Last updated: May 15, 2010
Source: The Examiner
Tobacco causes 5 million people to die each year, and the number is getting bigger. It could be as high as 10 million per year by 2020. Tobacco is a deadly product that kills half of those who use it. Tobacco causes suffering, disability, and premature death all over the world. For more information visit the World Health Organization.
Protest at Philip Morris International shareholder meeting
Every year tobacco companies report on their profits to shareholders. On May 12th 2010, a group of nurses from around the USA attended the Philip Morris International shareholder meeting in New York. The nurses believe that it is not socially responsible for tobacco companies to continue to market and promote their deadly products. The nurses belong to a group called the Nightingales Nurses, who are nurses around the world speaking out against Big Tobacco. If you would like to support the nurses in their efforts to save lives please visit their website at www.nightingalesnurses.org
For news on this week’s Philip Morris International shareholder meeting visit the San Francisco Chronicle’s business report.
If you smoke and would like to quit please call 1 800 no butts, or visit NoButts.org or TobaccoFreeCA.com
Quitting smoking has immediate benefits to your health:
After one day: The odds of having a heart attack begin to drop.
After two weeks: Lung function increases by up to 30 percent.
After one year: Excess risk of coronary heart disease is cut in half.
After ten years: Risk of lung cancer drops to one-half compared to continuing smokers.
After fifteen years: Risk of a heart attack is the same as someone who never smoked.