Bigtobaccotakedown’s Blog

So it might not be Xmas but on WNTD, it seems fitting that we put together a wishlist for Prime Minister Harper and Premier McGuinty. Of course this wishlist isn’t exhaustive but it’s a start – and we wouldn’t want our dear PM and Premier to think us greedy – this list is really for all Canadians.

Big Tobacco Take Down’s 2009 wishlist:
1) address the massive contraband problem in our province and PQ
2) end tobacco industry advertising and promotion – flavoured tobacco/print advertising/plain and standardized packaging just to name a few. Bill c-32 isn’t a bad start but it needs to be stronger
3) give us new picture warnings – 8 years for new pictures? How long does it take to run focus groups on new picture warnings?
4) end new tobacco products – the stronger our efforts to protect kids from big tobacco, the more creative their ideas and products – we need to stop big tobacco from unleashing more deadly products on us and our kids
5) change the retail environment – do we really need tens of thousands of places to purchase big tobacco’s deadly products?

May 31st marks the World Health Organization’s annual World No Tobacco (industry) Day. While this year has been a great year for Canada, we still have a long way to go before we drive big tobacco out of Canada.

You Are Invited…To Use Your Voices…and Advocate!

Come out to a Day of Action to save the Youth Tobacco Prevention Strategy and protect youth from BIG Tobacco!
Our Politicians will be going on recess on JUNE 4, 2009 
So this is the last chance to be HEARD. 

Who: Peer Leaders and Volunteers
What: Let politicians know that the YAA program cuts will have long term implications on the Youth Tobacco Prevention strides that have been made. 
Where: College Park (north side of Gerard) 
moving from there to other locations…
When: Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 from 7:00 a.m to 10:00 a.m

• Call your MPP’s to request a meeting for Tuesday while you’re in Toronto to let them know that Youth Tobacco Prevention funding has been cut. 

• Write letters to our Premier Hon. Dalton McGuinty and cc’ Margarett Best, Cynthia Morton, and your Local MPP. Encourage your peers, volunteers and stakeholders to write letters as well. Please bring your letters with you to present them in Toronto.

• Wear t-shirts from your various tobacco control campaigns or YAA t-shirts.

• Bring your instruments (guitars etc.) make up songs and chants!

• Make signs (be creative) sample messages:

Youth have the power to save lives!
DON’T LET the TOBACCO Industry WIN!
Youth Action Alliances Save LIVES!
CUTS to YAA funding = CUTS to Youth DEVELOPMENT

For more information, please e-mail: 
savetheyaas@gmail.com

While a new study shows Canadian youth smoking rates have flattened (not surprising due to increased tobacco advertising and new products), the Ontario government’s Ministry of Health Promotion has made the decision to cut their youth prevention program as of August 2009. However, the government shouldn’t think that the youth are going to let this decision happen without at least a small fight – rumours are floating of some very public activities to get the Premier and Minister of Health Promotion’s attention in the days to come. We’ll post details as we get them.

So the pictorial warnings (first implemented by Canada) are proven to reduce tobacco use. And while WHO is trying to get the rest of the world to implement them – we need to remind Health Canada to update ours. Eight years with the same photos is a long time.  Additionally, not all of big tobacco’s products are forced to have picture warnings – it’s about time that loophole was changed too.

So Health Canada – for World No Tobacco (Industry) Day – how about giving us updated picture warnings?