The WHO says smoking and poverty are closely linked
Posted on 05/30/2004 6:47:44 PM PDT by yankeedame
Last Updated: Sunday, 30 May, 2004, 23:48 GMT 00:48 UK
WHO urges stricter tobacco rules
By Ania Lichtarowicz
BBC health reporter
The UN's health agency says the world's poorest people are suffering the biggest burden of tobacco use. The World Health Organisation's warning came ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Monday.
It wants governments and individuals to accept smoking contributes to poverty through loss of productivity and income, as well as death and disease.
The WHO says a person dies every six-and-a-half seconds, and many more fall ill from tobacco use.
This places increasing pressure on health care and has a significant impact on economies, it says.
"The world cannot accept such easily preventable human and economic losses," director general Lee Jong-wook said in a statement.
Tobacco epidemic
About 84% of smokers live in developing countries - and it is there that the tobacco epidemic is still growing.
The theme for this year's World No Tobacco Day is "Tobacco and Poverty: A vicious circle".
The WHO says the two are closely linked.
Most small tobacco farmers live in poverty and many of them employ children, who work in the fields instead of attending school.
So although families may benefit from an increased income initially, there are no long-term benefits as these children grow up illiterate.
Instead of spending money on food, health care or education, smokers spend it on cigarettes.
There are also environmental and health dangers from using highly toxic pesticides.
The WHO says this vicious circle can be broken.
It is calling for more countries to come forward and sign the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which already has the support of 118 countries.
The landmark treaty requires countries to ban or impose tough restrictions on tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion within five years.
It also lays down guidelines on health warnings to be carried on cigarette packets and recommends tax increases on tobacco products.
Buying food contributes to poverty also but I ain't gonna stop eating. Jackasses
In America, a person dies every twenty-five seconds from abortion (source) Most small tobacco farmers live in poverty and many of them employ children, who work in the fields instead of attending school.
So although families may benefit from an increased income initially, there are no long-term benefits as these children grow up illiterate.
This could be said of many livelihoods in these developing nations. It happens to be chick right now to pick on tobacco and smoking. [taking a deep, sweet Quinnalt Blend drag on my pipe].
I don't smoke and I don't stay around where it is. However, making a comparison between smoking and poverty is like comparing apples and oranges. Pres. Bush: Get the US out of the UN and the UN out of the US.
Of course smoking contributes to poverty! Has the author checkout out the price for a pack of smokes lately?! (/sarcasm)
I need a new keyboard.
The WHO... is calling for more countries to come forward and sign the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which... requires countries to ban or impose tough restrictions on tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion within five years.
Ah. So the WHO is going to take away what little money the poverty-stricken farmers make.
Liberalism in a nutshell.
yep.
Ah,me...Like a man who carries a thin, gold pocketwatch, there's just something civilized about a man smoking a fine, quality pipe. (I know, I know, call me a hopeless romantic)
Thom Pain wants UN to accept that they contribute NOTHING positive in this world, and may seriously contribute to what's wrong in this world. And they're d*** expensive!
Ok, why do we still need the UN??
How about cigarette taxes causing them to cost up to $8 a pack? Doesn't *that* little tidbit contribute to poverty?
My personal view on cigarettes is they should be outlawed by all countries - in my country of birth it is estimated 16% of fatalities are smoking related, and the passive smoking toll is higher than the road toll. Certainly no drug this lethal would be allowed to be sold if developed today.
With that off my chest, the arguement in this article is totally flawed. Smoking does not cause poverty. Spending all your money on a non-essential good with no positive effects that you can't afford causes poverty. If you can afford to smoke, you aren't really poor.
bump
World No Tobacco Day should be renamed to World No UN & WHO Day.
What is with these people????
Tobacco prohibition is coming, who profits ? The criminals and government officials and local police in on the action.
Great Graphic...........mind if I "borrow" it?????????
Enjoy
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