With SARS gradually passing its peak, more and more people take off their gauze masks. They feel released and have more freedom to breathe in fresh air. However, a certain number of people have restored their bad habit and start to spit everywhere. Now and then, whether in the street, or on the bus, or in city gardens, we will see some people, the fine ladies and gentilemen, spitting without feeling a bit ashamed as shown in the picture. When shown the" NO SPITTING !sign, they just turn a blind eye to it. Still worse, people around have to be on guard against the sudden attack of 'spit

　　shot" from the spitters.

　　Spitting is a terrible habit. For one thing, it is-entirely uncivilized. The world has entered the 21st century and human civilization has reached a more advanced stage.Why can't those people remove this ugly habit? Is it because they think the earth is a gigantic spittoon? For another thing, spitting does great harm to public health. According to chemical laboratory test, one sputum contains thousands upon thousands of germs and SARS viruses if the spitter is a SARS Sufferer. As was reported, the Beijing Municipal Government once mobilized an army of a thousand sanitation workers to clean out the mess in Tian An Men Square.

　　For people to get rid of this uncivilized behaviour, we suggest local authorities strengthen education by publicizing the harmfulness of spitting, and at the same time, enforce the law of punishment.

　　Finally, we, citizens of the earth, must he self-disciplined, love our Mother Earth and don't dirty her