SWAT Presents to Cub Scouts
Three members of SWAT met with a local group of Cub Scouts to educate them about the Tobacco Industry and the harmful effects of TIP’s in Fall 2008. See photos below for some of the children’s artistic interpretations of the health effects of TIP’s…
“I like sniffing butts, not eating them” – Guelph dog
SWAT completed one of its goals for 2008 when we finished the last of four butt-litter clean ups in well known Guelph parks. Pick ups at Riverside Park and Marrianes Park were particularly successful, with us collecting tons of cigarette butts and giving out SWAG to park goers, and educating a dog-walker or two about the dangers of butt litter. We received a lot of media for out pick ups including radio, newspapers and we were even interviewed by Rogers TV!
We had tons of support, even from our four legged friends, check out the photos!
Edu-Chalking (Education Through Chalking)
At a local high school SWAT organized a chalking event to raise awareness among teenagers about the dangers of tobacco industry products. Even though we had to wash away our artwork the next day, the messages reached almost all of the students, teachers, and staff at the school, as well the parents who were there that evening for the parent-teacher interview night. Check out the photos to see some of our artwork!
Y-ACT Update
In honour of National Non-Smoking Week, on January 19 – 20th, Y-ACT set up in the Cambridge Centre with Smokey the Butt, a trivia wheel and lots of cool swag. We walked around letting youth know about the new law (No smoking in a motorized vehicle with anyone under the age of 16 present) that came into effect on January 21 2009. Our trivia wheel was filled with questions concerning the new law, and it was a big success. Winners received free pins, pens, magnets, shirts, and mini car ice-scrapers, which were a pretty big hit. We reached over 100 people and got a lot of positive feedback from mall shoppers. We also got some good media coverage, with pictures and a full article in the Cambridge Times two days in a row.
What is Fresh Heir up to?
On Thursday December 4th 2008, Fresh Heir hosted a Movie Night, entitled “One Night Stand – Against Tobacco and Drug Use in the Media”. The goal was to raise awareness about how the tobacco industry targets youth through popular media. To attract people “The Dark Night” was shown because of its appeal and the use of tobacco on-screen. For this event, Fresh Heir partnered with the Ontario Provincial Police, as well as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and educated attendees about all forms of drug use depicted in the media. The event was a huge success and 98 High School students came to battle the industry.
From December 10th to the 16th, Fresh Heir had a Christmas display set up in the Simcoe Town Centre. It consisted of a full sized fake Christmas tree, which was spray painted black. The purpose of this event was to encourage people to have tobacco free holidays. For decorations, Fresh Heir had red and silver bulbs with some of the many chemicals found in tobacco smoke written on them, as well as brightly coloured presents under the tree, with tobacco-related illnesses written on them. Along with the tree, there was a display board set up where youth could sign their names, and pledge to have a safe and tobacco free holiday. This event was a success from the black star right down to the 123 signatures on the display board.
Picture yourself tobacco free
Fresh Heir designed a photography contest geared toward grade 7&8 students in Haldimand and Norfolk Counties titled “Picture Yourself Tobacco-Free.” A total of approximately 400 students from 9 elementary schools across Haldimand and Norfolk participated.
Each classroom was given a disposable camera and was asked to take pictures of reasons that inspire them to remain tobacco free. Fresh Heir collected the camera and developed the pictures from each camera. From the creativity of each of the classrooms, collages were assembled by Fresh Heir to present back to each classroom that participated. Every student that participated in the photo contest was given a certificate of participation, and the winning three classes were given prizes of Fresh Heir premiums at the “Get Your Hands Up” hosted for Grade 7&8 students during Drug Awareness Week.
Fresh Heir Spreads Cheer to Haldimand
The Members of Fresh Heir were really in the Holiday spirit today as they dawned their Santa hats and filled their stockings with the presents that they had spent days wrapping. Their mission-to spread the joy that only one of those brightly wrapped parcels can bring…and give out all of last years premiums of course.
Inside each parcel, wrapped with ribbons and a bow,
Were presents that would make any heart glow.
Along with the presents there was a card,
That told of tobacco truths that were hard.
And of what Fresh Heir had done in good health’s name,
To beat Big Tobacco at its own game.
And when our heroes had given all the fruits of their art,
They said merry Christmas and turned to depart.
Fresh Heir handed out presents containing promotional material and anti-tobacco industry messaging at local grocery stores and community centers.
HCAAT update
HCAAT celebrated National Non-Smoking week early this year, by doing a new event called ‘Cup ‘n Run’ on Thursday January 15, 2009. We went out to celebrate the new legislation banning smoking in cars with children under 16 which comes into affect on Wednesday January 21, 2009.
We wanted something new and exciting for this event, and amazing is what we got. The newest street marketing event for HCAAT is the Cup’n run, quite similar to the chalk’n run. What we did was place cups into a chain link fence along one of Hamilton’s busier streets. We wrote out our message of “Children Ride Smoke Free” using the cups and spray painted the inside of some of the cups. We attacked the fence, and left our website as the only indication as to who we were.
HCAAT agreed that the New Year came in with a bang of success and paper cups. We now are excited to start planning the next event, maybe this time a Sculpt ‘n Run???
Ciao Bella!
January Update
Crave is celebrating National Non Smoking Week in January
