Kids Across America 'Kick Butts' On April 3; Kids Call for Action
as States Make Critical Decisions on Tobacco Prevention
04/03/02
WASHINGTON, April 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Thousands of kids across
America take center stage in the fight against tobacco on April 3
as they participate in the seventh annual Kick Butts Day. More
than 1,500 separate events are planned in all 50 states.
Kids are sending two powerful messages on Kick Butts Day 2002:
They want the tobacco industry to stop targeting them with
advertising and they want elected leaders to do more to protect
them from tobacco. From mock-funerals for the Marlboro Man to
rallies at state capitols to surveys of tobacco advertising, kids
will be making their presence felt both vocally and visually.
Coinciding with this year's Kick Butts Day, the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) today released a new report on youth smoking that
concludes comprehensive tobacco prevention programs and cigarette
tax increases are effective at reducing youth smoking.
"Research clearly indicates that tobacco control
interventions...can be very effective in reducing cigarette smoking
among adolescents. In particular, these include increased tobacco
taxation and stronger tobacco control policies," concludes the NCI
report, entitled "Changing Adolescent Smoking Prevalence."
The NCI report and Kick Butts Day come as states faced with
large budget deficits are making critical decisions about how much
funding to provide for tobacco prevention programs and whether to
increase cigarette taxes. Studies show the best state prevention
programs are saving three dollars in smoking-caused health care
costs for every dollar spent on prevention.
"On Kick Butts Day, kids are standing up against the tobacco
companies, and it's important that elected officials across the
country stand with them by supporting proven tobacco prevention
measures," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for
Tobacco-Free Kids, which sponsors Kick Butts Day. "States that
have increased cigarette taxes and funded comprehensive prevention
programs have dramatically cut smoking among both kids and adults,
saved lives by reducing lung cancer and heart disease, and saved
millions of dollars in health care costs. Even in these difficult
budget times, tobacco prevention is a good investment for kids and
taxpayers."
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the
United States, killing more than 400,000 Americans every year.
Ninety percent of smokers start at or before the age of 18. Every
day, 5,000 kids try their first cigarette. Another 2,000 kids
become regular, daily smokers, one-third of whom will die
prematurely as a result. Nationally, 28 percent of high school
students are current smokers.
Nationwide, cigarette makers spend $8.2 billion a year, $22.5
million a day marketing their deadly products, often in venues such
as magazines and convenience stores that are effective at reaching
kids.
On Kick Butts Day, kids take their turns as leaders in the fight
against tobacco. Events include:
Teammates from the WUSA's Washington Freedom and Atlanta Beat
professional women's soccer team will help kids to literally "Kick
Butts" at events in Washington, DC, and Atlanta, GA. After hearing
about the dangers of tobacco, students will kick soccer balls at a
mural plastered with tobacco ads and anti-tobacco messages. Mr.
Butts will serve as the hapless goalie.
The Washington, DC, event, organized by the group W.A.Y.
(Washington Area Youth) Too Cool to Smoke, begins at 9 a.m. at
Roosevelt High School, 4301 13th Street, NW. Washington Freedom
players participating include Monica Gerardo, Ann Cook and Anne
Makinen (Contacts: Ellen London, W.A.Y. Too Cool to Smoke,
202-347-4441; Ralph Alswang, Washington Freedom, 202-548-8774).
The Atlanta event begins at 1 p.m. at Ralph J. Bunche Middle
School, 1925 Niskey Lake Road. Atlanta Beat players participating
include World Cup championship team goalkeeper Briana Scurry and
teammates Cindy Parlow and Dayna Smith. Rosemarie Henson, Director
of the Office of Smoking and Health of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, will also attend. (Contacts: Harrittia
Willford, 404-444-1064, or Steven Rodriguez, 404-269-7561)
Chicago, IL: At Marshall High School, U.S. Rep. Danny Davis and
tobacco prevention advocates will discuss how communities can
empower themselves to protect kids from tobacco. This event,
co-sponsored by the Illinois Coalition Against Tobacco, begins at
10 a.m. (Contact: Eric Hudson, 312-243-2000).
In state capitals across the country, youth will rally and lobby
in support of measures to fund tobacco prevention, increase
cigarette taxes and provide protection from secondhand smoke.
Events include:
Denver, CO: Students will proclaim April 3rd Kick Butts Day at
the State Capitol and perform a skit about peer pressure to use
tobacco products. Their audience is expected to include state
leaders. Time: 11 a.m. (Contact: Renard Simmons, 303-436-7202)
Hartford, CT: More than 1,000 kids, parents and teachers are
expected at 11 a.m. at the State Capitol to rally against
second-hand smoke. State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is
scheduled to speak. Now in its sixth year, the rally is organized
by the American Heart Association and the MATCH Coalition (Mobilize
Against Tobacco for Children's Health). (Contact: Lisa Franco,
203-294-0088 or 203-294-3552)
Dover, DE: At the Legislative Mall, hundreds of kids are
expected for a rally from noon to 3 p.m. Activities will include
the "Walk of Death" led by the Grim Reaper and kids with faces
painted white. Kids will demand protection from secondhand smoke
as the Legislature considers legislation on the issue. (Contact:
Margo McDonough and Deborah Brown, 302-655-7258)
Springfield, IL: At the Capitol, Girl Scouts from Troop 117 in
Chicago will display their own Kick Butts Day banner consisting of
anti-tobacco posters made by Chicago school children. The scouts
will also meet with State Legislators. (Contact: Mary
Morrissey-Kochanny at 773-238-3028)
Des Moines, IA: On the steps of the State Capitol, 500 high
school students will rally beginning at 12:45 p.m. with the goal of
getting state legislators to fully fund the state's Tobacco Use
Prevention and Control program. (Contact: Leanna Brady,
1-877-92-LUNGS)
Nashville, TN: At the State Capitol, youth members of CHART
(Campaign for a Healthy and Responsible Tennessee) will visit
members of the Legislature to push for an increase in the state's
cigarette tax. The visits will take place between 1:30 and 3:30
p.m. (Contact: Kathy Rivers, 615-554-3633)
Other events around the country include:
New York, NY: Chalk body outlines will appear on sidewalks
before Kick Butts Day and on April 3, as kids throughout New York
"Chalk the Walk." The body outlines will bear slogans about the
dangers of smoking and the tobacco industry's targeting of
children, such as "Big Tobacco is Making a Killing." The day's
activities are sponsored by the American Cancer Society. (Contact:
Dan Klotz, 212-237-3899)
Phoenix, AZ: A curtain will rise at 10 a.m. for the third
straight year at Orpheum Theatre for "Tobacco: The Musical." More
than 5,000 area school students will attend the extravaganza
promoting the dangers of tobacco use. Actors are students from
local schools in training with Desert Stages Theater in Scottsdale.
(Contact: Sue Sisley, 480-922-9015 or 480-326-6023)
Augusta, GA: Members of Girls Inc. will distribute smoke-free
dining guides, prepared by the Richmond County Health Department,
to the Chamber of Commerce and area hotels so that visitors
arriving for the Masters Golf Tournament know where they can dine
smoke-free. They will also distribute certificates of appreciation
to restaurants that have agreed to be smoke-free. (Contact: Sadie
Stockton, 706-729-2055)
Concord, NH: Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop will
speak to 200 kids from across the state who will release the
results of their surveys of tobacco advertising in stores.
Attorney General Philip McLaughlin and state Dept. of Health and
Human Services Director of Community and Public Health Kathleen
Dunn will also attend. Time: 10 a.m. to noon. (Contact: Beth
D'Ovidio, 603-271-5928)
Garretson, SD: Youth will host a Kick Butts Day play entitled
"If Big Tobacco Had Messed With Nursery Rhymes and Fairy Tales".
The audience will be youngsters from daycare and preschool through
sixth grade. Time: 9 a.m. (Contact: Garretson School District,
605-594-3452)
Tacoma, WA: At Wright Park, student film crews from Foss and
Lincoln High Schools will film a Public Service Announcement
against littering the park with cigarette butts. The project is
sponsored by the Young Filmmaker's Academy, a Seattle area
non-profit that helps students develop skills in digital media.
Time: 3 p.m. (Contact: Kelly Selby, 253-222-1620)
St. Augustine, FL: St. Johns County SWAT (Students Working
Against Tobacco) members will hold a jazz funeral procession at 7
p.m. in the Downtown Plaza to focus attention on the deadly impact
of tobacco. (Contact: Nancy Birchall, 904-825-5060).
Gainesville, FL: At the Downtown Community Plaza, Alachua County
SWAT members will host four hours of staged entertainment,
including a three-rope rock wall, the University of Florida Gator
Dazzlers Dance Team, the Gainesville Fire and Rescue Fire Clowns,
an appearance by Mr. Butts and a merchandise dump to swap tobacco
industry gear for new gear. Time: 4 to 8 p.m. (Contact: Stephen
Langer, 352-334-7921)
The Kick Butts Day logo features Mr. Butts receiving
disaffirmation to his hindquarters. The character is the creation
of cartoonist Garry Trudeau and has been featured in his Doonesbury
comic strip.