[Intl-tobacco] FW: Invitation to youth advocates: Join us in New Jersey this April!

[rob@essential.org]

Dear Friends in the U.S. & Canada,

As you may have heard, Altria has switched the location of its annual
shareholders meeting from Richmond, VA to East Hanover, NJ. Likewise, we
have switched the location of our events around the meeting. We have
also postponed the deadline for registering to Monday, March 15th.

Please pass on the invitation to any and all youth groups that may be
interested in participating.

Best wishes,
Anna
Global Partnerships for Tobacco Control
Essential Action

***************************************
INVITATION TO ALL YOUTH ADVOCACY GROUPS
 TO JOIN US IN NEW JERSEY THIS APRIL!
***************************************

Join hundreds of teens from around the country in East Hanover, NJ this
April to hold Big Tobacco accountable for the deaths of millions
worldwide!

What:   Events around the 2004 Altria Meeting of Stockholders*
When:   April 28-29, 2004 (Wednesday/Thursday)
Where:  East Hanover, NJ and vicinity
Who:    Teens from CA, NJ, NH, NM, NY, WI, and YOU!

* Events to include: a one-day advocacy training, a creative action, an
evening social event, and a rally outside of the meeting! Check out last
year's events: http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ltk0304/

DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING: March 15, 2004

Download registration form:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/altria2004/registrationform.pd=
f

####

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE UPCOMING EVENTS IN NEW JERSEY

In April 2003, 200 teens from DC, NH, NM, NY, WI, and WV converged on
Richmond, VA for a one-day advocacy workshop and a rally to denounce the
incorporation of the world=92s first =93tell it like it is=94 tobacco compa=
ny,
Licensed to Kill, Inc *. The next day, teens took their message of
global solidarity against Big Tobacco to the world's largest
transnational tobacco company itself: Philip Morris, aka ALTRIA GROUP.
While the main crowd lined the road leading to Philip Morris and
=93greeted=94 Altria shareholders with signs and chants, ten teens went int=
o
"belly of the beast" to confront CEO Louis Camilleri about the company's
nefarious conduct around the world. The action generated significant
press coverage locally and nationally. To read more about last year=92s
events in Richmond, go to:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/ltk0304/

Here's what one 2003 participant had to say about the events...

     "The experience was invaluable in energizing our youth and
     providing a real world opportunity to be activists. It gave
     many of  our youth the tools and encouragement to be a
     stronger voice against Big Tobacco in their home communities.
     An experience not to be missed!" -- Ken Dahlgren, Chautauqua
     County Coordinator - Reality Check (NY)

In April 2004, we plan to go back to the Altria shareholders meeting,
stronger, louder, and larger in voice and number -- and we=92d like to
have teens from even more states represented! Teens from CA, NJ, NH, NM,
NY, and WI** are already planning this year's events. Activities will be
scheduled over the course of two days:

Wed 4/28:  Youth-led advocacy training,
           Creative action in or around East Hanover,
           Evening social event
Thu 4/29:  Rally outside Altria shareholders' meeting

Space for April 28th events is limited, and will be made available on a
first come, first serve basis. To reserve spaces, groups should send in
a completed registration form, along with a check to cover their
registration fees, BY MONDAY, MARCH 15.

REGISTRATION FORM CAN BE DOWNLOADED AT:
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco/event/altria2004/registrationform.pd=
f

The registration fee is $100 per person. This amount covers event costs
plus 3-4 meals. Please note that it does not include lodging or
transportation costs to and between events.

Additionally, event organizers are selling "Revoke the License to Kill"
t-shirts for $20 each, to be distributed and worn during our activities.
All proceeds from t-shirt sales will go towards the documentation of
tobacco industry activities abroad.

Each youth group is expected to bring adequate adult
advisers/supervision commensurate with the number of youth attending.
Event organizers are not responsible for supervising youth attendees.

NOTE: Upon registering for the events around the 2004 Altria
shareholders meeting, groups will be sent more information about booking
hotel rooms, what to bring, and how they can participate in the
organizing of events.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENTS PLANNED FOR APRIL 2004, CONTACT:
Anna White, Essential Action (DC) at <awhite@essential.org> or
202-387-8030

* About Licensed to Kill: Licensed to Kill, Inc is a real company. It
was incorporated in the state of Virginia in March 2003. The purpose of
the company, as stated in its articles of incorporation, is "to
manufacture and market tobacco products in a way that each year kills
over 400,000 Americans and 4.5 million other persons worldwide." The
company's slogan is: We're Rich, You're Dead! =99 For more information
about Licensed to Kill visit http://www.licensedtokill.biz

** The Event Coordinating Committee includes representatives of the
following organizations:
Essential Action (DC), Dover Youth to Youth (NH), Reality Check (NY),
and Rock County Tobacco Free Kids (WI).

COME SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER!

---------------------------------------
Global Partnerships for Tobacco Control
Essential Action
P.O. Box 19405
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-387-8030
Fax: 202-234-5176
Email: tobacco@essential.org
http://www.essentialaction.org/tobacco