Advocates in China push for stricter regulations on tobacco during the United Nation’s World Cancer Day despite opposition from those in the big leagues.
Wu Yiqun, one of the most prominent figures in China's anti-smoking campaign, continues to fight for her cause even though many doubt that she would make a difference.
At 69 years old, many deem Wu too old for the cause even if she is still able to conduct research, hold lectures at educational institutions, send proposals to the government to amend the tobacco regulation law, criticize tobacco companies who control the government, and even report public servants who smoke in public areas.
In the past, Wu has also made clear her position against the government's tolerance of promotions and covert ads over the Internet about the use of tobacco.
According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, there are about 300 million smokers in the country with a population of 1.3 billion.
This means that aside from putting themselves at risk, smokers are also putting the other 730 million people in grave danger because of the effects of secondhand smoke.
As an expert in public health, Wu founded the ThinkTank Research Center for Health Development and was invited to speak during the commemoration of the World Cancer Day.
"Tobacco control concerns the lives of more than 1 million people every year. This cause is more important to me than anything else," she said.
Aside from talking about the bad effects of tobacco to one's health, Wu also pointed out the positive effects of minority rule and the significance of the proposals of her fellow female anti-smoking campaigners as well as non-government organizations such as the ThinkTank.
"For example, it's difficult for officials or experts in a government department to raise objections against the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, but experts employed by NGOs don't have the same concerns, so they can be more direct," she explained.