Y-ACT May update!
Hello CWYC!
Y-ACTers have been doing some awesome events! Recently we presented some middle school presentations that had been in the works for over a year. We were able to present to 9 schools in one day and reach over 750 youth! We saw some great participation and interest in learning about the tobacco industry and their products.
We are also planning some cool new events like a repeat of last year’s “Slammin’ the Industry” concert, which will incorporate local bands and our messaging to help educate youth. We are also working on an awesome commercial about the tobacco industry. The premise is that a patient is having a lung transplant when two tobacco industry executives burst in, steals the patient’s lungs and play football with them. The message is “Would you trust the tobacco industry with your lungs?” Overall we hope the youth will find it hilarious as well as getting the overall message.
I think that is it from Y-ACT and it was awesome seeing everyone at the summit!
The adventures of Detox’s dynamic activists
Detox has had a great two months!
We teamed up with SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) for an event surrounding the taking down of power walls. We did this event at a Guelph Storm game (local hockey team). We made display boards and handed out information. Detox had a shuffle-board-like game, which was a hit with the kids. We asked fans for their opinions around smoking in outdoor sports centres, and the information proved quite useful. At halftime, there was a display on the ice showing the power walls tumbling down. It was a very successful event and a great way for us to get our name and message out, and hear what the public had to say.
Detox presented more postcards asking for a ban on the sale of chew tobacco to a local MPP John Wilkinson. It was quite a success – the media was out in full force and the politician engaged us in meaningful conversation. We’re delivering the public’s anti-industry message every chance we get!
Detox recognized Kick Butts Day with an event at a local highschool. People were very responsive to our information.
We presented a slide show and display board at an Amnesty International event in our area. It talked about the global impact of the tobacco industry, including how people were manipulated by the industry to choose between buying food or buying tobacco products. The event went off without a hitch, and people were interested in our information. Score another point for Detox!
Our PSA is now completed in two versions! We are very excited to show the finished work to focus groups and our volunteer performers. We also entered it in our school’s film festival where it was given the silver medal.
And finally, Detox is proud to report that we have had 22 newspaper, radio, and TV hits in the past 3 months. In this case, lots of news is good news!
See you at Take Action!
Detox and SWAT on the news at the Display Ban event
Detox at WHSS for Kick Butts day, supporting the High School Grant group
Tales of Fresh Heir’s Epic Journeys
On April 12th, Fresh Heir and a team of nine dedicated volunteers travelled to eight destinations across Haldimand-Norfolk County. They battled through the frigid weather, determined to reach their goal of picking up 30,000 cigarette butts off the local parks, streets and beaches. The wind howled and the temperatures dropped to an unbearable low, but the team of youth diligently worked throughout the day. Tired and weak, they travelled in caravan on the long ride back to the Health Unit while the totals were being calculated. Despite their fatigue, there was a nervous air of anticipation as they waited for the results. Would their goal be reached? Would their hard work pay off? The calculator cleared his throat:
” The total number of cigarette butts that Fresh Heir and loyal volunteers have collected from Haldimand-Norfolk, as an attempt to raise awareness about the environmental effects that the 4.5 trillion cigarette butts littered worldwide have every year, to coincide with Earth Day and to improve the overall health of our community is . . .
37,156!”.
Gasps and awes poured from the mouths of the weary workers. They had done it!
The Peer Leaders turned to their tireless volunteers and flooded them with a sea of congratulations. Fresh Heir was so proud of their young recruits that they invited them to join regular meetings to aid in brainstorming and event planning. The volunteers were so satisfied with their latest accomplishment that they continue to remain involved in Fresh Heir’s journey to this day.
To be continued…
