Tobacco

For Plains High School student and local reACT! Against Corporate Tobacco member Bambi Erving, the fight against tobacco addiction is personal.

"My parents both smoke," said Erving.

"My dad in particular has tried quitting many times, but the addiction always gets him in the end. I wanted to help raise awareness that even though it looks cool, the long term side effects really aren't worth those few years of being 'cool.'"

The 16-year-old first became involved in reACT - a state-wide teen movement fighting the tobacco industry - in 2006 when she attended a summit in Bozeman.

The following year, Erving applied for and was accepted to the reACT core team, known as RCT, and has been active in the cause ever since.

"A product when used as directed is known to kill you is not safe, or cool, or 'in,'" said Erving.

"When 1,500 Montanans die a year due to tobacco and tobacco-related illnesses, we should fight back."

Erving braved the elements Saturday morning, Nov. 17, to hold a silent protest against big tobacco companies targeting teenagers.

She displayed signs at the corner of Willis and Railroad with the intent of educating the public.

"As a RCT member, I'm am supposed to lead by example, so at our RCT meeting in October we thought of ways to inform, educate and advocate the reACT messages," said Erving.

"By hosting a silent protest on a busy street corner in town, I knew I could grab the attention of many by doing little. By just sitting there with signs telling tobacco facts I educated so many people with out them even realizing it."

The Plains reACT team, comprising five or six students, meets regularly to brainstorm for events like Red Ribbon week and Chew and Kick Butts Day, said Erving.

reACT also holds summer summits that draw over 150 youth from across the state to participate in activism, and Erving is holding an event in December for local kids between the ages of 13- 18.

"I really would love if even someone is slightly interested to contact one of us," said Erving.

"The more people to fight against Corporate Tobacco, the better chance to lower the death toll."

Visit http://tobaccofree.mt.gov/ or contact Cindy Morgan (827-6931) and Jan Parmalee (827-6900) for more information.