Darice de Cuba

Coming July the no smoke law will be in effect for one year here in the Netherlands. Last year per July 1 it was forbidden to smoke in all cafe’s, restaurant, etc. This is in line with the law in Europe Union. Most country passed the law without too much drama, if I’m not mistaken even in New York there is such a law.

But where other countries/cities complained but accepted the law here in Holland they have complained about it every single day! You’d think they where forbidden to drink and eat. The more they complain and sue the government the more upset I get with this country and their totally wrong priorities. I don’t care if you want to smoke away your health and lungs but I do have a problem if you do it next to me while I’m enjoying dinner in a restaurant and thus affecting my health too. But otherwise smoke away my friend..it’ your life.

But that’s not why I’m so upset, it’s because the same minister of Health in this case Minister Klink who is very stern on the no smoke law and is “finally” succumbing to all the complaints. Is the same minister of Health who recently blocked the change of law for the transplant waiting list.

The Netherlands has a really shortage in organ donors, it’s a real serious problem. All instances have been lobbying for a new law in which everyone is automatic a donor unless they state they don’t want to be a donor. Belgium has this system and it works really well, where here in Holland you wait an average of 4.5 years(mostly more) for a kidney, in Belgium you get one in about a year.

But here in in the Netherlands it’s apparently more important if people are allowed or not to smoke while having a beer then that the minister would approve a new donor law. Instead of approving then new law he made the current law even more impossible. Since a few months now if you decide you want to be a donor, and something happens to you, your family can still turn back your decision and refuse to donate your organs.

So you see this makes me and I’m sure everyone who knows what’s like to need a transplant depressed. How people have endless energy to fight something like a no smoke law which is basically there to protect your health but they don’t give a shit about a passing a law that could save hundreds of life.