LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim May 31, 2010 as World No Tobacco Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on
May 31st; it is meant to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from
all forms of tobacco consumption across the globe; the day is further
intended to draw global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobac-
co use and to negative health effects, which currently lead to 5.4
million deaths worldwide annually; and
WHEREAS, World No Tobacco Day is sponsored by the World Health Organ-
ization to call worldwide attention to the impact of tobacco use on the
public health and has been observed annually since 1988 throughout the
world; and
WHEREAS, The World Health Organization estimates that there are more
than 1.1 billion smokers in the world, about one-third of the global
population aged 15 years and older; and
WHEREAS, Short-term health risks of tobacco use include shortness of
breath, increased heart rate, exacerbation of asthma, impotence, infer-
tility and increased blood levels of carbon monoxide; long-term health
risks caused by tobacco use include heart attack, stroke, cancer and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and
WHEREAS, Second-hand smoke is an established cause of lung cancer in
non-smokers, and exposure to second-hand smoke in the home is a signif-
icant cause of respiratory ailments in children, and Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome; and
WHEREAS, As recently as 1991, over 90 percent of the United States
population, regardless of smoking status, had measurable amounts of a
by-product of cigarette smoke in their bodies -- indicating the exposure
to second-hand smoke was massive; significant progress has been made
since then in reducing these exposures, primarily through State and
local regulations and voluntary policy changes by employers; and
WHEREAS, The best way to reduce nonsmoker exposure to second-hand
smoke, in either public or private places, is to support comprehensive
tobacco control programs that reduce youth initiation and promote cessa-
tion of smoking among all ages; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim May 31, 2010 as World
No Tobacco Day in the State of New York, and to encourage all of its
citizens to participate by not starting to smoke, by attempting to stop,
and by encouraging others to do the same; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York.