I’ve written about smoking several times in the past because “…a billion people will die this century from tobacco-related illnesses….” And everyone knows that smoking is bad for you, so why is it that smokers just don’t give a crap?

Sorry, but as a sidebar… I know this person who is a smoker and also a die-hard environmentalist. Can someone please tell me how you can complain about me driving a gas guzzling vehicle when the production of cigarettes is causing massive deforestation along with the production of waste from consumption (including paper and plastic packaging and cigarette butts)? I mean seriously, if you smoke you don’t give a damn.

Globally, tobacco curing requires 11.4 million tons of solid wood annually, according to Geist’s study. Adding insult to injury, tobacco plants may replace the trees cut down and leach large quantities of vital nutrients from the soil.

Worldwide, an estimated 5.5 trillion commercially produced cigarettes were consumed in 1995 (the last year for which statistics are available) and 83% of cigarettes were filter-tipped. Filters and plastic wrap from packages remain in the environment for long periods. Cigarette filters contain cellulose acetate, which persists under normal environmental conditions for 18 months or longer. Moreover, cigarette butts pose a health hazard to children and animals if they eat them.

Anyway, back to the point at hand. I’ve assembled a nice little collection of videos from around the Web that focus on the effects of cigarettes. If you’re a smoker, feel free to go ahead and ignore these. It’s always better not to know whats coming…
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“Having a smoking area in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool.”

Note to all those in the hospitality industry that if you work around a bunch of smokers, even if you don’t smoke, the second hand smoke is 45% more likely to kill you.

My favorite quotes from this article:

“…individuals with the highest levels of exposure to passive smoking of 22 hours or more a week may increase their risk of heart attack by about 45%.”

“…if current trends in smoking continues, a billion people will die this century from tobacco-related illnesses…”

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According to the August 7, 2006 edition of Business Week a new law in India makes it the first country to ban images of smoking in TV and film.

In the US, the 20% of adult smokers will be outraged by this infringement on freedom. But in India (one of the poorest nations on the planet), where half of the men and 21% of women smoke, they’ve got an epidemic and they need to do something about it.

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