Back in the 1980s, when World No Tobacco Day was first created, the world was a much different place from how it is now. Although the dangers associated with cigarette smoking were known back then, a much larger percentage of the global population engaged in this harmful activity. To encourage people to quit smoking, the World Health Assembly (WHA) passed a resolution in 1987 that declared April 7, 1988, to be “a world no-smoking day.” People worldwide were encouraged to stop smoking for 24 hours on that day. After that, the WHA declared that the event should occur annually on May 31 and be officially called World No Tobacco Day (WNTD). Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO)—an agency governed by the WHA—has assumed responsibility for this yearly event.
In addition to urging the public to quit smoking and highlighting the risks of smoking, the purpose of WNTD is to inform people about the business practices of tobacco companies. For instance, in 2008, under the theme “Tobacco-free youth,” the WHO emphasized the threat of tobacco promotion to young people and called for a worldwide ban on advertising. In 2023, the focus of the special day was “Grow food, not tobacco,” which was intended to push farmers to grow nutritious crops rather than tobacco.
Each year, the WHO uses the day to promote a wide range of projects aimed at reducing global smoking rates. Despite all these efforts, it is estimated that around eight million people still die annually from the effects of smoking, including 1.3 million deaths from second-hand smoke exposure. Obviously, the WHO’s work is still far from over.
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回到1980年代，世界無菸日首次設立，當時的世界與現在大相逕庭。儘管當時人們已經知道吸菸相關的危害，但全球仍有更大比例的人口從事這項有害活動。為了鼓勵人們戒菸，世界衛生大會於1987年通過一項決議，宣布1988年四月七日為「世界禁菸日（a world no-smoking day）」。世界各地的人們都被鼓勵在這一天的二十四小時內停止吸菸。此後，世界衛生大會宣布該活動應於每年的五月三十一日舉行，並正式命名為世界無菸日（World No Tobacco Day）。自此，世界衛生組織──由世界衛生大會所管理的機構──擔負起這項年度活動的責任。
除了敦促民眾戒菸並強調吸菸的風險外，世界無菸日旨在讓人們了解菸草公司的商業行為。例如在2008年，世界衛生組織以「無菸青少年」為主題，強調推銷菸草對年輕人的威脅，並呼籲全球禁止廣告。2023年，這個特殊日子的重點是「種糧食、不種菸草」，旨在鼓勵農民種植營養作物而不是種植菸草。
每年，世界衛生組織都會利用這一天來推廣各式各樣旨在降低全球吸菸率的計畫。儘管投入了所有這些努力，但根據估計，每年仍有約八百萬人死於吸菸的影響，其中一百三十萬人是因接觸二手菸而逝世。顯然，世界衛生組織的工作離結束還遠著呢。
What Did You Learn?
1. What was the purpose of “a world no-smoking day”?
2. In which year did WNTD focus on the goal of prohibiting all tobacco advertising?
參考答案
1. To encourage people to quit smoking.
2. 2008.
Words in Use
1. percentage n. 比例；百分比
Only a small percentage of the budget was dedicated to advertising.
只有小比例的預算專用於廣告。
2. declare vt. 宣布，聲明
declare A to be B 宣布A為B
declare + that 子句 宣布∕宣稱……
The official declared the forest to be a protected area.
該官員宣布該座森林為保護地區。
The government has declared that citizens should follow safety guidelines during the storm.
政府宣告人民應在暴風雨期間遵守安全指示。
3. annually adv. 每年地
The couple celebrates their anniversary annually with a family gathering.
那對夫妻每年以家庭聚會的形式慶祝週年紀念日。
4. agency n. 專業機構(如署、局等)
The government agency is responsible for processing and approving applications for visas.
該政府機構負責處理及核准簽證申請。
5. urge vt. 力勸，勸誘
urge sb to V 力勸某人做……
Labor unions urged the president to address the economic crisis immediately.
工會力勸總統立即處理經濟危機。
Practical Phrases
1. kick the habit 戒除習慣
kick the bucket 翹辮子，死去（非正式用法）
標題 Kick the Habit, Not the Bucket 融合兩個動詞片語，用來表達若能戒除吸菸這個壞習慣，就能避免翹辮子。這句話通常用來鼓勵人們克服成癮或其他有害行為。
Bob is determined to kick the habit of drinking too much coffee.
鮑勃下定決心要戒掉喝太多咖啡的習慣。
Joyce kicked the bucket last night after a long illness.
喬伊絲生了很久的病，昨晚去世了。
2. engage in... 從事……
engage vi. 從事
James likes to engage in outdoor activities like hiking and camping.
詹姆斯喜歡從事健行、露營等戶外活動。
3. call for... 呼籲……
The protest calls for changes in government policies to improve road safety.
該項抗議活動呼籲政策需要改變以提升道路安全。
4. be intended to V 目的在於……
The software update is intended to fix bugs.
這次的軟體更新旨在修復缺陷。
5. die from... 因……死亡
The man was involved in a car accident and unfortunately died from serious injuries.
那名男子遭遇車禍，因重傷而不幸喪生。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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