I wanted there to be some really good event that happened today, something that would tie in really well with my 100th POST!! But I just couldn't find anything that was nearly as exciting as I would have hoped for. And believe it or not the most exciting thing was this:
That on this day in 2007, a smoking ban was introduced for public places, such as traditional British pubs, across Great Britain.
I don't know if the people would have liked this very much. I mean, how popular is smoking in a country like Great Britain? I mean, smoking and things associated with smoking, like the cultivation of tobacco, has been occurring since the early 1500's. We've been addicted to filling our lungs with noxious gases, making ourselves sick to the point of death, killing ourselves through our addiction, for that long, for that extensive length of time. Aren't we smart?
In Australia, a variation of smoking laws apply to the different states. In QLD, smoking is prohibited in all pubs, clubs, restaurants and workplaces, as well as commercial outdoor eating and drinking areas, patrolled beaches, children's playgrounds and other outdoor public places. You also can't smoke in cars with children under the age of 16. Because I'm pretty sure that's one gift you wouldn't want from your parents, "Thanks Mum, Dad. Just what I wanted: Cancer."
In the NT, it's pretty simple. Smoking is banned in all enclosed areas of restaurants, licensed clubs and pubs. But you can apparently still smoke at children's playgrounds and around schools. Woot.
I like that all these smoking bans have been brought in. That there are smoking bans so that us non-smoking people can breathe properly is great! I don't want to die by second hand smoking, thanks.
But, is there more that can be done? I surely think so. It is my dream that one day, smoking is gone for good. I know that it's really an empty dream. The amount of people who still smoke, despite all the government ads and the general knowledge that SMOKING KILLS YOU, doesn't really give me much hope as to smoking been stopped altogether. Instead, I guess what I would want, is that smoking be banned from places with children in every state. If the little kids are being exposed to smoking from a really young age, be it through smoking at schools or at home, then what chance do they have?!
Come on Mum and Dad. Can you just stop smoking, for your kids at least?
Or are you that addicted to dried leaves?
How was that for a 100th POST?
Image available: http://skepticdetective.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/hypnosis-and-acupuncture-to-quit-smoking/
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