August 4, 2009

Youth celebrate clean air

By Mark Young

Area youth received a firsthand education on how heated the Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act was between smokers and nonsmokers, which essentially eliminated smoking from all businesses in the state.

The kids are participating in a two-day program hosted by Community Connections and sponsored by Nebraska No Limits, which is designed to excite and encourage youth to become involved with helping their peers to avoid a potentially deadly habit. On Monday, those participating lined up on areas of both Jeffers and Dewey holding billboards thanking the legislature for the Clean Indoor Air Act, but the other side of that debate expressed less enthusiasm than the kids.

Smokers apparently still bitter about the new law occasionally flicked cigarette butts at the feet of the young activists and they admittedly received more than one one-finger salute from passersby, "but for the most part, we've received a lot of honks and waves of support," said 13-year-old Sean Morrissey.

"Some are not so supportive of it, but most have been good people waving and cheering," he said.

The occasional inappropriate gestures toward the youth didn't appear to faze them in their mission and for the most part, they said the opposition didn't understand the message the youngsters wanted to send.

Josh Sukraw, 16, said it wasn't about trying to tell smokers what to do, rather it was to celebrate the legislature's decision and get the attention of other kids who might be thinking about starting to smoke.

"We are celebrating the law passed in Nebraska because it's important to have clean air," said Sukraw. "I have asthma and before they passed this law I couldn't even go to the bowling alley because it bothered me too much. Now I can go and have a great time."

The program continues today with an activism training seminar for area youth, which will enlighten them in how the tobacco industry has targeted youth in the past and what anti-smoking advocates say continues today with brand messaging and product placement strategies.

Jessica Payne, 18, said it's important to get this message across to other kids and was excited for the opportunity to educate herself, which in turn will help her to spread an accurate and appropriate message.

"I'm excited to learn about this because I want to be able to help people understand something that they may not be aware of," she said.

No Limits Nebraska is the state's first youth-led tobacco prevention movement and partnered with Tobacco Free Lincoln County for this special two-day program in North Platte. Amanda Mortenson, project coordinator for No Limits said youth participation is the key to meeting the organization's motto of, "Defy the Lie. Fight Big Tobacco."

"It's very exciting to see this level of involvement from the youth," said Mortenson. "This is the future of hopefully never having to deal with the dangers of secondhand smoke again. Their show of support is important to future generations"

Bonnie Thompson, Tobacco Free Lincoln County coordinator, is always excited when it comes to youth involvement.

"The passion and enthusiasm they are showing over the passage of the Clean Indoor Air Act is an inspiration," said Thompson. "They are serious about educating the public and their peers about the harmful effects of tobacco."

The approximately 20 area students will also be participating in the Aug. 4 National Night Out celebrations in Cody Park, beginning at 6 p.m.

Studies submitted by anti-smoking groups show that kids are most at risk to begin smoking around 12 years old. Morrissey can confirm that with his own experiences.

"I have a friend in my class who has started smoking," he said. "It's important that people know that it's going to kill you. We aren't here tell anybody what to do. We just want to help prevent people from starting something that will eventually kill you. But for those that do smoke now, I would simply ask, 'If you know it's going to kill you, why are you doing it?'"

See the entire article and pictures at: NPTelegraph.com