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The People On Sunday August 15TH. 2004

This is in response to the letter by Daudi Mwiti, of Nairobi entitled Anti-tobacco propagandists absusing consumer intelligence (Peoplespeak, August 8, 2004) where he vehemently spews forth vitriol on those he contemptuosly refers to as "self-styled do-gooder activists" who are "engaged in opportinistic propaganda and attempted litigation".

he goes on to passionately claim that "the future of tobacco advocacy lies with firsthand counter-propaganda testiomony such as this open letter to the anti-tobacco lobby. I am a 50-year-old kenyan smoker who has enjoyed small cigars since 1975".

Mwiti goes on to state that this enjoyment has been my " entitlement as my human right to enjoy myself". I have no argument with that even as simple calculation shows that he has smoked for 29 years (two years more than my 27 before I quit getting off luckily so far, with only asthma) and seems to show no inclination to quit.

What he has not told us is when was the last time that he went for a medical check-up. The results might shock him out of his complacence. But as he has a right to destroy his health and clog his lungs with toxic chemicals so do I to clean air.

For like all drugs, the effects are not usually immediate and thus many Kenyans treat them casually being more concerened with consequences which are immediate like jumping in front of a speeding bus or otherwise, eating bad food. effects, which will take effect years down the line, never look threatening a twist on the cliche out of soight out of mind.

For anyone with the intelligence to write a passionate letter as penned by Mwiti has either been paid by the tobacco lobby (a normal occurence with them worldwide as they pocket journalists, doctors and other, "respected" memebers of society to try and espouse their cause) or already knows what anybody who is open minded would already know that cigarettes kill - regularly and efficiently.

When he smokes, non-smokers in the vicinity whether in an enclosed or public space breathe in against their will up to 4,0000 chemicals including Hydrogen Cyanide (which is a poison used in gas chambers to execute criminals). Arsenic which is a white ant poison, cadmium used in car batteries, carbon monoxide apoisonous gas in car exhausts, acetone which is a paint stripper and DDT a banned insecticide. That is just a minor sampling.

What about some of the other effecst not commonly known? Everybody talks about cancers and this is mainly because watching a loved one die of cancer is probably one of the most painful experiences a human being can undergo. At the same time these cancers attack the lungs or nose. There is also cancer of the tongue, mouth, salivary glands, pharynx and throat.

Others are cancer of the stomach or kidneys, bladder, penis colon, rectum and anus! For ladies your breasts are at risk if you smoke.

Cases we have recently seen in the media of amputees are probably due to Buergers disease which occurs when blood vessels are blocked cutting off blood flow to certain parts of the body coomonly hands and legs leading to amputation.

Skins diseases like eczema, psoriasis and wrinkling occur. Psoriasis, for example is a non-contagious condition which leaves itchy, red patches all over the body.

But it gets more fun for men when there is reduced bllod flow to the penis resulting in impotence.

Chemicals absorbed into the body also damage sperm leading to babies with birth defects or resulting in miscarriages.

Women too are not spared and it is more difficult for a smoking woman to concieve while much easier for her to have a miscarriage. Chances of still births or babies with low birth weight are higher because the carbon monoxide and nicotine affects the development of the babies.

Mwita should know that these are facts not propaganda. He is welcome to smoke as long as he keeps it to himself. I on the other hand choose not to smoke after learning the facts and making a truly informed decision.

David Ogot Sr.
recoverin alcoholic
Nairobi.

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