Saying that although some progress has been made, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) stated recently that at least 5 million people die each year from tobacco-related disease, making this the biggest preventable cause of death. With 600,000 who perish from second-hand smoke as well, the WHO states that without intervention, the tobacco epidemic could cause annual deaths of 8 million by 2030.

With 173 times as many dollars being collected in tobacco taxes annually than are spent on smoking cessation programs,  the WHO is urging governments to implement the framework convention on tobacco control, which 170 nations have signed.

World Health Organization, our thankfulness for your urgent call to save lives through comprehensive smoking bans. May we soon see nations joining in global initiatives to eliminate the deadly harms of tobacco for people everywhere.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B83X620091209