Thai Health Initiatives: from Mr. Condom to Smoking Kid

Image from:http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/thai_anti-smoking_psa_shows_li.html

I came a across a youtube video put out by the Thai Health Promotion Federation called Smoking Kid.
I first became aware of some of the innovative health education practices happening in Thailand after seeing a Ted talk video in class last semester called Mr. Condom. This anti-smoking campaign takes a different approach from our current model of using scare tactics, via disturbing images and dire warnings, to discourage tobacco use.

Smoking Kid uses children to create dialogue and reflection of smokers on their reasons for smoking.  Instead of a warning, or scare tactic, the children in the video ask the smoker why they are smoking, and after listening to the warnings and appeals for the children not to smoke, they offer them a pamphlet about the dangers of tobacco use.

The video statistics sound impressive, though I'm unsure of the scale of the promotion and or of its lasting power on the individuals approached by the children, or those who see the campaign. Scare tactics and shame do little to address the physiological and psychological dependence many smokers struggle with, and I'm unsure if this style of campaign does either.

Nevertheless, an interesting idea on a health concern whose current campaign needs desperately to be readdressed in North America.

How High is Your Grocery Bill?

I knew food costs more in rural and isolated towns in Canada was expensive, but from my home in New Westminster where food from all over the globe is instantly accessible at, for the most part, reasonable prices it's easy to forget how lucky I am to have access to fresh, nutritious, and affordable foods.

I was shocked when I came across a Facebook page called Feeding My Family, started by citizens of Nunavut rallying against the outrageous prices of food. How outrageous may you ask, here are some examples posted on their Facebook page.

(the price is $104 in case it's to hard to read)

$104 dollars for a flat of bottled water is unbelievable, but almost no more unbelievable than the fact that most communities in Nunavut don't have running water and those that do receive the grade of D on a report done on drinking water in Canada. 

Nunavut residents are planning a protest for Saturday June 9th outside their local Northern brand grocery store to protest the sky rocketing food prices. They are largely reacting to the decision of the Government of Canada to end the Food Mail Program last April, which subsidized shipping costs of fresh and perishable foods to remote northern communities, and it's replacement with Nutrition North where the the savings are passed on to the store who in turn is supposed to pass on the savings to the consumer.

Unsurprisingly, the consumer is not seeing any savings, meaning that the cost of feeding themselves and their families has grossly increased, making eating fresh and nutritious food even more difficult for Northern Canadians.

The willingness of our government to cut social programs and sell off the right of individuals to chose the food they eat at somewhat reasonable prices to a business whose bottom line will always be profit is appalling. The need for a unified food security plan for Canada is essential for the health of our nation. For so many people to be hungry and without access to nutritious food in a first world country is shameful. Good health should not only be for those who can afford it.

Concern over the Concerned

image from:http://socialglare11.livejournal.com/282358.html

A new ad has been put out by the Concerned Children's Advertisers called Media Monkey. The premise of this PSA is to tell children that they can make up their own minds regarding advertiser's messages regarding weight and body image. The add portrays monkeys censoring print, on line, and television messages; telling the viewer "you don't need a monkey on your back to make healthy choices, think for your self".

Well actually, according to the U.N., a vast body of research, and the millions of marketing dollars food companies spend on marketing to children, clearly the message of "think for yourself" is not developmentally appropriate for children as making healthy choices is confusing even for educated adults, let alone children and teens.

I find this ad appalling. It really speaks to the need of our government to set greater controls on the marketing of food to children. Yes we can educate and help children to make better choices, but how can poorly funded public education and health compete against the billion dollar food industry without support  and controls on advertisers. Concerned Children's Advertisers, you have my concern.