Every six seconds a person dies because of the tobacco
Tobacco related deaths for 2030 are expected to be over 8.000.000 per year.
According to the WHO,
tobacco is the second cause of death in the world.
Nowadays, there are 1,100 millions of smokers,
which accounts for the 20% of the world's population.
Smoking generates various ways of dependencies,
physical, and above all, social and psycological dependencies.
With the cigarette we celebrate,
we cry, we wait for the bus,
we calm our nerves.
We still do not associate the word "smoker" with pathological attitudes.
Although in recent years this is clearly changing,
tobacco is still linked to the social concept of rebellion,
especially valued by the youth.
There are also economic interests,
which are millionaire interests for the companies.
According to The Tobacco Atlas,
the 6 main tobacco companies
had a benefit of 35,100 million dollars in 2010,
equivalent to the combined benefits of Coca-Cola, Microsoft and McDonald's.
According to Atlas,
tobacco costs the world between 1% and 2% of the GDP per year,
including direct and indirect costs
like those caused by the treatment of diseases associated with tobacco use
or the collection of butts.
It must be said that the increase of mechanization
and the use of fertilizers and pesticides.
determined by the high production from tobacco companies,
is damaging the environment.
The WHO has stated
that maintains a ruthless war
against the tobacco industry
for launching increasingly aggressive attacks
against public policies intended to combat tobacco.
On 31 May of every year, World No Tobacco Day is held,
whose aims are to point out the risks of tobacco use for our health,
to promote effective polices for consumption reduction
and to invite smokers all over the world
to participate on a 24 h period of abstinence.