People,
non-governmental organizations and governments unite on World No
Tobacco Day to draw attention to the health problems that tobacco use
can cause. It is held on May 31 each year.
What Do People Do?
World No Tobacco Day is a day for people, non-governmental
organizations and governments organize various activities to make people
aware of the health problems that tobacco use can cause. These
activities include:
- Public marches and demonstrations, often with vivid banners.
- Advertising campaigns and educational programs.
- People going into public places to encourage people to stop smoking.
- The introduction of bans on smoking in particular places or types of advertising.
- Meetings for anti-tobacco campaigners.
Moreover, laws restricting smoking in particular areas may come into effect and wide reaching health campaigns may be launched.
Background
Tobacco is a product of the fresh leaves of nicotiana
plants. It is used as an aid in spiritual ceremonies and a recreational
drug. It originated in the Americas, but was introduced to Europe by
Jean Nicot, the French ambassador to Portugal in 1559. It quickly became
popular and an important trade crop.
Medical research made it clear during the 1900s that tobacco use
increased the likelihood of many illnesses including heart attacks,
strokes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emphysema and
many forms of cancer. This is true for all ways in which tobacco is
used, including:
- 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, glycerin, 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).
On May 15, 1987, the World Health Organization passed a resolution,
calling for April 7, 1988, to be the first World No Smoking Day. This
date was chosen because it was the 40th anniversary of the World Health
Organization. On May 17, 1989, the World Health Organization passed a
resolution calling for May 31 to be annually known as World No Tobacco
Day. This event has been observed each year since 1989.
