Senior High students - smokingDate: November 4, 2001
In Honor of Mayor Terry Duggan and City Council Members
From: Emily Frye
Isaiah Warnke
Abbie Sudmeier
Matt Klinkhammer
Dubuque Senior High School
1800 Clarke Drive
Dubuque, Iowa, 52001
Re: Regarding the issue of smoking in public facilities in Dubuque.
Dear Mayor Terry Duggan:
We the students in Mr. Van Cleve's Global Issues class believe that second hand smoke
is a serious health problem. Not only is second hand smoke dangerous, it is rude to the
people who choose to live healthy, smoke-free lives. Is it right for the unhealthy people
to have the say over how our lungs will look? We believe that smoking in public
facilities such as restaurants, movie theaters, and just about anywhere else that is open to
the public should be illegal. By making entire facilities switch to smoke-free
environments it would not be jeopardizing any businesses since it would be the nde for
all. Would it really be that hard for the smoker to smoke before they went out to eat or
before waiting in the line at the movie theater?
One major factor is money. How much money would our nation save per year on
Medicare/Medicaid alone? As a nation we would save over two billion dollars. Think of
all the improvements we could make with all the extra money in schools alone!
This comes down to health. Thousands of people die each year alone just to second hand
smoke. This is not their own doings and this quote sums up second hand smoke.
"Nonsmokers breathe in the same toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke as the
smokers do, with similar, although smaller effects. The smoke nonsmokers breathe is
known ad second-hand smoke and the process of breathing second-hand smoke is called
involuntary smoking or passive smoking." World Health Organization-Tobacco Free
Initiative.
I think by saying "involuntary smoking or passive smoking", tells exactly how we feel.
We choose not to smoke, yet without cbange, what are we really helping. We know this
is an extremely complex issue, but are willing to do everything we can so that one day
both yours and our health wilt no longer be jeopardized. Thank you for taking the time to
hear our feelings. Please feel free to pass this on to anyone that may be able to help in
furthering this proposal.
Sincerely,
Emily Frye Isiah Warnke Abbie Sudmeier
Matt Klinkhammer