THE REAL MESSAGE was started in 2000 with a group of about 15 youth from around Hawaii. All shared a common value; the tobacco industry’s manipulation of our generation must be exposed and stopped! And so we got to work building a program for our generation, by our generation. MORE>>
Thank You for KBD 2012
ATTENTION ALL REAL KBD 2012 PARTICIPANTS!
Thank you so much for coming out and having fun with us
at KBD 2012. We appreciate your motivation and
determination on that rainy day.
Keep up the great work and keep TAKING ACTION!
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KBD 2012 Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Nicole Sutton, Project Coordinator
REAL: Hawaii Youth Movement
Exposing the Tobacco Industry
808-223-6658 cell
nsutton [at] hawaii [dot] edu
REAL Youth Movement Stages Downtown Demonstration Against “Big Tobacco”
(HONOLULU, HI – March 6, 2012) — More than 100 members of the youth advocacy group REAL: Hawaii Youth Movement Exposing the Tobacco Industry, took their message to the streets of downtown Honolulu through a guerrilla activism event called “The Creep.” Dressed in business suits to mock tobacco company executives, the youths spread their message about Big Tobacco companies creeping into Hawai‘i’s communities through aggressive storefront tobacco promotion. “The Creep” demonstration was part of the 9th annual “Youth Unite for Kick Butts Day.”
Youths traveled from Bishop St. to the Hawai‘i State Capitol and stripped off their “Big Tobacco Executive” attire, revealing their REAL clothes. The demonstration brought attention to youth-focused tobacco advertising and urged lawmakers to take action to create stronger restrictions on the placement of tobacco products and promotional materials in Hawai‘i’s stores.
Earlier in the day, youth participants from Maui, Moloka‘i, Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i, and O‘ahu received hands-on training in legislative advocacy where Lt. Governor Schatz addressed youths about the importance of young people being involved in advocacy issues in Hawai‘i.
“This year our focus is to educate decision makers about the impact of storefront tobacco marketing on youth tobacco use, “ said Nicole Sutton, REAL project coordinator. “We have thousands of youth members across the state that can attest to the effect this has on their peers.”
After their demonstration, youth activists visited their legislators to ask for the introduction of a resolution to address this form of tobacco promotion. Research shows that youths are more sensitive to tobacco advertising than adults and exposure to tobacco advertising is more influential than peer pressure or parental smoking in youth tobacco uptake.
Kick Butts Day is a national event for communities to take action against the tobacco industry, hosted by REAL: Hawaii Youth Movement Exposing the Tobacco Industry and co-sponsored by Coalition for Tobacco Free Hawaii (CTFH) and the Department of Health Tobacco and Education Program. “Youth Unite for Kick Butts Day” event is specific to Hawaii and promotes youth activism on current tobacco control issues.
A significant portion of the funding for the event comes directly from the Hawai‘i Tobacco Prevention and Control Trust Fund formed with funds from a lawsuit settlement between Hawai‘i and the major tobacco companies after 46 states filed suit against the tobacco industry to recover tobacco-related health care costs.
Other participating organizations in the advocacy training and youth demonstration included: Kalaheo High School Peer Education, Farrington High School Peer Education, Ewalution, and Boys and Girls of Big Island (Hilo and Pāhoa Clubhouses).
About REAL: Hawaii’s Youth Movement Exposing the Tobacco Industry
REAL is Hawai‘i’s only youth-led movement to expose the truth about the tobacco industry. Started in 2000, REAL is 6,000 members strong. Housed at the University of Hawai‘i’s Office of Public Health Studies, efforts are funded through Hawai‘i’s Master Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund. Visit www.therealmessage.net for more information.
About the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i
The Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i (CTFH) is the only independent organization in the islands whose sole mission is to reduce tobacco use through education, policy and advocacy. With a membership of more than 3,000 organizations and individuals, CTFH provides leadership for the tobacco control community, helps coordinate tobacco control programs and builds community awareness. Visit www.tobaccofreehawaii.org for more information.
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