Argentina to Ban Smoking at Iguazu Falls
The great American novelist John Updike once said of a character in a short story that she “had a nature-lover’s hatred of smoking and drinking.”
Updike’s description led me immediately to wonder if there’s any reason to think nature-lovers actually are more inclined than others to hate such things. Perhaps he was right.
At least that’s what you might conclude from a new decision by the National Parks Administration, or APN, to ban smoking at Iguazu Falls. The APN plans to prohibit smoking within days on the Argentine side of the bi-national park.
The reason? In comments to the newspaper La Nacion, APN officials said they decided on the ban because of so many complaints from international tourists. Such an amazing place of pristine natural beauty should be free from “contamination,” the visitors repeatedly said.
Updike, a smoker who died earlier this year of lung cancer, wrote about the stench of cigarettes in one of his novels, Rabbit Redux:
“You can never get the smell of smoke out. Like the smell of failure in life.”
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Hooray, HOORAY!!
I am super allergic to smoke, and this has prevented me from going to and doing a lot of things in Argentina. When I went to Salta I ended up in the hospital because last year before the law changed the Chaqueños were puffing like chimneys everywhere I went.
This ban in Iguazu is such a step in the right direction of good health for everyone, even if it is financially motivated because of tourism. Who cares? Everyone benefits!!
My Mother and Uncle died of Cancer. I’ve had Colon Cancer 4 years ago and two malignant tumors in my liver removed 2 weeks ago.. Today I found out that I only have 48% of my lung capacity due to smoking that started when I was 15 years old. I’m 66 now But no Lung Cancer. Yet! And I have not smoked in 16 years.I’M FOR ANYTHING THAT STOPS SMOKING ANYWHERE. But I understand smokers that won’t quit. I was one. If just one person reads this and at least attemps to quit this was worth posting.
I am not a smoker and it is so tiresome to hear all the negativity concerning smoking. Now even Argentina is falling under the spell of– blame everything on smoking. There are lots of things in life that are not good for one and impact others one way or another. People have become so intolerant —sigh
Noisy unruly children—-drinking alcohol can both cause health issues for others—-Let’s ban parenthood and alcohol—