Bill Gates says no to involuntary smoking

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Pakhi Hussain

11 June, 2011

The Microsoft leader in a conference in China urged people to say no to passive smoking. China, where 30 per cent of the population smokes, faces serious health hazard due to the influence of smoking.

THE MICROSOFT founder said no to involuntary smoking at a press conference in China on Saturday. The philanthropist is presently visiting China to spread awareness regarding the harmful effect of second-hand smoke.

The businessman along with Chinese Internet executive Robin Li and Vice Health Minister Huang Jiefu attended the conference, which was held in Beijing and urged the non-smokers to understand their right to a smoke-free environment. They asked the people to be aware of the harm involved in passive smoking, and encouraged the people of China to ask for a smoke-free environment, which is their right.

China faces a great death threat from this health hazard. Around 1 million people every year die due to smoking related causes. This is an alarming figure and the people in China should take special care. Nearly 30 per cent of the Chinese people smoke, which is roughly around 300 million people; roughly equivalent to the entire population of the United States.

Passive smoking, which looks harmless, actually causes a lot of harm to the body. It can cause asthma attacks, ear and respiratory infections, and cancer. The Microsoft iconic leader and the panellist present in the conference put on a green coloured T-shirt with the slogan, “ Say no to Involuntary Smoking”. Gates and Robin Li also signed an agreement to form a alliance between their charitable foundations called, “Alliance for Healthy China.”