Dear readers,

This is a petition to the World Lung Foundation to endorse, or at least recognize the "Tobacco-Free Generation Proposal" as an alternative means of tobacco control.
The proposal can be downloaded here.

The proposal is not meant to stop or inconvenience smokers, nor does it protect non-smokers from Second-Hand Smoke. It is meant to prevent our children and future generations from picking up the habit in the first place. By limiting the sale of tobacco to youngsters born after a determined year.

This proposal will have very little influence on the daily lives of people today, but it will have a great and positive impact on future generations.

An alarmingly high number of people have refused to sign this petition, stating that they do not want their government to control them, under the grounds that "An informed Adult has the right to take whatever they want, as long as it does not harm other people".

Please read this before aligning yourself with these people.

Why I have created this petition

By now, everybody should know that smoking is bad for you and the people around you. Current regulations try to get people to stop smoking or protect non-smokers. It is foolish to believe that any regulation can get people to stop smoking. I know a man who had to have his leg amputated due to smoking, yet when he left the hospital he immediately picked up his habit. If cutting off a person's leg won't get them to stop smoking, no law will.

The "Tobacco-Free Generation Proposal" intends to regulate the sale of tobacco to people born after a certain year, thus creating the first generation of 100% non-smokers. At the same time it does not discriminate nor inconvenience current smokers.

About me

I picked up smoking in the early 2000's, at first just an occasional smoker, I eventually began to smoke up to a pack a day by 2010. By my late 20s I began to experience the health effects of smoking personally. After a few hard and failed attempts I finally got rid of the habit at age 31. Having been through this, I firmly believe that a person in their early 20s, or even younger, is not aware of the addictive nature of tobacco. It is something you must experience yourself, and by the time you're aware, you're already addicted. Having experienced the effects first-hand, I strongly believe that it is my duty to use the knowledge I gained from the mistakes I made when I was young, to prevent future generations from making the same mistake.

I hope you do not consider this to be another typical tobacco ban that treads on your liberty, but see it as wisdom from a former user who does not want the next generation to go through what most smokers have been through.

Sincerely,

Stanley C. Fitzner