PRESS ALERT:  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   February 12, 2004              Second Release

CONTACT:     Laurie Comstock, (916) 686-2043, Cell: (916) 271-2439

Founder, Tobacco Survivors United

                        Elk Grove, CA

                        Jim Walker, (714) 235-0442, Director, Stop Tobacco Abuse of Minors Pronto

                        Santa Ana, CA

                        Debi Austin, (818) 388-7958, Nationally known tobacco survivor and speaker

WHAT:           Concerned California citizens are asking Governor Schwarzenegger to stop his plans to bring smoking back to the California State Capitol.  This event will counter the Governor’s Valentine’s Day inauguration of a smoking patio at the State Capitol Building. Hundreds of “Valentine cards” are being gathered from across California and delivered to the South steps of the State Capitol for a Press Conference at “High Noon” on February 14^th – Valentines Day.

WHEN:          Saturday, February 14^th, 2004.  Speakers & Presentation at “High Noon” from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M.  (Speakers will be available from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM)

VALENTINE’S DAY.

WHERE:         California State Capitol Building, South Steps, in Sacramento, California

At “HIGH NOON” concerned citizens will be facing off with Governor Schwarznegger’s plan to bring smoking back to Sacramento State Capitol.  On Valentine’s Day Governor Schwarzenegger plans to open a smoking patio at the State Capitol Building.  Earlier that same day citizens from across California will meet to ask the Governor not to smoke.

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Years of hard wok to reduce tobacco prevalence in California are at risk.  According to “Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids”, some 38,000 Californian’s died last year from tobacco related illness and the health care costs of tobacco related illness in California alone amounted to an annual 7.1 billion dollars.

Tobacco survivors and California citizens will be conducting a Noon hour press conference on the South Steps of the California State Capitol Building to ask that the Governor act responsibly regarding tobacco use and not turn back the clock in this state.

Governor Schwarzenegger has use cigars frequently in his past movies and in public.  Schwarzenegger has also appeared on the cover of “CIGAR AFICIONADO” twice and as recently as the July/August 2003 issue of the magazine.

People who will be gathering at the State Capitol will be stating their concerns that bringing back smoking to the State Capitol is a highly inappropriate attempt to normalize and trivialize tobacco use.  Hundreds of “Valentine Cards” will be presented from youth and adults asking the Governor to be a leader against the prevalence of this most deadly and addictive drug.

At the press conference on Saturday will be a “Memorial to Loved Ones Lost to Tobacco Use” showing the images of Governor Schwarzenegger’s fellow actors, celebrities as well as every day Californian citizens that have died from tobacco use.  A bell fashioned out of a recycled oxygen tank will be rung every 10 seconds for someone in the world that will have just died from this #1 cause of preventable death and grief today.

Also, the “TOBACCO TRUTH TRAIN”, the world’s smallest all terrain train will be delivering the Governor’s cards and letters to the steps of the capital building.  This train will endeavor to “blow the whistle” on tobacco use by caring the message that it is “Time To Care” about the thousands of Californians that have been put at risk by this highly addictive carcinogenic drug.

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Many of the Valentine cards read: 

“HAVE A HEART

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

Don’t you love us anymore?  I ask you nicely.  Please stop smoking . . . “

Currently the global death toll from tobacco related diseases is in excess of 3 million people a year per the World Health Organization (WHO). Last year an estimated 38,200 Californians died from tobacco use (Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids). The United States annual tobacco death toll is 435,000, (this is like having a “9-11” World Trade Center tragedy each and every week!)

SPEAKERS:

LAURIE COMSTOCK, Founder of Tobacco Survivors United (www.TobaccoSurvivorsUnited.org) who has lost many family members and friends to tobacco-related diseases.

DEBI AUSTIN, Laryngectomee survivor that was so addicted to tobacco that she used to smoke through the hole in her throat left from her surgery to remove throat cancer caused by her smoking.  “Debi” did the unforgettable California Department of Health Services ads (PSA’s) on television that were seen across the United States and in other countries.

DIAN KISER, Co-Director, BREATH, The California Smoke-Free Communities Program, a statewide project of the American Lung Association of the East Bay.

JIM WALKER, Founder of STAMP – Stop Tobacco Abuse of Minors Pronto, (www.stamp.org) will speak and will be bringing his “Tobacco Truth Train” and “Memorial to Loved Ones Lost To Tobacco Use”.

RON CARINO, From DMR (Dance Music and Recording) Management, will speak and bring youth to perform musical pieces dedicated to sending the message - “Please don’t smoke.”

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