The Tobacco plant is a native of the Americas and was originally used by native Americans as part of their spiritual ceremonies. It was brought to Europe in 1559 by Jean Nicot, the French ambassador to Portugal. Over the years it became and still is an important crop not only for the economies of the countries which grow it but also for the large manufacturers.

In recent years many studies have shown how the ingestion of the tobacco plant in any way whether it be by smoking, chewing or anything else is very harmful to not only our own health but also to those around us. As more and more people in the western world give up smoking the large manufacturers of cigarettes have focussed their marketing efforts on the third world. (Personally, I think this is appalling and they should find a new and healthier product which they could offer the whole world).  

World Health Organisation resolution

The World Health Organisation (WHO) passed a resolution back in 1989 making today 31st May World No Tobacco day because it was the 40th anniversary of the creation of the WHO. That in itself is worthy of celebration because  without WHO the Corvid 19 pandemic would probably have been a lot worse. I am also sure they and governments have learned a lot to help guide us through future pandemics.

So in an effort to protect world health, today is a day when governments and other organisations will again be raising the awareness of the dangers of tobacco products and probably taking more measurers to restrict the use of them. In much of the world you can no longer smoke in public places and this month the EU and UK have banned the production and sale of menthol cigarettes because they believed, the minty taste encourages children to start smoking.  

So for those of us who still smoke I suppose it is time to “hang up our pipes”. Well at least for today because I will have to when I finish my stock of menthol cigarettes and in the meantime I will abstain for today.