Youths Against Smoking

Despite the new wave of regional regulations on smoke-free areas, prevalence of smoking in Indonesia remains high. According to a 2013 study by the health ministry, 85 percent of Indonesian households are exposed to tobacco smoke while tobacco-related deaths number around 240,000 annually. Youths are now acting to put a stop to the high number of tobacco deaths. Middle and high school students in Padang, West Sumatra, and in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, are actively combating the disturbing trend by staging a variety of creative campaigns as well as taking down cigarette ad banners placed near schools. In Bali, the Global Anti-Cigarette Movement community, called '9cm', is intensively raising awareness on the dangers of smoking through radio ads and in schools. A Tempo English special report.