Letters: Tobacco is killing

Tue, 01/19/2010 9:49 AM  |  Readers Forum

US President Barack Obama used to smoke for years. He never said that smoking is good or that quitting is easy. He has made clear that quitting is a struggle.

Tobacco kills more than 500,000 Indonesians every year. But some legislators still conclude that even to debate signing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is “not urgent”. They are risking 225 million Indonesian citizens due to primary, secondary and third-party chain-smokers.

People who choose not to smoke are still at risk of getting sick because of the smoke from people smoking nearby.

It’s estimated that more than 62 percent of Indonesian citizens smoke, including children. It is easier to find cigarettes than clean public toilets or a library in this country. After 64 years after independence, our nation is still unable to stop DVD piracy. How can the government dare stop tobacco industries from expanding their production, as tobacco companies are highly productive taxpayers, up to 9 percent of our national gross income.  

In 1995, cigarette production was approximately 199.5 billion cigarettes; 10 years later in 2005, 235.5 billion. The prevalence of teen and child smokers had increased by 139.4 percent (1995-2004).

Tobacco kills more people per annum than the total number of victims of HIV, fire and car accidents.

In Indonesia, a pack of cigarettes may cost US$ 1, but consider its neighboring country Singapore, $7 per pack. In Indonesia, there are no regulations governing the age and the purchase of tobacco.

Cigarettes are advertised on TV. There are cigarette advertisements on billboards. Tobacco companies sponsor everything from sports leagues to dance parties to scholarships.

Preventing smoking among the young generation is a compulsory measure. We can only build Indonesia with healthy citizens. Let us pray that President Obama will stop smoking as well.

Henri Lois
Jakarta

Comments (19)  |   Post comment
A  |   A  |   A  |   Mail to a friend  |  Printer Friendly Version |  Digg it!  |  Add to Del.icio.us!  |  Add to Reddit!  |  Stumble it!   |  Share on facebook  

Henri Lois (not verified), Jakarta — Mon, 01/25/2010 - 7:47pm

Hi, Mr James.. You are absolutely right.. smokers are the most selfish people in the world. They also smoke when my wife was pregnant... Smokers smoke everywhere, in the bus, public toilets and everywhere in Jakarta.. Tobacco reduces the quality of the sperm and shorten our life for sure... Let's us plant more trees to absorb the pollution in Jakarta

Henri Lois (not verified), jakarta — Mon, 01/25/2010 - 2:47pm

Dear Liger in Canada... You are very thoughtful.. Yes, I agree with you that our government must consider to provide more work opportunity to help the workers at tobacco company... Two weeks ago my student had given me a photograph that shows the real picture of the lungs of smokers.. It was a very powerful picture.... It's scary... Indonesia must really protect their young generation from the deadly impact of tobacco.

James Obrien (not verified), Jakarta — Mon, 01/25/2010 - 12:25pm

What really upsets me about smokers then don't care about the non smokers around them, could be children or adults they still puff it up and they don't give a damn if other people are bothered about the smoke. So many times where I live in an apartment, people get into the Jacuzzi and light up a smoke.. WOW WOW NO NO NO, that's NO NO.. what a bunch of ***holes. that's going to far. When people do that I really tell them with a upset voice why do you smoke here? They look at me like,, huh... Then I tell them pls DO NOT SMOKE HERE and the finally understand and they stop. Other times I've told people in the dressing room where its suppose to be Smoke Free to stop smoking. people smoke in elevators, SMOKERS must be the most selfish & ignorant people on earth... seriously I don't want your second hand smoke in my face. If you're a Non Smoker and you get bothered by second hand smoke in a Non Smoking area, dont be shy and let these people know that you are bothered by their cancerous smoke. Thx for publishing me.

Henri Lois (not verified), Tomang, Jakarta — Sat, 01/23/2010 - 3:02pm

Dear Nairdah in Sydney.. Thank you so much for your thoughtful support and opinion.. I agree with you about the emergency for us all to prevent tobacco aggressive killing in Indonesia.. We need the government, all religious leaders and society to combat the dangerous effect of smoking.. All smokers men at my neighborhood are constantly coughing day and night and they smoke 3 packs a day! Death and sickness are waiting for them. Who will take care of their children and wives?

Liger (not verified), Canada — Sat, 01/23/2010 - 5:14am

I'm expecting that at least Indonesia's government also rules about where the place for the smoker is !OUTSIDE please! thank you..And just to let you know that if the government rules the tobacco so it also going to put the tobacco's farmers in Kendal in death! or in the other place in Indonesia which produce tobacco...it's quite dilemma though actually. I personally don't like to smoke or the smoker. But I'm also concern about the women labors that working in cigarette company in Kudus or the tobacco's farmers in Kendal? or if the government could come with the brilliant rule which is will not putting the farmers in death or women labor as an unemployed (because they need money to support their family), it would be great! any idea? I really hope that this issue will solve without harming anybody else...

Nairdah (not verified), Sydney — Fri, 01/22/2010 - 4:59am

Maybe if Tobacco Related Diseases (TBD) were re-labelled (like a new brand of cigarettes) as TOBACCO FLU there would be a flood of international aid and people in white coats, many new public service jobs to track down and eradicate the cause of this disease?? Or if Tobacco was re-classified as the dangerous ADDICTIVE DRUG that it is, there would be a flurry of law enforcers hot on the trail of the manufacturers and (drug) dealers?

Nairdah (not verified), Sydney — Fri, 01/22/2010 - 4:38am

Lots of interesting comment, mostly supporting the view that tobacco is an addictive drug that is killing HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of Indonesian EVERY year. They are facts. What is not always recognised is the slow and agonising death that ailing smokers go through. And then the agony of the family for years after the death of their 'breadwinner'. I have seen this first hand. A few years ago I met with a deputation of villagers in Kalimantan who were seeking help to give up smoking. When I suggested enlisting the village doctor in a quit smoking program they simply pointed out that the doctor 'banyak merokok' and even used the ambulance to transport cigarettes from the city for his friends to sell.These men were desperately seeking a way of giving up smoking for health and religious reasons but they felt abandoned by their leaders. What hope is there when even those responsible for the peoples health and well-being are derelict in their duty? It is TIME therefore to put the obvious question to the Minister for Health - WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO SAVE 500,000 Indonesian citizens/voters from DEATH by tobacco addiction? How many hospital beds are filled with patients with tobacco related diseases? And the same question might be addressed to all politicians and religious leaders. Or are they all happy to recieve those incentive payments and gratis cigarettes to turn a blind eye to the plight of the health of their fellow citizens? After all, that is what the tobacco companies want so they can to maintain those huge profits, much of which is paid in dividends to the parent companies in the USA; especially now they are faced with $246 billion fine for hiding the health impacts of smoking from the public!(Jakarta Post 17Jan)

Henri Lois (not verified), Tomang, Jakarta — Wed, 01/20/2010 - 3:51pm

Yes, Exbrit. I strongly agree with you that tobacco is killing our nation and our lovely government will always welcome the tobacco industries. Yes, MSG use should also be limited... Healthy children will create a healthy nation!

Henri Lois (not verified), Tomang, Jakarta — Wed, 01/20/2010 - 3:49pm

I agree with with you, Mr HenryManoe... We are talking about huge amount of money from tobacco industry. The next question is how do protect our children from developing the high risk of cancer and heart attack by inhaling the smoke from the smokers? Among 10 of my neighbors, 9 are smokers.

Exbrit — Wed, 01/20/2010 - 1:33pm

I never ceases to amaze me that there are such draconian punishments for using and selling illegal drugs yet the tobacco companies continue to kill millions of people without any legal recourse. The excuse that the business creates jobs is ridiculous. Might as well just let chicken flu continue unabated as it creates jobs in the medical field! After the government bans tobacco (which will never happen) they can go after MSG manufacturing which also is poisoning people.
12next ›last »

What's On

more
more