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Friday 28 February 2014

The Toxic Cycle of the anti smoking industry

My eyes have been opened to the dishonesty and corruption of the politics that the anti smoking industry practises by watching their antics recently in getting their desperate Tobacco Control Directive through the European Parliament. Especially how Article 18, hidden in the directive, was manipulated and given a split vote at the very last minute before MEP's could get their heads together. Shamefully clever. Shameful!

I hardly believe a word they spout anymore - about vaping or smoking or any of their statistics and manipulations. They disgust me.

In January, I complained  to the Advertising Standards Authority about an anti-smoking advert I saw on the BBC put out by the NHS. I cannot find it on the internet now but there is a similar one in the cluster below. The ad showed cigarette smoke infecting the blood with black tarry substance and spreading to the brain. Visually, this is a lie. And a terrible nocebo to anyone viewing it. Furthermore, it raises questions about blood transfusions received from smokers. I got a template letter back today from the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH that showed my complaint wasn't the only one! I found what it revealed quite interesting. Here it is. (My underlining and bold)

While we acknowledged that the imagery in the poster ad that showed a pool of blood and tar would be difficult for some passers-by, the anti-smoking context was clear. Although we sympathised with any children who had found the ad disturbing and acknowledged the concern of those with blood-related phobias, the ad was deliberately hard-hitting to raise awareness about the serious health consequences of smoking. In this context, the image was unlikely to be seen as irresponsible by appearing in an untargeted medium.  

Someone else must have complained about this poster which I haven't seen. But the justification for  visual violence is not good enough for me. This is the department of health speaking! Who are they to trivialise this complaint in support of anti tobacco ideology!
 
With regard to the TV ad, we felt that viewers were likely to understand that the depiction of black contaminants was illustrative only; a visual representation of the movement of 'blood that's thick and dirty with toxins'. They were unlikely to be misled about the effect of smoking on the blood or be dissuaded from accepting a blood transfusion where one was recommended or necessary on that basis.

My complaint was about implanting a horrific image in peoples' minds. The idea of nocebo, self fulfilling prophecy is obviously unknown to these people - our department of health - ignorant.

While the pool of blood in the poster ad could be said to carry a resemblance to the map of Afghanistan, this interpretation was not alluded to in either the language or context of the ad.  On this basis we considered that the resemblance, although unfortunate, was co-incidental and unlikely to cause serious or widespread offence to members of the Afghan community.

Ah - a map of Afganistan?  Interesting. And they apologised? Naaaa. Offence? Obviously.

While we understood that the ads might be unsettling for some, we noted that they carried an important health message.  The hard hitting imagery in the ads was not unreasonable given the serious nature of the issue being addressed. We concluded that the ads were unlikely to cause excessive distress, or serious or widespread offence.

Here are a cluster of anti smoking ads put out by The NHS (UK National Health Service) You will notice how violent they have become as the desperation of the anti smokers grows because smokers are STILL smoking. The modern videos are nothing short of vicious, inaccurate, desperate, shocking, offensive, abusive to the viewer - no, truly criminal nocebos and acts of violence on our minds. This is what we can expect when their attention turns to vaping - as it will. Did I hear you say "Vapers have the moral high ground"? Vaping is the new smoking. Smoking has to be stamped out. The anti smoking industry will find a way. The EU tobacco directive political shenanigans this week, shows it.

1999(Dad washing up in yellow rubber gloves)
2008(Jungle Book)

2012 (creeping smoke)
2012 (news report on cigarette growing a tumour and video)

2013 (Toxic Cycle) (not the same as the one I saw which was more graphic and longer)



Wednesday 26 February 2014

What can we do? Article 18 in a split vote - and still we lost! Support EFVI now please.

Ooooo noooo! Article 18 was voted on in a split vote - and still we lost! I wonder by how much? I shall have to watch Vapourtrails TV.

There is more urgency now to support EFVI. (click on the banner below). The quicker the million supports with SEVEN (EU) countries reaching target, the quicker the hearing. Please support now. UK is shamefully slow! Today there are only 2324 supports .



Figures about the European member states: LIVE DATA HERE

United Kingdom (60,440,000 Population),
of them smokers: 30%,
87% households with internet access,
Capital London (7,400,000 Population),
54,750 signatures necessary,
2,324 collected signatures since 13/01/2014!

Wednesday 19 February 2014

Go for it Vapoteurs! This is not another bloody petition! Please share and share and share.

I ask you to share this blog post. This is the situation yesterday, capturing progress with the European Free Vaping Initiative. To get this far has been a momentous task. Here is the Boiling Frog Blog on how absolutely daunting it is to do this - please read it, especially if you think "This is just another bloody petition". It is not. It could be our only path to real democracy within the EU and the people who have taken months to put it together and keep it going have got my deep admiration,

The Free Vaping Initiative

Classification of electronic cigarettes and related products through legislation as general purpose recreational products, and not as medicinal, tobacco or similar products, regardless of nicotine content.

Allow all vapers of Europe to keep on vaping, like vapers in member states where vaping is unregulated do, without inflicting any significant negative impact on the availability and diversity of vaping products. Allow all future vapers to experience the rich culture of vaping that we now enjoy in member states where vaping is not regulated. Allow affected manufacturers and vendors to stay in business, without being crippled or burdened with time and money consuming licensing procedures.

Here is the link to the LIVE INTERACTIVE MAP

More support is needed, not just from us vapers, but our family, friends and neighbours can support this Initiative. If you live out of the EU and are a citizen, give your "home" address in the EU.

Support this now. It is immaterial to whatever happens on the 28th February 2014. An EU Hearing on this, will be excellent in our vaping future and could spin off onto our own UK MHRA and NICE. Go for it Vapoteurs!


Point of measurement: 18/02/2014, 10:45 PM

At least 7 European member states must reach a specified target, and in all European member states 1.000.000 signatures must be collected for the success of this European citizens initiative.

Actual progress Germany:

10,226 of 74,250 signatures (13.77%),
New target: 64,024,
Actual progress: +131,
Daily average: 276,
Daily target (64,024): 229,
Daily target (1,000,000): 356,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 85,546 signatures,
14/10/2014: Target reached!
-
Actual progress France:
3,435 of 55,500 signatures (6.19%),
New target: 52,065,
Actual progress: +77,
Daily average: 92,
Daily target (52,065): 186,
Daily target (1,000,000): 313,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 28,635 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Finland:
2,493 of 9,750 signatures (25.57%),
New target: 7,257,
Actual progress: +30,
Daily average: 67,
Daily target (7,257): 26,
Daily target (1,000,000): 153,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 20,693 signatures,
09/06/2014: Target reached!
-
Actual progress Poland:
2,103 of 38,250 signatures (5.50%),
New target: 36,147,
Actual progress: +125,
Daily average: 56,
Daily target (36,147): 130,
Daily target (1,000,000): 257,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 17,503 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress United Kingdom:
1,883 of 54,750 signatures (3.44%),
New target: 52,867,
Actual progress: +14,
Daily average: 50,
Daily target (52,867): 189,
Daily target (1,000,000): 316,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 15,603 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Hungary:
1,351 of 16,500 signatures (8.19%),
New target: 15,149,
Actual progress: +12,
Daily average: 36,
Daily target (15,149): 55,
Daily target (1,000,000): 182,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 11,151 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Italy:
1,349 of 54,750 signatures (2.46%),
New target: 53,401,
Actual progress: +5,
Daily average: 36,
Daily target (53,401): 191,
Daily target (1,000,000): 318,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 11,149 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Spain:
794 of 40,500 signatures (1.96%),
New target: 39,706,
Actual progress: +20,
Daily average: 21,
Daily target (39,706): 142,
Daily target (1,000,000): 269,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 6,394 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Belgium:
459 of 16,500 signatures (2.78%),
New target: 16,041,
Actual progress: +10,
Daily average: 12,
Daily target (16,041): 58,
Daily target (1,000,000): 185,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 3,819 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Czech Republic:
395 of 16,500 signatures (2.39%),
New target: 16,105,
Actual progress: +2,
Daily average: 10,
Daily target (16,105): 58,
Daily target (1,000,000): 185,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 3,195 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Denmark:
357 of 9,750 signatures (3.66%),
New target: 9,393,
Actual progress: +9,
Daily average: 9,
Daily target (9,393): 34,
Daily target (1,000,000): 161,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 2,877 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Netherlands:
342 of 19,500 signatures (1.75%),
New target: 19,158,
Actual progress: +4,
Daily average: 9,
Daily target (19,158): 69,
Daily target (1,000,000): 196,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 2,862 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Estonia:
315 of 4,500 signatures (7.00%),
New target: 4,185,
Actual progress: +1,
Daily average: 8,
Daily target (4,185): 15,
Daily target (1,000,000): 142,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 2,555 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Slovakia:
311 of 9,750 signatures (3.19%),
New target: 9,439,
Actual progress: +1,
Daily average: 8,
Daily target (9,439): 34,
Daily target (1,000,000): 161,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 2,551 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Austria:
211 of 14,250 signatures (1.48%),
New target: 14,039,
Actual progress: +3,
Daily average: 5,
Daily target (14,039): 51,
Daily target (1,000,000): 178,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 1,611 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Portugal:
92 of 16,500 signatures (0.56%),
New target: 16,408,
Actual progress: +2,
Daily average: 2,
Daily target (16,408): 59,
Daily target (1,000,000): 186,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 652 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Ireland:
82 of 9,000 signatures (0.91%),
New target: 8,918,
Actual progress: +0,
Daily average: 2,
Daily target (8,918): 32,
Daily target (1,000,000): 159,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 642 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Greece:
58 of 16,500 signatures (0.35%),
New target: 16,442,
Actual progress: +0,
Daily average: 1,
Daily target (16,442): 59,
Daily target (1,000,000): 186,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 338 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Sweden:
56 of 15,000 signatures (0.37%),
New target: 14,944,
Actual progress: +0,
Daily average: 1,
Daily target (14,944): 54,
Daily target (1,000,000): 181,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 336 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Croatia:
53 of 9,000 signatures (0.59%),
New target: 8,947,
Actual progress: +0,
Daily average: 1,
Daily target (8,947): 32,
Daily target (1,000,000): 159,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 333 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Luxemburg:
42 of 4,500 signatures (0.93%),
New target: 4,458,
Actual progress: +0,
Daily average: 1,
Daily target (4,458): 16,
Daily target (1,000,000): 143,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 322 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Cyprus:
38 of 4,500 signatures (0.84%),
New target: 4,462,
Actual progress: +0,
Daily average: 1,
Daily target (4,462): 16,
Daily target (1,000,000): 143,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 318 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Romania:
27 of 24,750 signatures (0.11%),
New target: 24,723,
Actual progress: +0,
Daily average: 0,
Daily target (24,723): 89,
Daily target (1,000,000): 216,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 27 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Slovenia:
16 of 6,000 signatures (0.27%),
New target: 5,984,
Actual progress: +3,
Daily average: 0,
Daily target (5,984): 22,
Daily target (1,000,000): 149,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 16 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Bulgaria:
13 of 13,500 signatures (0.10%),
New target: 13,487,
Actual progress: +0,
Daily average: 0,
Daily target (13,487): 49,
Daily target (1,000,000): 176,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 13 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Lithuania:
12 of 9,000 signatures (0.13%),
New target: 8,988,
Actual progress: +1,
Daily average: 0,
Daily target (8,988): 33,
Daily target (1,000,000): 160,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 12 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Latvia:
9 of 6,750 signatures (0.13%),
New target: 6,741,
Actual progress: +0,
Daily average: 0,
Daily target (6,741): 25,
Daily target (1,000,000): 152,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 9 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Actual progress Malta:
4 of 4,500 signatures (0.09%),
New target: 4,496,
Actual progress: +0,
Daily average: 0,
Daily target (4,496): 17,
Daily target (1,000,000): 144,
Forecast:
25/11/2014: 4 signatures,
25/11/2014: Target not reached!
-
Cumulative: 26,526 of 1,000,000 signatures
Forecast: 219,166 signatures (21.92%)
Target not reached!