World No Tobacco Day, sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) was observed across the world on May 31, 2012.
The day has been observed since 1987. It draws attention to the prevalence of tobacco use and the negative health consequences that lead to nearly five and a half million deaths in the world each year. Despite the resistance to anti-tobacco initiatives, World No Tobacco Day spreads a message of health and reason to everyone and is met with much discussion from public health organizations, the tobacco industry, and regular every day people.
Find out more about World No Tobacco Day here: www.who.int.
Our contributor says :
"Although the government of India is helping and encouraging its citizens to quit tobacco, plenty of people still use the substance. One can see evidence of this in hotels, restaurants, and other public places — even after putting up a sign that says, "No Smoking Zone." People still try to smoke, even though they know what the results of smoking are. Men especially can't resist a smoke after they eat. Sometimes men smoke to show their status in society.
But, there are two sides of a coin and two sides of a story in each case.
One side is health: In India, much public awareness is created by social organization such as the WHO Cancer society. NGOs also have taken part in efforts — even the government of India.
Another side is death: Everyone knows that as a result of smoking you can suffer from lung cancer or other cancers, or health problems such as heart disease or asthma. Still, manufacturers produce cigarettes of all shapes, sizes and flavors to entice the public."