Every year approximately 6 million people die from a smoking related cause, but the public knows that cigarettes are deadly. They were force feed information from organizations such as the truth and the World Health Organization. These organizations advocate for a smoke free world, but do not know the potential risk behind it. For instance in Malawi, tabacco is nearly 80% of their export earnings. The idea was that the tabacco industry was doing well which means that the cost of tabacco would increase, but the exact opposite happened. The anti smoking campaigns created a negative affect, which is causing Malawi's economical stability to spiral downwards. This decision was not wise because over the last 10 year tabacco has went down 50% in the global markets. Malawi is not the only country suffering from the tabacco failure. Other countries such as Zimbabwe (36% of their export earnings), Brazil (2.2% of their export earnings) and Turkey (2.1% of their export earnings). Below is a full list of countries that also produce tabacco:
Malawi Tabacco
It does not make since why Malawi would continue to grow tabacco to me. The reasons why they did was from their international debt, mostly from the Structural Adjustment Loan. They borrowed money from the World Bank and other international donnors who encouraged them to grow tabacco. Due to their foreign debts they needed foreign money to pay it all off. This caused the government to believe that tabacco would be a form of development. THe goverment would provide tax breaks and subsides for tabacco farms. Malawi grows a lot of burley tabacco which is the higher quality tabacco that contains more nicotine content. Malawi makes up 20% of the global burley tabacco market. Since burley is higher quality it sells for a higher price. This crop is perfect for Malawi because of the weather and the soil. was This crop helped poor rural farmers in Malawi sell and produce high quality crops. This is why it was easily thought of as a cash crop.Malawi dependence on tabacco has caused serious economical issues for Malawi. The government is aware of the problem, but has not done much to help.
Warning Labels
Warning labels on cigarette packages started in 1965 when The Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act required that on the side panel in small print the warning "Caution: Cigarette Smoking May Be Hazardous to Your Health" was written. Then in 1967, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) changed the warning label to Warning: Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Health and May Cause Death from Cancer and Other Diseases.". Through out the 1980's congress changed the warning for packages and advertisments to aim towards educating smokers about the health risk. The changes to the packages was:
America has the less graphic and effect labels for advertising and packaging.
- SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, and May Complicate Pregnancy.
- SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health.
- SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Smoking by Pregnant Women May Result in Fetal Injury, Premature Birth, and Low Birth Weight.
- SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING: Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide.
- WARNING: This product may cause mouth cancer.
- WARNING: This product may cause gum disease and tooth loss.
America has the less graphic and effect labels for advertising and packaging.
Ingredients
In the 1940's to the 1950's, industries started to include stems, scraps and dust; which used to be discarded. This change reduces production cost and was the beginning of industries manipulating nicotine levels. Before 1970 US cigarettes used few addictives.There are 598 ingredients in a cigarette, but when the cigarette is lit it can produce 4,000 chemicals. Some of the more toxic ingredients are:
- Ammonia: Household cleaner.
- Arsenic: Used in rat poisons.
- Benzene: Used in making dyes, synthetic rubber.
- Butane: Gas; used in lighter fluid.
- Carbon monoxide: Poisonous gas.
- Cadmium: Used in batteries.
- Cyanide: Lethal poison.
Cuba
Cuba produces copious amounts of local cigarettes and cigars. A controlled study conducted in Havana, Cuba. The participants smoked 100% local cigarettes and ranged from ages 23 to 63. The study showed that in females 63% of females and 91% of males developed lung cancer. To conclude the local less processed cigarettes do not seem to be healthier.
Production
In 2009, China, Brazil, India, and the United States produced more than two-thirds of the world's tobacco. In the 1950's the United States was the top producer of tabacco, the production has decreased, but still continues in 16 states. Malbro makes up about 46% of cigarette sells and sold about 140 billion cigarettes.
Advertisement
In 1998 Philip Morris (Company that produces Malbaro) and other major tabacco companies agreed to pay for advertising campaigns to educate consumers about the health effects of smoking. Part of the agreement was that the advertisement can not attack any tabacco companies.