'Bad Smoke' protest song stands up to tobacco industry
Smoking is the most preventable cause of death for First Nations people. This protest song by Tackling Indigenous Smoking Workers and ARIA-winning artists wants to change that.
A young Aboriginal woman named Sara, whose baby is crying outside, struggled with the temptation of a cigarette four weeks after giving birth. With the help of her mother, a health practitioner, and the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program, Sara decided to quit smoking to protect her child from second- and third-hand smoke. Inspired by her own journey, Sara teamed up with musicians to create a protest song called "Bad Smoke" to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and vaping on Aboriginal communities.
The song, which highlights the struggles faced by young Aboriginal mothers trying to quit or make healthier choices for their babies, has been nominated for the National Indigenous Music Awards. The creative process involved artists, health workers, and researchers from the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program and the Australian National University.
The song's lyrics emphasize the devastating impacts of tobacco and nicotine on Indigenous communities, with experts emphasizing that more than twice as many Indigenous people smoke daily compared to non-Indigenous people.
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