summer, Kyoto, and an NGO
Australia,
The sun is out in Beirut and the grass is green and the heat is on. Summer is in full bloom in October, people. Five or six years back we would’ve been wearing long sleeves this time of year. But ever since then, winter has been pushed so far back that, last year only, we spent New Year s Eve in short sleeves. Almost.
You’ve heard of the Kyoto Protocol. You’ve heard about greenhouse gases and greenhouse effects. You’ve heard about global warming. What do you do about it?
Yesterday evening, I visited an NGO that needed someone to give them guidance on organizing their relationship with the media. I spent almost 3 hours in a closed room with 14 people, 12 of who smoke heavily.
It’s been almost 4 months since I quit smoking, and I still am trying to avoid such situations. I don’t feel like smoking any more, but people smoking around me really tend to trouble my lungs.
Anyway, back to global warming. Yesterday’s NGO office was really a smoke-room. Anyone who walked into the room needed some time to adjust their eye sight in the thick fog/smog. Anyone leaving the room suddenly felt the euphoric rush of fresh air.
This is an NGO that deals with school children, teaches them and prepares them for adult life.
I’m sure that these smokers (and I was one once) would join me in complaining about greenhouse gases, greenhouse effects and the US refusal to participate in the Kyoto Protocol. But little do they realize that they are just as bad as the high rising factory towers they condemn. On average, I think the average smoker could contribute as much carbon monoxide in a year as a car does in a week. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but I think this could be studied.
Anyway, yesterday evening, inside an NGO office, I breathed enough smoke to make me a second-hand chain smoker.
I wonder what this NGO will teach the kids. Smoking kills? Smoking is bad for you? Look out for the environment?
The sun is out in Beirut and the grass is green and the heat is on. Summer is in full bloom in October, people. Five or six years back we would’ve been wearing long sleeves this time of year. But ever since then, winter has been pushed so far back that, last year only, we spent New Year s Eve in short sleeves. Almost.
You’ve heard of the Kyoto Protocol. You’ve heard about greenhouse gases and greenhouse effects. You’ve heard about global warming. What do you do about it?
Yesterday evening, I visited an NGO that needed someone to give them guidance on organizing their relationship with the media. I spent almost 3 hours in a closed room with 14 people, 12 of who smoke heavily.
It’s been almost 4 months since I quit smoking, and I still am trying to avoid such situations. I don’t feel like smoking any more, but people smoking around me really tend to trouble my lungs.
Anyway, back to global warming. Yesterday’s NGO office was really a smoke-room. Anyone who walked into the room needed some time to adjust their eye sight in the thick fog/smog. Anyone leaving the room suddenly felt the euphoric rush of fresh air.
This is an NGO that deals with school children, teaches them and prepares them for adult life.
I’m sure that these smokers (and I was one once) would join me in complaining about greenhouse gases, greenhouse effects and the US refusal to participate in the Kyoto Protocol. But little do they realize that they are just as bad as the high rising factory towers they condemn. On average, I think the average smoker could contribute as much carbon monoxide in a year as a car does in a week. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but I think this could be studied.
Anyway, yesterday evening, inside an NGO office, I breathed enough smoke to make me a second-hand chain smoker.
I wonder what this NGO will teach the kids. Smoking kills? Smoking is bad for you? Look out for the environment?
PS I also think we should sign the Kyoto protocol