Signature campaign against drug abuse
23,330 sign the “We, the children” pledge in a 1,140-paged book
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| TIPPER TIPPED O’ER – Past the weighing bridge but over the tipping threshold |
20 November, 2008 – A 1,140-paged book, containing signatures of 23,330 people pledging to live a drug-free life, was submitted to the prime minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley on Monday.
The signatures of people across the country pledging to live a drug-free life was compiled during a weeklong campaign that started from November 6. Titled “We the Children Pledge,” the maximum signatures are those of youth, but it also has signatures of parents, who pledged to set a good example to all Bhutanese children by signing a “Say no to drugs, Say yes to life,” form.
Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley said that he was proud and inspired by the work of the committee and called it a worthy endeavour. “With such initiatives I still see hope, hope that we can tackle the problem (of drugs),” said the Lyonchhen.
The prime minister said that he was sad that more and more youths are doing drugs and not thinking about their future. “I’m worried that there are all kinds of people, who are making drugs available to the youth, which eventually will destroy the whole country.”
Expressing his concerns, the prime minister said that today’s youth were not obedient and they did not seem to pay respect to their parents unlike in the past.
According to the prime minister, the rules and regulations imposed on drug abuse did not seem to work. He said that the initiative must come from the bottom and from the youth themselves.
The prime minister made an appeal to all youth in the country to stay away from drugs, and to all the teachers and parents to guide and advise the young generation. “It is the responsibility of all of us,” he said.
By Tandin Wangchuk (Kuenselonline)