Western Influence: Not Always a Good One

I saw a report on NBC Nightly News on February 10, 2008 that reported a not so positive influence the West is having on China. It seems with the growing limitations and restrictions of smoking in America, the tobacco companies are targeting other countries. Not surprisingly, with their huge population, China has been targeted.

China now makes up one-third of the total population of the smokers of the world. A reported 350 million Chinese now smoke.

The report attributed the outstanding numbers to a good economy. The Chinese people have extra money to spend on cigarettes. It has also become socially popular with the younger generation including women.

Beijing will implement a "NO SMOKING" indoors policy in May. This is attributed to them being the host city to the 2008 Summer Olympics.

As with most things, the tobacco industry in China is run by the government. It is a $30 billion industry. But with 5 million Chinese dying every year, the reporter ended the segment by questioning whether the profit will continue to exceed the health cost. Unfortunately, sometimes Western influences are not always positive ones.