GOOD NEWS!
MORE and more Filipino youths are now attempting to stop smoking cigarettes, a 2007 Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in the Philippines revealed Saturday, May 31, 2008.
According to the survey, 86.1% among current smokers want to stop smoking, 87.1% tried to stop smoking during the past year and 85.9% have received help to stop smoking.
The Manila Times, by Rommel C. Lontayao. June 1, 2008.
Despite the heavy campaigns of the Tobacco industry, it is overwhelming to know that a good number of our youth today actually express the interest to quit the habit of smoking. I mean, many of the ads we see on billboards, TV, and magazines lure people, even the youth, to smoke. And that’s not a good image to our society! It’s good that there are an increasing number of people who try to quit smoking because health problems in the Philippines would most probably experience a positive change. This is one step closer to a cleaner and healthier environment.
AND THE BAD NEWS IS??
The GYTS has also found out that some 8.5 percent of those surveyed were offered free cigarettes by a tobacco company representative. The World Health Organization has raised the alarm on the tobacco marketing net that targets half a billion young people in the Western Pacific Region, warning of the industry’s marketing ploys to hook youngsters into addiction at an early age.
The Manila Times, by Rommel C. Lontayao. June 1, 2008.
This is definitely bad news because the Tobacco industries are finding ways to lure the public once more to patronize their tobacco products. And it’s not only the adults, but also the youth whom they are trying to target. I remember I even saw cigarette packs and sticks that come in different colors and flavors to specifically attract the youth. Even my five year old brother, Aga, became curious and wanted to stick it into his mouth. That is not right.
Why am I so against smoking? Simple, really. It KILLS. Smoking is the single most preventable cause of death and disease. Cigarettes cause more deaths than cocaine, auto accidents, AIDS, alcohol, heroin, fire, suicide and homicide combined. It’s nothing but UNCOOL and downright crazy. Well, unless you really want to suffer the consequences.
What I’m really concerned of is that the Tobacco industry’s taking over the minds of our youth today. Even the DOH and other anti-tobacco advocates concede the fact that media and advertising play big roles in luring young people to smoking. The solution? The government and other health crusaders are now campaigning for a total ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Now this I should support. I hope the Arroyo administration would really focus on this issue.
28 comments:
Repost of my comment from the original post.
Smoking is an addiction. It is hard to avoid once you have picked it up.
Fortunately, I haven't smoked yet. But the rest of my family does. Which means, I'm a victim of second hand smoke everyday.
Second hand smoke is more dangerous to our health. (It's true. Look it up.) It's because the regular smokers are used to exhaling the smoke they intake. Second hand smokers usually don't exhale it, which means that the smoke remains in the lungs.
Save lives (not just your own). Stop smoking. Resist the urge!
RESIST THE URGE OF SMOKING! !
Some smoke because they think it's cool. We see good looking models of big cigarette companies burning their lungs out on commercials. How can something be cool if it kills! Smoking is not cool. And also we should not result to smoking as a means of relaxing and releasing stress.
Others say that smoking is a good way of releasing your stress and also smoking gives you a different feeling. Well, without realizing the cause of it, they became addicted and soon having regrets in the end.
If we haven't tried smoking,we should never start trying it for it wil just lead us to lung cancer. There's a lot more hell results that will ruin you. so better not start with one stick or else you'll never stop!
RESIST THE URGE!
i am for the campaign of total ban for tobacco advertising. smoking is really bad for us and i just don't understand how some people perceive smoking as being cool. people who smoke are selfish because they are not only hurting their health but also the health of the people surrounding them because second hand smoke kills.
We can't deny the fact that more and more people are smoking nowadays. Everywhere you go, you will always see someone, a teenager or an adult smoking.
For me, it depends on the choice of the person. He/she should know the consequences of the risk he or she is taking.
Eventhough the public and the government are launching programs or services which encourages the people to quit, they would not be enough for one to say that the Philippines is a "tobacco-free country."
If you dont smoke, and if you want to try one... FORGET it !! just dont try it... because smoking is really addictive.
Yosi hindi kaya cool kabaligtaran pa nga eh. Papatayin ka lang nito. Tama na i-ban yon kasi maraming kabataan na nahuhulog sa paninigariyo. Wala lang maidudulot nito kung mga sakit puwede na manan maiwasan.
I agree that smoking should be banned. It doesn't do you any good, and money shouldn't be wasted on it.
It's kind of sad though that the "smoking age" is going down. Adults shouldn't let their children experience the same "mistake" they did when they had their first stick.
I believe that, people, especially the youth should be educated on the effects of smoking so that somehow they'll have the urge to stop and quit smoking.
the government and some other anti-smoking advocates can't do anything about it but only lessen the effectiveness of the ads. it is impossible to ban tobacco ads. we have a democratic country!
Hindi sila magbebenta kung walang bibili.
Walang bibili kung walang nagbebenta.
Sino sisisihin?
Basta.
People just have to focus more on its disadvantages more than its advantages.
smoking will only cause severe damage to your lungs. of the country will be "tobacco free" This country will be a better place to live in.
This is a ultimately good proposal for all age groups. Smoking has only one good side - to look godd and have a great time with companions. The rest are bad things, because when a person smokes, his lungs get destroyed, teeth become yellowish, his lifespan is now shortened to have of his normal living days etc. People should now stop smoking and find other pastimes to prevent early death and diseases.
This is good that more and more people are quitting smoking altogether. Smoking is one of the stupidest things ever created and it's only led to many people dying and a peer-pressured life that we live in. Our world would be much better to live in without this smoking and puffing in our daily lives. It's not cool to smoke and that should be in the mind of everyone. You will die so early that you won't get to do what you want, it's not a good thing and you will leave many people hurt because of that. And the government should copy what the US is doing. Make smoking banned in public places. Have places where you can smoke and the country would be much better and disciplined. I hate seeing people throw cigarette butts on the ground carelessly. It's polluting the earth and they are doing it all around us. We should be more disciplined. And I think we really really lack that.
RESIST THE URGE!
Why pay for an heavy burdened future with a Php 1.50 cigarette? Why waste your good lungs for a minute of "relaxation"?
-alg
smoking is bad and many people are dying due to smoking even though some don't smoke.That's why i am advocating a total ban of selling and using of cigarettes other than for medical purposes
smoking is not good for the health, it is just another problem fro the health and for the community.
Smoking KILLS!
We must understand that smoking not only destroys our health but also destroys the health of the people around us. Studies show that the second-hand smokers (meaning the ones who inhale the smoke)are more prone to greater risk of getting lung cancer. So if you are a concerned citizen and doer of God's will, STOP SMOKING!!!
my dad smokes because of problems. but smoking doesn't solve the problem. smoking only creates trouble for your lungs. its not good to smoke. bring back the fresh, smoke-free air. stop smoking.
Smoking itself can not be bad since its started by him/herself
but the thing is there should be a place for smoking so that the two groups(smoker, non-smoker) can be divided not to harm each other.
though it does not consider the health of smoker....but it was his choice.
hopefully the government strictly implement its project..they should also campaign on how health is very important and how a cigarette can be the cause of their death..
If you smoke or not,it's your own choice, No one can dictate or manipulate you on doing that thing or not. But for smokers, i think there should be a proper place for you to smoke so that they cant bother each other.
If you smoke or not,it's your own choice, No one can dictate or manipulate you on doing that thing or not. But for smokers, i think there should be a proper place for you to smoke so that they cant bother each other.
Smoking is probably one of the hardest habits to kick, so I've heard. It is an addiction and it can easily destroy you. The side effects of smoking is a high price to pay for a few minutes of relieved stress. There are numerous other ways of relieving stress and it's really all up to YOU to make the choice.
RESIST THE URGE! : )
Total ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship... Good idea. It may not be that realistic but its worth fighting for.
First thing first to be able to accomplish this concept our government must be able to create programs that would inform families about what to do to avoid their children being exposed to cigars because most cases of young smokers result from family issues.
Isang mahalagang ironiya (na maaaring idaan sa isang tanong) ang makikita sa balitang binigyan ng kumento rito: sa kabila ng dumaraming bilang ng mga naninigarilyong kasulukuyang nagnanais na tumigil sa ganitong gawain, bakit tila hindi pa rin masugpo ang laganap na adiksyon na ito?
Totoo, magandang balita na sa kasalukuyan, marami na ang nagnanais na tigilan ang paninigarilyo. Kabigha-bighaning mahigit pa sa walumpung porsyento (80%) ng mga kasalukuyang naninigarilyo ang nagnanais at sumubok nang tumigil sa adiksyong ito. Ika nga, “the first step to solving a problem is to identify that there is a problem”. Kung gayon, isang malaking hakbang tungo sa pagresolba sa laganap na paninigarilyo ang lantarang pagdeklara ng mga nasabing kasulukuyang naninigarilyo ng kanilang pagnanais na tumigil sa pagkonsumo ng nasabing produkto. Nangangahulugan ito na, marahil, dumarami na ang malay ukol sa mga masasamang naidudulot ng paninigarilyo sa katawan ng tao, na maaari itong makamatay.
Subalit, hindi pa rin maipagkakailang laganap pa ring hindi pa rin tuluyang nasusugpo ang problemang ito. Ang tanong: bakit? Kung titignang mabuti, malaking sisi ang binibigay sa mga kumpanyang nasa industrya ng tobacco. Ayon nga sa kumento, 8.5 porsyento ng mga lumahok sa survey ay binigyan ng libreng sigarilyo. Hindi rin maipagkakailang laganap ang mga advertisements na umeenganyo sa mga mamimiling bumili ng sigarilyo. Kung tutuusin, tila ang mga kabataan na nga ang target ng mga advertisements na ito. Pati ang packaging ng mga bagong brands ng mga sigarilyo ay inayos upang maakit ang mga kabataang mamimili. Kung gayon, dapat ba talagang ibigay lahat ng sisi sa mga kumpanyang nagbebenta ng nasabing produkto? Sa aking palagay, hindi.
Una sa lahat, ang pagbebenta ng sigarilyo ang ikinabubuhay ng mga kumpanyang nasa tobacco industry. Kung gayon, ang tuluyang pagba-ban sa nasabing produkto ay mangangahulugang unti-unting pagbagsak ng nasabing industriya. Samakatuwid, maraming mawawalan ng trabaho kung aalisin sa merkado ang sigarilyo. Ngunit, sapat an ba iyon upang ang mga nasabing kumpanya ang bigyan ng malaking sisi para sa laganap na paninigarilyo ng mga Pilipino? Sa palagay ko, muli, hindi. Siguro, masisisi lamang ang mga nasabing kumpanya sa pagpapalabas ng mga produktong ang mga kabataan ang target. Ngunit, tumutupad naman kasi ang mga nasabing kumpanya sa paglalagay sa mga karton ng sigarilyo ng babalang: Government warning: smoking is dangerous to your health.
Kung gayon, sino ang dapat sisihin? Ang gobyerno? Marahil. Maaring sabihin na hindi sapat ang mga programang ipinapalabas ng gobyerno upang palawakin ang kaalaman ng Pilipino sa mga masasamang maidudulot ng paninigarilyo sa katawan. Subalit, sa gobyerno na lamang ba dapat aasa upang masugpo ang mga problemang sa bawat indibidwal naman talaga nakasasalay?
Sa puntong ito, mahalagang tandaan na ang pagbabago sa isang pambansang phenomenon ay maaari lamang malutas kung sisimulan ang pagbabago sa mismong sarili. Ang panininigarilyo, kung gayon, ay maaari lamang masugpo kung ang mismong naninigarilyo ay pipiliing tumigil na sa nasabing gawain. Subalit, hindi madaling makamit ito. Kailangan ng tulong ng mga taong nasa paligid, lalo na ang pamilya na itinuturing na pundasyon ng lipunan.
Mas madali sigurong malimitahan at maiwasan ang paninigarilyo kung ang mga kapamilya ng naninigarilyo ay tutol mismo rito. Sa pamilya (at tahanan), ika nga, unang natututo ang bata. Samakatuwid, kung ang mga miyembro ng pamilya ay tulong-tulong sa pagbubukas ng mata ng mga nakababatang miyembro sa masasamang naidudulot ng paninigarilyo sa katawan, marahil ay hindi maeengganyong manigarilyo ang mga kabataang ito. Mahalagang magsilbing magagandang halimbawa ang mga magulang upang hindi mahikayat ang mga anak na manigarilyo.
Mas magiging madali rin, di umano, kung pati ang mga taong nasa labas ng pamilya ay tutulong upang hikayatin ang mga naninigarilyo na tigilan na ang pagkonsumo ng nasabing produkto. Halimbawa, kung naninigarilyo ang kaibigan mo, mas makatutulong ka kung pipigilan mo siyang manigarilyo. Totoo, maaaring mag-tunog-nanay (o tatay) ka sa pagpipigil sa kanyang manigarilyo pero mas mabuting kaibigan ka kung pipigilan mo siyang ipagpatuloy ang isang gawaing alam mong ikapapahamak niya.
Subalit, walang silbi ang mga hakbang na gagawin ng mga kapamilya o ng mga kaibigan kung ang mismong taong naninigarilyo ay ayaw tumigil sa gawaing ito. Muli, ang pagbabago ay dapat magsimula sa sarili. Maliban dito, ang paninigarilyo, tulad ng iba pang gawain, ay isang choice. Hawak natin ang takbo ng buhay natin. At ang kapalaran natin ay nakasalalay sa mga choices na pipiliin natin. Pinili ng taong naninigarilyo na manigarilyo siya. At matitigil lamang ang paninigarilyo kung pipiliin din niyang tumigil sa gawaing ito.
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