EDITORIAL
READERS WRITE
Be kind and charitable
this holiday season
As we begin another holiday
season, we should all
reflect on what it means
to be kind to others, as
well as trying to help those who
are less fortunate.
It does not take much to smile
at people when we are walking
down the street, even to say hello.
Also, the number of destitute
and homeless families in the city
has surged dramatically over the
last several years. These people
need more assistance, especially
during the holiday season.
While there are those who
are fortunate enough to be in a
good situation, the majority of
homeless people are very sincerely
asking for help, because
they really do need it.
Many organizations have
food and coat drives at this
time of the year to help those in
need, which is very wonderful.
The FDNY and NYPD also have
many activities for those who
are less fortunate, and also visit
hospitals to bring holiday cheer
and goodwill to those who are
sick.
There are many wonderful
organizations that work very
hard to bring holiday cheer to
all New Yorkers, and they are all
to be commended for their wonderful,
dedicated work. Merry
Christmas, Happy Hanukkah,
Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New
Year to all!
John Amato,
Fresh Meadows
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NOTHING GOOD
ABOUT NICOTINE
When it comes to marketing tobacco to youths, it
seems that the more things change, the more they stay
the same.
For years, anti-smoking activists railed against tobacco
companies for using colorful imagery to entice
young people into buying their products. “Joe Camel,”
the anthropomorphic cartoon depicting a camel in
suave situations with a cigarette always hanging from
its lips, became synonymous with such provocative
campaigns until it was discontinued in 1997 amid public
pressure.
In much the same way, according to a lawsuit that
state Attorney General Letitia James filed Tuesday, the
producers of Juul — an e-cigarette considered safer to
traditional smoking — have used “bright, colorful images
of attractive, young models” that “appealed to underage
youth.”
James’ suit further alleges that Juul used other tactics
to engage individuals younger than 18 into buying
vapers, including social media marketing campaigns
that conveniently omitted that the devices contain
nicotine. The attorney general cited a 2018 report which
indicated that approximately 45 percent of followers
of Juul’s Twitter account, as of 2018, were between the
ages of 13 and 17.
The company allegedly also went to a New York City
high school and falsely marketed the devices to freshmen
students (as young as 14) that they were safer than
regular cigarettes.
E-cigarettes and vaping have come under fire in
recent months, as more people turn to vapers such as
Juul to get their nicotine fix. The concern has spiked
amid an outbreak of a mysterious lung ailment linked
to a number of deaths nationwide.
Vaping may be less harmful to the body than regular
smoking, but according to Johns Hopkins University,
there are still many dangers users face — namely
the risk of nicotine addiction.
Nicotine poses a clear and present danger to the human
body. The National Institute of Health notes that
nicotine addiction poses “an increased risk of cardiovascular,
respiratory, gastrointestinal disorders,” reduces
immunity, impacts reproductive health and can
even mutate a person’s DNA — increasing the risk of
cancer.
Simply put, there is no safe way to get your nicotine
fix — regardless of whether you light up or vape.
We applaud James for pursuing companies that use
predatory tactics to rope youths into a life of nicotine
addiction. And we urge our readers to look out for their
loved ones, and help them avoid or kick “the habit.”
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TIMESLEDGER,16 NOV. 22-28, 2019 QNS.COM
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