Silver Spring, Maryland—--In support of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is joining the World Health Organization (WHO) in calling for a total ban on the marketing, advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco and tobacco-related products.

ADRA's World No Tobacco Day 2008 campaign titled "Cigarettes Make Dangerous Playmates" is echoing calls made by WHO to protect young people against the aggressive marketing practices of the tobacco industry by asking policy makers, non-governmental organizations, and the general public to support a complete ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. Banning tobacco advertising is the most effective way of protecting young people from an industry that spends tens of billions of dollars on marketing every year, says WHO.

"Tobacco usage is still the leading cause of preventable deaths around the world," said Charles Sandefur, president of ADRA International. "ADRA is committed to reducing and, ultimately, eliminating the number of deaths caused by tobacco consumption. For this reason, ADRA is working around the world to save lives, by raising awareness about the dangers of smoking, helping smokers quit, and ensuring that millions of others never start."

In Laos, where estimates suggest that 59 percent of males and 13 percent of females smoke, ADRA was recently awarded an $87,550 grant from the Bloomberg Global Initiative to reduce the level of tobacco usage in Laos, as well as develop and support national legislation that promotes widespread tobacco control. The grant is part of a $125 million initiative launched by Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City, to reduce tobacco use in low and middle-income countries, where the majority of the world's smokers live. The 24-month project, which is currently being implemented by the ADRA office in Laos, was launched in August 2007 and will run through July 2009.

"The tobacco epidemic is one of the greatest public health challenges in the Southeast Asia region, with one out of four tobacco-related deaths in the world happening in this region, " said Daniel Livingston, program director for ADRA Laos.

WHO reports that tobacco use is the second leading cause for death in the world, killing one in ten adults worldwide.

In Cambodia, which has one of the highest rates of smoking in the world, with an estimated 54 percent of men lighting up, more than 70,000 people die each year due to cigarette smoking, according to a recent survey jointly conducted by the Cambodian Ministry of Health and WHO. In this Southeast Asian country, ADRA has been implementing World No Tobacco Day activities in conjunction with six schools in the capital city Phnom Penh to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco consumption. Recent student marches along the six major highways leading out of Phnom Penh have been aimed at encouraging the Cambodian National Assembly to enforce stricter laws to protect the nation's youth. Youth-focused anti-tobacco activities will continue to be held throughout the month.

According to the Oxford Health Alliance, tobacco usage claims five million lives every year. By the year 2020, that number is expected to double, with 70 percent of those deaths coming from developing countries.

To find out more about how to join ADRA in the fight to eliminate tobacco consumption or to obtain free World No Tobacco Day resources, please contact ADRA at 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) or go online at www.adra.org

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Author: Nadia McGill

Media Contact: Hearly Mayr ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.6376 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org