Write a commentTobacco Free Network of CNY (TFN) partnered with Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Recreation Center in Fulton to organize a local 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for youth on Saturday, February 23rd.
The free family event educated community members and garnered support around International Week of Action (IWOA), a week to raise awareness about the importance of Smoke Free Movies.
Youth and families who participated in the tournament offered their support for reducing tobacco marketing to kids in movies. Many factors lead to youth smoking such as exposure to smoking in movies and social media, both which normalize and glamorize tobacco use. The tobacco companies know how to market to youth and once they are hooked by the nicotine in the cigarette or electronic device, the tobacco companies will keep our kids smoking for long after the movie is over.
IWOA is a nationwide movement to urge the U.S. film industry to rate new movies with smoking “R” to keep smoking images away from kids. Giving an R rating to future movies with smoking would be expected to reduce the number of teen smokers by nearly 1 in 5 (18%), preventing up to 1 million deaths from smoking among children alive today (CDC). During the 3 on 3 youth basketball tournament a banner was signed showing local support and will be sent to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to ask the organization to regulate smoking imagery in movies rated for children.
Individuals who support keeping tobacco imagery out of movies rated for kids may contact the MPAA at; Motion Picture Association of America, 1301 K St., NW Suite 900E, Washington, DC 20005, by email: contactus@MPAA.org, by Tweeting: #RateSmokingR @MPAA or by signing the online petition at:www.change.org/search
TFN of CNY offers an afterschool Youth led program, Reality Check, currently in Fulton Jr./Sr. High school Bi-monthly meetings on Thursdays. Reality Check Youth aim to educate, motivate change and empower other youth to stand up against Big Tobacco.
For more information about the harmful effects of tobacco marketing in movies, contact Community Specialist Melissa Brangan (315) 343-2344 ext 21; or Reality Check Lead Coordinator Jen Edick call (315)343-2344 ext 23; CO2RealityCheck@gmail.com
