READER COMMENTS

I support enforcing the law of the smoking ban. I hope to apply this ban throughout the Arabic countries. This law should be issued and applied all over the Arab world, because smoking is a bad habit, and it leads to several diseases. This is why it costs the country a lot of expenses, regardless of the health condition of the individuals. The country wastes a lot of money on cigarettes and treating patients who have respiratory diseases due to excessive smoking. I think it is ill-mannered in our Arabic societies when the smoker violates the freedom of others by smoking in public places, such as departments, hospitals, buses and all the crowded places where there are great numbers of people. Also, smokers turn people around them who do not smoke into passive smokers, because they inhale the smoke of tobacco. I think the media has a great role in spreading cultural and health awareness so that people will welcome and accept these decisions and apply them. So, we have to launch awareness campaigns through newspapers, magazines, publications, radio and TV channels to educate the people about the harms of smoking. They should know that smokers do not have the right to smoke in public places. There will be smoking areas; this way, smokers will only harm themselves, not others. I think limiting the freedom of smokers will help in decreasing their numbers, because they will feel embarrassed in that situation, when they have to go to certain places to be able to smoke. Eventually, the smoking person will decrease the number of cigarettes that he consumes daily, or he will quit smoking altogether.

Smoking is among the negative phenomena that can gravely affect the smokers’ health. In fact, the world has witnessed the death of thousands people due to smoking, which can cause many illnesses. Besides, the phenomenon of smoking has been spread in public areas and places of relaxation such as restaurants. Thus, we hope to get rid of this uncivilized phenomenon that can also affect the non-smokers. I think that the prohibition of smoking in public places in Lebanon has been a good and positive decision that will be welcomed by many people, especially the elderly and those who have been suffering from respiratory illnesses and from asthma. In fact, smoking in public places can cause many problems for these people. Thus, the prohibition of smoking in public places has been among the best decisions made, because smokers must not harm other people. In fact, this decision will put an end to the phenomenon of smoking in public places. And this will protect people’s health by reducing smoking diseases. In addition, this decision will prohibit all the kinds of smoking advertisements that have been used by businessmen and television channels. This will reduce the percentage of smoking in Lebanon, which has witnessed an increasing number of smokers among the youth and women. Thus, it is important to take an interest in public taste.

I think that this issue is a matter of politeness and all people should comply with it. Hence, I support the law that bans smoking in the public and closed places, such as the public institutions, buses, schools, markets, malls, schools and shops. This is because this practice disturbs the others intentionally or unintentionally, and we want to change the culture of disrespect toward others. If you do not like this, stop harming and annoying people and leave the cigarette smoking for the right time. I am not against smoking itself, because if the smoker does not care about his health and the serious cancers that may be caused by smoking, I can do nothing for him. However, I advise such people to abandon smoking, because it is harmful and all people realize this fact. There are suspicious concerns about its dangers, and I support the literal enforcement of the law without ease so that we get accustomed to it.

Smoking can cause all types of cancer. Thus, I am in favor of prohibiting smoking in public places. It is also important to punish all those who will violate this law so that everyone abides by it. This law must be applied in all of the governmental departments and in all public places, such as restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, schools, hospitals, cars, buses, airplanes and even houses. Thus, it is important to allocate special places for smoking. Besides, it is important to install alarm devices in public places and houses, in order to avoid the violation of the law banning smoking, as is the case in other countries. This is in order to protect people’s health and ensure their safety, especially that of pregnant women and those who suffer from asthma and shortness of breath.

In my opinion, the phenomenon of smoking in public places is a negative phenomenon that we absolutely reject, because of the damage caused by smokers to others who might be non-smokers. Consequently, this affects public health. Therefore, I think that passing a law banning smoking in public places is the right decision. We hope it will be implemented in all countries, because of its importance. The public includes many segments of society, including smokers and non-smokers. Consequently, smoking causes much damage to people who might be older people or patients with chronic asthma and other thoracic diseases that could be affected by smoking in a great way, which may complicate the health conditions of many patients. In our daily life, we notice many of these negative cases, as we see some smokers who smoke in a way that contradicts common taste, especially when we are on the public buses. Smokers cannot do this at the expense of others, because it causes a great deal of tension in some people.

I am in favor of passing a law banning smoking in public places, because it will contribute to protecting the environment and human beings’ health, especially children. Passing such a law will help bring about a cleaner atmosphere free from any pollutants that may affect the citizens’ health. Thus it is very necessary to have a law banning smoking in public places and that allocates other places for smokers. Even inside homes, there has to be a separation between smokers and non-smokers’ areas, because smoking in an enclosed space can greatly harm the health of family members and children, particularly those who have asthma and suffer some cases of suffocation. Therefore, we all have to work together to maintain all people’s health and safety and to maintain the purity of the atmosphere and make it smell nice and beautiful. We also have to plant a lot of plants so that they produce a lot of pure oxygen. We have to plant all kinds of flowers and shrubs everywhere, so they will add to the beauty of our country and purify the air. I have noticed that a lot of countries prohibit smoking in enclosed spaces, especially inside houses, apartments, restaurants, clubs, cafeterias, buses, trains and planes, and that there is always a special place for smokers so as they do not affect non-smokers, children and sick people. This proves that those countries’ governments care for their people’s health. Banning smoking is a good thing, so it should be activated and violators have to be punished, so that all the people will respect it. That way, we will maintain the cleanliness and purity of our environment and protect it from any contaminants that may be caused by smoking, as other countries do.

One of the duties which have become necessary for all the world countries is to join an international campaign to fight smoking, so as to reduce this serious phenomenon which has become a threat to the public health of all the world nations. For that reason, it has become necessary for these countries to issue regulations and laws which will reduce the spread of smoking everywhere. Smokers do not pay attention to the damages that the other people may be subjected to and which may affect their health, as a result of such irresponsible practices being done by the smokers. The smoking habit for men or women is considered one of the bad habits which led to destroying them, as a result of nerve irritation from heavy smoking, as well as suffering from insomnia. Moreover, smoking leads to the inheritance of neurological and non-neurological diseases. In addition, it distorts the skin and makes it lose its beauty, especially in women who smoke. Moreover, smoking makes the color of the face pale, in addition to the great risk which it poses to the embryo if the woman is pregnant. The baby may be born deformed as a result of that. In addition, there is the bad smell of smoking as a result of smoking cigarettes, especially in the markets and crowded places and on the large transportation buses. In addition, recent studies have proved that the number of diseases which occur as a result of smoking has reached up to 30 kinds of cancers and cardiovascular diseases, as well as the great effects on the reproductive capacity. May God protect us from the evil of this hateful habit with His grace and generosity, as He is generous, and He is the one who keeps us from being plagued with smoking, which is one of the most dangerous problems to which the human being is exposed. He loses his money and health at once, in addition the spread of the malicious smell from his mouth, which he is required to clean, as it is the way to mention God and read the Holy Qur’an. Many of the Islamic Fatwas have indicated the need to avoid the smoking habit; moreover, a large number of Islamic scientists have considered it prohibited, as it is considered one of the malicious deeds prohibited by Almighty God, due to its great damage to the smokers and non-smokers who sit beside them. Moreover, I salute this great step that is carried out by the UAE government in issuing a law to fight tobacco and its products in the country, and imposing financial fines as well as other penalties against the violators.

All the developed and civilized countries have worked according to this law, thanks to its importance in protecting human rights. Thus, the prohibition of smoking in public places is a very important decision that should have been made a long time ago. In fact, this decision has many beneficial aspects, such as respecting the persons who don’t smoke. This is in addition to respecting the personal freedoms of the others, because there are many persons who smoke in hospitals or on buses. Thus, it is important to respect the others in public places. It is also important to take interest in other people’s health, because those who don’t smoke can breathe others’ cigarette smoke. This is unacceptable, because according to many doctors’ reports, smokers can cause diseases to those who don’t smoke. Thus, this can affect children, women, girls and the non-smoking men. That’s why we do not have the right to harm them.

Smoking is generally a bad habit, especially since everyone is aware that it is harmful to the health and will cause a lot of problems for humans as they get older. Therefore, smokers should be aware of the dangers of these small cigarettes which they are smoking. Cigarettes release fumes that mix with oxygen. This tobacco smoke carries with it nicotine, which is a harmful substance. In fact, every person who is sitting next to a smoker may be affected, given that scientific analyses and research has proved that he will smoke with him all during the period when the smoker is practicing this habit. Indeed, smoke is transmitted via the respiration process. Thus, he is inhaling cigarette smoke as if he himself smoked them. Therefore, I think that smokers must be aware that issuing such a law is for the protection of non-smokers. In fact, if the latter do not care about themselves, there are people who do, and who do not want to be harmed by the smoke of your cigarette, particularly in public places. Smoking in these places does not suit public taste, especially when you light a cigarette and smoke it on the bus, for example, next to a lot of passengers, some of whom may have an allergy or are sick or do not smoke, etc. For these reasons, I personally believe that this decision is correct and very positive, and we should deal with it and be convinced. In fact, if you are convinced to smoke, there are some people who are convinced not to smoke. Thus, smokers must look for private places to smoke their deadly cigarettes.

I became very happy when I heard this news. In fact, smoking is one of the most frightening things that can transfer diseases. Thus, I am in favor of forbidding smoking in public places. In fact, the problem of smoking should have been solved, because we find smokers on the buses and in public places. Thus, they are committing a big mistake, because there are many old men and women who are suffering from many diseases such as Asthma. Thus, this great plan can save many people from oppressive smokers. I am among the people who hate smoking the most. And I pray to God Almighty to help eradicate smoking as soon as possible, because smoking is like blood cancer. Thus, smokers will feel pain only after a period of time, when their lungs become sick. May God listen to my prayers, in order to save the Earth from cigarettes. We hope to hear this news very soon, God willing. In fact, smoking is a big calamity, because lungs are like flowers that can wilt due to smoking. May God help the smokers to give up smoking. In fact, many studies have shown that smoking causes many diseases and has a great impact on the human body.

The decision will be implemented in 2012. It is good, but there are more obstacles than facilities. I hope all the items of the decision will be implemented. The importance of the decision is that it comes from Lebanon.