Seeing 400,000 Americans KILLED by tobacco-related deaths this year is crazy. What makes it even more crazy is that BIG TOBACCO continues their shady practices...what upsets me is that they still get away with it. I am trying to create a community and a nation that rejects Big Tobacco and takes action to create a healthier and tobacco-free community. Check this out: The three most heavily advertised brands of cigarettes are Marlboro, Camel, and Newport...those just happen to be the top 3 brands that youth smoke...Hmmm. But they don't target youth right? Have you hear what one tobacco company said?: "We don't smoke that sh*t, we just sell it. We reserve the right to sell it to the young, the poor, the black, the stupid." - RJ Reynolds Tobacco Executives response to David Goerlitz.

This issue was originally important to me because I learned of how unhealthy it was to use tobacco. It's deadly but people still use it! I was amazed when learned that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine and its legal! Thats crazy! It also grew importance to me when I realized how it affected my family at home. Losing my great-grandfather to lung cancer and seeing many of my family members become addicted to somethings that is going to kill them is very sad.

Spreading the word and inspiration further actions is my main plan of action. I plan to continue traveling the nation and reaching young people everywhere with this message. I also plan on working on some more activism projects around the country. I am currently working on the "Hello Smoke-Free Stadiums" initiative. This project is targeted athletic parks and stadiums around the country that allow smoking inside the park. We already have began planning local projects in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Florida. I am also working to get colleges smoke-free in the US. Me and advocates have been working on getting local schools to change or adopt some form of policies to create a healthier environment. KICK BUTTS DAY...a national day of action where we reject BIG Tobacco and their lies...kickbuttsday.org

www.hellochange.org www.myspace.com/hellochange If you have any questions or want to get involved...please feel free to email hellochad@hellochange.org