Wednesday, March 16 time to stand out, speak up, seize control
Wednesday, March 16 is the day of activism that empowers youth around the world to stand out, speak up – and seize control against Big Tobacco – “Kick Butts Day.”
Locally, Cottonwood-Jackson County Public Health Service will be recognizing the day and providing strength for area youth to find their own voices.
According to the group, “There are 7.125 billion humans living on Earth, as of 2013. According to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, 1.1 billion humans smoke worldwide. On March 16, 2016, thousands of advocates across the United State of America and beyond will stand out, speak up and seize control against Big Tobacco Companies.”
“Kick Butts Day” started in 1996, using the same philosophy that it has been using every year to discourage tobacco use worldwide, especially among vulnerable youth populations. Tobacco use in Minnesota – and worldwide – is the leading cause of preventable death and disease. Each year, 480,000 Americans die from tobacco related health disparities; Minnesotan adults represent 5,900 of these American deaths and 102,000 Minnesota youth will die prematurely from smoking.
Start Noticing is an anti-tobacco program that prevents tobacco experimentation among vulnerable populations, such as youth, that is funded through the Minnesota Department of Health. Luke Ewald is its coordinator.
This day is all about promoting and encouraging activities that encourage youth to reject the tobacco industry’s misleading marketing and stay tobacco-free, encourage decision makers to take action to protect kids from tobacco by passing Policy, System, and Environmental Changes that discourage tobacco use in public locations such as parks/recreation and multi-unit housing, and raising community awareness the harm tobacco products cause to human health.
Taking action to help encourage tobacco cessation and prevent the experimentation of tobacco use among Cottonwood-Jackson County youth has been the goal of Start Noticing since 2009. Tobacco prevention can be challenging in part of the community, county, country, or world; but a positive impact can be made by even doing the smallest things to encourage tobacco cessation.
Says Start Noticing, led by Luke Ewald, and the Cottonwood-Jackson County Public Health Service, “When starting off any health promotion activity, always remember what Christopher Columbus said, ‘You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.’”
