Little smokers of Indonesia
While the number of people who smoke is declining in many Western countries, the reverse is true in Indonesia, where more than 60% of the male population regularly smokes tobacco. When Canadian photographer Michelle Sioux heard about this, she thought it was the perfect subject for her photographic exploration. In Indonesia, even children smoke, with the majority smoking their first cigarette at the age of 4 years. This problem is rather complicated, because smoking is linked to the country culturally, politically and economically. And you won't walk 10 steps without seeing an ad for cigarettes. Indonesia's economy depends on the tobacco industry, which has proven to be very profitable. Many Indonesians make a living growing tobacco and are surrounded by cigarettes and tobacco smoke from an early age. There are practically no rules, so it is quite common to see a smoking schoolboy returning home. Some of these children smoke two packs a day.
(Total 12 photos)
1. Dihan Mukhabad, who used to smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, sits with his mother, who is breastfeeding his younger brother in the city of Garut, Indonesia. (Michelle Siu)
2. Dihan smokes his first cigarette at 7 am at home before going to school. (Michelle Siu)
3. Young heavy smoker Dikhan Mukhamad at home. (Michelle Siu)
4. Children buy cigarettes and smoke at a kiosk after school in Jakarta. You can buy cigarettes here without verification of age, and similar kiosks are scattered throughout the city, especially near schools. (Michelle Siu)
5. Children smoke on the bus on their way home from school. Although smoking is prohibited on public transport, no one monitors this and almost never punishes anyone for it. (Michelle Siu)
6. Ilham Hadi, who started smoking at the age of 4. He is now in the third grade and can sometimes smoke two packs of cigarettes a day. (Michelle Siu)
7. Ilham Mukhamad has been smoking since the age of five. He lives with his grandmother and does not go to school. If his grandmother refuses to give him money for cigarettes, he throws tantrums. (Michelle Siu)
8. Ompong (translated as “toothless”). (Michelle Siu)
9. Eman with a bag of juice and a cigarette in Jakarta. (Michelle Siu)
10. Little Ryan smokes periodically. (Michelle Siu)
11. Andika Prasetio smokes about a pack a day. (Michelle Siu)
12. Ilham Hadi smokes in his room. Sitting next to him is his younger brother. (Michelle Siu)
Keywords: Indonesia | Smoking | Cigarettes