MONEY SPENT ON QAT IS NOT A JOKE!

It seems that the talk of the hour is the "Qat Combating
Society". Everyone seems interested in the topic, and of course
with different points of view. But the most significant feature of
this subject, unfortunately, is nobody seems interested in the real
harm this evil tree caused. One colleague said that qat is a
profitable tree if you compare it with others. When I tried to
enlighten his thought and highlight the fact that it is a local
profits, not foreign currency that enters your country from qat, he
looked disinterested. The quantity of water qat requires is horrible,
but also it seems no one is concerned with the lack of water Yemen
suffers from. Everyone blames the government, for instance, one said
that there are no substitutes for qat chewing gatherings, what shall I
do?

The other said it is quite awkward to sit with your family or
friends and refuse to chew qat like the rest. The problem is that they
ignore the fact that they like to chew qat, whether they have free
time or not, they create their free time to sit and chew qat. My
neighbor leaves her house every day at 3.30 p.m. to go to her friend's
house with many other women for qat. Talking about her children
requires many pages but in brief they are in a miserable condition,
dirty and smelly clothes, playing in the street bare feet, swearing
and throwing stones. There is no free time for a housewife, in fact no
time at all, wouldn't it be more useful to bade here children or help
them with their lessons rather than going out for 2-3 hours for qat?
The substitute is spending money on clothing or her children rather
than buying a bundle of these leaves. She does not believe so. When I
asked her this question she looked bewildered and said you are right
but it is a habit that I been in since I was married, and I cannot
quit it. The most horrible thing I saw is when I visited her after she
gave birth to her 6th child, she was a crowded long room with windows
shut, qat and a Madaa'a. This is normal, but the abnormal thing was a
2-day-old baby sleeping next to his mother at the same room, when I
tried to explain to her that this smoke is dangerous for the baby's
lungs she laughed and said the baby will get used to it soon. How
could a 2-day-old baby get used to this suffocating
atmosphere?

One person said that "Even if I stop chewing, I am only an
average citizen that nobody cares for, and the rest will continue
chewing qat. There is no use, I am a logical person and I tell you
real things." Well I am sorry my friend, you are wrong, all nations
start individually, you can not fulfill your ambition unless you
believe in its importance deep inside you. Each society consists of
individuals, these individuals including you and me can make up the
initiative, maybe a friend of yours will be convinced, and maybe not.
But the important thing is that you keep on going. The difficult phase
exists only at the beginning. As long as you are doing the right
thing, people will feel embarrassed for their wrongs, and they will
try to stop.

Don't talk about substitutes such as cultural centers and other
entertainment facilities, talk about what your country and family
needs from you. It would be worth it.. Take a look at yourself while
you chew qat, you look disgusting, not to mention the smell.

Buy a pair of shoes for your child, because his old ones worn torn
long ago. Sit with your daughter and befriend her, she needs you more
than qat.

A call to those who are called "Intellectuals": If you quit qat, average
people will do the
same. Plant your fertile lands with delicious fruits and vegetables;
let your children benefit from their natural vitamins. You can export
your products to neighboring countries. They already import
everything.

Before you talk about the substitute the government should provide,
think deeply of things you can do. You will find many things. Let your
mind wonder, think of the harmful affects of qat. Think of your wife,
your children, your house, you can afford to buy a car if you save the
money that goes daily for qat. In fact you can do many things.
Foreigners have an unpleasant image of our country due to your habit.
You can build your country, clean it, and show a high quality
generation to the world. Remember, "the religion is Yemeni and the
wisdom is Yemeni," but most probably the Prophet Mohammed made
this statement before your nation discovered qat, or at least the
people whom he addressed were not qat chewers.