Let's Get Serious

Today it was announced that the Mayor of New York City has banned smoking inTimes Square.

Is this because he has just found out that more voters are non smokers? That is the only reason I can think of. Who causes the most pollution, a person driving to work or a pedestrian smoking a cigarette on his way to work?

I can fully understand the banning of smoking inside of any building. No matter how good the ventilation smoke can always accumulate, plus there is the added danger of fire.

Smoking in the open air though; that will only play a miniscule addition to the smog created by industries and vehicle exhausts which is a far greater hazard to health.

Is the Mayor trying to convince the world that he is a great ecologist? After all he has just announced that the new fleet of NY taxis will be able to be adapted to run on electricity at a future date. Here is a news flash- the city of Shenzhen in China, have just celebrated the one year anniversary of using all electric taxis. Apart from being eco friendly, each taxi is said to of saved $1000 per month in fuel bills. THAT is impressive both ecologically and economically, all without the need to bring in a petty law discriminating certain groups.

Now, what will happen to a person if they do smoke inTimes Square? Will they be given a ticket to pay a fine? What if they do not pay the fine? Will they be locked up?

Californiahas just been ordered by the Supreme Court, to release 30,000 convicts because of over crowding, willNew Yorkbe next? If so, who would they release? The drug lords, muggers or rapists, after all none of them smoked inTimes Square.

I am all for making the planet a healthier place but it never will be if we continue to blame a few, making a very slight pollution, for the whole woes of the world. Let’s get serious and make some laws that really will make a difference to our prolonged healthy existence.