WOMEN have an international day...

Why is it that women still have an international day? I keep wondering about this every year when 8th March comes. Is it because women are an unprotected minority? I don't believe so. Yes, you've got it!... The reason why is because women in the 21st century are still discriminated against almost everywhere! Everyone has to accept this. Just have a quick look at most muslim countries, where women still have to wear veils or burkas and cannot ask for a divorce even if their husbands ill-treat them or have other women...However, you don't have to go so far. Look around and you'll find out that discrimination is everywhere... Men and women are different, of course. It is written that they have the same rights, nevertheless there some facts that prove the contrary. Women usually have two jobs (the house and children and their career); statistics say that there are more unemployed women than men and that the companies prefer men to women when it comes to choose from job candidates; their wages are inferior even if they do the same job and a woman always has to prove to the limit that she is good to have some credit in her career. These are facts. So, it seems that women still need an international day for many decades to come...

(picture from the internet - unknown author)

SAY NO TO SMOKING

Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, an addictive stimulant which temporarily improves alertness, memory, and mood, but also forms a strong physical and psychological chemical dependence (addiction). Nicotine, like any stimulant, can also increase anxiety, restlessness, and disturb metabolism. Medical research has determined that tobacco smoking is a major contributing factor towards many health problems, particularly lung cancer (which has a survival percentage of 16.4%), emphysema, and cardiovascular disease. Many countries regulate or restrict tobacco sales and advertising and require warnings to be placed prominently on the product packaging. Many governments now restrict or ban smoking in a variety of public venues. The Portuguese government has recently approved a similar law.

It is known that tobacco kills thousands of people every year. It kills more than the total number of deaths from AIDS, car accidents, suicide, murder, fires and accidental poisonings combined.

If we are intelligent human beings we must say that it is time to STOP! Young people must be aware of the dangers and be strong enough to say NO. You don't have to smoke to be "cool". To be cool is to be healthy!

(picture from the internet - unknown author)