Mikhail Dmitrievich,
I read your interview in Izvestia.ru and was a little surprised with your inconsistency. I'm talking about anti-smoking ban in Russia.
A few days ago you were saying that you know how to change people's lives not tomorrow, but right now. That sounded hands-on and up-beat. Now when issue is as important as health, you want a delay. Why? Anything is more important than health for you? You say in Russia people are not mentally ready to give up tobacco use because of 50 years of government "propaganda" on smoking. From movie characters, even the wolf in famous cartoon were smokers and government had monopoly on tobacco.
How does it make your claim a right one, when since then so much more research has been done and Russia last 20 years managed to change its system, is not clear for me. You were one of the big transformers of the time, am I right?
I was born in 60's and my father smoked all the time, unfortunetly. Even at that time on the boxes of cigarettes was written: "smoking is harmful for health." I had trouble convincing him to quit. He couldn't and he didn't. Most men smoked at that time. People would visit us and the whole house would become a chimney. Your father didn't smoke, lucky you, but I believe people visited your family did. Am I right? Did you like it?
Smoke effected our immune systems, caused us to get infected with grip and ear infections.
If I would meet a man in my life and he smokes, no matter if he's a champion, minister, president, Nobel prize winner in science and world peace together, multi-billionair and a model, I can't start any personal relationship just because of that one factor.
Call me crazy, but it's just me. I saw and learn a lesson from dealing with smokers in former soviet union and wouldn't bother with that again anywhere. Smoke cigarettes or pot, that same people here in America call "natural," is a deal breaker for me. I can deal with them in business, while they're not smoking around me and that's it. Europe was following America on this, now Russia is trying to follow both. Why wouldn't you be enthusiastic in helping people get off of their bad obsession, is beyond me. It really is. I read the commentary about the law, it doesn't even have concrete mechanisms of implementation in daily life, and you don't even think it's on time?
We can talk about this for hours medically, economically and sociologically. I can ask you and show ways how you can help for or non-for-profit in this case. I emailed Izveastia and asked to broker a deal for an interview for 3 of us. I could talk what and how it has been done in America and especially in New York City and you could make your case clearer for Russia.
Like you, I have a dream too; one day to meet with you and have possibility to talk about different aspects of political and civil lives in Russia and USA.
Less stink in Russia, less poverty, less desease and more visitors starting from June 1st, 2013? WOW...
Slava tebe Gospodi!
Best regards.
