Schools and smokes.

Everyone has gone to school. Everyone has had their school friends and buddies, and also everyone had problems at school. That's true, and that's one thing.

Another thing is to have to make a difference between smokers and non smokers, whic can - on my opinion - save the lives of those who refuse to be addicted to cigarrettes...

But what's really new these days in our beloved country is that school kids who quit smoking will be awarded with the posibility to travel!!! This is an idea of the Health's Ministry, aimed to reduce the addiction to cigarrettes in people between 15 and 18 years old.

The truth is that smoking IS NOT HEALTHY not fot 15 year olds, not for 50 year olds, not for anybody!!! But in Chile, our youg people smoke twice as much as an european or an american kid. At the age of 17, 50 per cent of our young people smoke, and at 14, 33 per cent does it as well. To look "more mature", or to look "smarter", or whatever, they just smoke, and start doing it by the time they are 13 years old.

So the Ministry came up with an idea... "Quit it and Win!" is the name of the contest. The WHO/OMS (Word's Health Organization/Organización Mundial de la salud)is a pioneer when it comes to this matter. In fact, they have a contest (quite simmilar), where any adult (person older than 18) can win the US$2.500 price if they actually quit smoking.

I hate smoking, cigarrettes, smokers (as a group of people, because i know that - as Dr. Izzie Stevens said - "because people do horrible things, it doesn't mean that they're horrible people) and all, and i know that it's an issue to the public health as well, but i wonder, in what degree are parents guilty for their children's smoke? Now it's necesary that the State actually makes a contest and all smokers younger than 18 can participate. But, what i want to say is, Is there actually any real damage in raising kids with healthy habits? i know what's the answer from really big companies, but i'd like to know the one from people who do have kids.

Anyway... just quit smoking! Even if there isn't a price involved.