Fotógrafo capta a chocante realidade de crianças viciadas em cigarro



Illham Muhamad tem 8 anos. Todos os dias, sua avó precisa lhe dar dinheiro para que ele vá até uma lojinha perto de casa. Se ela nega, ele esperneia, faz um escândalo. Mas não é chocolate, bala ou figurinha que o garoto compra. É cigarro, de verdade. Fumante desde os 5 anos, ele faz parte da fatia de clientes da indústria do cigarro que mais cresce na Indonésia: as crianças, que chegam a fumar dois maços diários.

Nos últimos 20 anos, o número de crianças indonésias entre 10 e 14 anos que fumam dobrou. Já os fumantes na faixa dos 5 a 9 anos triplicaram. Apesar de parecer surreal para nós ocidentais, que temos consciência de todos os malefícios do cigarro, ver crianças fumando é algo normal por lá. Regras que proíbem a venda de cigarro para menores existem, mas elas não são respeitadas. Comprar um maço de cigarros é mais fácil e barato que comprar um refrigerante.

A Indonésia é o quinto maior consumidor de tabaco no mundo e por lá a indústria do cigarro tem fortes conexões com o governo, tornando a luta contra o fumo difícil – para não dizer impossível. Chocada com essa realidade, a fotógrafa canadense Michele Siu registrou a vida desses garotos na série de fotos “Marlboro Boys”.

Confira algumas das imagens:

Dihan Muhamad, who used to smoke up to two packs of cigarettes a day before cutting down, smokes while his mother breast feeds his younger brother on February 10, 2014.(Photo By: Michelle Siu) 

 

Dihan Muhamad, who used to smoke up to two packs of cigarettes a day before cutting down, poses for a photo as he smokes in his home in a village near the town of Garut, Indonesia on February 10, 2014. 

Illham Muhamad, who has smoked since he was five years old, poses for a photo as he slowly inhales his first cigarette of the day at his grandmother's home at his village in the mountainous region near the town of Garut, Indonesia on February 10, 2014. He does not attend school and if his grandmother refuses to give him money to buy cigarettes he will cry and throw fits. 

Groups of children buy single cigarettes and light them at a kiosk after school finishes on February 12, 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Children easily purchase cigarettes without age identification and kiosks such as this one can be found near schools around the city. 

Cecep, who has lived on the streets for longer than he can remember after his mother passed away, poses for a photo as he smokes in Garut, Indonesia on February 10, 2014. He is currently sleeping at a mosque and singing in buses to make money. 

Eman poses for a photo as he smokes a cigarette while clutching a bag of juice in east Jakarta on February 12, 2014. He lives on the street and is part of a "community" which is similar to a gang. The gash on his forehead is from a fight with a neighbouring gang rival. 

Ompong, which means "toothless" in the local language of Bahasa, poses for a photograph as he has a cigarette in South Jakarta on February 14, 2014. 

Ilham Hadi, who has smoked up to packs a day and began when he was four years old, poses for a photo wearing his third grade uniform while smoking in his bedroom as his younger brother looks on in their village near the town of Sukabumi on February 14, 2014. 

Andika Prasetyo smokes outside an internet cafe where he plays games and smoking is permitted in Depok, West Java, Indonesia. He smokes about a pack of cigarettes a day. 

Children smoke on a public bus home from school on February 12, 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Smoking is permitted in most public places including public transportation.
Todas as fotos © Michele Siu

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