DEVELOPMENT REPORT - Tobacco in Developing Countries

DEVELOPMENT REPORT - April 8, 2002: Tobacco in Developing Countries

By Jill Moss¹
This is the VOA Special English Development Report.

Tobacco smoking has long been considered an international health problem, especially in developing countries.
Health experts estimate that tobacco use causes diseases that kill three-million people each year. Ninety percent
of smokers² begin before age twenty-one. Sixty percent become smokers by age fourteen. Based on these
numbers, an international organization of anti -tobacco groups has released new evidence against the tobacco
industry.

The public activist³ organization Infact and several members of the Network for
Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals wrote the report. It examines actions by
the tobacco industry around the world. The study says that tobacco companies spend
huge amounts of money fighting anti-smoking legislation⁴ in developing countries. It
says tobacco companies take serious steps to make smoking as low-cost as possible.
And it says tobacco companies target young people.

For example, the report says tobacco companies give free cigarettes to young people

at music shows, dance centers and even in some schools. Tobacco companies also
give away clothes or other products showing their signs or logos. The effect of these actions is an increase in
young smokers. The report says the total number of young smokers has increased by more than seventy percent
in developing countries during the last twenty-five years.

Anti-smoking activists⁵ also say tobacco companies try to market their products to as many people as possible.
For example, in India, cigarettes are sold individually or in boxes of two or five. The price of these smaller boxes
is much less than a full box of twenty cigarettes. This makes it much easier for young people to get cigarettes.

The report comes as the World Health Organization begins new talks on an agreement seeking to limit the use of
tobacco. The document is called the Framework Convention⁶ on Tobacco Control. Officials hope to have it
finished by next year.

The agreement will deal with tobacco marketing⁷ campaigns, the illegal transport of tobacco, financial support for
the tobacco industry and other issues.

This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss.

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1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 smokers   

吸烟者( smoker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily. 许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Chain smokers don't care about the dangers of smoking. 烟鬼似乎不在乎吸烟带来的种种危害。

3 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

4 legislation   

n.立法，法律的制定；法规，法律

参考例句：

• They began to draft legislation.他们开始起草法规。
• The liberals band together against the new legislation.自由党员联合一致反对新的立法。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 convention   

n.惯例，习俗，常规，会议，大会

参考例句：

• How many delegates have checked in at the convention?大会已有多少代表报到？
• He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。

7 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。