Tobacco.org

Rendez-vous with . . . Angela Pinoargote, about tobacco control in Ecuador 

I work mostly with kids in schools in the Province of Manabi. We have just started a new campaign on the theme "Instead of smoking, feel yourself at life". . . A tobacco control Act was passed by Congress in 1998 but there is no enforcement. The government is too concerned about collecting tobacco taxes to enforce the law and about 6,000 people work for the tobacco companies. . . There is one national corporation but Philip Morris holds 80% of the market: they bought out local companies. They are also involved in growing tobacco and this development is detrimental because farmers will grow tobacco instead of food crops.

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