this year’s observance of world no tobacco day focuses on “gender and tobacco, with an emphasis on marketing to women”.
although fewer than 1 out of 10 women are smokers, that still adds up to an estimated 200 million women around the world. moreover, that number could grow, since the tobacco industry is spending heavily on advertisements that target women and associate tobacco use with beauty and liberation.
according to a recent study by the world health organization (who), the number of girls and boys who smoked was about equal in half the 151 countries surveyed. this finding is even more worrisome since young people who smoke are likely to continue in adulthood.
evidence indicates that the prevalence rate of tobacco use among women is on the rise in some countries. governments everywhere must take action to protect women from tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, as stipulated in the who framework convention on tobacco control.
the convention also calls on governments to protect women from second-hand tobacco smoke — especially in countries where women feel powerless to protect themselves and their children. as who data show, of the 430,000 adults who die each year from second-hand smoke, nearly two thirds are women.
around the world, more than 1.5 million women die each year from tobacco use. most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. without concerted action, that number could rise to 2.5 million women by the year 2030.
we must turn back the global tobacco epidemic. on world no tobacco day, i urge all governments to address this public health threat. tobacco use is not stylish or empowering. it is ugly and deadly.
The Flag of the World Health OrganizationThe World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialised United Nations agency which acts as a coordinator and researcher for public health around the world. Established on 7 April 1948， and headquartered in Geneva， Switzerland， the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor， the Health Organization， which had been an agency of the League of Nations. The WHOs constitution states that its mission “is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.”
Its major task is to combat disease， especially key infectious diseases， and to promote the general health of the peoples of the world. Examples of its work include years of fighting smallpox. In 1979 the WHO declared that the disease had been eradicated - the first disease in history to be completely eliminated by deliberate human design. The WHO is nearing success in developing vaccines against malaria and schistosomiasis and aims to eradicate polio within the next few years. The organization has already endorsed the worlds first official HIV/AIDS Toolkit for Zimbabwe from October 3， making it an international standard.
The WHO is financed by contributions from member states and from donors. In recent years the WHOs work has involved more collaboration， currently around 80 such partnerships， with NGOs and the pharmaceutical industry， as well as with foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. Voluntary contributions to the WHO from national and local governments， foundations and NGOs， other UN organizations， and the private sector (including pharmaceutical companies)， now exceed that of assessed contributions (dues) from its 193 member nations.
the flag of the world health organizationthe world health organization (who) is a specialised united nations agency which acts as a coordinator and researcher for public health around the world. established on 7 april 1948， and headquartered in geneva， switzerland， the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor， the health organization， which had been an agency of the league of nations. the who's constitution states that its mission “is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.” its major task is to combat disease， especially key infectious diseases， and to promote the general health of the peoples of the world.
examples of its work include years of fighting smallpox. in 1979 the who declared that the disease had been eradicated - the first disease in history to be completely eliminated by deliberate human design. the who is nearing success in developing vaccines against malaria and schistosomiasis and aims to eradicate polio within the next few years. the organization has already endorsed the world's first official hiv/aids toolkit for zimbabwe from october 3， ， making it an international standard.
This year's observance of World No Tobacco Day focuses on “Gender and tobacco, with an emphasis on marketing to women”.
Although fewer than 1 out of 10 women are smokers, that still adds up to an estimated 200 million women around the world. Moreover, that number could grow, since the tobacco industry is spending heavily on advertisements that target women and associate tobacco use with beauty and liberation.
According to a recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of girls and boys who smoked was about equal in half the 151 countries surveyed. This finding is even more worrisome since young people who smoke are likely to continue in adulthood.
Evidence indicates that the prevalence rate of tobacco use among women is on the rise in some countries. Governments everywhere must take action to protect women from tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, as stipulated in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
The Convention also calls on Governments to protect women from second-hand tobacco smoke — especially in countries where women feel powerless to protect themselves and their children. As WHO data show, of the 430,000 adults who die each year from second-hand smoke, nearly two thirds are women.
Around the world, more than 1.5 million women die each year from tobacco use. Most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Without concerted action, that number could rise to 2.5 million women by the year 2030.
We must turn back the global tobacco epidemic. On World No Tobacco Day, I urge all Governments to address this public health threat. Tobacco use is not stylish or empowering. It is ugly and deadly.
No Tobacco Day
Great days to be remembered seldom come, but small ones surround us daily.
I do not have a Roman holiday, but I have a non smoking day instead.
Today a nc-smoking sign easily hooks up my interesting and rewarding experience on the world non smoking day a few years
As a high school student, I, together with my friends, volunteered on a campaign to discourage public smoking by persuacling people in public places to extinguish their cigarettes and put the cigarette ends into our metal boxes. And we would in return give them a memorial sticker bearing patterns and words voicing the theme of the non smoking day.
The first step is never a fast step. After hunting for quite a while, we set our target on a young man who was enjoying his cigarette at a bus stop. Embracing the philosophy of “nothing ventured, nothing gained”, we summoned up all our courage,walked up and asked, “Sir, would you please not smoke in public places?” “It is none of your business! Why are you so busily engaged in such things? Go and mind your own exams!” He was great, I believed, for he was able to drag on his cigarette while at the same time not giving his tongue a break. And I further found out that for this man, such words as “good for your health” or “good for common courtesy” had long lost their appeal. Maybe such kind of situation should call for some other policy. I managed a smile, blended with sweet words and tried to dilute his resistance. And when we put the sticker on his clothes, he was lingering over the joy of having done us “a big favor.”
Now you see, maybe flattery should be vindicated, for to please is a great step toward persuading and a smile is a curve that sets everything straight.
Our work ran smoothly when things began easy to handle in the afternoon. But don't worry. Troubles are just around the corner. The second hard rock we met was a middle aged man who appeared to be more of a smoking addict than a smokingenthusiast. Nothing seemed to be capable of extinguishing that cigarette. Even the wind seemed to be powerless. We showed him the cigarettes filled metal box. We spotlighted the hazards of public smoking. But all was in vain.
Mark Twain was right, habit is habit, not to be flung out of window by anyone, but to be coaxed downstairs one step at a time. I then tried to peel the stubborn onion one layer at a time.“Ok, I know how you feel. But do you know how other people around you feel?” “You see that child? Actually he smokes more of your cigarette than you do!” “In fact, you are extinguishing one cell of lung cancer when you extinguish your cigarette. You are extinguishing one cell of the disease of selfishness when you extinguish your cigarette.” It is that maybe that constant drops do wear the stone. At last he extinguished our words by extinguishing his cigarette.
As the sinking sun tinted the horizon, we began to count the cigarette ends, savoring our little victories.
That day saw me toiling for 6 hours, inviting loads of troubles, collecting 57 cigarette-ends,savoring hundreds of potential second hand smokers and developing for myself some sense of responsibility toward society.