Say no to tobacco today
The World Health Organisation declared that May 31 must be an awareness for no use of tobacco.
May 31 marks World No Tobacco Day this year.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) created it to unite non-governmental organizations, governments all over the world and people to draw attention to the health problems that tobacco use can cause.
On May 17, 1989, the World Health Organization passed the decision calling for May 31 to be annually known as World No Tobacco Day. This event has been celebrated each year since 1989.
People passionate about the cause usually participate in many activities such as:
- Public marches and demonstrations, often with vibrant banners
- Advertising campaigns and educational programs
- Canvassing to encourage people to stop smoking
- The introduction of bans on smoking in particular places or types of advertising
- Meetings for anti-tobacco campaigners
The tobacco product originated in America and is a product of the fresh leaves of nicotiana plants. It’s sometimes used as an aid in spiritual ceremonies and a recreational drug. The drug was later introduced to Europe in 1559. This turned into an important trade crop because of its increasing popularity.
Medical research showed that tobacco use increased the likelihood of many diseases including heart attacks, strokes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emphysema and many forms of cancer in the 1900’s.
Tobacco is found in:
- Cigarettes and cigars
- Hand rolling tobacco
- Bidis and kreteks (cigarettes containing tobacco with herbs or spices)
- Pipes and water pipes
- Chewing tobacco
- Snuff
- Snus(a moist version of snuff popular in some countries such as Sweden)
- Creamy snuff (a paste consisting of tobacco, clove oil, glycerine, spearmint, menthol, and camphor sold in a toothpaste tube popular in India)
- Gutkha(a version of chewing tobacco mixed with areca nut, catechu, slaked lime and other condiments popular in India and South-East Asia)
