Imagine David Cameron launching No Smoking Week
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 10:59 Think yourselves lucky that we only have No Smoking Day.
In Canada they have National Non-Smoking Week. It began in 1977 and this year's event was launched yesterday with a statement by prime minister Stephen Harper:
“Every year smoking adversely impacts the health of millions of Canadians – including those affected by second-hand smoke – heightening their risk of cancer, heart disease, emphysema and a number of other conditions. It also costs our healthcare system – and therefore taxpayers – a substantial amount of money.
“However, through initiatives such as National Non-Smoking Week, stronger labelling and distribution regulations, a Canada-wide toll-free quitline number and information website, and efforts to combat contraband tobacco, our Government is helping to reduce the smoking rate across the country – especially among youth.
“Despite this positive trend, we recognize that the number of people smoking in our country is still too high, which is why we are continuing our efforts in 2012 to help bring it down further.
“I encourage all Canadians who smoke to make a resolution to quit the habit both for themselves and for their loved ones.”
Interestingly, one of the goals of National Non-Smoking Week is not to encourage but to "prevent people who do not smoke from beginning to smoke and becoming addicted to tobacco".
Campaigners also want to "promote the right of individuals to breathe air unpolluted by tobacco smoke; denormalize the tobacco industry, tobacco industry marketing practices, tobacco products, and tobacco use; and assist in the attainment of a smoke-free society in Canada".
Reader Comments (4)
"Campaigners also want to "promote the right of individuals to breathe air unpolluted by tobacco smoke"
That sounds fair enough to me - if people do not want or like, air that is polluted by tobacco smoke then surely the simplest and fairest way to achieve this, is to allow what so many of us have been calling for, for years - and that is to have "Smoking Bars" and "Non-Smoking Bars".
The "rights of those individuals not wanting to breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke" would be perfectly protected, without having to bring in any more new laws. It would be protected by the non or anti-smokers themselves.
Simple and cost effective!
Oh how charitable of Canada to be so concerned about smokers - like those they force outside of hospitals into Arctic conditions where they end up having amputations because of frost bite - and non-smokers who would be treated as shamefully should they chose not to take the Govt's advice and not smoke.
It's not about Health and the way Canada treats a minority of its citizens proves it. It's also wrong for non-smokers to force their choice on others when both sides could be catered for.
The Czech study that shows smokers cost health services less also shows Canada is a liar using an excuse to punish people it really doesn't want in its country.
If David Cameron put his weight behind such a thing here the Tories would lose the next election.
Imagine David Cameron launching No Smoking Week?
Good grief, it's only a matter of time!
Just like No Smoking Day, it will be a great excuse to smoke even more and for a whole week!
Still, it seems that these days politicians like playing Russian Roulette, or simply opt for the political suicide route!
Maybe that is yet another example of how low grade the politicians of today are, in the main?