Superstar DJ, Bob Sinclar and grand slam tennis champion, Victoria Azarenka led a list of celebrities joining forces with the European Commission to celebrate the inaugural Day of the Ex-Smoker.
Events took place in all EU countries to mark the first ever Day of the Ex-Smoker, an initiative of the “Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable” campaign, and the first health awareness day to celebrate the achievements of ex-smokers everywhere. By making role models of all ex-smokers, including the 400,000 people who have signed up to quit smoking with free online tool, iCoach, it is hoped that thousands more will be inspired to kick the habit. Parliament cigarettes.
Sinclar and Azarenka joina host of other celebrities from around Europeto applaud those who have won one of life’s toughest battles - quitting smoking. The European Lung Foundation (www.europeanlung.org), Education for Health, (www.educationforhealth.org)and other health organisations, charities and leading employers are also joining in the celebrations. It is hoped that the Day of the Ex-Smoker will show those still struggling with tobacco, that the life of the ex-smoker is something worth striving for.
Speaking at a public event, atParc du Cinquantenaire, Brussels; European Commissioner for Health, Tonio Borg said: “Congratulations to all ex-smokers! Ex-smokers are heroes for fighting and winning against addiction to cigarettes, and a source of inspiration to others. I am pleased that many people are embracing a life free of tobacco and I very much hope that this will indeed inspire many more people to follow.”
The public event was especially for ex-smokers who were in Brussels and got the chance to meet world renowned DJ, Bob Sinclar who, to celebrate the Day of the Ex-Smoker, has donated 1,000 free downloads of his new song, “Summer Moonlight”. Speaking at the event, he explained that getting involved with the campaign was down to his appreciation for the benefits of a smoke free environment after working for years in clubs. He said:
“Now that smoking is banned in most clubs the environment is so much better for the crowd and for me – I can see better, my clothes don’t smell and I know my health isn’t suffering from 2^nd hand smoke.
“Ex-smokers have more money, better health, a better quality of life...and they certainly smell better. When you quit you’re making a conscious decision to choose life, to choose your own success. That’s why we’re celebrating today.”
Launched in 2011, “Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable” is an EC flagship campaign, aimed at reversing the annual toll of 700,000 preventable deaths linked to tobacco across the EU.Aimed specifically at the 28 million EU smokers aged from 25 to 34, “Ex-Smokers are Unstoppable” uniquely shifts the focus away from reiterating the dangers of smoking and highlights the benefits of quitting.  The campaign’s science-based, free health tool, iCoach is available in 22 EU languages.
The Day of the Ex-Smoker follows another recent innovation of the campaign, ‘Quit Smoking WithBarca’, the European Commission's partnership with international football club, FC Barcelona. This program is currently supporting more than 70,000 people quit smoking.
As the ‘Day of the Ex-Smoker’ events continue across Europe, it is hoped that a new tradition is being formed: that of congratulating ex-smokers and celebrating health.

Smoking ban group turns in signatures

A local group that is pushing for an indoor smoking ban has submitted a petition to the city.
Smoke-Free St. Joseph has been gathering signatures since Aug. 1, with a goal to bring a smoking ban in front of the voters. The county clerk must now verify the group received 2,190 signatures of registered voters in St. Joseph in order to proceed.

“We check each and every signature because sometimes you can tell if a husband signed for a wife. But all in all it goes pretty quickly,” said Mary Baack-Garvey. “We’ll get started on them as soon as we get them.”

Ms. Baack-Garvey said she expected the signatures in her office by Friday afternoon. If that’s the case, they should be certified before her staff leaves for Thanksgiving.

The petition filed by Smoke-Free St. Joseph calls for a ban in all indoor public places, with the exemption of 10 percent of hotel rooms or in membership clubs when no employees are present. It would allow smoking on the casino gaming floor, until casinos in Jackson, Platte or Clay counties go smoke free.

Paula Heyde, city clerk, said once the petition is certified, the City Council has 60 days to consider the ordinance. In that time they can either the pass the ordinance as written, or submit it to the voters. If the council refuses to adopt it as is, the ordinance will appear on a ballot “not less than 30 days or not more than 180 days from the date of the final council vote,” Ms. Heyde said. Davidoff cigarettes online.

It’s unlikely the issue will appear during the April general election, unless the City Council immediately decides to push the issue to the voters.

The council also has the option to negotiate the parameters of the ordinance, but only if Smoke-Free St. Joseph is willing to do so.

Dr. Jane Schwabe, co-chairwoman of Smoke-Free St. Joseph, said they do not expect the council to adopt their proposal. The group drafted the petition in May, after the council voted 6-3 to drop all discussions of a smoking ban.

“We would just like to get it on the ballot as soon as possible,” she said.