World News and Trends: Nonsmokers in jeopardy
Studies reveal that second hand smoke causes the same diseases as smoking.
Earlier this year researchers from South America presented their studies on 2,000 nonsmokers (regularly exposed to smokers) to the European Society of Cardiology in Birmingham, England. Their conclusions reinforce concerns about the dangers of passive smoking.
Writes Glenda Cooper: "Living with a heavy smoker more than doubles your risk of heart attacks . . . The more your relatives smoke, the greater the dangers you face. And for people who already have known risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure or a family history of coronary heart disease-the hazards are even greater."
In years past not much was known about the scientific dangers of smoking. However, the increasingly harmful effects become more obvious with every passing year. Of course, long-time smokers can experience great difficulty in kicking the habit.
However, society has a moral obligation to take the lead in protecting people from the dangerous effects of smoking. The evidence is clear that smoking is a killer, not just for smokers themselves, but for their loved ones. (Source: The Independent.)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: November - December 1996
Course Content
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
Scott Ashley
Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.
