Smoking in Jordan! Why do people break the law? |
| 03 July 2011 20:00 | | Follow Jordanoholic |
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As a continuation of my previous blog entry "Why do people break the law? Driving in Jordan!" here I will discuss another aspect: 2. Smoking in Jordan:Lets state the facts: 1) Jordan is heaven catered specially for smokers. It provides cheap cigarettes, a lot of company and tons of space to leisure and enjoy annoying other fellow non-smokers. 2) The public health law strictly prohibits smoking in public places. If "public places" is not quite clear enough, let me explain what it means: hospitals, healthcare centers, schools, cinemas, theaters, libraries, museums, public and non-governmental buildings, public transport vehicles, airports, closed playgrounds, lecture halls and any other location to be determined by the health minister. 3) Jordanians spend around JOD 370 million a year on tobacco products. Let me say this again in a more visual way 370,000,000 Jordanian Dinars. Don’t you think your money may be spent on something better? Just think about it. 4) The Public Health Law also stipulates that any person caught smoking in a public place is subject to between one week and one month imprisonment or a JOD15 - JOD25 fine. The same penalties apply to those who sell cigarettes to minors. At this rate, I think Jordan will need bigger and more prisons. That would add another 3 or so million spent to build them. 5) Smoking any tobacco product has great health risks that include: Cancer and emphysema. I will not talk about health issues here since am sure you all heard it before and can easily read about it anywhere. 6) Second hand smoking causes the same health risks stated above. Every 10 cigarettes smoked in front of a non-smoker, that individual just smoked one cigarette. Just imagine what that means to a person sitting in a pub in Amman on a Thursday night. To all non-smokers.. your friends have turned you into smokers. 7) Males in Jordan start smoking at the very early age of 15 and in some cases earlier. Women on the other hand, smoke at the same age range but secretly. By the age of 50, severe health symptoms present themselves and end up with the ultimate symptom of what I call a “DEADSIES” pronounced as Dead-zee-z or “DEADDESS” pronounced as Dead-dess [please note this is my way of saying dead] 8) The government has tried to implement the public health law, but with no results. Some of you who want to defend this matter, will say they were sending field officers to public buildings to inspect and fine them otherwise. However, my reply to you is: this law is not being implemented since the prime minister smokes in all his meetings, the environmental minister smokes in the ministry’s building and you can see tons of lawyers and judges smoking in the court house. This means that the government greatly failed in making sure that the set law is implemented. 9) I must admit that in some public places this law has been implemented. The airport is a smoke-free zone and I LOVE IT.. and really appreciate the hard work the airports security has put in. I cant think of any more facts, so the question lies here.. If Jordan has a set a public health law that prohibits smoking in public places, why do Jordanians still smoke in public places? Why doesn't the fellow Jordanian smoker care about anything else but himself and his own need to pursue on getting cancer and giving cancer? Why don't friends care if I have asthma? why do people still smoke in front of pregnant women in public spaces with no care? Why don't people care about the law prohibiting it? Again I ask, is it selfishness? Or just indifference? I (a non-smoker) ask every smoker reading this blog, does my well-being not matter to you? Or wait, I’m in no position to ask you that since you don’t care about your own well-being, let alone be concerned about mine. If you willingly take this decision (to smoke), then why do I need to smoke too? I didn’t ask for this? I was stripped from my freedom to choose. I may choose to eat the wrong way, I may choose to eat preservatives and sit in the sun and tan. These things may cause cancer too, but I didn’t decide to smoke.. and its my right to choose and my freedom to have a nicotine and tar free body. I know smokers who are reading this will say: “you’re a second hand smoker anyway, so just start smoking it wouldn’t matter”, and I say to you.. I didn’t choose it.. I don’t want it, thank you. I finish this article with shame.. I finish this article thinking of how indifferent people can be when it comes to smoking and to laws in Jordan.. if the minister himself doesn’t follow the law, why should I expect you to? It’s a shame that proud Jordanians don’t honor their own constitution and law. I just have one wish though, I wish I don’t get cancer because of second-hand smoking!
3. Littering: will be discussed in my next post (to be linked). |
Smoking in Jordan! Why do people break the law?
I don`t know how should I address you exactly and it seems that you have heaps of leisure time! On the contrary I am not. Anyway, I know that bad events are not caused by a cig. , but it contributes towards polluting the surrounding area! Of course not as much as the factories, it is like the baby steps accordingly, smalls actions really matters if it is not for you, for our children and (C) generation.
Shisha is much harmful than the cigarettes but anyway I am not a heavy smoker so you can say maximum 6-8 times a month! And I do know basic and general knowledge in science many thanks for the reminder!
I also remember what you said about not smoking in the car but still the main argue was about being selfish, which is not of my business, but for the sake of the argument, you are not doing it for the benefit of the community rather you are doing it so as not to have an accident, God forbidden.
Mr. Arafat, your efforts were acknowledged, I reckon. Indeed, I thank you for your contribution towards this good cause.
Thanks of the info. about the toxic emission from the vehicles’ exhausts but getting back to the main argue is that please we don’t want to have a cancer from the negative smoking! And I agree with Ms. Nassar especially in this point.
Regarding your advice about where do I have to put my money; in fact, it is my business. And I will not lie and say that yeah I am doing same as the people you mentioned before…But at least I care for the environment for instance, by recycling and not throwing out durable litters everywhere I consume sth, energy saving products and consumption, etc.
I totally agree with you with the McD. stuff!
Smoking while driving most indifferent and irresponsible thing anybody can do, adding to that eating, drinking soft drinks, etc.
Anyway, whoever I am talking with regardless of your gendre I appreciate your time for this constructive and interesting conversation. My Apology for any inconvenience…
Best of Luck!
If you're really concerned about your health then put your money where your mouth is. Stop buying products that are painted (all kinds of toxins put into the environment) or made of plastic (here's some stuff that's good for your health, right?) and stop driving a car. You can survive that way - a lot of people do it. But I'll bet you don't want to give up the conveniences these things offer.
I'm really tired of hearing people complain about the health risks that smokers present to them when they aren't willing to make changes to their own lifestyle that WOULD AFFECT THEM MORE than having any number of smokers quit.
I'm a smoker and to be honest, I really hate seeing butts all over the ground. But I'm also tired of seeing McDonalds wrappers all over the place. When a non-smoker sees a butt on the ground, they always say something like, "ALL smokers should have to clean these up." or something along the lines of punishment for ALL smokers. But they never say "every person who eats at McDonalds should have to clean these up."
When was the last time you heard this one:
"He went to the bar after work, had one smoke too many and went home and beat the crap out of his wife and kids?"
Or
"That auto accident was caused by someone who smoked one too many? (we're talking about tobacco here)."
2nd of all am not dude! pal neither mate
the mysterious issue that you were talking about was perceived by you and only you
the connection and linking for all the bad events believe me not caused by a cig, unless you believe that a cigarette causes more harm than a factory even if it was a small factory that taking place in one room to manufacture shoe Laces
the police and the secret agents and all are my problem and not able to take the shisha anywhere is not a good excuse, if you are into sience you should know the effect of water "humidity" and smoke in the lungs, plus if you took a good look at what i wrote it was exactly "I don't smoke while driving cause it causes loss of attention to road" but again not because of anyone asked me to do.
the disease awareness and what the HKJ passed through will guess who took part in it and helped? yes me, not anyone who is shouting out of his lungs stop smoking, and please do check these facts about harming people around you:
Hahaha don`t give an order I did not and I am not intending to do so I wouldn’t bother, but when the policeman gives you a ticket or a camera takes a nice shoot of you, or may be an undercover force men will do so…then you will eventually stop ;)
USA, EU, Australia, or other countries don’t have the right to forbid these kinds of actions but they are trying their best to diminish them as the case in Jordan! However, if you are driving and drunk then you are compromising others’ lives and then you will go to jail…The bottom line do whatever you want for yourself but don’t harm the others who don’t smoke or drink
But I agree with you that the tobacco and alcohol are two major industries and they have their own massive markets.
Beggars! Hmmm mate I meant that you as I assume that you are knowledgeable and educated individual by reading this kind of article you will increase your awareness of this phenomenon! And help them in other way by may be donating for churches, mosques or directly sponsor a poor family.
Again I am a SMOKER and not proud of that! Whatever you have for Jordan I think they don’t really in need for your consultation as we have a bright and wicked minds already and we have our own advisors when it comes to Jordanians health as proved in the resolving of the issues that faced the country before.
BUT the thing is if every smoker really thinks like you then the Mother Nature would not even survive till the moment.
Think Green!
Over and out
In other words, you are a smokers as I am too but I had an unbiased opinion and I respects others opinions.
Regarding the global warming is out of context!! Mate, are you living on another planet! Do you think that you are living alone in the world, whatever you are eating, drinking, and even your salary are compromised with this kind of context! Therefore, be open-minded and have an overall sight on every facet of any topic and its impact on humanity and specially our life in Jordan.
Regarding the language! My language is Arabic but unfortunately for non-controllable reasons it is not used as global trading language but anyway you mentioned the language issue!
If you are trying to obey the law, as if you have the choice of not doing so, that clearly shows that you are a selfish person…As mentioned by
As I told before I am not in the medical field!! Can you tell me, what is your post? Mate you are still so extreme in you’re the way you are viewing the stuff around you, btw there is some advantages for smoking and drinking but drinking surpass the smoking habit in terms of the advantage; on the other hand both have detriments way higher than their advantages. Indeed, it depends on the consumed amounts. Mate addiction starts as follows: external chemical existed that once introduced into the BLOODSTREAM was small enough to pass and cross through the blood/brain barrier (a protective filter), and once inside the brain were somehow able to activate and turn on our mind's dopamine pathway circuitry…So I was close somehow to idea but I did not go that deep to exactly what strive the addiction in our body!
don't drift from the original context "global worming, language,..."
am not forced to leave the mall to smoke i only do it cuz i am obeying the law
i am in the medical field, give me one lung transplant or failure and i'll give you 5 liver failure, Hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis, so drinking is not like smoking you are right... its worst
don't give me an order that i can't smoke in my car!! as long its my car and the cig is legal and am putting it out in my ashtray NO ONE CAN HOLD ME FROM DOING IT!!
and USA EU don't tell the patient to stop cuz they are not allowed by their Gov. cuz if every doctor told his patient don't smoke and don't drink the major 2 industries will fall down and a lot of people will end up jobless and let me put it this way "they'll end up 1- committing suicide , 2-smoking legal/non legal and 3- drinking till they pass out
there is not such a thing called nicotine rush or nicotine shock and nicotine not even needed in blood for the effect its in brain and the level goes low in brain too not in blood
beggars are not my prob. what i meant if you wanna give poor people something good instead of smoking don't give them a website that talks about smoking
and what a beggar buy with the money he took is his choice or should we control that too? simply i don't give them money i give my money to specific societies.
my self my money i think that's all back to me, if you "non smoker people" want to stay safe don't come near the ALLOWED SMOKING areas or rests!!
any further info. i have a couple of states plans for helping quit smoking which can cost the Kingdom 7-8 millions but u can have 40-60% ratio of success.
Peace up am out.
please please stop givin the wrong info.
By the way, I would say that by recently having separated areas in many restaurants, I would say that most of them are drinking Argila! And please don`t tell me as I know that it is worse than cigarettes but at least you cannot take it with you where ever you go; therefore, mostly I am harming my friends and myself who do smoke it!
Mentioning the medical stuff!! Come on mate do you know why doctors tell their patients not to stop cigarettes instantly! Because it depends on the smoker and how many years he has been smoking! as nicotine becomes a vital component in your blood stream in which your body may goes into a shock mood if you stopped smoking immediately!
Another thing! Comparing booze with cigarettes :S and between EU, USA, etc and the Middle East!! Mate be reasonable! You cannot do that different cultures, traditions, life style, etc!
As Jordan, from my point of view, has the ability to give so much to its society in terms of education, very good life style, decreasing poverty ratio, etc. This can be accomplished over the near-to-far future in prolong stages which, obviously, cannot be done overnight as everyone knows!
I believe that writing these kinds of articles gives the educated and the ignorant (low class) people more knowledge about some of the critical issues in our community and it maintains the awareness of what is happening around the world as this topic is already one of the most sensitive, global issue in which it is called the 'Global Warming'. [Which I am sure that you are aware of it] (The BIG Picture)
Low class people are there in every country even the richest one. Hence, when you give some donations out of pity, which I am sure that you did that at least once! To those young beggars, another shameful phenomenon, they will take the money and spend it mostly on cigarettes and some other stuff!
Low class people should try to search for any kind of work as we have many opportunities. Indeed, we ahve a shortage in the vocational workforce!
By the way, your duty as a citizen and living on the Jordanian soil, whether you were a Jordanian or from another origins, is to light your cigarettes outside the malls, any public places or while you’re driving!
you are possessing your own thoughts on me/us"smokers" and then you blame us for what happens
all the people and positions you mentioned smokes in public BECAUSE ITS ALLOWED
restaurants got its own smoking/non smoking why would you choose to sit in the smoking?
you are harming smokers when you ask them to be left out of the society "again the society that we smokers pays the most of its financial support by the 200% tax on Cig brands"
give me something you pay 200% tax on it on a daily bases!!
if you want to make your point valid!! separate the people and let the smokers be friends with smokers only!!
if someone goes to a place while he knows its smoking place " who's fault is that" i know the answer its me or the gov. right?
doing something in majority doesn't make it right? fair but doesn't make it wrong
and am not breaking the law cuz its not there "in the place i smoke"
and you are not interested in the countries around us but am interested in showing that this is a geographical thing and we are the most discipline in it
its like in northern Europe they drink a lot... in middle east we smoke a lot
and FYI US EU and the rest you quoted the restrictions from... in the medical field there you can't tell your patient STOP SMOKING you are only allowed to tell him try to go easy on the cigs and lower the consumption only!!
1) the definition of selfishness is concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others. When we say regard to others, this means you are harming them "passively" and you have no regard to them.
ie: when you smoke, you harm others around you by doing so. When you smoke in a public place were tens of people are around you (who did not choose to smoke) .. YOU ARE HARMING THEM.. that is a FACT .. therefore if you still do it not caring about them = that person is selfish.
2) i am NOT.. and i will repeat this again, NOT ASKING YOU TO QUIT smoking. this is your decision.. i am only asking you to NOT smoke infront me (because i dont want to smoke passively).
3)Ministers, prime ministers and other people in Jordan smoke in public spaces with no regards to people around them. Biggest private companies to the smallest do so too.. does this make them all LOW CLASS to you (as you suggested)
4) Doing something in Majority doesnt make it right.
5) im not stating something wrong about Jordan. This is the TRUTH , this is the Fact that we all live through and you cant deny it.
6) i dont care about other countries in the middle east. im Jordanian, i care about my country, i want to make it better in every way.
7) if you honor your country, you should honor the laws set and made to protect it and its people. the Law states its not allowed and your breaking it.
the one who needs to change a community for his own benefit? or the one that walks out of the mall to light a cig?
again you are looking at the lowest social level in Jordan and comparing
for me all the smokers i know will never light it unless its allowed and i start by my own car for the fact that smoking while driving will cause loss of attention
please leave the lowest social level alone... if they don't smoke they will get heart attacks for the reality they live, help them instead of barging online where they even can't log and if they did i think its hard enough for them to read arabic
please don't give this picture about jordan "heaven created for smoker" go check, LEBANON, syria egypt Iraq Libya Palestine all these countries listed sells cigs cheaper than here and WITH NOT A SINGLE RULE FOR SMOKING that the reception at my 4 stars hotel told me its a non smoking room but it doesn't matter you can smoke!!
1) your breaking the law
2) you dont care if you do
3) you dont think of anyone else's well being.
you didnt answer any of my questions, but rather stated the most obvious thing about all smokers.. you DONT CARE ABOUT anyone but yourself.
thank you for further clarifying the facts..
thank you Joe for the lovely wish or aim, dream,... whatever!!
for the publisher... my answers already well known
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