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Subscribe to RSSA short amateur video of two kids smoking on a train was uploaded to one of China’s You Tube-like video sharing web sites Tuesday, quickly igniting an outcry and a lively discussion about China’s smoking problem – which seems almost impossible to tackle.
In the minute-long video, two young boys – probably three or four years old – are seen puffing and giggling while standing in the space connecting two cars on a moving train. (Such connections are usually a default smoking section on Chinese trains, although the doors connecting the cars are normally open.)
There’s no information about anyone’s identity or where the train was headed. It’s also not known whether the adults standing next to the boys are their parents, but they clearly do not try to stop the kids and joke around when one boy puffs smoke into the other one’s face. “Does he know how to smoke?” asks one passenger. Another man replies, “Yes, you see he can inhale!”
The clip sparked outrage from viewers in the video sharing section of Netease.com, one of China’s biggest web portals. “The two kids would be lucky enough to make their 30th birthdays,” one commenter wrote. “Their parents should be executed,” and “Will their parents be happy when their kids contract lung cancer?” were two other comments from angry viewers.
Smoking has long been one of the greatest health threats facing China – it is linked to the deaths of at least 1 million people in China every year. Smoking is entrenched as a social norm: an estimated 30 percent of adults in China smoke, that's the equivalent of about 300 million people – almost equal to the entire U.S. population.
In fact, cartons of cigarettes are considered a standard gift for men since 53 percent of the country’s adult men smoke. Banning smoking in public was brought up by legislators as early as 1995, but the efforts haven’t made any great progress despite new rules that are promulgated every year.
The latest initiative, announced last month, will ban smoking starting May 1 in all indoor public areas. But the tobacco industry is a major tax contributor in China, which may help explain the government’s sloppy control of the centuries-old habit.
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i think it is very sad...but with kids kids in peru sniffing glue and kids all over the world breathing in pot smoke as well as tobacco, it is is offensive to single out china.. the entire planet needs to smarten up.
at least its better than the paint chips you were eating when you grew up.....let them smoke, china needs to thin out its population anyway
China's population is growing too fast so China uses cigarettes to limit growth. Makes perfect sense!
I agree, Judy, but please do not place "pot" in the same catagory as tobacco or glue, especially. There aren't nearly the same levels of toxins in marijuana as in glue (which kills brain cells directly), or tobacco (which would be fairly 'safe' if the Big Tobacco corps didn't load them with chemicals). Just MHO.
Please look at the mans pants...is his zipper down?? If so these kids are being exposed to more than just smoking!!! They need help.
am sure the chi-coms will track em down
All news putting Peru in the story must be condemned for singling out Peru !!!
All news putting Ghana in the story must be condemned for singling out Ghana!!!
All news putting Japan in the story must be condemned for singling out Japan!!!
These rules would make the world a lot more peaceful, at least in the media.
not our country, not our policy, not our $$, not our culture, not our problem
Who cares? Nicotine is a smart drug. Those kids will probably contribute more because of their smoking, and they'll die without requiring the state to pay. Besides, China has way too many people already anyway. Let them smoke. Give it a rest people.
My great uncle Tom smoked like a chimney from 7 or 8 and drank like a fish since he was 12. Had highballs for breakfast until the day he died at 99. This idea that cigarettes are certain death is just wrong. They are a lousy way to kill yourself. If you want to commit suicide, choose something certain, like hanging yourself or shooting yourself.
Although, now that I think about it, I know of that guy who shot himself in the head with a 22 and woke up the next day with a terrible headache. He still has the bullet in his head. So hanging it is!
@jolene where are your eyes girl?
Sorry it just looks like it to me!! I'm hoping I'm wrong!
riclovxcuov....Sounds great......but do you smoke?
Unfortunately, some people often see things that are not there! I see dumb ignorant people!
why not sell them condroms made in usa that would put a lot of people to work and it would help out the employment situation drastically!
The pedophile man in the background has his penis hanging out and is pulling the childs hand towards it to touch it. MSNBC needs to pull this video.
Oblivious Citizen, you are right! Wonder why all the Chinese outraged by the children smoking didn't pick up on the pedophile? This video is shocking and even more shocking!
It's not cool, their parents should be held responsible, they are by their side and provided the cigarretes, at the same time filming them while smoking them, they think is cool. This kids should be taken away from them and find an appropiate solution to their custody , they should be embarrased for what they are doing, at the same time, they might do time if convicted by a court or enforce hours of child care development, something has to done to teach this parents their irresponsabilities.
should you parents be held accoutable for exposing you to chemicals in the home and foods, radon from the basement, risk of car accidents from unneeded driving, natural cacinogens in food...poor dietary and excercise habit ?
Just saying...take car of your own shop, teach by example.
I agree with John-1425001!
taking our rights, one at a time. Nobama
Hey, the tobacco companies like it.
Are you trying to interfere with internal matters of China ?
@leanderm. The Constitution does not grant you the right to smoke.
It is very true that most men in China smoke. Pretty much the only women that smoke are of questionable reputation. I used to live there for about 5 years and would always be invited to dinner with government officials, and factory owners. They would fill the private dining room with smoke. Always offer me cigarettes and they were surprised that I did not smoke.
Many times on the way back to China from a trip to the US I would pick up cartons of US cigarettes to give government leaders as gifts.
so your part of the problem hu
a smoking ban will not make a difference...we have smoking ban in my small city in parks & plazas but still mostly old chinese guys (& often young chinese guys too) light up around kids and the woman with them don't say anything, right next to signs that say No Smoking...because there's an ashtray right there I guess. they do not understand 2nd hand smoke. Or they just don't care...chinese.
lighten up. It's a bad habit, but it is their decision. The people that posted they would get cancer by 30 are just making that up (starting early doesn't . Those that critiqued their parents have no issue with our society fattening up our kids so they can stroke out early, and most likely don't test for radon which is 5 times more likely than second hand smoke to cause cancer.
Take care of your own lives first.
Would you like to show us the study that states children who begin smoking at an early age will not be more likely to get cancer earlier?
Child obesity is very bad too. I would be just disturbed to watch children of this age gorging on too much bad food. However, that is not to discount the negative effect of smoking at an age where one is not able to properly reason and make an informed decision.
John is totally right. That's why I have no problem with people selling tainted food to Chinese children. It is their choice. There is no study indicating that 100% of Chinese children who ate tainted food will die either. Many of them actually survive the ordeal, with only varying degree of temporary damage, which is totally all right with me.
Are we the only nation that tries to impose our ideals, beliefs, etc.. on other cultures? While I do not agree with letting these kids smoke, in the grand scheme of things, its better than having them tote around AK-47's spouting about holy war, etc.. Plus, they didn't even inhale.
Started when I was nine, God is gonna take me one way or other. live free die young thats my motto
"Live stupid die young" should be your motto.
You realize that by being addicted to nicotine you are a walking contradiction of "freedom"? Right? You see that don't you? The irony? Because you should.
That said, I am all for smoking. How else can the rest of immediately know who in society are complete morons, unable to control the tiniest urge for immediate gratification at the likely expense of a horrible death?
This video is telling me that, whoever make this video is dump, so the parents of these two boys. These people
have no lives value.
dump?????
I wonder who is "dumper".
lost in translation.
i believe he means 'trash' not 'dump'. lol
Dump ? Dumped ? Dumper ?
poiuy: In response to your comment:3.2 Why don't we start w/ your kids then? After they eat tainted, please allow me to light their filter-less cigarette and teach them how to inhale and then coach them how to work their way up to 2-3 packs a day... what? Something wrong with that? I don't have a problem with that... do you? Your a fool.
We've conducted a survey, and our findings may surprise you. Two out of every three three smokers under the age of 5 choose "Kan-ton" with the micronite filter. Kan-ton, with its blend of natural and synthetic tobacco enhancers is surely the cigarette for the toddler in your life (while they're still with us). Smooth, long lasting, good tasting, and they don't burn out like those American cigarettes. Enjoy the pleasures of childhood with just one puff....so smooth and mild. Kan-ton, the cigarette of choice for "Our Gang" in China. **Warning** cigarette smoking may cause small burns, coughing, and adult like behavior. **Not sold in America**
Nicely done!
omg roflmao
no corrections
Perhaps they need the surgeon general's warning written in Chinese on each pack. Or maybe each cigarette. Oh wait, do they have a Chinese surgeon general?
Children that young can't read.
in china its young children cant lead they have trouble with their Rs maybe we should just stay out of other countries business till we get our own country cleaned up
Secretly, the Chinese government promotes smoking. It tends to solve some of their most vexing demographic problems. More and more, the family structure that used to take care of the elderly is breaking down in favor of jobs in big cities. So asking the government to do something is a big burden on them.
You know, kind of like medicare and social security here.
Cigarettes are sometimes priced according to their nicotine content. The more harmful ingredients, the greater the price.
It's stupid, but then again we were not so different back 40 years ago. And I bet you could find photos of American kids from that period smoking if you tried.
Chinese people are really short. Has anyone considered the possibility that these are adults?
I am sure they are all grown ups. If you don't believe that, open them up and see their lungs. All wrinkles and dark...
That was my exact thought. I watched the whole video and their mannerisms (besides the smoking) don't seem child-like to me at all. Just the way they were standing and conversing back and forth...3-4 year olds don't generally have that conversational ease. Seemed to me like these were "little people".
@JewishGuy, that was rather offensive, yet funny as hell at the same time.
At least Justdontgetit was politically correct. I have no sound on my computer ATM so to me it looked like small children, but with all the recent shows I have seen on individuals who are of a specific age (such as 40) but look 10 or younger has made me agree with justdontgetit and in fact maybe it is "little people"
That or China has figured out their own population control? At least it is a CHOICE...they are not FORCING the older men or others who smoke to smoke. I personally would never contribute to a minor, since in AMERICA it is against the law....and as many have stated....I think we need to clean up our OWN country and our OWN problems before we go telling other people what to do....especially since many of our products are now made in China....we might want to back down before they add cancer agents in our products killing us much faster then they are dying from smoking.
Could this be China's version America's Funniest Videos and not a trend of toddlers being provided with and encouraged to smoke? I sure hope so. It seems people will do most anything to get a photograph or video on YouTube or Facebook. It's that old 15 minutes of fame thing.
Don't worry about the Chinese...they're killing themselves quite nicely.
John 1245001, you nailed it right on the head, VERY well said my man!!!!!! If we all lead by example, we wouldn't need to worry about these video's. I would bet that the kids parents are smokers, which is exactly where the kids get it from.
In Canada they have photos of a mother smoking in front of two small children that state something in the same sort like "children lead by example" then again, some children DO THE OPPOSITE of their parents and NEVER touch a drug.
The best package in Canada had been the limp cigarette stating that smoking may cause impotence on the side. Maybe the US should get cool packages like that...how many men would stop smoking if they seen that? Oh wait our never ending pill obsession for any problem we could think of could help with the limp issues....then again they will need another pill to counteract the side effects from that first pill, and then the second pill will need a third pill to help with those side effects.....meh screw it....mise well just pull out our livers now...they will be useless soon enough.
Are you kidding me.... the parents or responsible parties, probably didn't want to deal with them and gave them the cigarettes and sent them to the back just to get them out of their hair!!! It's the same principal as handing your kid a twinkie or a video game remote controler ect... Anything to shut them up.....LOL we Americans just think we're better than everyone else. BTW I've had Chinese cigarettes and they are REALLY good even better than Dunhills!!
I know first hand that smoking is a nasty habit, and hard to break. It can lead to all sorts of disease and suffering. That said, I can remember when I was a lad going to Tijuana for the first time seeing lots of pre-pubesent kids puffing away. I was shocked at first, but later realized that cultural standards vary from country to country. That is not to say that it was good for the kids, it wasn't. But smoking there was not seen as a danger to health like it was in the United States. In fact it was not that long ago that smoking was seen as harmless right here in the good old USA.
It takes time for any culture to change, and it is unfortunate that some will suffer as a result of delay. But the alternative to education and enlightenment is to make matters worse through prohibition. The parents of these children need to made to understand that this is not acceptable behavior for kids. It's hard for me to imagine that these days there are still some people who don't get it, but here is the evidence in this video. If they love their kids they need to take responsibly to keep them safe.
These are not kids! look closely, they'r little people!
Well if they are working in child labor camps why cant they also smoke?
I thought they were in China, not Maine..
"But the tobacco industry is a major tax contributor in China, which may help explain the government’s sloppy control of the centuries-old habit."
I find it interesting that the American government, who has greatly profited from tobacco and its taxes from the very beginning of this country, are 'controlling' it in a FREE country! Hmmmmmm.....what's next, I wonder.....
The problem with the obesity comparison is that you have to eat, you don't have to smoke.
Can we at least sell them American cigarettes to help the balance of trade?
American cigarettes are quite popular and readily available in China. Good news for Philip Morris!
I was wondering when John Boehner was going to show up in the video handing out sippy cups of Merlot and passing out coupons for Cartons of American Tobacco!
Interesting side note, taken from the Washington Post this a.m.:
"The monthly trade shortfall with China fell sharply, to $18.8 billion from $23.3 billion the month before. That was largely because of a decline in U.S. imports. Exports to China rose slightly."
Did anyone notice how mature those children were?
Take my advise kid, quit now while you're young. Before you know it you'll be smoking on trains with some old guys!
!!!!Someone please tell me what is hanging from the Mans pants who helps the child flick the ashes??????
It looks like the mans zipper is open...please someone tell me I'm seeing things!!!!
I looked closely at what you were refering to. It was just the little boy's hand, but it did kind of look like what you are refering to for just a moment.
Oh I so can see why the Chinese think they are so much better than Americans. Looks to me they have the exact same problems. Go figure!
Thats one way to enforce population control.
One million smoke related dead a year? May be China just uses cigarrette for population control.
Only one million ? China must have found a way to cure lung cancer. Out of a population of 1.3 billion, there is probably over 10 million deaths in China every year. And less than 10% of it died from lung cancer ? That's great breakthrough in medicine in China.
It's the tea, that's the secret antioxidant medicine they take every day.
They're still short of breath though.
Maybe the only ones dying are the ones smoking american cigarettes?
No way, after reading the article about the group who saved 508 or so dogs from being killed and eaten (some who had collars and tags leading to the conclusion that they were stolen from families) it has to be the dog meat, and the bear sH1t they some how believe has some magical healing powers.
Who needs a hospital when you can just eat bear poo and all your pain and health issues will go away.
I'll keep my RJ Reynolds stock for a few more years................