We wanted to get the attention of MPs by doing a media stunt. On 20th August we built a big wall in Christchurch's Cathedral Square representing all the Powerwalls in New Zealand. CTV filmed our event for the 'Today in Canterbury' news programme.
Smokefree Canterbury had a big inflatable movie screen at our event and they showed their documentary 'Out of Sight - Out of Mind'. If you are interested in seeing the documentary there is a link to it on our links page or you can contact Cheryl at the Cancer Society in Christchurch to get a copy on DVD.
We had lots of media turn up to the event from TV, newspaper and the radio. We also had lots of people turn up to show their support for banning Powerwalls in NZ!
We had 4 politicians come to our event - Christchurch Central MP Tim Barnett (Labour Party), Wigram MP Jim Anderton (Progressive Party), List MP Sue Kedgley (Green Party) and standing candidate for Christchurch Central Brendon Burns (Labour Party). They all gave speeches showing their support for our event and our message to ban tobacco displays.
Representatives from Partnership Health Canterbury, Smokefree Canterbury, The Cancer Society and Discovery 1 school also gave speeches, plus a lady in the Cancer Society's documentary about tobacco displays who lost her larynx to cancer from smoking came and gave a short speech too, which was really cool.
Discovery 1 students Scott, Liam and Isla also gave speeches that they wrote themselves.
After the speeches we all lined up and tore down the top layer of the wall to show our own ideas about what we think should replace Powerwalls in retail stores.
WE
TEAR
DOWN
THE
WALL!!
- Local business ads (ads for other businesses like Hoyts cinemas or restaurants or Harvey Norman)
- Inexpensive jewellery
- Panadol and other over-the-counter medicine
- DVDs
- Cards, like birthday cards and get well cards
- Novelty items like T shirts and funny bumper stickers
- Magazines and Books
- Bulk lollies in big glass jars, priced by the gram
- Competitions - like the posters you see in petrol stations that say "Buy a Cadbury product and be in to win an iPod"
- Hot and cold food, like chips and ice cream
- Movie posters for coming soon movies, like the ones they have at bus shelters
- Other retail ads - the shop or dairy can have its own ads promoting special items or a sale or certain products they want to promote (not cigarettes!)
We think the event was a big success and we are really happy to be part of the Powerwall Team! Our event has got the attention of MPs and now we will see what happens when Parliament decides what to do about Tobacco Displays. If you want to help out please contact your MP and say that you support the Discovery 1 School Powerwall Team and that the Government needs to Tear Down the Wall on tobacco displays!!
GO POWERWALL TEAM!!!
Click on the thumbnail to read Lewis' letter about Powerwalls and an invitation to our Tear Down the Wall event in Cathedral Square.