The issue of smoking in Indonesia is definitely a controversial topic. Smoking seems to be is ingrained into Indonesian culture. Everywhere you go you are surrounded by posters advertising cigarettes and cigarette-sponsored events.

As a non-smoker, I am very discomforted to be in this kind of environment. It is highly unpleasant to go out for a fun night out and come home smelling of deadly smoke from cigarettes that you were not smoking.

The lack of education surrounding the dangers of cigarettes, the promotion of cigarettes, and the easy access to cigarettes for people of all age groups is a clear hindrance to Indonesians' health and environment.

I agree with activists that it is of great importance to be sure students do not have access to cigarettes. If you look at countries like the United States or Canada, smoking is not an accepted social norm.

North American teens do not have easy or legal access to cigarettes, and anti-smoking education is taught alongside anti-drug education.

You would never entertain the thought of smoking in a public space or even outside a public area.

Cigarettes are not only a health problem but also a huge pollutant. The population of Indonesia is currently estimated at 234,693,997 million people. Just think about how many of these are younger people who smoke.

The Indonesian Cancer society reported that in 2004 the number of smokers aged under 19 was continually rising. In 2004, 78 percent of smokers were under the age of 19. Considering these figures alone, you can see how this impacts our environment.

Billions of rupiah could be saved in the health system in Indonesia if its people did not have to inhale this cancerous substance.

The average life expectancy here could be expected to increase if smoking was banned because people would have one less aging toxin entering their system.

Indonesia already has bad traffic jams which emit tons of CO2 each year, as well as big factories which emit more than their fair share of black smoke.

So, Indonesia definitely does not need another reason for its people to be in harm's way, especially when it is so preventable.

CLARE WALTON

Jakarta

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