The Governing Council of the UIB has approved a new regulation that prohibits smoking on the terraces of the cafeterias in its buildings. The measure is part of institutional strategies to promote well-being and reduce risk factors among the university community, with the aim of consolidating safer and healthier spaces. The initiative was presented this Friday, April 24, at an event on the UIB campus attended by the Vice-Rector for Social and Cultural Projection, Adrià Muntaner, and the president of the Spanish Association Against Cancer in the Balearic Islands, José Reyes.

The UIB Governing Council has approved a new regulation prohibiting smoking on the terraces of its buildings' cafeterias. The measure is part of institutional strategies to promote well-being and reduce risk factors among the university community, with the aim of consolidating safer and healthier spaces. The initiative was presented this Friday, April 24, at an event on the UIB campus attended by the Vice-Rector for Social and Cultural Projection, Adrià Muntaner, and the President of the Spanish Association Against Cancer in the Balearic Islands, José Reyes.

Affordable housing, a shift in the tourism model, sustainability, major infrastructure projects... The politics of empty promises knows no political affiliation, and every institution makes grand announcements that never materialize. Seeking headline-grabbing impact has become a governing strategy, and we find ourselves facing political leaders who confuse rhetoric with action. Faced with structural problems, we are presented with promises of immediate impact as a solution. But the complexity of reality ultimately undermines these promises. "With social media, traditional media outlets don't control the media agenda as much, which creates a need for constant communication," comments political scientist Guillermo Bezzina. Every organization has its communications department, whose mission is to "dominate the news agenda," sometimes to "cover up a lack of political action." "If you don't communicate, it seems like you're not doing anything. But many things are long-term, and it's difficult to implement a flagship policy within a single legislative term," he adds, also emphasizing that this situation is not unique to the Balearic Islands but rather a general trend.

The association Nofumadores.org has accused the Minister of Health, Manuela García, of echoing the narrative of tobacco companies and associating with hospitality entrepreneurs by rejecting the ban on smoking on terraces.

My parents are separated. They've been together since I was very young, so I can't say I carry any trauma from this episode. It all happened when I still lacked the awareness to know that my life had changed and to wonder if it would be worse. So now I have no memory of when they were together with which to compare the relationship we three have today. However, I'm not sure that—if I had memories—I would wish everything had been different. We are a normal (but not normative) family: the three of us have a WhatsApp group, from time to time we have lunch or coffee together, one asks me for the other—and vice versa—and they ask each other for help and favors when they need it. Aside from myself, I know they have a few things in common. They share certain ways of doing and seeing life. And perhaps that's why, coincidentally and unknowingly, they both decided to quit smoking on the same day, after nearly 40 years hooked on tobacco.