So, what and who is article 4 article 4 is a group of teens who work with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit to create campaigns designed to challenge the tobacco industry. Our name is based on the 4th article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “no one shall be held in slavery or servitude.” The tobacco industry is holding millions of people in chemical slavery to the nicotine in their products. article 4’s goal is to inform the youth of Barrie about the manipulative tactics of the tobacco industry and the dangers of tobacco industry product use. For this reason, our slogan is A Generation Free from Big Tobacco. article 4 began in December, 2005 after the Ministry of Health Promotion provided funding to Ontario’s health units for the development of Youth Action Alliances. These groups would educate their peers about tobacco industry marketing. They are youth-led and targeted toward their peers as a tobacco use prevention strategy. Despite our humble beginnings, article 4 has accomplished great things in our fight against Big Tobacco. We have held 10 events in the past year and several region-wide campaigns. For example, we designed the “Who’s Bill” campaign, which gained provincial recognition and was held in schools all around Ontario. With all our past accomplishments and future aspirations, article 4 plans to continue working hard towards the goal of A Generation Free from Big Tobacco.

- Change the Rules facebook group http://www.facebook.com/home.phpref=home#/group.phpgid=52649653663 - article 4 official website http://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/thephakz/tobacco/tobacco.html - Change the Rules official Website http://www.smoke-free.ca/changetherules/Index.htm