This book is intended for anyone concerned with personal or political health, governance, politics, economics, big business, corporate behaviour, smuggling, tax, religion, internet, allocation of resources, human development and the future. The atlas maps the history, current situation and some predictions for the future of the tobacco epidemic up to the year 2050.
It illustrates how tobacco is not just a simple health issue, but involves economics, big business, politics, trade and crimes such as smuggling, litigation and deceit. The atlas also shows the importance of a multifaceted approach to reducing the epidemic – by WHO, other UN agencies, NGOs, the private sector and, in fact, the whole of civil society.
The publication of this atlas marks a critical time in the epidemic. We stand at a crossroads, with the future in our hands. We can choose to stand aside; or to take weak and ineffective measures; or to implement robust and enduring measures to protect the health and wealth of nations.