crumb trails » warning http://crumb-trails.com i left a mark somewhere Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:30:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 No to Smoking http://crumb-trails.com/2008/07/26/no-to-smoking/ http://crumb-trails.com/2008/07/26/no-to-smoking/#comments Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:46:42 +0000 Salve http://crumb-trails.com/?p=755 Last night two of my colleagues and I covered an event in Katipunan called “One Smoke-Free Night,” a benefit concert for project Brave Kids. It was also an avenue to raise public awareness on the health hazards of cigarette smoking. One of the event’s organizer was FCAP or Framework Convention on tobacco control Alliance Philippines. Currently, the organization is pursuing the passing of House Bill (HB) 3364 or the Picture-Based Health Warning Bill, which, when approved, graphic photos of the effects of smoking to ones health will replace the usual text warning in cigarette packs. The picture-based warning will be placed on the back panel of the cigarette package, the picture will occupy at least fifty percent of the back panel and the text warning must be in Filipino. In addition, no misleading descriptions should be placed in cigarette packs like “light or low tar,” because no matter how “light” or “low” the tar content is, it will still have the same effect in a person’s health.

a sample of how the picture-based warning will look like in cigarette packs

Picture-based health warning is already being implemented in countries like Singapore, Thailand, Venezuela, Uruguay, UK, Australia, Switzerland, Panama, Hong Kong, Romania, New Zealand, and India. FCAP believes it is high time the same rule should be applied in the Philippines. Right now, the average Filipino does not really have a clear image of the dangers of smoking or being exposed to cigarette smoke. The picture-based warning will achieve that, thus, reducing the number of smokers if not totally eradicating the habit.

FCAP is trying to collect signatures to support HB 3364 and has an online petition in their website. If you believe in this cause, get involved and sign the petition here or here. Also, FCAP has another event coming, “Run 4 Ur Life,” again to promote the Picture-based Health Warning. It will be held at UP Diliman Campus on August 17. Additional information can be viewed here.


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