The Advocates Voice

In this episode we explore the situation in Australia and the evolving situation in the United Kingdom. Draconian "regulations" or De Facto Ban? Language Warning. We let you hear from the people directly impacted.

2023 WrapUp and what we are looking forward to in 2024 in the THR space.

CoP 10 was a win for harm reduction for the most part. Countries stood up for harm reduction & didn't allow a prohibitionist agenda to be railroaded through. But what exactly is going on and who is the captain of the FCTC ship?

The months before an FCTC CoP meeting is always filled with activity, as the parties to the treaty prepare and consumers finalise activities to get the message to delegates and the public that Harm Reduction is an intrinsic part of the treaty. In this episode: CAPHRA Shadow Report on the (non) implementation of Article 1D of the FCTC Letter to Volker Turk, Director of UNCHR, from 52 consumer organisations about the Right to Health. Consumer Panel at GTNF in Seoul, South Korea Asia Harm Reduction Forum Highlights

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Rohan Sequiera about the WHO's plans to redefine "smoke" and the implications that has not only for his patients, but for all of us in the "bigger picture".

In this livestream we will go over the information provided and discussions from the GFN23 that relate to consumer advocacy. Join Martin Cullip, from the TPA, Tom Gleeson from NNA Ireland/ETHRA, Jeff Zamora, president of ARDT Iberoamerica and Nancy Loucas, from CAPHRA as we will also take questions from those who were unable to attend the session about what consumers can do and what they should demand from their delegations who are going to Panama in November.

Science fiction often paints a picture of societies that are akin to an Orwellian novel, where a dictatorial power controls what we can read, say or do! Well maybe George Orwell's 1984 its already here with a rather stark announcement made about a collaboration between Google and WHO of a "multi-year Collaboration Agreement" to provide credible health-related information to help billions of people around the world respond to emerging and future public health issues. So a global health organization that wants to control the flow of information via censorship, yet supports some of the worst governments in the world, all the while peddling policies contrary to public health. Can they really be trusted??

The impact of CoP 10, being held in Panama in November, on tobacco harm reduction activities and policies in Latin America and South Africa. A brief overview on sCOPe Livestream for World Vape Day and World No Tobacco Day. A summary of what happened in New Zealand earlier in June with the amendments to the SmokeFree Environments Act. Finishes with a brief on WHOs proposed collaboration with Google regarding online health information.

What is going on in Australia? information on the situation with commentary from vapers on the ground.

Australia and CoP10....what does it all mean for everyone involved?

We review disposable vapes from the perspective of environmental impacts - and how to mitigate the situation. We also provide insight around a report on big Pharma payments to New Zealand public health officials. *There is an overview on Australia NOTE: This was filmed BEFORE the announcement that was made on 2 May 2023 by the Australian Government.*

In this episode, we have an update on what is going on with regulations in Malaysia, as well as an in depth look at how consumers can get involved in the CoP 10 process by engaging with their government officials.

In November of this year, Tobacco Controllers from countries around the world are meeting to discuss and decide how to approach Tobacco Harm Reduction. The time is NOW to get involved. We will discuss the who, what, when and how to do that with special guest Martin Cullip, former director of NNA UK and International Fellow for the Taxpayers Protection Alliance. IF you are passionate about your right to health and wellbeing, and the rights of adults to make informed choices, please listen to hear what you can do to further the cause.

In this episode, we speak with Peter Dator and Clarisse Virgino from the Philippines about the pathway to regulation of safer nicotine as a consumer product. We also provide an overview of what is going on in Australia.

Consumer advocates from the Asia Pacific region sit down to discuss the challenges of mis and disinformation in their advocacy work and how they have overcome obstacles in the past and how they plan to address those obstacles in the future.

Adults who smoke are being disenfranchised by the fake science and fear mongering about youth. Our advocacy needs to focus on ADULTS who smoke and or use unsafe oral tobacco and not spend time arguing about “youth epidemics.” This is a CoP year, we need to stay focussed, on message and collaborate for the common good of all who can benefit from #TobaccoHarmReduction

The fifth Asia Harm Reduction forum took place on 28 October in Manila Philippines. The theme for this year was “Integrating Harm Reduction in Asian Policies: A Major Win for Public Health.” There were presentations from consumers and researchers alike within the theme and it was also the first public presentation of two notable research/white papers on harm reduction as well as the official launch for the Manila Declaration.

We speak with Dr. John Oyston, who worked for almost forty years as an anesthesiologist, and has seen the damage that tobacco does to the human body. He recently wrote a blogpost “Five things to know about e-cigarettes and vaping”. He kindly agreed when we asked him if he would answer some of the questions that vapers, vendors and the public have about the misinformation from governments, public health organisations and the media are promoting.

In this episode, we deep dive into what is going on around the SmokeFree 2025 regulations around regulated tobacco products - including the campaign to have vapes severely restricted, and the lies that are being told to justify bans and medicalisation by the detractors.

In Australia, the governments of both NSW and Western Australia are harassing vendors and reinterpreting laws to suit their anti vape agenda. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the process has begun to amend the SmokeFree Environments Act, for Tobacco Products Only, however the detractors of THR are using it as an opportunity to push for changes to the Vape regulations, with the usual disinformation. Lastly, in the Philippines, the Vape Regulations were never vetoed, so now we wait for 15 days after publication in the government gazette for it to become law. Airdate: 3 August 2022

Has the US FDA lost the plot? Have they finally decided to follow the science, or is it fear of a court case? We survey the recent drama in America with Juul. In Australia, more delusional reporting on the harms of vaping, more lies and more moral outrage, but what about the truth? Its not all doom and gloom, this time Europe has a glimmer of hope. Sweden pushed back on the proposed flavour ban for e liquid and the Czech Republic is going ahead with Tobacco Harm Reduction as part of their health programme and bringing light into an otherwise dark atmosphere. Premiere Date: 15 July 2022

Positive news from Malaysia where legalisation of vaping comes into effect on 3 August 2022. In Brasil, possible movements towards legalisation and regulation of Safer Nicotine Products and in the US more businesses under threat because of the new FDA oversight on Synthetic Nicotine. #THRworks #sCOPe22 #WorldVapeDay #WorldNoTobaccoDay

Philanthropic Colonialism in Vietnam. Health Canada's mission to decimate vaping, after years of being supportive of THR, and in Africa, news of a very high excise being implemented on both nicotine and non nicotine e liquids as part of a wider “sin tax” proposal in South Africa. Good news out of Malaysia.

In this episode we provide an overview of the World Health Organisations “Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2021”, we speak with Dr. Colin Mendelsohn about the looming restrictions to come into effect in Australia on the 1st October and provide updates on what is happening in Malaysia, Mexico and New Zealand #THRworks, #Commit2Live, #SmokingKills

Most of Asia Pacific is turning the corner towards including tobacco harm reduction in public health policy - except for Australia, the last holdout of Quit or Die. We speak with Dr. Robert Beaglehole about New Zealand's Smokefree 2025 Action plan and also give an update on what is going on in China. #THRworks #SmokingKills #Commit2Live

In this episode, surprising news out of the Asia Pacific region, we talk to Asa Saligupta from Thailand and then we review what is going on in Europe. #THRworks #SmokingKills #Commit2Live

Episode 7 of the Advocates Voice dives into the lies and bully tactics of the anti THR community who have attacked consumer advocates and researchers with false accusations and bullying behaviour. #THRworks #SmokingKills #Commit2Live

Konstantinos Farsalinos, MD, Asa Saligupta ECST, Jena Fetalino JFPR, Mirza Abeer ASAP. Discussing the corruption of information in scientific journals, bullying of researchers and advocates and what consumers and governments can and should do about obtaining the *facts* around Tobacco Harm Reduction

The live panel discussion on the WHO TobReg report. Consumers discussing the impacts and the strategy to counter the misrepresentations and lies as it related to policy around safter nicotine products.

This episode gives an overview of the WHO TobReg report and how it impacts consumers. #THRworks #SmokingKills #Commit2Live

In each episode we inform about public health policy, law and consumer advocacy issues relating to tobacco harm reduction and safer nicotine products in Asia Pacific and beyond. These issues affect everyone - the millions of smokers in the region, policymakers, consumer advocates and the public. #THRworks #SmokingKills #Commit2Live Stories: Starts at: Mexico :48 New Zealand 3:11 Australia 4:46 #Right2Switch 8:50 For more information on Mexico, please visit https://www.facebook.com/provapeomexi... For more information on Legalise Vaping Australia, please visit https://www.legalisevaping.com.au/act... To sign the #Right2Switch Petition, please go to https://www.change.org/v4v-petition

Across Asia Pacific, an estimated 5 million adults vape, with most of them being former smokers who have either quit smoking completely or have cut down significantly using their preferred devices and liquids. In almost every case, they did so against the advice and in defiance of the highly restrictive, disproportionate regulations and bans that continue to be imposed on safer products. The smoking and unsafe tobacco use pandemic has been going on for at least 50 years, and claims 20,000 people per day globally. It rages on despite being something that can be easily addressed through effective public health policy. The cause is the use of toxic tobacco products as a way of obtaining nicotine. The enormous harm associated with nicotine is almost entirely due to the way people get it rather than the nicotine itself. Meanwhile, the world is battling another pandemic, COVID 19, which has ravaged economies, destroyed lives and compromised health agencies and systems across the globe. The Covid-19 pandemic has focused global attention on the need for rational measures to reduce risks, effectively treat those afflicted and develop vaccines. This is entirely consistent with longstanding public health goals of reducing risks wherever they are found, and the importance of empowering people to improve their health. The Question: “If governments trust the science on COVID, why are they not trusting the science of THR?” Our latest webinar provided an overview of the current status of tobacco harm reduction across Asia Pacific, and provided testimonials from those who dared to follow their own lead to be smokefree. The panel discussion on the handling of the smoking pandemic that kills over 8 million people a year globally and how it differs from the way governments have been dealing with the COVID pandemic, was also a great success..

Prof Beaglehole is the former Director of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at WHO in Geneva, during the years of the development of the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control. He is currently the Board Chair of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) in New Zealand. Prof Beaglehole is supportive of vaping and its potential to help adults switch off of combustible tobacco.

In each episode we inform about public health policy, law and consumer advocacy issues relating to tobacco harm reduction and safer nicotine products in Asia Pacific and beyond. These issues affect everyone - the millions of smokers in the region, policymakers, consumer advocates and the public. #THRworks #SmokingKills #Commit2Live Stories in Depth: Vietnam :40 Philippines 1:56 New Zealand 3:28 Summary Review: WHO "Commit to Quit" 6:46 Europe: Netherlands 8:14 Upcoming V4V Webinar 9:15

Hello and welcome to The Advocates Voice. Discussing news and information on public health policy, law and consumer advocacy for tobacco harm reduction and safer nicotine products in Asia Pacific and beyond. These issues affect everyone - the millions of smokers in the region, policymakers, consumer advocates and the public. #THRworks #SmokingKills #Commit2Live Stories in Depth: Australia :46 New Zealand 4:40 US Postal Ban 6:43 Summary Review: Philippines 8:13 Europe: Denmark 8:48 Call to Action 9:20

Hello and welcome to The Advocates Voice. In this series we inform on public health policy, law and consumer advocacy issues related to the use of safer nicotine products (vaping, e cigarettes, heat not burn, snus) in the Asia Pacific Region, and beyond. These issues affect everyone - the millions of smokers in the region, policymakers, consumer advocates and the public. #THRworks #SmokingKills #Commit2Live Stories in Depth: Malaysia :46 India 3:31 TPD 6:51 Summary Review: Thailand 8:29 Pakistan 9:19 Australia 9:45

Hello and welcome to The Advocates Voice. In this series we inform on public health policy, law and consumer advocacy issues related to the use of safer nicotine products (vaping, e cigarettes, heat not burn, snus) in the Asia Pacific Region, and beyond. These issues affect everyone - the millions of smokers in the region, policymakers, consumer advocates and the public. #THRworks #SmokingKills #Commit2Live Stories in Depth: Philippines :41 Australia 8:03 New Zealand 11:15 Summary Review: Malaysia 14:09 Taiwan 15:03 Hong Kong 15:38