“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”
Sir Isaac Newton’s assessment of the state of humankind four
centuries ago continues to ring true. Worse, division and dissent are
increasingly apt to turn into hate—an emotion that blinds us to the
merits of opposing arguments and stops us from fi nding common
ground on which to build solutions.
Globally, hate is on the rise. Most respondents (70 percent) to a new
international survey commissioned by Philip Morris International
(PMI) reported that the level of hate and hate speech in their
countries has increased in the past two years. And four in 10
respondents said they encounter hateful speech, either online
or in person, at least once a week.*
While alarming, this trend should not surprise us. Our modern
culture of news consumption too often cages us within echo
chambers self-constructed to affi rm our beliefs and push
out confl icting data and perspectives. Misinformation and
disinformation abound, stoking hate and aggression toward those
deemed unlike us. Within a context of declining trust in institutions,
it is hardly surprising that society is caught up in a vicious spiral
of hate, skepticism, and division.
Beyond its destabilizing eff ects on individuals and communities,
hate is being manifested through exclusionary practices and
mindsets. And that is a problem for us all. By impeding diversity
of thought and constructive dialogue, hate stalls progress at a time
when the world urgently needs solutions.
As a never-smoker working in an industry that has long been reviled
for its product, I experience fi rsthand how hate and exclusion
stand in the path of change. But despite the resistance, I am fully
committed to our mission: creating a future without combustible
tobacco products. A future that PMI is working to achieve by
developing technological solutions grounded in an uncompromising
commitment to rigorous scientifi c research and transparency.
The problem? Instead of engaging in a factual, evidence-based
conversation about the role product innovation plays in delivering
this future, some special interest groups are rejecting any solution
coming from the industry, dismissing science and discounting
measurable progress.From the pandemic and climate change to tobacco harm reduction,
the world faces threats requiring collaboration and innovation, not
policies based on exclusion and age-old enmities. An overwhelming
majority of our survey respondents (77 percent) believe that society’s
biggest challenges will never be solved if we continue to demonize
and exclude those with whom we disagree.* If we are to progress,
we cannot allow bias and preconceived beliefs to overshadow
opportunity. We cannot aff ord to retreat into long-established
camps and close our minds to solutions off ered by the “other side.”
Our world faces potentially cataclysmic challenges on several fronts.
Let’s stop fi ghting one another and focus instead on the advances
we so desperately need. Society expects—and deserves—better.Learn more at PMI.com/letstalk
*Online survey commissioned by Philip Morris International through Engine Insights CARAVAN
International Omnibus Survey. A total of 5,026 interviews were conducted across Brazil,
France, South Africa, South Korea, and the United States between October 1 and 10, 2021.
MARIAN SALZMAN
Sr. Vice President, Global Communications
Philip Morris International