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Proclamation
WHEREAS this global partnership program matches tobacco control groups in the U.S. and Canada with groups in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Eastern/Central Europe and the former Soviet Union and facilitates theirworking on meaningful joint projects and campaigns. Currently, over 360group from more than 100 countries and 40 U.S. states and territoriesare involved. Essential Action is a corporate accountability group basedin Washington, DC. WHEREAS, tobacco control advocates in the State of Kansas in the United States of America welcome the opportunity to join in a spirit of cooperation with the City of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, to work together to reduce tobacco-related deaths and to promote a tobacco-free world. WHEREAS, each year the World Health Organization proclaims May 31 as the day that people all over the world turn attention to the year 2020, when it is estimated that tobacco use will be the world's largest single health problem, causing an estimated 8.4 million deaths annually. THEREFORE IT IS PROCLAIMED, in celebration of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2002, the youth of Belgrade and the youth of Kansas will participate in a joint effort focusing on the elimination of tobacco use in sports in our communities under this year's theme of "Tobacco-Free Sports." THEREFORE, as a commitment to the goal of reducing tobacco addiction across the world, the youth of Kansas and the youth of Belgrade will promote a tobacco-free message for all youth, especially for those young people involved in sporting activities, and will do so in and around the time of May 31, World No-Tobacco Day 2002. IN BELGRADE, The Institute of Public Health of Serbia and 4th year Psychology School students at the University of Belgrade have planned a variety of events:
IN KANSAS, youth plan to promote a tobacco-free sports message through the annual "Special Olympics" which will be the main focus for this year's World No Tobacco Day activities. On May 31, 2002 TASK students in Kansas and the Special Olympics participants will sponsor a daylong competition for people with developmental disabilities and will promote a tobacco-free sports message at this event, which draws hundreds of competitors, sponsors, and family members from all over Kansas. This year's Special Olympics will be in Wichita. The TASK youth members from high schools all across Kansas plan and implement tobacco prevention programs for youth in the state. In addition, high school members of the Youth Council in Topeka, Kansas are making a tobacco prevention banner which they will have their picture taken with and then send by e-mail to their new young friends in Belgrade. IN COMMEMORATION of these joint tobacco prevention efforts in the State of Kansas and in the City of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, we sign our names as a commitment to reducing the economic and physical damage caused by tobacco in all parts of the world. Paula Marmet, Director, Bureau of Health Promotions, Kansas Department of Health and Environment Heather Haydock, Youth Coordinator for TASK, Tobacco Prevention Unit with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Terri Roberts, President, Kansas State Nurses Association Mary Jayne Hellebust, Director, Kansas SmokeLess Kids Initiative, Inc. Georgeanne Wong, Director, Topeka Youth Council The Rev. Ben Scott, Sr., Pastor, Eastside Church of God in Christ, Topeka Kevin Walker, Advocacy Director, American Heart Association of Kansas Stephanie Sharp, Advocacy Director, American Cancer Society, Kansas Division Judy Keller, Director, American Lung Association of Kansas Sally Finney, Director, Kansas Public Health Association Edie Snethen, Director, Kansas Association of Local Health Departments |