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Group holds anti-tobbacco demonstartion in Ogden
OGDEN -- Red stilettos, black pumps, worn work boots and a pair of child-sized taps adorned sidewalks in front of the Ogden Municipal Building on Thursday afternoon.
They were among the 600 pairs of shoes set up in the sun in an effort to stop teenagers from smoking and chewing tobacco.
A fluorescent pink tag was attached to a tipped-over pair of red leather cowboy boots near the middle of the shoe formation.
"Second-hand smoke is linked to stillbirth, low birth weight and SIDS," the tag said.
The 1,200 shoes were set up by teenagers on the Weber-Morgan Governing Youth Council, organized by the health department. The shoes represented the number of people who die in the United States daily from tobacco-related problems. The event was titled "Kick Butts Day."
The 20 teens on the council
come from area schools. They work in their schools and in the community to stop all forms of substance abuse, said adviser Kristi Jones.
Cameron Shaw, 17, works as a peer leader at Fremont High School in Plain City in addition to his responsibilities on the youth council.
Chewing tobacco is a big problem at his rural school, he said. He finds it in bathrooms and drinking fountains during school hours.
"People would think it's just the punk kids doing it, but it's really anyone who can get it," he said.
Shaw's fellow counselor Rebecca Simon, who attends Weber High School in Pleasant View, said she thinks it's stupid that people smoke and chew tobacco, but said they probably do it to fit in.
Educating those people about dangers is a first step in stopping them, she said.
People stepping around the rows of shoes in the park were stopped by the anti-tobacco teens throughout the afternoon.
The shoes were displayed from about 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The teens made their approach in groups of two or three and explained their purpose in spreading shoes throughout the park. They then asked people to sign a petition asking the United States Food and Drug Administration to require a listing of ingredients on cigarette and chewing tobacco packages. By day's end, the teens had collected 63 signatures.
The petition was started by the Utah-based Phoenix Alliance.
Weber County Commissioner Craig Dearden stopped by the "Kick Butts" event to show support, and said he thinks the petition is a good step in the battle against tobacco.
An Ogden couple that stopped to listen to the teens also had good things to say about the petition, though both said they smoke.
"I think (the petition) is a very good idea," said Daniel McQuiddy, who also said he plans to quit. "I think people need to know what's in cigarettes."
The youth collected the shoes during a drive for their event. Others were donated by local thrift stores. All the shoes will be given to the Ogden Rescue Mission following the "butt kicking" experience.
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