Smoking, The Silent Killer

Did you know that smoking is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths in the United States?  Cigarette smoking is the cause for at least 30% of all Cancer deaths in the United States.  Cigarette smoking is linked to Cancer of the Lungs, Mouth, Throat, Stomach and many other organs.  Smoking is the leading cause for lung cancer deaths and is the hardest cancer to treat.  Statistics show that approximately 44 million adults in the US are cigarette smokers.  Can you believe that US surveys also show that 18% of high school students and 4% of middle school students are smokers?  If they continue on this path it will be like a roller coaster ride to their grave.   

It has been proven that cigarette smokers actually die younger than non-smokers. Those smokers who do not die from cancer usually go through life with various health challenges and are very likely to suffer from heart attacks and strokes.  Guess what? You don’t actually have to smoke a cigarette to suffer from the effects.  Non-smokers who breathe in other people’s smoke or secondary smoke can also be impacted.  Smoke is not only bad for you but it is also a pollutant.  Do not smoke and don’t allow others to smoke in your environment. 

Words Can Mean More Than Actions

There is a famous adage "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"; this video shows that there is no greater untruth.  I selected this ad entitled "The Power Of Words" because it gives us a glimpse of the average child's reality. Statistics show that 1 in 6 children are bullied everyday; with negative words being thrown at them like grenades. This may not produce physical scars on the outside but can be mentally devastating.

The actions demonstrated in this ad are actually considered bullying in various parts of the world. Bullying has different effects on children; in extreme cases children have even taken their own lives through acts of suicide after being a victim of bullying.  In less extreme cases children feel excluded, rejected, inadequate and develop low self-esteem.  It has also been suggested by psychologists that bullying directed toward school children can be detrimental to their mental health and overall mental stability.  As a result of this, there is  zero tolerance policy for this type of behavior in many schools throughout the United States.

Actions are said to mean more than words, but words can be more harmful.  We would have a better community if school children were taught to build each other up with words instead of victimizing each other through bullying. 

Color Your World With M&M’s

This is not a real argument between M&M's and Starburst:

M&M’s, distributed by MARS, is the world’s best selling candy with annual sales of approximately 1.8 billion dollars. M&M’s can serve as a stress reliever or simply satisfy a sweet tooth. The slogan used to promote M&M’s “Melt in your mouth, not in your hands” is deemed one of the most brilliant advertising campaigns of all time.

M&M’s contain less artificial flavors and are made with real milk chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, skim milk and other ingredients which make them a better option over competing candies. You are able to consume various M&M’s of different colors at the same time and enjoy the chocolate sensation, but if you do this with starbursts, it will produce a new flavor which is not as pleasant. The new flavor profiles experienced when several Starburst candies are mixed together shows you that it contains more artificial flavors.

M&M’s cute characters attract people of various ages! Each color M&M comes to life with an animated character which excites consumers as they are shown with different personalities. The entire colorful crew of characters intrigue consumers with their unique personalities and appearances. A colorful sensation with arms and legs can excite any child and persuade parents to make a purchase.

 M&M’s are a well known brand all around the world. It’s colorful packaging and candies make then irresistible. M&M’s are easily identifiable thanks to their colors, funny characters, unique marketing, great taste and recognizable logo and packaging. They are also a very interactive brand; consumers can play with M&M’s on the website,create their own characters and visit the M&M concept stores in many major cities around the world.

Some people say that M&M’s are too expensive compared to Starburst and are very indulgent because of the rich milk chocolate. Starburst claims that they have more flavors but they indeed contain more artificial flavors. How will you color your world...with M&M’s or Starburst?