The great Chinese smoke-up (we puff for the poor )

If part of your New Year's resolution is to pick up smoking, well here is yet another reason why you have just made an awesome decision (as if prospect of tarred teeth, permanent bad breath and lung cancer aren’t enough to look forward to): Your new habit will help fund education for many underprivileged children in China. Last night at dinner, while enjoying some fine second hand smoke, we noticed this message prominently displayed on the pack of Zhongnanhai Lights our friend was holding (yes, that Zhongnanhai):

您每消费一盒中南海香烟, 就向希望工程献一份爱心

Which translates into, “For every pack of Zhongnanhai cigarettes you consume, you are making a contribution to Project Hope.” Project Hope is a national philanthropic organization dedicated to providing education to underprivileged children.

We think the message means that the Beijing Cigarette Company, the people behind Zhongnanhai brand cigarettes, will donate a portion of the profits to the foundation, or maybe they’ll just hand out a few free cartons to the poor kids. Hell, poor people need to smoke too — population control — and better get them hooked while they’re still young and have nothing better to do. Either way, the kindness of people at the Beijing Cigarette Company has been felt by all of us here, and as soon as someone tells us where to procure some Zhongnanhai cigs in Shanghai, we’ll be puffing in no time — no guilt, just love, cuz we’re doing it for the poor kids.