Ask the man who sends little circles from his cigarette; the answer would be who cares. It is time you did, one of them could become the noose around your neck !
A passive smoker is at equal risk as an active one to get cancers and all other diseases associated with tobacco use. Legislations have come aplenty but implementation is scarce. The heavily hyped ban against smoking in public places has had little effect. At every street corner, parks and other public places young and old puff away to glory. The passive smoker has a passive stance. He is bound by decency, fraternity, magnanimity & serendipity. This passivity has to go and the passive smoker has to actively outcaste the active smokers. When this happens the smoker gets pushed out and at least quit smoking in public. Smoker is like a suicide bomber, he kills himself and others. This realization should come this World No tobacco day, 31st May 2010.. That is the sincere wish from the Vasantha Memorial Trust.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
During my last train journey to Tanjavur, I found a man smoking near the door. I hauled him up and said he should not smoke inside the train. He looked balefully at me and went into the toilet to finish his smoke. I could not do anything more.
ReplyDeleteA few years back there was a meanigful hoarding near the Bandra flyover: the Marlborough Man standing with his cowboy hat and whip, his horse lying dead beside him - the caption said "Passive smoking is more deadly".
Good for you Gayathri. If more and more of us encourage the police department something may happy. My husband pointed out that in Kerala th police may take bribes but in the matter of smoking they slap youngsters who are found smoking at bus stops and public places and they rebuke older people. Everyone is aware how strict they are. So what are the other states doing?
ReplyDeleteZarreen
True that we the targets of passive smoking have to be proactive. There is no need to feel shy or diffident since we are convinced about the ill effects. We can use all the authority as a citizen and tick off the smokers. A little humour to offset any offensive expression would do good. If all of us VMT volunteers can carry a small album containing a collection of photos like the one sent by Dr illustrating the devious effects of smoking we can start a silent campaign by showing these photos to smokers. It definitely will make a dent in the smokers population.
ReplyDeleteKrish
June 6, 2010