Annan: Tobacco Is More Than Public Health Issue (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Annan: Tobacco Is More Than Public Health Issue
Date: Wednesday, 5/26/99

Xinhua via NewsEdge Corporation : UNITED NATIONS (May 25) XINHUA - U.N.  
Secretary-General Kofi Annan Tuesday said that "Tobacco is more than a
public health issue; it is an issue that concerns the development of the
whole planet."

In his message on the occasion of the World N0 Tobacco Day, which falls on
May 31, Annan said, "In many developing countries, where the ill-effects
are not well-known, smoking puts an intolerable strain on health care
resources.  Coupled with the premature deaths of so many people, the
impact is staggering."

"Today, one third of the world's adult population uses tobacco. The
harmful effects of tobacco use are well documented; yet many people are
still unaware of them, and many who are aware of them are unwilling or
unable to quit," he said.

"A shocking four million people die every year as a result of the effects
of tobacco products. This number is expected to increase to 10 million per
year in the first half of the next century," he said. "If this trend
continues, 250 million of the children alive today will have their lives
cut short by tobacco-related illnesses."

"We can and must do more to reduce the use of tobacco -- both through
legislation to curtail access to tobacco products, and through education
to prevent young people from starting and to help those addicted to quit,"  
he said.

This year's theme for the World No Tobacco Day is Smoking Cessation.  The
slogan is "Leave the pack behind."
        
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