Rostov-on-Don holds flash mob urging to quit smoking

On May 31 - the World No Tobacco Day - a flash mob was held by Rostov activists of the public organization "Molodaya Gvardiya" (Young Guard) with the support of the Russian Ministry for Public Health and Social Development.

About 15 boys and girls went out into the streets with posters calling all smokers to stop smoking. Some activists put on gas masks, making it clear, according top the authors of the idea, that a passive smoker who is close to an active one suffers from such neighbourhood.

The posters read: "Free our lungs from smoke!", "Smoking is the stupidest way to commit suicide!" and "Stop converting life into ashes!" and others.

The flash mob was supported by the Rostov Research Centre "Advanced Technologies". In the course of the event, activists disseminated flyers inviting everyone to the above Centre to undergo a free-of-charge free survey for definition of the content of carbon monoxide in the blood. "Such survey allows to examine the functional state of one's lungs, the content of carbon monoxide in the blood, and to receive a consultation of highly qualified doctors," said the organizers.

"Passers-by eagerly took the flyers promising to undergo the survey personally and advise their family members and friends to do the same. The unusual form of agitation to quit smoking (in gas masks) attracted the attention of even heavy smokers," said Oleg Otrokov, head of the Pervomaiskiy local branch of the public organization "Young Guard of United Russia".