China: Smoking Problems Among Young Kids

dkbnews ^ | 05/12/05

[TigerLikesRooster]

/begin my translation

China: Smoking Problems Among Young Kids

	05/12/05|

A small kid in tattered clothes is lighting up like an old pro. He must have done it for quite a while. It appears that he is a kid panhandling in front of a Buddhist temple. We can see an incense burner and a plastic bottle for collecting money, and on the left side, we see the appeal for help written on a board.


Inhaling after lighting it up

  Judging from the way he carries the cigarette between his fingers, he looks as experienced as any chain-smoking grownup.


Inhaling again

There is a wide income gap among different regions in China. There are many poor people in mountainous areas in the West or Yunnan Province. They have many serious problems with drugs, and smoking by small boys and girls. 

  Screen capture of the Chinese web site

At a well-known Chinese Internet site called 'IT 168,' they posted these pictures and comments from people. Chinese responses were pretty much the same.  A typical comment is, 'What is going on? Why doesn't the government take care of this?'

 

/end my translation

[TigerLikesRooster]

Note: This translation is from the somewhat shortened version of the original article.

Apparently, it is quite common to see chain-smoking kids in China.

[SheLion]

Just like little kids in Germany. They go up to the bar, put down their mark and say "Ein Bier Bitte." As soon as they are big enough to reach the bar, they order bier/beer.

[Bonaparte]

But but but I thought Mao-the-chain-smoker came to power promising there would be no more rich and poor.

[Dr. Marten]

No doubt the little tyke is working for some "liumang".

Children beggars rarely ever work on their own, they are usually enslaved by some bastid watching over them with an eagle eye. Usually they are running around, shoving flowers in your face trying to get you to buy them.

Sad.

[Dr. Marten]

Maybe he's not a kid. Maybe he started smoking when he was young and it just stunted his growth?

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #5

It is not impossible. However, he seems too small for that. If he is actually a grownup, he is a certified midget. I have never heard of such extreme stunting. But then, I come across something totally new once in a while.:-)

[EdHallick]

Baby Finster...

[Dr. Marten]

lol..well, I was just joking.

Actually, I was pretty surprised to learn that the Chinese do have midgest. I did not know that...until recently.

[BJungNan]

Apparently, it is quite common to see chain-smoking kids in China.

It is not quite common (or even regular common) to see chain-smoking kids in China.

[BJungNan]

Usually they are running around, shoving flowers in your face trying to get you to buy them...

You mean you did not buy the flowers from the little girls selling them. Heck, they used to give me a discount I bought so many. Thought many times those girls are going to grow up to be rich, dang good salespeople.

[Calpernia]

I've seen this in Mexico too. Not that young; maybe about 12 years old.

[Dr. Marten]

No way!

They are closely monitored. They don't get to keep any of that money. In fact, their meal ticket depends on how much money they make for the "laoban".

The way I see it, giving them money only keeps him in business. I tend to follow the locals, if I see them giving money to someone I will too. With a few exceptions...My wife thinks I'm nuts. I don't give money to people who beg for money with a small child strapped over their shoulder, but I buy food for people eating insects off the sidewalk that ask nothing of me.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #9

Maybe it depends on the neighborhood. Shanghai is world away from Yunnan or Sichuan. It seems it is common in what they call 'boonies.'

[Bonaparte]

If I had to bet, I would wager that these children are addicted to nicotine (and possibly other substances) by the adults who exploit them as "fund raisers" -- and are then provided with tobacco (and whatever else) only if they meet their daily street-begging "quota."

[jsbankston]

I don't imagine the FR Puff List has to worry about Smoking Bans in China.

[Calpernia]

I really doubt the FR Puff List would support a toddler smoking.