Tamkang University has already invested a great deal of time into environmental protection education and awareness. On November 6th of this year, TKU was awarded the Environmental Protection Act Award and the Annual Enterprises Environmental Protection Award for the third straight year in a row. Environmental protection education and the practical application of these policies has become the trademark for this institution. TKU has taken the next step in environmental protection through its new smoking restriction policy.

On December 18th an exciting basketball competition was held for the promotion of restricted smoking on campus. The competition was put together in cooperation of Tamkang University, John Tung foundation and Taiwanese pop star Jam Hsiao, with hopes of encouraging youth to quit and resist smoking.

First Vice President Guo-hsing Yu thanked the John Tung foundation as well as Jam Hsiao for holding the anti-smoking event at Tamkang University. He also gave a special thanks to the Dean of the Office of Physical Education, Shu-feng Hsiao, for his effort in promoting the anti-smoking press conference. Vice President Yu then shared his own experience as a smoker when he was a youth. “I used to smoke until I the day my father developed lung cancer which scared me to death. I have quit now for almost 30 years and honestly there is nothing cool about smoking. The truth is there is nothing more precious and beautiful than living a full life.”

From the beginning of this year the construction of a smoking free environment has been underway. Promoting a healthy lifestyle for individuals and the environment has become the theme for Tamkang University. Director Lin expressed that according to statistics 90 percent of smokers wish to quit smoking, which is why TKU and the John Tung Foundation held such a meaningful event. All students and staff are encouraged to be brave enough to accept the challenge to quit smoking. For assistance, smokers may call the hotline at 080063636 or seek professional help at anti-smoking clinics. A volunteer from the John Tung Foundation, Ming-yi Li, stated his personal experience during the press conference, “I decided back in 2007 that I was going to be better to my body because my uncle was having health problems. So me and 50 friends decided to quit smoking for our new year’s resolution.” Jam Hsiao then stated, “If you don’t have friends to support you in taking care of your health you can do it by yourself. For the new year we always throw out the old and bring in the new so it the perfect time to be rid of bad habits.”

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