Tobacco And The Environment Presentation

Tobacco and the EnvironmentTobacco and the Environment


As tobacco sales in the United States go down, As tobacco sales in the United States go down, international sales go up, especially in third world international sales go up, especially in third world countries.countries.

Why is this?Why is this? Cheep laborCheep labor Lack of educationLack of education Lack of regulation Lack of regulation

Tobacco farmers are told by British American Tobacco farmers are told by British American Tobacco that “ You must treat tobacco better than Tobacco that “ You must treat tobacco better than your first born child.”your first born child.”

Tobacco = PovertyTobacco = Poverty

Land under tobacco cultivation around the Land under tobacco cultivation around the world today could feed 10-12 million people world today could feed 10-12 million people each year if planted in food crops insteadeach year if planted in food crops instead

Tobacco farming is labor intensive and requires costly inputs Tobacco farming is labor intensive and requires costly inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. In Brazil, the world's largest such as fertilizers and pesticides. In Brazil, the world's largest exporter of tobacco, officials were predicting that, in 1998, exporter of tobacco, officials were predicting that, in 1998, 35% of tobacco growers would finish the harvest owing more 35% of tobacco growers would finish the harvest owing more money to the tobacco companies than they earned. money to the tobacco companies than they earned.

The use of child laborers in tobacco production is The use of child laborers in tobacco production is widespread in major tobacco producing countries. widespread in major tobacco producing countries.

In Brazil, 520,000 children under 18 years of age In Brazil, 520,000 children under 18 years of age work on tobacco farms, 32 percent of them are work on tobacco farms, 32 percent of them are younger than 14. younger than 14.

Solomy Leston poses in front of her tobacco drying racks with her young son.She and her husband made around $300 from their tobacco crop in the past year.

•Working on tobacco farms causes addiction to nicotine

•In Vietnam, one carton of cigarettes = 1/3 of the person’s monthly income

What is a Beedi?What is a Beedi? "Beedi" is a domestically-produced and consumed Indian "Beedi" is a domestically-produced and consumed Indian

cigarette. cigarette. Beedi rolling is stationary work; the children sit cross-legged Beedi rolling is stationary work; the children sit cross-legged

on the ground or floor all day, with a large and smoothly on the ground or floor all day, with a large and smoothly woven shallow basket in their laps. The basket holds a pile of woven shallow basket in their laps. The basket holds a pile of tobacco and a stack of rectangular rolling papers cut from the tobacco and a stack of rectangular rolling papers cut from the large leaves of the large leaves of the tendutendu plant. The child takes a paper, plant. The child takes a paper, sprinkles tobacco into it, rolls it up tightly, and ties it with sprinkles tobacco into it, rolls it up tightly, and ties it with string. The tips are closed either by the roller herself or by a string. The tips are closed either by the roller herself or by a younger child, typically four to seven years old; young younger child, typically four to seven years old; young children often begin their beedi careers by working as tip children often begin their beedi careers by working as tip closers. closers.

Bonded LaborBonded Labor

Children are forced to sit Children are forced to sit cross legged for hours cross legged for hours

This causes deformities as This causes deformities as they grow because of their they grow because of their constant sitting positionconstant sitting position

If they look away, they are If they look away, they are usually beatenusually beaten

Most severe consequence is Most severe consequence is lung cancer from inhaling so lung cancer from inhaling so much tobacco dustmuch tobacco dust

Suresh is learning to make beedies; he is only seven.

Bonded Child LaborBonded Child Labor

My sister is ten years old. Every morning at seven she goes to My sister is ten years old. Every morning at seven she goes to the bonded labor man, and every night at nine she comes the bonded labor man, and every night at nine she comes home. He treats her badly; he hits her if he thinks she is home. He treats her badly; he hits her if he thinks she is working slowly or if she talks to the other children, he yells at working slowly or if she talks to the other children, he yells at her, he comes looking for her if she is sick and cannot go to her, he comes looking for her if she is sick and cannot go to work. I feel this is very difficult for her.work. I feel this is very difficult for her.

I don't care about school or playing. I don't care about any of I don't care about school or playing. I don't care about any of that. All I want is to bring my sister home from the bonded that. All I want is to bring my sister home from the bonded labor man. For 600 rupees I can bring her home-that is our labor man. For 600 rupees I can bring her home-that is our only chance to get her back.only chance to get her back.

We don't have 600 rupees . . . we will never have 600 rupees.We don't have 600 rupees . . . we will never have 600 rupees.

-Lakshmi, nine year-old beedi (cigarette) roller, Tamil Nadu. -Lakshmi, nine year-old beedi (cigarette) roller, Tamil Nadu. 600 rupees is the equivalent of approximately $17600 rupees is the equivalent of approximately $17

How you can buy a child or village out of bonded labor:

World Vision Amnesty International International Justice Mission


DeforestationDeforestation DesertificationDesertification Soil DepletionSoil Depletion Chemical Poisoning / ToxinsChemical Poisoning / Toxins

DeforestationDeforestation

DeforestationDeforestation

100,000 of Brazil’s tobacco farmers use the

wood of 60 million trees per

year.

DeforestationDeforestation While British American Tobacco (BAT) companies say that While British American Tobacco (BAT) companies say that

they are concerned about tobacco related deforestation, their they are concerned about tobacco related deforestation, their tree-planting programs are often poorly designed. BAT’s tree-planting programs are often poorly designed. BAT’s website admits that wood is used in two-thirds of company website admits that wood is used in two-thirds of company growing operations in 20 countries and that many of these use growing operations in 20 countries and that many of these use wood for half or more of their curing.wood for half or more of their curing.

What BAT is “Doing” about What BAT is “Doing” about Deforestation?Deforestation?

The company claims that they have run ambitious afforestation The company claims that they have run ambitious afforestation programs since the 1970s, sponsoring and promoting the planting of programs since the 1970s, sponsoring and promoting the planting of renewable woodlands around the world in the last three decades. renewable woodlands around the world in the last three decades.

BAT doesn’t mention what kinds of trees are planted, nor what BAT doesn’t mention what kinds of trees are planted, nor what percentage o trees make it to maturity.percentage o trees make it to maturity.

BAT claims that as a condition of contract, farmers who use wood BAT claims that as a condition of contract, farmers who use wood become ‘self-sufficient’ by planting trees to supply their own fuel become ‘self-sufficient’ by planting trees to supply their own fuel needs. needs.

DesertificationDesertification

““The lands are increasingly becoming bare and The lands are increasingly becoming bare and barren, unproductive, caked and ugly and barren, unproductive, caked and ugly and blistering. BAT claims to be engaged in blistering. BAT claims to be engaged in reforestation programs. I am yet to see a single reforestation programs. I am yet to see a single mature tree that BAT has planted in Kuria mature tree that BAT has planted in Kuria district. In any case, the rate of deforestation is district. In any case, the rate of deforestation is far too fast to be equal to the rate of far too fast to be equal to the rate of reforestation.” reforestation.” - Samson Mwita Marwa, a tobacco farmer and former member - Samson Mwita Marwa, a tobacco farmer and former member of Parliament from the Kuria district in Kenya.of Parliament from the Kuria district in Kenya.

DesertificationDesertification

Soil DepletionSoil Depletion

Soil DepletionSoil Depletion

Tobacco is such a hungry plant that it causes Tobacco is such a hungry plant that it causes soil depletion.soil depletion. Take extra nutrients out of the soilTake extra nutrients out of the soil Use up water supplyUse up water supply

Once the farmer’s land is no good, BAT picks Once the farmer’s land is no good, BAT picks up and moves on to another farmers land up and moves on to another farmers land leaving the original farmer with no resources leaving the original farmer with no resources for work or survival.for work or survival.

Chemical Poisoning / ToxinsChemical Poisoning / Toxins

During the first 3 months of life, tobacco During the first 3 months of life, tobacco plants require 16 chemical treatments.plants require 16 chemical treatments.

Fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides poison Fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides poison farm workers, seep into the soil and pollute farm workers, seep into the soil and pollute waterways and ecological systems, and poison waterways and ecological systems, and poison livestock and food crops. livestock and food crops.


55% of tobacco growers in Southern Brazil 55% of tobacco growers in Southern Brazil were not using the recommended protective were not using the recommended protective clothing, including masks, gloves, boots and clothing, including masks, gloves, boots and long-sleeved or water-repellent overshirts.long-sleeved or water-repellent overshirts.

BAT sells the protective suits for $37 each BAT sells the protective suits for $37 each which is equivalent of more than one quarter which is equivalent of more than one quarter of the average monthly salary of tobacco of the average monthly salary of tobacco farmers in the region.farmers in the region.


To Americans, this is a warning label, but to To Americans, this is a warning label, but to other cultures, this symbol means medicine.other cultures, this symbol means medicine.

Chemical Poisoning / ToxinsChemical Poisoning / Toxins ““From the day the nursery is laid, to the day the pay check is From the day the nursery is laid, to the day the pay check is

collected, the farmer inhales an assortment of chemicals, which does collected, the farmer inhales an assortment of chemicals, which does not do him any good. To make maters worse, the farmer has no not do him any good. To make maters worse, the farmer has no protective gloves, gas masks, gun boots or dust-coats during his sad protective gloves, gas masks, gun boots or dust-coats during his sad sentence as a tobacco farmer. Thus, at the end of the farming season, sentence as a tobacco farmer. Thus, at the end of the farming season, the farmer spends all he earned from the crop, sometimes more, to the farmer spends all he earned from the crop, sometimes more, to seek medication. At the Kehancha District Hospital, more that 60% seek medication. At the Kehancha District Hospital, more that 60% of deaths are due to tobacco-related ailments. Infant mortality is also of deaths are due to tobacco-related ailments. Infant mortality is also on the increase as are the incidents of unexplained miscarriages, just on the increase as are the incidents of unexplained miscarriages, just to mention a few…Tobacco nurseries are situated near water to mention a few…Tobacco nurseries are situated near water masses, most times at the source. Thus, as the farmer waters his masses, most times at the source. Thus, as the farmer waters his chemical-drenched seedbed, the water flows back to the river chemical-drenched seedbed, the water flows back to the river carrying with it remmants of such chemicals. It does not need much carrying with it remmants of such chemicals. It does not need much intelligence to figure out that the same water will be used intelligence to figure out that the same water will be used downstream by communities and their animals. The result is a downstream by communities and their animals. The result is a proliferation of all sorts of ailments assaulting man and beast in the proliferation of all sorts of ailments assaulting man and beast in the area…”area…”

- Testimony of Samson Mwita Marwa, tobacco farmer and former Kenya - Testimony of Samson Mwita Marwa, tobacco farmer and former Kenya member of parliament, before the WHO Public hearings on the Framework member of parliament, before the WHO Public hearings on the Framework Convention on Tobacco ControlConvention on Tobacco Control

Green Tobacco SicknessGreen Tobacco Sickness

Unlike most food and cash crops, tobacco Unlike most food and cash crops, tobacco itself can be toxic to workers. Green tobacco itself can be toxic to workers. Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is an occupational illness sickness (GTS) is an occupational illness found among workers harvesting tobacco found among workers harvesting tobacco which is caused by skin absorption of nicotine which is caused by skin absorption of nicotine from contact with wet tobacco leaves. from contact with wet tobacco leaves.


GTS is characterized by symptoms that may GTS is characterized by symptoms that may include nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache, include nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache, dizziness, abdominal cramps, difficulty in dizziness, abdominal cramps, difficulty in breathing, as well as fluctuations in blood breathing, as well as fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rates. pressure and heart rates.

Local farmers and health care workers often Local farmers and health care workers often confuse these symptoms with heat exhaustion confuse these symptoms with heat exhaustion or pesticide poisoning, especially if pesticides or pesticide poisoning, especially if pesticides have recently been applied to the crop. have recently been applied to the crop.


During harvest time, the average field worker During harvest time, the average field worker may be exposed to up to 600 milliliters of dew may be exposed to up to 600 milliliters of dew or rain on the tobacco plants, the rough or rain on the tobacco plants, the rough equivalent of the nicotine content of 36 equivalent of the nicotine content of 36 cigarettes. This moisture collects on the cigarettes. This moisture collects on the worker’s clothing, effectively wrapping them worker’s clothing, effectively wrapping them in a giant contiguous nicotine patch.in a giant contiguous nicotine patch.

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Tobacco And The Environment Presentation

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