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W
e are here with Green Crescent Magazine,
the second English issue of Turkey’s most
deep-seated health and lifestylemagazine.
It is of great value to us to share on an internatio-
nal platform our 100-year background through our
magazine, Turkey’s sole periodical publication on ad-
dictions. In this issue, we discussed peer education,
which is an effective method in fighting addictions,
smoking addiction and the influence of the media
on child development, with expert opinions, articles
and interviews.
Peer education, which we as Green Crescent urge,
is an important subject that we are working through
Young Green Crescent clubs at universities, to spread
to prevent addictions. After a certain period, children
start to listen to what their peers say and pay at-
tention to how they behave rather than their elders,
and begin to direct their own actions. This situation
which we call peer influence also carries risk factors.
Since puberty is a stage during which emotional sta-
tes such as one’s desire to prove themselves, curio-
sity and aspiration are at a peak, children’s inclinati-
on particularly toward harmful behaviour and habits
is inevitable. The introduction of peer education or a
peer educator right at this point, rather than an adult
educator, can help prevent such behavior and habits.
Individuals whose life skills have developed and have
the right knowledge are highly influential in guiding
their peers to what is good and beautiful. You will find
comprehensive information on this subject in ourma-
gazine.
The affect of media on children is as great as peer edu-
cation. When should I introduce television to my child’s
life, what are the affects of television on children, whe-
re are countries at in terms of watching television,
what protection methods should be developed aga-
inst the harmful affects of television? You can find the
answers to all these questions with expert opinions in
our magazine.
Another important headline in this issue is smoking
addiction. In this issue, you will find imperative infor-
mation and data on smoking addiction, which leads to
terrible cases such as respiratory tract diseases and
cancer, killing approximately 5 million people every
year, according toWorld Health Organization data.
Green Crescent seamlessly continues without bran-
ch out and build cooperation worldwide. We currently
have 24 Country Green Crescents established within
the scope of the Federation of World Green Crescents,
which will be completed very soon. In addition, we are
also continuing to cooperate with international health
and development authorities so that our projects can
serve asmodel implementations around theworld and
world implementations can be applied in our country.
Wishing to achieve healthy, happy and strong societies
worldwide, far from addictions
Happy reads.
E D I T O R I A L
Prof. Dr. Mücahit Öztürk
President of the Green Crescent Society of Turkey
Yeşilay’s works set
example for theworld
yesilay.org.tr
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YEŞiLAY
•
October-November-December 2015