Press
SouthCoast Teens Kick Butts at Statehouse
Mar 25, 2011
South Coast Today
March 25, 2011
SOUTHCOAST --- Members of the New Bedford Mayor's Youth Council and Students Against Destructive Decisions at Westport High School kicked butts at the Statehouse last week.
So to speak.
They were among students from across the state taking part in the 2011 Kick Butts Day Event on March 23.
The New Bedford and Westport student groups are part of The 84 Movement which helps mobilize youth to take action to protect their communities from the influence of the tobacco industry.
In addition to curbing youth tobacco use, this year's Kick Butts Day activities focused on the tactics that the tobacco industry uses to target youth. A news release went on to say that the event also celebrated the work being done across Massachusetts to limit youth access to tobacco products.
Teen speakers highlighted the increasing number of cheap, youth-friendly “other tobacco products,” such as candy flavored dissolvable tobacco, that are found in their communities.
“It is important for us to raise awareness among adults that youth are still being targeted by the tobacco industry,” said Becky Oh, statewide planning committee member for The 84. “As more and more adults become aware of the new and cheap products that are being marketed toward us, the easier it is for us to work together to fight the dangerous influence of the tobacco industry in our communities.”
SouthCoast youth joined more than 250 of their peers from across the state in Boston and began their day with a youth-led program and training. Following the training, they marched to the Statehouse to meet with elected officials and attended an event with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, John Auerbach, and several state representatives.
The 84 Movement derives its name from the fact that it represents 84 percent of youth in Massachusetts who do not smoke.
For more information on The 84 Movement and the work being done throughout the commonwealth to make smoking history, visit www.The84.org and www.makesmokinghistory.org.
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110325/EDU02...
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South Coast Today
March 25, 2011
SOUTHCOAST --- Members of the New Bedford Mayor's Youth Council and Students Against Destructive Decisions at Westport High School kicked butts at the Statehouse last week.
So to speak.
They were among students from across the state taking part in the 2011 Kick Butts Day Event on March 23.
The New Bedford and Westport student groups are part of The 84 Movement which helps mobilize youth to take action to protect their communities from the influence of the tobacco industry.
In addition to curbing youth tobacco use, this year's Kick Butts Day activities focused on the tactics that the tobacco industry uses to target youth. A news release went on to say that the event also celebrated the work being done across Massachusetts to limit youth access to tobacco products.
Teen speakers highlighted the increasing number of cheap, youth-friendly “other tobacco products,” such as candy flavored dissolvable tobacco, that are found in their communities.
“It is important for us to raise awareness among adults that youth are still being targeted by the tobacco industry,” said Becky Oh, statewide planning committee member for The 84. “As more and more adults become aware of the new and cheap products that are being marketed toward us, the easier it is for us to work together to fight the dangerous influence of the tobacco industry in our communities.”
SouthCoast youth joined more than 250 of their peers from across the state in Boston and began their day with a youth-led program and training. Following the training, they marched to the Statehouse to meet with elected officials and attended an event with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, John Auerbach, and several state representatives.
The 84 Movement derives its name from the fact that it represents 84 percent of youth in Massachusetts who do not smoke.
For more information on The 84 Movement and the work being done throughout the commonwealth to make smoking history, visit www.The84.org and www.makesmokinghistory.org.
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110325/EDU02...
