Vocabulary:
- alarming – worrying or disturbing
The amount of money people spend on vices is quite alarming. - emission – the production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation
Everybody is worried about gas emissions from old cars and big factories. - diminish – to make or become less; decrease
Your resistance to flu will diminish if you continue to sleep late. - expenditure – the action of spending funds
The government’s expenditures on education and health are supported by the people. - devastation – great destruction or damage
This devastation will continue if we don’t do something about this city’s growing industrial waste.
The alarming increase of tobacco use and the negative effects of it to living organisms and their habitats worry authorities, especially the World Health Organization – WHO. Tobacco use kills more than 7 million people every year, and cost households and government over US$1.4 trillion through healthcare expenditure and loss of productivity. In addition, our environment is at risk due to smoke emissions and cigarette butts thrown around, both of which cause pollution. The trend of tobacco use is clearly not good to us and diminishes the productivity of the citizens and the development of their country.
The World Health Organization, together with government authorities around the world, is taking actions to control tobacco distribution and use. These actions will be strongly implemented to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Getting rid of tobacco worldwide is not an easy task but, controlling tobacco use is a helpful tool to prevent further devastation of human lives and the environment, and to improve the state of every nation.
True or False:
- Tobacco use has negative effects to us and our environment.
- The chemicals coming from tobacco smoke can cause air pollution and are good for our health.
- Tobacco use can affect the productivity of people.
- The World Health Organization and the government authorities worldwide are working together to control tobacco use.
- Tobacco control benefits everyone and contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Express your opinion:
- Why do you think people develop the habit of smoking?
- Smoking makes people look more/less attractive.
- At what age should people be allowed to smoke? Discuss.
- What is the best way to quit smoking?
- Making the world smoke-free can seriously affect the world economy.
Defend your argument:
- “The true face of smoking is disease, death and horror – not the glamour and sophistication the pushers in the tobacco industry try to portray”. – David Byrne
- “Tobacco is the only industry that produces products to make huge profits and at the same time damage the health and kill their consumers”. – Margaret Chan
- “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Will Durant