(09 Jul 2010)
Irish teenagers will be introduced to a new campaign called TEENS ARE STUPID today. The campaign will be centered on Corporate Tobacco Man. This fictional character represents the tobacco industry. Corporate Tobacco Man will star in cinema advertising, a campaign website (www.teensarestupid.ie), a Facebook page, a Twitter account, a YouTube channel and a Flickr account.
The campaign also comprises a cryptic and beautiful art installation which will pop up in Galway Shopping Centre from Friday July 9th 2010. These custom designed units feature a teenage girl mannequin trapped in a glass box full of smoke – there is a handle on the inside of the box and the girl could free herself but she doesn’t - like so many people who continue to smoke.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Jane Curtin, Irish Cancer Society said “Even though the tobacco industry has always claimed that it does not set out to target young people, millions of pages of previously internal tobacco industry documents show that the industry considers the recruitment of under 18 year olds essential to its survival. In Ireland, the tobacco industry needs over 50 young people to start smoking every day to remain viable.”
“So we have invented Corporate Tobacco Man and through his many guises, we are showing how evil and sinister he is and how he reaches out to teenagers and subtly manipulates them to adopt a dangerous and expensive addiction to nicotine and a lifelong habit that often leads to ill health and premature death” continued Jane Curtin.
The Irish Cancer Society has been working for many years trying to help people quit smoking and to discourage people from starting to smoke. However the Society is currently placing a major strategic focus on reducing the numbers of teenagers smoking and trying to ensure that teenagers do not start smoking.
To this end the Society is working with X-HALE (X’ing Out Harmful Addictions and Lethal Effects), a new smokefree movement led by and teenagers. X-HALE provides teenagers with an opportunity to air their views and concerns on tobacco and to take action to de-normalise and de-glamorise smoking.
29% of the Irish population smoke and it is estimated that 15 pr cent of 12 – 17 years olds smoke. More than half of all smokers start before the age of 15, and 83 percent start before they are 18.
“So look out for sinister Corporate Tobacco as he will be popping up in many different places over the next few months trying to get more ‘stupid teens’ to start smoking and become dedicated and life long customers” concluded Jane Curtin
The Irish Cancer Society is also inviting teenagers who are angry about being targeted by the tobacco industry to get involved in this campaign – they can do this by visiting www.teensarestupid.ie or on Facebook (search for Teens are Stupid) or Twitter (twitter.com/teensarestupid), or upload a video on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/TeensAreStupid) and a Flickr account (http://www.flickr.com/photos/teensarestupid/) with what you want to say to Corporate Tobacco Man or get involved with X-hale by contacting Siobhan at ssmyth@irishcancer.ie.