In Cambodia, One Doctor's War On Smoking

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NPR's Joe Palca at the Samrong Andet pagoda with head monk Seun Than.

April 28, 2001 -- To expand the markets for their wares, tobacco companies are heavily promoting smoking to the poor countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. With the increased smoking inevitably will come an explosion of smoking-related disease.

In Cambodia, one 38-year-old doctor is mounting a counter-offensive to the tobacco blitz. His name is Dr. Yel Daravuth; his allies are Buddhist monks, who are reinterpreting their master's teachings into a powerful anti-smoking message.

One of Daravuth's allies is Seun Than, head monk at the Samrong Andet pagoda in Phnom Penh. "In my temple, I ban all smoking," says Seun Than. "Before one wishes to become monk, he must stop smoking."

If Daravuth keeps winning converts, it could change the smoking behavior of practicing Buddhists all over Cambodia, and perhaps in other Buddhist countries as well.

Listen as NPR's Joe Palca reports on Weekend All Things Considered.