WHY DO people smeke? It’s a question | constantly ask myself when I see my friends or relatives smoke, yet I smoke anyway. I don’t smoke heavily, but I do have a cigarette now and then with my triends. Of course, there are the usual lines you hear fram parents like: “H your friends are making you smoke, they're not very goad friends,” or “If lever catch you smoking, I’}! kill you,” or “Just because your friends smoke, dees that mean you can’t make up your own mind?” For some strange reason, Lend up ignoring mother’s words of wisdom and spark up a butt anyway. School District #44 (North Vancouver) passed a smoke-free policy in schools, which means smokers must smoke off school property during school hours. in my own high school. there are two areas outside of the school boundary where students are allowed to smoke. These areas are down the road away from the schoo! and behind the school across the creek. When someone continually ignores this rule, they're given an after-school detention and the stu- dent's parents are notified. MOPs Chall supervisors) walk around. telling people to go to the designated area. | interviewed several students who were smoking in front of my school, and J found that not one per- son f talked to was worried about cancer or heart disease. The comments | received sur- prised me: “I don’t give a ----." = “You're gonna die anyway. so why prolong your death?” “It doesn’t affect me now. so | don’t give a ----" and “I want to die before I get old, anyway.” I don't know what you think, but it sounds to me like no one cares. ] talked to my vice-principal, Mr. Friesen, about what he thought of the students who smoke. He believes that it is well known, from extensive scientific research, that smoking is dangerous to your health. On a more personal level, he advises young people nat to start smoking and. if they do smoke, to WITH OLIVER GANNON AND MILES Hitt § MONDAY, OCTOBER 31 1:5 TENED TOW: vad feb & Tickets Also Availatiy trom Comrnunity Box Offices hu j 8:00pm Showtime Tickets $22 anctiume ost B fAgency and/ur Facility fees ingy apply at some tichet vutlets.: dames Pearson try and quit. He also told me an interesting fact. Recently, three classes (about 90 students). met with him and there were only five out of die 90 students who smoked. Finally, some good news! i went down to the new Community Policing Centre in Lynn Valley Mall and talked to Const. John McDougall. He gave me an officer's view of the problem with minors buying cigarettes. He thought the law, which states that it is illegal to sell cigarettes to people under the age of 19, is so new that some police officers aren’t fully aware of it. Statistics from North Shore Health show that on the North Shore, one in three teens smoke, but only one in five adults smoke. But smoking is not just a problem for teens and adults, Children are starting to smoke as early as 12 years of age. The B.C. government passed a new Tobacco Products Act. in July of 199-4, which prevents the sale of any tobacco products to minors under the age of 19, ‘This so-called solution, in effect. did nothing to stop kids from smok- ing, it just makes it harder for them to get cigarettes. In fact, a few comer stores have even made the problem worse by selling single cigarettes, which means kids don’t have to spend their whole allowance ona full pack! James Pearson, 17, is an Argyle Secondary School student, in Grade 12. He's into music, sports and cont puter eames, NORTH VANCOUVER Centennial Theatre Charge by phone 984-4484 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3 SURREY Surrey Arts Centre Charge by phone 596-1515 ji nay et Hi it 280- 2801 TOLR MATALEMEST HY MOSIAC WEST FRODEC TIONS @ ALL SUITE DESIGN Spstiaus 2 & 3 bedioom plus ® MULTI-PURPOSE NORTEL VANCOUVER students Inve been bianed Frain smoking on school properly. but seme students are iuaaring the ban. De soe think thors fie bs the right to smoke on the school grounds an exypecnidior ora pris iggy? rtibes oe yaa ft, Pine al it Ha yee eden ot aN vf aries {conconD paciFic f DEC. AME RON It FREE 2nd Parking to the first 10 buyers @ TWO SUITES PER FLOOR More privacy, more exclusivity @ RANCHER STYLE CITY RESIDENCE Distinee entertainment, work and living spaces @ SPECTACULAR VIEW All suites bave water view IRRESISTIBLE GRAND OPENING INCENTIVES UP TO $15,000 IN VALUE* Three carefully designed incentive plans tor you to choose from: Plan A: Owner will match your deposic up to $15,000 Plan B: One extra parking and no maintenance fee for two years Plan C: Morcgage financing up to 95% for qualified buyers ‘incanswoes wre afore On 08,22 & 2S ent aed ort tetyect bo chamsge send! 1 tomcrten macheut pres reece Auk taneperpint ftv Oran OE Arekes bremecind MORE SPACE, MORE PRIVACY MORE REASONS FOR BUYING Unique building design solarium ranging -Immediate occupincy from 1.245to 1.588 44 ft. -Na more guessing: see what you are buying