Original Fair Future illustration showing children exposed to secondhand smoke in an indoor home setting.
You Donât Smoke, But You Breathe It In
In a country where cigarettes are as standard as rice, non-smokers are suffering because of someone elseâs addiction. Indonesia, home to one of the highest smoking rates on Earth, offers no national protection for its non-smoking population. No law prevents cigarette smoke from entering homes, schools, hospitals, or buses. The result? A silent epidemic.
Secondhand smoke is not just unpleasantâit is lethal. With over 7,000 toxic substances in each puff and more than 70 known to cause cancer, the facts are non-negotiable: there is no safe level of exposure. None.
Even 30 minutes in a smoky room can be enough to trigger a heart attack. Children who have never touched a cigarette suffer from asthma, chronic lung disease, and pneumonia. Pregnant women exposed to smoke can miscarry or give birth to babies with severe health issues. Newborns exposed to smoke risk dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). And non-smokers? Theyâre 30% more likely to develop lung cancer simply for being near someone who smokes.
Every five minutes, someone dies from secondhand smoke. Thatâs over 1.2 million preventable deaths a year.
Letâs call this what it is: a public health disaster. And itâs entirely avoidable.
This isnât about demonising smokers. Itâs about protecting the right to breathe. Smoke doesnât stay in your lungsâit spreads, clings to your clothes, skin, and children. It infiltrates places where people should feel safe. If you smoke, donât do it around others. Step away. Better yet, quit. But at the very least, acknowledge that smoking is never just a personal choice.
Fair Future Foundation et Kawan Baik Indonesia have launched a community-based campaign against secondhand smoke. We are working with schools, families, and local leaders to demand change, raise awareness, et protect the most vulnerable, especially enfants.
Everyone has the right to breathe clean air. Secondhand smoke is a killer. Letâs stop pretending itâs harmless. Itâs not just smoke. Itâs someone elseâs disease, in your lungs.
We created an educational poster on the dangers of secondhand smoke, available in English et Indonesian. You can view, print, share, et distribute it freely to raise awareness. Itâs part of our commitment to protect those who cannot choose.
 Téléchargez ce poster en anglais ici ou en Bahasa Indonesia ici.
Today, May the 13th, 2025 â Alex Wettstein
Secondhand Smoke Kills Silently
You donât see it. You donât choose it. Yet it enters your lungs, poisons your blood, and can kill your child. In Indonesia, no law protects non-smokers. Babies choke, mothers miscarry, children struggle to breathe. This is not a personal habitâitâs public harm. Clean air is a right, not a luxury. Smoking around others is not freedom. Itâs violence.
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Liste des organisations liées avec des liens hypertexte
- The Union: The Union advocates for stronger tobacco control laws, supporting efforts similar to Fair Futureâs campaigns in Indonesia.
- Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Fights for global policies protecting children from secondhand smoke, aligning with Fair Futureâs advocacy.
- WHO Tobacco Free Initiative: WHOâs program offers resources and legal frameworks, and Fair Future promotes actions in its field.
- ASH Action on Smoking and Health: Raises awareness of passive smoking harms, echoing Fair Futureâs on-ground medical realities.
- Indonesia Cancer Foundation: This foundation supports cancer prevention tied to smoking, a critical issue Fair Future addresses through education and outreach.
