31 May was NO Tobacco day!

I Quit......31 May was NO TOBACCO DAY!

Smoking can be considered to be one of the most insidious forms of warfare that the world has ever known. It is in reality a form of warfare waged against our health, whether we like to admit it or not. The problem here of course, is that its casualties are basically willing to partake in what was once considered to be a "cool" form of behaviour. They are compliant and largely unaware that they are willing victims in this global practice!

Since its introduction to the world by Native Americans in the 15th century, It has been reported that nearly 1 billion deaths worldwide are directly attributable to tobacco use.

Despite all the warnings produced by the hard evidence of medical science, people still persist in smoking and contaminating their lungs with the noxious byproducts of the cigarette and pipe! It is an indisputable fact that smoking can, in at least two thirds of the cases, lead to lung cancer.

And smoking doesn’t only cause cancer. It also causes tens of thousands of deaths each year in the UK alone from other conditions, including heart and lung problems. Worldwide, tobacco use caused an estimated 5.1 million deaths in 2004 – that’s one every six seconds!

Early history

Tobacco was first discovered by the native peoples of North and South America who mainly smoked it only on ceremonial occasions, ie. they weren't what we would describe today as "chain smokers" It was later introduced to Europe and the rest of the world by adventurers such as Sir Walter Raleigh

The importation of tobacco into Europe was not without resistance and controversy in the 17th century. King James I penned an attack on tobacco titled:

A Counterblaste to Tobacco in 1604, in which he denounced tobacco use as "[a] custome lothsome to the eye, hatefull to the Nose, harmefull to the braine, dangerous to the Lungs, and in the blacke stinking fume thereof, neerest resembling the horrible Stigian smoke of the pit that is bottomelesse." In that same year, an English statute was enacted that placed a heavy protective tariff on every pound of tobacco brought into England. (Wikipedia)

The World Today

Today the war goes on but its main thrust is between "Big Tobacco" and Government (FDA in the US) and it is reported by the Daily Telegraph that Britain is gradually winning the anti-smoking battle in Europe! "Big Tobacco" has largely turned its attention to the Third World countries!

In the meantime a recent report concluded that "vaping" [the use of e-cigarettes] and nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches and chewing gum, were better health options than smoking, but were costly and not free from health hazards.

(The WHO said last year that e-cigarettes emit toxic chemicals which could be harmful to bystanders and should be banned indoors.)

Truth be told, addicted smokers are addicted to the drug of nicotine, which is a form of substance abuse and they lose the ability or will to quit.

Motivation in the Health interests of some of our WA members, If you are a "chain smoker" its time to quit!

Anyway, its time to stop watching all your hard earned money go up in smoke!

Have a good weekend all you virtuous NON-SMOKERS!