This is the VOA SpecialEnglish Development Report.
Tobacco smoking has long been considered an international healthproblem, especially in developing countries. Health experts estimatethat tobacco use causes diseases that kill three-million people eachyear. Ninety percent of smokers begin before age twenty-one. Sixtypercent become smokers by age fourteen. Based on these numbers, aninternational organization of anti-tobacco groups has released newevidence against the tobacco industry.
The public activist organizationInfact and several members of the Network for Accountability ofTobacco Transnationals wrote the report. It examines actions by thetobacco industry around the world. The study says that tobaccocompanies spend huge amounts of money fighting anti-smokinglegislation in developing countries. It says tobacco companies takeserious steps to make smoking as low-cost as possible. And it saystobacco companies target young people.
For example, the report says tobacco companies give freecigarettes to young people at music shows, dance centers and even insome schools. Tobacco companies also give away clothes or otherproducts showing their signs or logos. The effect of these actionsis an increase in young smokers. The report says the total number ofyoung smokers has increased by more than seventy percent indeveloping countries during the last twenty-five years.
Anti-smoking activists also say tobacco companies try to markettheir products to as many people as possible. For example, in India,cigarettes are sold individually or in boxes of two or five. Theprice of these smaller boxes is much less than a full box of twentycigarettes. This makes it much easier for young people to getcigarettes.
The report comes as the World Health Organization begins newtalks on an agreement seeking to limit the use of tobacco. Thedocument is called the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.Officials hope to have it finished by next year.
The agreement will deal with tobacco marketing campaigns, theillegal transport of tobacco, financial support for the tobaccoindustry and other issues.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by JillMoss.