Special Report:Shanghai Expo 2010 >>
By Kong Xi
Translated by Jiang Zhitian
Recently, I am overjoyed to find the NO SMOKING signs posted in and
around the two elevators usually pervaded by the smell of
cigarettes.
Chinese Version>>
As is well known, in China, the age-old precept of "Favor begets respect"
and "Friends share cigarettes and wine "still prevail all over. The residual
tobacco smoke contamination, commonly known as the "third-hand-smoke",
together with the "second-hand-smoke" deeply disgusted by victims forced to
inhale and the"first-hand-smoke"always ignored by chronic smokers, are
tenaciously rooted in public areas as well as private apartments. Not only does
the cigarette smoke spread over stations, docks, it also fills some enclosed
airport lounges such as Kunmin airport, even in the small air-conditioned
meeting room such as the school I used to work in. Nonsmokers could do nothing
about it but detest the passive exposure.
Every time I smell tobacco smoke at a bus stop, no sooner than I identify
the current wind direction, get upwind, saying to myself,‘What entitles you to
pollute the fresh air I breathe?'Though dust and vehicle exhaust pollution
inevitably goes with city development is also a part of this so-called "fresh
air", as far as I'm concerned, self-discipline alone can lead to fumeless
surroundings.
My brother is a long-time smoker. But during his business trip in Canada, he seldom smoked.‘In Canada, smoking is banned in most places.'he said,‘not only indoors, but also in open public spaces such as streets and stations.'The chronic smokers there like him had to appease their nicotine addiction in tiny smoking areas or drag hard and quickly in some blind corners. A positive result of this action was that his face got its glow back after that.
There was a time when cigarettes created ties between men. Even now
taxies on tobacco are among the principal ones. Since tobacco-curing needs much
heat of the fire, the booming of the tobacco market will cause a terrible
decrease in the number of trees.
I was delighted to hear that Shanghai is implementing a ban on smoking in the Expo Site amid efforts to launch a smoke-free World Expo. And the NO SMOCKING signs I've found lately must be due to this effort.
The World Expo is a pageant to show human achievements. In many ways, it's just like a super trade fair lasting a long time. Many inventions, playing decisive roles in the Industrial Revolution, the information reform and in our daily life, stood out initially in World Expo. Those were the achievements exerted a deep going influence on the progress of human civilization. Such as steam engine, steam ship, derrick, advanced steel-making, models of tunnel and bridge; Concrete, products made of steel, aluminum or rubber; Sartorius, printing machine, train; Motor, reaper, typewriter, phone, icehouse; telephone, phonograph; use of electricity, tape recorder, television, nylon, plastic, spacecraft, ISDN(Integrated Services Digital Network), network, etc.
The World Expo is the best chance to disseminate civilized perception and show its image as an international metropolis. People in countries like Japan and South Korea dramatically improved their acceptance and understanding of other cultures after hosting the World Expo, the Olympic game and the World cup.
I hope the coming 2010 Expo in Shanghai will also reinforce Chinese people's
understanding of other cultures. The ban on smoking will succeed in improving
social courtesies and encouraging a healthier lifestyle, even if only one smoker
quits smoking.
Special Report:Shanghai Expo 2010 >>