Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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               Pro-tobacco Forces Still Strong in Many Countries

   by Vidushi Sinha

   The Australian High Court has upheld a tough law prohibiting tobacco
   companies from displaying their logos on cigarette packs. The European
   Union is considering a similar ban. But experts say the larger picture
   still favors tobacco use. A new international study carried out in 16
   countries found that regulation of tobacco use in several is still
   weak.
   A study that compiled data on three billion tobacco users worldwide,
   including thousands of face to face interviews, shows that global
   tobacco use is greatly influenced by the pro-tobacco lobby. The study
   focused on tobacco use in 14 low and middle-income countries and made
   comparisons with two developed countries - the United States and the
   United Kingdom.
   Dr. Gary Giovino at the University at Buffalo School of Public Health
   in New York State was the lead author.
   "Tobacco contributes an enormous burden to the health care system in
   developed countries, and that scenario will play out in the
   not-too-distant future in low and middle income countries. It already
   has in many countries, in India for example," Giovino said.

   Giovino's data shows that China leads with some 300 million tobacco
   users, followed by India with almost 275 million. The researchers came
   across powerful pro-tobacco forces active even at the elementary school
   level.

   "The China National Tobacco Company has supported elementary schools in
   China, dozens and dozens of them. And they use their support to promote
   propaganda about tobacco use, and they are basically telling students
   that genius comes from hard work and tobacco helps them to be
   successful. That to me is mind boggling, that a government would tell
   its children to use tobacco to be successful when tobacco will addict
   them and shorten their lives," Giovino said.

   The data shows that governments and social norms in many countries are
   receptive to influence from strong pro-tobacco forces.
   So the Australian court decision is viewed as important in encouraging
   those fighting to control tobacco use. Jonathan Liberman directs the
   McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer in Australia.
   "It shows to everybody that the only way to deal with the tobacco
   industry's claims, sabre rattling, legal threats, is to stare them down
   in court. It's a fantastic decision for public health in Australia and
   globally," Liberman said.
   The Buffalo survey concludes that, unless urgent action is taken, about
   a billion people will die prematurely in this century, losing 15 years
   of life on average. Dr. Giovino hopes the extensive data spurs many
   countries to implement policies that will save lives.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/smoking-study-nations/1489921.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/smoking-study-nations/1489921.html