Day Three Hundred Fifty Four, January 11, 2012

~mimo~

the smoker

One third of all cigarettes worldwide is being smoked in China. More than 300 million smokers, about 3000 deaths per day due to smoke related illnesses according to the most recent WHO study. And still, an unbelievable 60 % of the smoking population does not know about health risks associated with smoking…

Children as young as 3 years old have been seen smoking and inhaling smoke in China with pride. It certainly hurts to watch this go on, especially in a country where air pollution alone can blacken your unsuspecting lungs…

Photo taken: woman smoking on a cold day on a Shanghai street

12 thoughts on “Day Three Hundred Fifty Four, January 11, 2012”

  3. Mimo, striking capture, as always.

    Ps(st): Please allow me a humourous digression…the WHO numbers on tobacco-related deaths.

    1 million in China and 6 million globally is the death count courtesy tobacco, according to WHO. Let’s double that to allow for secondary deaths. Let’s double again to account for under-counting. We are at 18 million.

    The earth’s population = 7,000 million. So 0.25% succumb every year to Smoke & Co.

    The earth’s population is growing at 1% every year, so we welcome 70 million every year to Mother Earth. Tobacco takes out 18 million.

    Ailments of the heart, lungs and diabetes consume upwards of 20 million every year. Too much blame seems to be directed towards Smoke & Co. 🙂

    I’m not, for a moment, batting for tobacco consumption! As with all vices, self-regulation is the best regulator. Just a perspective on how seeing numbers in proper context changes the way we interpret reality! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Yes, I totally agree, numbers out of context are quite tricky, however, where I am concerned, even one death out of 7,000 million is too many if the reason is as stupid as an ignorantly self inflicted vice. I believe people should be aware of what the consequences of their actions are as first principle. Tobacco is such a hot issue, and I shy away from shy issues, but seeing children smoking just gets me going…

      Reply

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