir a Magick Cauldron" by Silver RavenWolf. ********************************************************** Joe Camel Replaced by Witchy Women by Tara Miller Three attractive women stick pins in a doll representing a handsome young man in a nearby tattered photo. In the background sits a stack of books, one being "To Stir a Magick Cauldron". They must be witches up to their tricks using some unholy supernatural powers to enact revenge on this man. No, this isn't the occultist teen flick "The Craft". It is a Camel ad which has appeared in Glamour, Rolling Stone, and Mirabella magazines. Silver RavenWolf, famous Wiccan author of To Stir a Magick Cauldron a book about Wicca, the legally recognized religion of witchcraft is upset because RJR Nabisco, makers of Camels, other tobacco products, and snack food, didn't even ask her or her publisher Llewellyn World Wide for permission. The atrocity is the use of her book in the ad which makes it obvious the girls are practicing Wicca. The ad promotes the idea that Wicca is a practice that uses supernatural powers for personal gain with no regard for who is harmed. In reality, Wiccans revere nature and follow their law "And ye harm none, do as ye wilst" which means everyone chooses their own path so do what you want as long as you don't hurt yourself or others. Wiccans must constantly fight the evil, hexing witch stereotype and this ad isn't helping any. Apparently RJR Nabisco hasn't read any of Silver RavenWolf's books which ends such religious myths. Pagans across the country have started a campaign encouraging Pagans and others who are against religious stereotypes to write the magazines the ads appeared in, telling them of their displeasure, and asking since these magazines allowed this advertiser to buy space, could they find space for a legitimate article on Wicca? They also ask everyone who is concerned about this to write RJR Nabisco. Though, Wicca and Paganism is considered a religious minority, they are a strong united force. Recent letter campaigns resulted in advertisement for the upcoming CNN show "Dark Religions" being pulled off the air because it suggested Wicca was connected with Satanism, another misconception. To rectify the situation Silver RavenWolf won't be casting any curses on Joe Camel and company, instead she will handle this like most Neo-Pagans and anyone else for that matter would. She will probably sue. RJR Nabisco Chairman & CEO Steven F. Goldstone 1301 Avenue Of The Americas New York, NY 10019 (212) 258-5600 (212) 969-9173 (800) 334-8157 (This is the only line that will handle complaints) Tobacco Division-Makers/ Manufacturers of: Camel, Winston, Doral, Salem,Sterling; Moonlight Tobacco Co, Eclipse Nabisco Division: Oreos, SnackWells, Chips Ahoy!, Stella D'oro, Newtons, Teddy Grahams, Premium Saltines, Ritz Crackers, Triscuit, Wheat Thins, Barnum's Animals, Better Cheddars, Waverly, Life Savers, Planters peanuts, Beech-Nut gum, Breath Savers, Bubble Yum, Care*Free gum, A.1. steak sauce, Cream of Wheat, Grey Poupon mustard, Blue Bonnet margarine, Fleischmann's margarine, My-T-Fine pudding, Ortega, Vermont Maid syrup, Milk-Bone dog biscuits. RJR Nabisco 1997 Annual Report List of Company Officers: http://www.rjrnabisco.com/annual97/rjr.htm RJR Nabisco Homepage: http://www.rjrnabisco.com/index.html Write to Glamour: http://www.phys.com/d_magazines/02glam/email/email.htm RollingStone Homepage: http://www.rollingstone.com/sections/home/text/default.asp Silver RavenWolf: www.silverravenwolf.com and To Ride a Silver Broomstick, To Stir a Magick Cauldron For more information on Wicca and Paganism visit the Earth Spirit website and follow links to basic informational pages at https://members.tripod.com/~TaraMiller/links.html or use our main index to read original essays on this religion https://members.tripod.com/~TaraMiller/earthspirit.html Copyright 1998 Earth Spirit Newsletter This Article was published in the August 1998 issue of the Earth Spirit Newsletter based in Cape Girardeau, MO. ----- So what's the big deal, some of you may be asking. In fact, according to American demographical data, the majority of people in the United States think that Wicca is evil, involved with Satanism, and Pagans are doomed to a certain hellish fate. Even if you hold that opinion, this advert should bother you. For the reason why, let's revamp the photo: 5 Romans smoking Camels are cheering on a lion with a sandal hanging out of his mouth on which a fish has been drawn. A congregation of men gathered around a screaming baby laugh and smoke Camels while holding a bloody foreskin. Guards smoke Camel cigarettes while a man with a wreath of thorns hangs on a cross. If it's okey to mimic and spread inaccuracies about one religion's symbols and beleifs, it's okey to do that to all of them. Remember that the Jews were a well established group in Germany before it was decided to once again scape goat them. If it can happen once, it'll happen again. We all need to be vigilant about this kind of stereotyping, before we all get hurt. Even if you're not Pagan, I urge you to make your voice heard about the matter of religious freedom. ********** This letter was sent to me by the StoneCircle Pod- if you have the desire to join their newsletter, go HERE