<Home> <Health News> <Smoking> <Proceedings of INGCAT's Int'l NGO MObilisation Meeting in Geneva> <Implications of Tobacco Production and Use on Sustainable Development>

Proceedings INGCAT International
NGO MObilisation Meeting
Geneva, 15-16 May, 1999.

 

Implications of Tobacco Production and Use
On Sustainable Development
Dr. Thelma Narayan
Coordinator, Community Health Cell, Society for Community Health Awareness, Research and Action, Bangalore, India.

Health ill effects of tobacco consumption are well documented and have gained acceptance. A substantial, preventable burden of tobacco-attributable disease exists. Smoking accounts for almost half the deaths in middle age in some regions. Translating findings into policy action is slow and involves several stakeholders. It will continue to require support from tobacco control campaign groups.

The Minnesota case and experience elsewhere highlights the unsustainability of costs to individuals and to nations. In the state health services and within the health sector, resources to care for degenerative diseases are diverted away from basic and primary health care, community health and promotion services. Availability of scarce national resources are also reduced for productive investment in education, water and sanitation etc,.

  • How important is this for different countries and regions?
  • What are the other linkages between tobacco production, processing and consumption to sustainable and equitable development and to environmental sustainability?
  • How much is it a consumer issue wherein the rights to health of individuals, families and peoples need to be seen in the context of profit needs of tobacco farmers and companies?

Ecological degradation occurs in many ways. Tobacco production increases soil salinity and reduces the water table. Large scale felling of trees to provide fuel for curing occurs. Smoking is also responsible for accidental fires in industry, agriculture and forestry.

However, financial yields from tobacco are triple that of other crops. The state gets substantial revenue from the tobacco industry. In Asia, Government Tobacco Development Boards promote tobacco by offering subsidies and price support systems, It provides employment for a substantial number of people required for planting, growth, curing, grading, collection of "temBurni" plant leaves by tribal peoples and beedi rolling by low income marginalised workers, particularly women and children. Thus livelihoods are dependent on tobacco.

Replacement of tobacco is complex, involving government, communities, involving government, communities, and host of cultural and economic issues. Tobacco control is thus a development issue and by virtue of the magnitude of the problem caused, it should be priority issues.

  • Is it getting the attention it deserves?
  • What area specific and regional / global strategies and partnerships can we develop for an accelerated tobacco control campaign?

Working group report
Thelma Narayan, facilitator NGOs: Action in International Medicine, International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care, IUATLD, Salvation Army International, Smoke-free Media Other: TFI, UNICEF

Long-term goals:

  • Break the tobacco industry influence over political and economic activity in low and middle-income countries by lobby governments with economic arguments about tobacco growing and consuming and realistic, practical alternatives.
  • Lobby for fairer international trade regulations that will favor the development of these countries.
  • Increase awareness and empower grassroots activities. This means taking into account religious and cultural factors as well as the political, economical, social and technological factors. Without essential involvement and co-operation from each indigenous population, it will not be possible to have multi-disciplinary and representative approaches to this global problem.

Short-term activities:

  • Improve systems of information dissemination (i.e., from international to national to community level). Integrate improved information resources into existing resources, structures and activities.
  • Identify appropriate media/journalists and channel information to them. · Involve non smokers in action,
  • Maximise the role of women in social change (especially where they are still mainly non-smokers).
  • Increase the awareness of a wider variety of NGOs and get them involved. Promote the founding of multi-sectoral coalitions.
  • Support FCTC at national/regional/international level. Pressure governments at the national level, forming a complement to WHO's governmental approach.
  • Explore opportunities for legal action/legislation.