Smoking and city pollution

I am writing in reference to Dr. M. Harun's letter (Jan. 27, 1997) whose content I find disconcerting. Smoking is an individual's free choice, while breathing is not only a right but everybody's need.

To compare smoking with taking heroine or cocaine seems to be an old theory. Taking drugs is addictive while smoking is nothing more than a habit. For instance, even though I am an incorrigible smoker (the first and last thing I do every day is have a cigarette), I don't think I am affected by nicotine and I can prove it. Every year I fast and I can reassure Dr. Harun that, during this time, I don't go through "cold turkey" for lack of nicotine. I don't smoke because I don't want to.

I also don't share Dr. Harun's theory that cigarette smoke is this century's biggest killer since it's indisputable that famine is the worst scourge of modern-day society.

And I do not agree with his silly idea of producing cigarettes without nicotine. Who would smoke them? It would be like swimming in a pool without water.

Anyway, if I was Dr. Harun, I wouldn't bother trying to minimize the pollution affecting Jakarta and other major cities in the world. For instance, try to stand for a while at any of Jakarta's bus terminals, where the bus drivers keep the engines running while waiting for passengers. For sure, on this occasion, a drag on cigarette is a breath of fresh air.

PIERO RONCI

Jakarta