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