2011 Great American Smokeout
November 17th marked The American Cancer Society’s 36th Great American Smoke Out, a day traditionally when smokers are encouraged to quit. The 84 used this event to also encourage teens not to start smoking in the first place. Their theme for this year’s Great American Smoke Out was “Fight Back” against Big Tobacco targeting youth.
Tobacco companies have made some offensive statements regarding their targeted appeals to teens. It’s time for youth to stand up for themselves and let tobacco executives know that they are smart enough to see through manipulative marketing and advertising campaigns.
The 84 Chapters were encouraged to put up posters at school, hand out buttons to promote The 84, speak out on Facebook and take pictures/videos of teens holding cards with their written responses to Big Tobacco.
Students at North Quincy High School hung quotes from Big Tobacco executives around the school to encourage students and faculty to start talking. The school’s administration really got on board, allowing students to also post the quotes on TVs throughout the school and making announcements during lunch periods to raise awareness.
At South Hadley High School, the 84 teens asked students to write what they thought about tobacco on cards. Student wrote things like, “Dirty", "It's nasty", "It should be illegal", and "You won't get me!". Peer leaders posted the cards on the cafeteria wall to share with the rest of the student body, letting other teens know that tobacco use is not cool.
A dozen of other Chapters joined to "fight back" statewide on this day.
