City's pollution

City's pollution

On Jan. 14, 1997, I noticed something quite odd after taking a
glance at The Jakarta Post.

* On page 6: A picture of a man and his young daughter protecting
themselves with anti-smog masks in Dhaka's streets. The caption
said: "Officials say pollution is mainly blamed on vehicle
emission in a city of millions of people."

* On page 9: "Some Bangkok residents use handkerchiefs as
protection against the streets' smog. The caption said particles
carrying germs are a major cause of allergies and respiratory
disease."

* On page 4: A letter from an environmentalist highlighting the
responsibility of respiratory apparatuses in helping fight
diseases suffered by cigarette smokers.

Although I am an inveterate smoker, I also acknowledge that
non-smokers have their rights and they shouldn't become the
victims of our bad habit. For instance, although on one hand I
agree that smoking in hospitals is ignoble behavior since the
patients cannot breathe clean air, on the other hand I cannot
avoid wondering what happens to the same patients when
discharged. Unfortunately, the answer is very simple. Although
still convalescent, they will enter the "gas chamber" of city
streets.

In my opinion, environmentalists should direct their laudable
purposes towards solving the problems of pollution in Jakarta
first. They should pressure authorities to organize specialized
teams responsible for controlling vehicles spitting "clouds of
poison" over the city, moreover at a risk to children. For sure,
some irresponsible drivers should be arrested and tried for
"manslaughter".

Trying to solve or reduce the problems of respiratory disease
through the "segregation" of cigarette smokers and not by trying
to reduce the city's pollution problems is like treating cancer
with aspirin.

PIERO RONCI

Jakarta