{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1281025,
        "msgid": "lack-of-warnings-on-smoking-danger-1447893297",
        "date": "2000-09-20 00:00:00",
        "title": "Lack of warnings on smoking danger",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Lack of warnings on smoking danger I refer to the letter from Mr. Graeme T. Steel published in The Jakarta Post on Sept. 14, 2000, titled A different view of smoking. Regarding your letter about smoking, I echo your disappointment with The Jakarta Post for displaying a tobacco advertisement. However, I must take issue with the rest of your remarks concerning this newspaper's failure to acknowledge significant reasons for smoking in a recent editorial.",
        "content": "<p>Lack of warnings on smoking danger<\/p>\n<p>I refer to the letter from Mr. Graeme T. Steel published in<br>\nThe Jakarta Post on Sept. 14, 2000, titled A different view of<br>\nsmoking.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding your letter about smoking, I echo your<br>\ndisappointment with The Jakarta Post for displaying a tobacco<br>\nadvertisement. However, I must take issue with the rest of your<br>\nremarks concerning this newspaper's failure to acknowledge<br>\nsignificant reasons for smoking in a recent editorial.<\/p>\n<p>You stated that few smokers can be unaware of the health<br>\nconcerns regarding smoking. This may be correct in the expat<br>\ncommunity or with middle-class editors working in smart air<br>\nconditioned offices. However, it is definitely not the case with<br>\nthe vast majority of Indonesian smokers who are genuinely<br>\noblivious to the real risks involved.<\/p>\n<p>Because of the lack of regulations in this country, there are<br>\nno health warnings or public information campaigns on the dangers<br>\nof smoking. On the contrary, the Indonesian people are constantly<br>\nexposed to clever advertising campaigns which, through<br>\ncigarettes, sell an idea of a seductive lifestyle, far removed<br>\nfrom reality.<\/p>\n<p>Smoking doesn't allay stress. Nicotine promotes it, by causing<br>\nthe body's adrenal glands to release excess adrenaline; a major<br>\nfactor in all stress related illness. Nor does it calm the spirit<br>\nor stop hunger pangs. Being a smoker means being addicted to<br>\nnicotine and nicotine is a drug. So, like any other addict, when<br>\nyou continue to smoke, all you are doing is stopping the<br>\nwithdrawal pangs, topping up the nicotine and re-hooking<br>\nyourself. Do you call that enjoyment?<\/p>\n<p>Many Indonesian smokers are indeed poor and most of them earn<br>\nless than US$1 per day. According to the Ministry of Health these<br>\npeople spend 30 to 40 percent of their income on cigarettes.<br>\nSadly, their addiction adds to the misery of their lives. It<br>\ncertainly doesn't lessen it.<\/p>\n<p>Apart from lung cancer, smoking is also a huge contributory<br>\nfactor in heart disease, arteriosclerosis, emphysema, angina,<br>\nthrombosis, bronchitis, asthma and various types of cancer. It's<br>\nnot just in old age either. Smoking stunts your physical and<br>\nintellectual growth, it steals your youth and kills you off<br>\nbefore your time.<\/p>\n<p>I don't blame the smoker -- rich or poor. They are lured into<br>\na clever and subtle trap by the tobacco industry. No smoker ever<br>\nwanted or intended to become hooked. Surely, everybody has the<br>\nright to be informed of the risks. Why doesn't the government<br>\nstart a proper campaign? Until then, I am grateful to the Post<br>\nfor publishing editorials criticizing tobacco. Long may it<br>\ncontinue to do so.<\/p>\n<p>CLARE E. URWIN<\/p>\n<p>Surabaya<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lack-of-warnings-on-smoking-danger-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}