13 July 2010

Ban those Powerwalls!

TODAY in Gisborne a group of ten Youth Ambassadors from the Cancer Society handed over 500 signed postcards to local Labour list MP Moana Mackey. The postcards advocate for a ban on cigarette displays in dairies, service stations and supermarkets.

The Cancer Society's campaign to remove ‘powerwalls’ of tobacco advertising began more than three years ago and has been noted for its extensive involvement with young people who, it says, are being targeted by tobacco advertising in retail outlets.

The recent collection of signatures for the ban sent a clear signal to the Government to ban the displays, said Gisborne Youth Ambassador Rory McCourt.

Although Members of Parliament Moana Mackey and Parekura Horomia have expressed support for the increasingly popular move, local electorate MP, Hon Anne Tolley, has not yet publicly backed a ban. Sam Whittle, a member of the Youth Ambassadors said today’s event was "positive and it was inspiring to see more than 15% of Gisborne's population speaking with one voice on the issue." Every year the group has run Youth Week events to promote the campaign and awareness of teen smoking, including a youth rally, film festival and debate.

"The cigarettes will still be there, they just won't be right in front of our faces, tempting us," said Ella Swan, 14 and a half, which is the targeted age for smoking uptake by tobacco companies.

Caroline Simmonds agreed, "we’re not taking away cigarettes, we're just trying to get them out of the sight of kids."

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