Vapers - WHO rules the world - smoke anyone?

This report from the WHO for their next conference shows the train of thought on e-cigs...they "look" like smoking and must be banned so that smoking continues to be de-normalised.  In fact there are loads of "trains of thought"in this report, interesting, short sighted and frightfully depressing to me.

 I am aware that Big Tobacco pressed their products upon an unsuspecting public early last century which caused a "smoking epidemic" like the one I lived through. They added chemicals to make smoking more addictive and in an effort imposed on them by Anti-tobacco to make smoking less harmful, they made it more so.

But before this, people also smoked. Humans have smoked for thousands of years without any help from the Tobacco Corporations. Smoking is not some aberration, but something humans do.

Now we have the Anti-Tobacco Corporation(s) and the World Health Corporation and the Drug Corporations pressing THEIR products upon an unsuspecting public whom they have remoulded with anti-smoking true truths, half truths and downright lies.

Vapers read the report (or below) - this is probably what is going to happen - their stakes are high. This is BIG money speaking!

In the UK, the EU rules  and WHO rules  - the world?

If electronic cigarettes were banned, would you smoke?

see below....


 These are the points to be considered at the conference -

33. It should be noted that ENDS are products resembling cigarettes and could therefore undermine
the denormalization of tobacco use upheld by the WHO FCTC. One of the guiding principles of the
guidelines for implementation of Article 12 (Education, communication, training and public
awareness) is Norm change. It stipulates that it is “essential to change social, environmental and
cultural norms and perceptions regarding the acceptability of the consumption of tobacco products,
exposure to tobacco smoke ...”.1 Parties are therefore invited to consider that a ban of ENDS as alreadyundertaken by some Parties would contribute to changing the social norms regarding the consumption of tobacco products.
34. Another aspect to consider is that if ENDS are regarded as imitation tobacco products and
banned, all ENDS would be covered, regardless of whether or not they contain nicotine, tobacco
extracts, or make health claims. Parties may wish to consider that strong measures to prevent further
spread of ENDS could be considered under a number of provisions of the WHO FCTC, including
Article 5.2(b) which requires Parties to “adopt and implement effective ... measures … for preventing
and reducing … nicotine addiction …”. Most ENDS contain nicotine, and would therefore contribute
to maintaining an addiction to nicotine.
35. Furthermore, under Article 13.2, Parties have an obligation to undertake a comprehensive ban of
all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. “Tobacco advertising and promotion” is defined
in Article 1(c) as “any form of commercial communication, recommendation or action with the aim,
effect or likely effect of promoting a tobacco product or tobacco use either directly or indirectly”.
Therefore, Parties may also wish to consider whether the sale, advertising, and even the use of
electronic cigarettes can be considered as promoting tobacco use, either directly or indirectly.
Regardless of whether or not ENDS contain nicotine or tobacco extracts, they are used to mimic
smoking, which could be considered as a (direct or indirect) promotion of tobacco use. Article 16.1(c)
could also be relevant since it requires Parties to prohibit “the manufacture and sale of … any other
objects in the form of tobacco products which appeal to minors”.
36. Additionally, the use of ENDS could hamper the implementation of Article 8 (Protection from
exposure to tobacco smoke) as ENDS users in public places may claim that their electronic cigarette
does not contain tobacco and/or does not produce second-hand tobacco smoke. Parties may also wish
to note that Article 14 (Demand reduction measures concerning tobacco dependence and cessation)
and its guidelines for implementation refer to evidence-based treatment for tobacco dependence and
tobacco cessation, and to making available medications that have been clearly shown by scientific
evidence to increase the chances of tobacco cessation.
37. If ENDS are not banned, a two-pronged strategy – regulating ENDS as both a tobacco and a
medical product – could close potential loopholes in their regulation. However, Parties may again wish to consider the desirability of allowing the sale of new products that may have the capacity to maintain a nicotine addiction.

etc etc