1 billion people died from smoke this century, warns WHO's latest report

Who's Director-General Margaret Chan and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg jointly held a press conference Thursday to deliver a reportThe latest report from the World Health Organization warns that 1 billion people could die from tobacco deaths worldwide this century if governments and societies do not tighten controls on tobacco salesAccording to the report: "In the 20th century, cigarettes killed 100 million peopleWithout action to contain it, the situation will continue to number 10 times as many people die in the 21st century as in the last centuryThe reportalso warns that by 2030, 8 million people worldwide will die each year from-related diseases, more than 80 per cent of them in developing countries,The report notes that the number of smokers is increasing in countries with low national incomes, as their populations grow and tobacco companies shift to their marketing targets, eventually leading to the deaths of millions of smokers each yearAccording to the report, nearly two-thirds of the world's smokers are concentrated in these 10 countries: China, India, Indonesia, Russia, the United States, Japan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Germany and TurkeyTobacco costs trillions of dollars in global economic losses each year, the report saidIn the United States alone, annual losses are estimated at $92 billionAccording to the report, tobacco companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on promotions in developing countriesThe marketing and lobbying tactics they use have worked in rich countries, but are now bannedTobacco companies' advertisements target women and teenagers, lure them into smoking, and they are pressing the government not to pass measures to limit cigarette sales or raise taxes on cigarettesThe report notes that only 5 per cent of the global population is protected by state-imposed smoke-free regulationsThe report recommends six ways to curb the harm caused by cigarettesThis includes monitoring tobacco use and taking preventive measuresThe report also recommends protecting people from cigarettes, helping smokers quit their addiction, warning of the dangers caused by cigarettes, banning cigarette advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and raising cigarette taxesThe report says reducing the number of smokers and encouraging people to quit are the most effective ways to raise taxes on cigarettesA tax increase of up to 70 per cent is enough to prevent a quarter of the world's-related diseases, and these recommendations are the way every country can do