BC has passed a
law regulating tanning beds and it is to be put in to action in the fall. The
law states that if you are under 18, you are banned to get bronzed in a tanning
bed unless you go out of British Columbia. The only exception is if you have a
doctor’s note which happens when they find that the ultraviolet rays could be
used to treat some specific conditions like psoriasis. Do you think it is right
for the government to come up with these rules without other people’s opinion?
Studies have found
a 75 percent increase in the risk of a deadly skin disease called melanoma, due
to those who have been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning. Also the
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) estimates that there are about 3,000
hospital emergency room cases in a year due to indoor tanning beds and lamp
exposure. If there are so many risks and consequences that you may get when you
tan in indoor tanning beds, then why do thousands of people still do it?
Firstly, tanning is very similar to smoking a cigarette. You eventually get
addicted to it if you use it frequently. Intentional exposure to UV light may lead
to an addiction and many people are not aware of this. Secondly, people believe
that having a tan makes them look more attractive because they get the idea of
“everyone else” doing it. For example, they tan because they want to be like
their friends or favourite celebrities. For these reasons, Health Minister Mike
de Jong is working on banning tanning beds to avoid future health problems even
though he understands the tanning industry opposes the ban.
A cancer survivor,
Kathy Barnard said that she was an obsessive tanner in her teens and endured
numerous surgeries afterward. She believed people should be proud of their skin
and to own it, protect it and save it. She ended the discussion by saying that she
would rather be alive with the skin she was given than die in the skin she so
desperately wanted to have. Do you agree with her?
I believe many teens who tan regularly would object to what Kathy said but they do have to admit; tanning beds give them big consequences that would affect their life terribly. Furthermore, I believe setting a law would help save and prevent many young lives. Once the teens pass the age of 18, they would be able to choose to tan again but it is known that they would mature throughout the years and make the right decisions in the end.
I believe many teens who tan regularly would object to what Kathy said but they do have to admit; tanning beds give them big consequences that would affect their life terribly. Furthermore, I believe setting a law would help save and prevent many young lives. Once the teens pass the age of 18, they would be able to choose to tan again but it is known that they would mature throughout the years and make the right decisions in the end.
Many other places who
don't already have this law are starting to consider to create it.This includes
Nova Scotia, France, Quebec etc. The Australian state of New South Wales also announced
that they will ban tanning beds outright by 2014. Do you think this law is
reasonable to the tanning industry and to all the minors who enjoy tanning?
Sources:
Great post. I completely agree with you with the banning and that the only exepotion is for medical reasons. For me you could have tried to put some of your own opinions and conections, and if you did then it is not clear to me. And for the people who wants a tan go out into the sun, get a natural tan.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Emily!
ReplyDeleteI can see you've done a lot of researches from your detailed information and multiple sources. It's a great thing that you mentioned some very serious consequences that affects teenagers who tans. I'm pretty most of us weren't aware of it! I love how you ask questions in your posts. It gives the reader something to think about while/after reading it. Furthermore, I agree with you on banning tanning and that teenagers will be mature enough throughout the years and eventually make the right decision at the end.
Somewhere you could improve on is making the good and bad side of this regulation more obvious. The second paragraph wasn't very clear because it has both the sides mixed together. Also you didn't really point out what the disadvantages are if tanning beds are banned. Try to avoid "I believe".
These are just my opinion, some people might look at it differently, anyways good job :)