Billionaires Pour Millions Into Anti-Smoking Campaign
Billionaires Pour Millions Into Anti-Smoking Campaign Save Email Print
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(July 24, 2008)--Microsoft founder Bill Gates and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg are pouring $375 million into a global effort to cut smoking.

The billionaire philanthropists say the money will help efforts in developing countries where tobacco use is highest.

There are more than 1 billion smokers worldwide.

The $250 million from Bloomberg and $125 million from Gates will support projects that raise tobacco taxes, help smokers quit, ban tobacco advertising and protect nonsmokers from exposure to smoke.

It will also aid efforts to track tobacco use and better understand tobacco control strategies.

Bloomberg, an ex-smoker, and Gates made the announcement together at a Manhattan news conference.

Gates also hinted it might be just the first of "many things" he and Bloomberg will do together.
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Posted by: Peter Location: San Antonio on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:44 PM
Good for both of these gentlemen. Third world countries cannot afford to have cigarette companies recruit their people to smoke without opposition. These countries have already been devastated by diseases and famine. They can't afford to have their citiens become sick and die of smoking related illnesses. The health care systems in these countries is extremely fragile to begin with. Niever mind the fact that these people can barely afford to feed themselves and their families to being with. All they need is to become addicted to the nicotine in cigarettes.
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