This is what I have posted to
Streetlife , specifically adapted to hopefully appeal to those who know little or nothing about ecigs.
The 'reach' for Streetlife in my area is 888, so hopefully that will add some signatures. Are you on Streetlife? Can you do the same?
Posted:
Do you vape (or know a vaper)?
“Vaping” is the term used for those who use electronic cigarettes, as compared to “smoking” for tobacco cigarettes, since electronic cigarettes emit no smoke but only a harmless vapour – a bit like the steam from your kettle.
The mention of electronic cigarettes seems to spark off some controversy: some like them whilst others don’t. But doesn't this seem irrational? Smoking kills, yet vaping has been shown to be at least 99% less harmful for those who make the switch and become tobacco free, and for those who live with or socialize with them.
The numbers of people taking up e-cigarettes has quadrupled in just over 12 months to around 2 million in the UK alone. This is because e-cigarettes work for smokers, allowing them to get away from harmful tobacco once and for all, in an easy and pleasurable manner.
And remember that this is at no cost to the NHS, which in 10 years has spent over £800million on nicotine replacement products like gum and patches to try to help just 146,000 people stop smoking.. Which route is more cost effective?
Having said that, probably most people don’t realise that the European Union are now trying to restrict e-cigarettes out of existence with what is called the Tobacco Products Directive (“TPD”). The proposals made in the TPD are about to be made into a new EU Law that would be introduced into the UK by 2016.
At present, the legislation that the EU have put forward would vastly restrict the strength of the nicotine, and severely limit the capacity of the devices used for vaping to levels which would make them ineffective for many current users, and which could therefore lead those users to return to tobacco smoking.
The reduced efficacy of the proposed restricted e-cigarettes would also mean that many who still currently smoke, but who might make the switch in future as e-cigarettes became more widely known and available, would no longer be able to do so successfully.
This makes no sense. Vaping is a far less harmful alternative to smoking, and it would cost the NHS much less if more smokers switched to vaping as smoking-related illnesses would be significantly reduced. At the moment there are an estimated 2 million vapers in the UK alone, and that number is growing at an exponential rate.
The European Free Vaping Initiative (‘EFVI’) has been set up by a dedicated committee who are working to ensure that the EU do not legislate or restrict electronic Cigarettes out of existence. To attempt to make the EU rethink their plans, a European Citizens' Initiative (‘ECI’) was started in January of this year. ECI’s are far more powerful than standard petitions as the Commission is obliged to act upon them when they have the required support.
1 million signatures from across EU member countries are needed to make the EU take action. The UK alone needs 54,750 signatures.
More than 7,000 concerned UK citizens have already signed to show their support. Will you join them?
PLEASE, if you enjoy vaping, know a vaper, or you just disagree with what the EU want to do in relation to electronic cigarettes, sign the initiative and add your support at:
efvi.eu
Thank you for reading and thank you for your support.
