Every year thousands of birds, seals, dolphins and marine mammals die by swallowing or becoming entangled in rubbish, the organisation said.

BBC: St Cyrus beach clean-up volunteers sought

Recruits are reassured by their organisation that their families will be looked after materially until they die, and there are charitable organisations that exist for this purpose.

BBC: Who are the suicide bombers?

Some 70% of Indonesian men older than 20 smoke, and 400, 000 Indonesians die each year from smoking-related illnesses, according to the World Health Organisation.

ECONOMIST: There��s no fiery religious passion