Not a Replacement

Yesterday was Kick Butts Day, a day across the United States where youth advocates stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco. Kick Butts Day celebrated their 20 year anniversary of advocates across the nation standing up to tobacco companies that are targeting our youth to be their next customers.

1,300 Americans die every day from tobacco related illnesses, because of this, the tobacco industry is “Still Seeking Replacements” in order to stay in business. If all their customers are dying, how do the tobacco companies keep up their business? They market their products and seek "replacement smokers", specifically teens. This can be seen in tobacco industry documents.

The tobacco industry spends $1 million every hour to market tobacco products in the United States. Youth are speaking out and letting Big Tobacco know that they are #NotAReplacement for the customers they lose every single day. 

Youth in Winnebago County participated in Kick Butts Day and the #NotAReplacement Campaign. Members of the re:TH!NK Youth Coalition organized an event at Tipler Middle School and other members took selfies and posted them on social media.

Youth have a strong voice and are willing advocates for tobacco prevention. Listen to them.

 

Watch this short video created by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids to learn more:





Links and Resources from: Kick Butts Day 2015

Kick Butts Day Events

One of the greatest things about March is Kick Butts Day! 

Kick Butts Day is a day of activism that empowers youth to stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco.

While tobacco prevention efforts have made great strides in the fight against tobacco, every day, more than 3,000 kids under 18 try smoking for the first time and 700 kids become new regular, daily smokers. Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., killing more than 400,000 people every year.

On Kick Butts Day, youth throughout the U.S. raise awareness about the tobacco problem, encourage peers to be tobacco-free, and support effective solutions to reduce tobacco use.

Some of re:TH!NK's very own youth in the Winnebago FACT group made a huge impact at a local middle school in Oshkosh and high school in Winneconne. The group created a display board with 2 FACTs about tobacco and had their classmates vote for which FACT they thought was the ugliest truth. 

The FACTs chosen at Tipler middle school: 

1. Urea is found in cat pee, it is also found in cigarettes.

2. Methane is found in dog poop, it is also found in cigarette smoke.

At the end of lunch the FACT group counted up the votes and (drum roll please...) here are the results!

80 votes for urea in cat pee

vs. 

117 votes for methane in dog poop 

The FACTs chosen at Winneconne high school: 

1. Tobacco kills 1075 smokers everyday.

2. 137 people die everyday from secondhand smoke.

The FACT that 137 people die everyday from secondhand smoke won by a landslide! Winneconne high school students were appalled so many people die everyday when they aren't even the ones smoking! 

A few students even said, "that one can't be true!"

The events was a huge success! Students, teachers, and staff were all interested and involved. Thanks to the Winnebago FACT crew, Ms. K, and all those at Perry Tipler Middle School and Winneconne High School. Rock on!