Smoking tobacco has been a part of culture for a long time, especially with the native civilizations of America. Around the year 500, Mayans began smoking calumet, or pipes of peace. The first European that came into contact with tobacco was Christopher Columbus. On November 6, 1492 he, along with two Spaniards, Rodrigo de Jerez and Luis de Torres, set ashore on the island of Guanahana in the Bahamas. They observed how the inhabitants of the island smoked dried and rolled herbs. Jerez was impressed by this activity. When he returned to his hometown in Spain, he began smoking on the street. Here he was arrested because it was thought that this was a form of witchcraft. Only seven years later, he was able to prove his innocence and was freed. However, this could not prevent the spreading of smoking over Europe and the rest of the globe.
The diseases that are directly caused by smoking are lung cancer, COPD, and cardiovascular disease. Smoking also increases the risk of many other diseases. Statistical studies show that smoking, both directly and indirectly, is responsible for many deaths.
The popularity of smoking came many years later. The industrial revolution is responsible for the popularity of the cigarette, because it made mass production possible and this in turn helped the growth of the tobacco industry. This growth spurt in the industry lasted until at least 1975. Smoking became quite normal around 1945. It was a friendly gesture to offer a child a cigarette if they had not yet began to smoke. There were ashtrays provided in all forms in public transportation, such as trams, buses, and trains. These accommodations were also provided in public buildings such as cinemas. It was quite normal for TV shows to be presented by a smoking reporter. Until the 80’s, you could find cups with cigarettes on the tables at hairdressers and beauty salons, teachers stood in the classroom smoking, and you could find students from schools of higher education levels smoking in class. Even celebrities were in movies while smoking tobacco and cigarettes. A smoke-free workplace did not exist or was an extreme rarity. Nowadays, countries each have their own rules and regulations regarding smoking.
The tobacco industry is not allowed to target young people in their advertising. Regardless, young people are still indirectly addressed. The tobacco industry manipulates their advertisements in many ways, in order to influence young people while still following the advertising laws. For example, the tobacco industry sponsors many films. Various studies have shown that watching movies where popular actors are smoking stimulates smoking behavior. The American professor Stanton A. Glantz has been conducting years of campaigns to reduce smoking in movies.
An example of smoking promotion in the past.
10-10-2011 Articles on smoking this month
22-07-2011 Team on vacation! No postings!
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Effects of Second Hand Smoking Studies have shown that the risk of lung cancer by second hand smoking increases by 20%...read more...
