Category Archives: Do Something

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Dear Family, Friends, Parents, Educators and Medical Professionals: “The Real Cost”.

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Dear Family, Friends, Parents, Educators and Medical Professionals:

I consider you all intelligent and capable of thinking for yourselves. Each of you have the power of many that I cannot have alone. I consider the depth and importance you hold with your personal and professional lives.  I also consider that YOU have a responsibility, response, and an ability – with the vast outreach you have – to make a difference. I’m going with the theory that we’re all only within “six degrees of separation”.

I understand in order to ask for support, you need facts.

OWL
Years ago, Dad had a motto for his business. “Know for a fact”. I’ve adopted that for this very personal message. I hope to briefly educate and enlighten you in the following few minutes of your our lives. 

Pardon The Intrusion

I do not like my family and friends being misinformed lied to.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made what I normally kick, scream and rant about on my Twitter account, my other Facebook page, and here on my blog, much, MUCH more personal. It’s about informed public consumer choices. It’s about rights. It is about you.
“When tobacco use decreases, less smoking occurs.”

Those Damn Kids

 

Are you a parent?  I’ll let you decide if trusted “non-profit” groups like “Tobacco-Free Kids”  (created by Johnson & Johnson, makers of smoking “cessation” products and then secretly negotiated with tobacco giant Philip Morris) are marketing cigarettes and e-cigarettes to children here.  Or  trustworthy. (I’ll wait.)

Remember when the public health community and media claimed e-cigarettes were a “gateway” TO smoking? Huh.

Think about the statement Dr. Gottlieb has made about “marketing to children”. Are you able to exercise your parenting skills? Dr. Scott Gottlieb of the FDA doesn’t think so. Like cigarettes, the law states anyone underage (18 or 21) cannot purchase these NON-tobacco products legally.

What you aren’t being told is these restrictions could lead teenagers back to smoking. The FDA wants to convince the world (whether they smoke or not) using rhetoric, proof by assertion, pseudoscience sound bytes and the ever-popular “Think of the children™ that e-cigarettes are “just as dangerous” as smoking. They’re not. While I’ll try not to bore you, there is data, science and research (and links within this blog). There is no doubt.

 

By the way, while Dr. Gottlieb pretends “nicotine” is the problem, something he can’t prove, he is encouraging more smoking with the help of front groups and other officials.

 

Pfizer, maker of the “FDA Approved” drug Chantix (once black-boxed due to thousands of attempted and over 500 suicides ) was given to “adolescents” in the United States ages 12-16. They failed.

The struggle is real

Why aren’t “approved” nicotine patches and gums being passed out to teens like candy? I’m saying, and I’ll keep saying it: “If “children” are already smoking, they’re smokers regardless of age.” I’ll direct you to Shiela Vakharia’s statement below.

cigarettes

Smoking or not

If you’re a smoker, I’m not telling you to stop smoking. (Smokers can go here.) Because vaping businesses are no longer allowed to tell you, I’m telling you e-cigarettes are a safer, healthier, smoke-free choice. It is an alternative for smokers who want to quit.  Nothing more, nothing less. I’m telling you the FDA is trying to take away a choice that has worked for millions. A choice that works. This choice is being threatened.

I was told “stop smoking” since I was old enough to get caught smoking! I was told it was “nicotine“. It’s not. Have you ever caught a child stealing nicotine patches to feed their “addiction”?

Whiteboard nicotine lie
It wasn’t so easy. “Government approved” patches and gums didn’t work for me, but I didn’t know why. I never thought to ask about the 93% failure rates. I was told it was willpower. It’s not. I was told I wasn’t trying hard enough. I wasn’t, but I didn’t know smokers average 30 attempts before they quit. I was told a lot of things. I’ve been lied to before, but not to this grand scale. They call it a sin tax. They’re addicted to taxing smokers.

msa lucrative

I didn’t realize the discrimination and hatred against smokers is completely perpetuated by money. To call the anti-smoking movement “brainwashing” is an understatement. It is professional bullying. I didn’t realize it was a billion dollar industry – funded BY smoking. If this scale of hate was directed at any other group, there would be riots in the streets. Leave smokers alone.

Can you imagine

FDA will always promote science based decision making…”

~Dr. Scott Gottlieb

Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort experienced by a person who simultaneously holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values.

Here’s Dr. Gottlieb and his sidekick Mitch “Zippy” Zeller – of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration exerting their arrogance mental “cognitive dissonance” disorder.

Gottlieb and Zeller large

In the process of regulation, restrictions, taxes and bans, Dr. Gottlieb is going to encumber 10 Million smokers, and millions more who may choose to purchase them as an alternative to smoking based on “attitudes, beliefs and intentions“.

The Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration…. what?

gottlieb belief....JPG

 

Dr. GottLIEb feels the need to use the word “convincingly”.

gottlieb convincingly

I’ve got another word: Manipulation.

 

Added November 8th, 2018:

So much for an “epidemic” via the retail sector.

“During this past summer, 96.7% of the retailers passed FDA-sponsored compliance checks by not selling an e-cigarette to an underage youth.”

This is 16.7% ABOVE federal guidelines.👇

The Synar Amendment “requires” an 80% compliance rate.

NATO Responds to FDA’s Potential E-Cigarette Sales Restrictions

Understanding

As a “professional smoker” for about 35 years, I found, by accident, an amazing product. An e-cigarette. Within 48 hours, it worked. It also worked for Janice. It has worked for some of you reading this, my family and friends. Sometimes it doesn’t. One son (23) does both and the other (20) still chooses to smoke.

For a while… I walked around happy I wasn’t smoking. My cough – a constant companion most of my life, had abandoned me in about a week. I was breathing better and felt better. I thought – well, it can’t be worse than smoking. I was both uncaring and blind to the issues and the controversy surrounding “e-cigarettes”. On the news, as you’ve all seen, I saw (a) report of “dangers” and I thought, no, you bastards – you are lying. You’re not telling the whole story.

david quote

On a cold winter night, I found David Goerlitz’ blog. He is the “Former Winston man”. In his blog, he explains the corruption from ANTI-tobacco groups (Body Parts™ groups – Heart, Lung, Cancer Associations) he WORKED for. These “non-profits” are funded by smoking. David FIRED me UP.

david with gottlieb.jpg

I read anything and everything. I started a blog. I joined Twitter. (Turns out, scientists, researchers and experts who don’t lie are real and on Twitter.) I joined Facebook groups to learn more.

Dave fired me up. At that point, I was on a mission to change the world. Without knowing better – within days – on December 17th, 2014 – I created a survey to show what others like me already knew to show YOU and others – our experiences… 7,238 people took it around the world. Around the world. Proudly, It’s been used and quoted in a few places. My mission for that survey was to tell other smokers there is another option. A place they could read about what others doing it – said. Reducing or eliminating asthma medications, lower blood pressure – and much, much more.

I found quickly – the experts, media, and (no surprise) government do not care about the truth. They don’t care about facts. Wait. They care about manipulating the facts. I don’t like you not knowing for a fact.

“The Real Cost”

Fear is a lack of knowledge. Knowledge is power.

The Food and Drug Administration will be spending money placing propaganda in your minds called “The Real Cost“. They” want to regulate, restrict, tax and ban a choice by using “children” as a ploy.

taxes ecigs.jpg

Here’s where you come in. I’d like you to consider how you can help, and it won’t cost you a dime. I’m asking you to stand up. Raise your hand. Question those in authority. Engage. If you have doubts, questions, concerns, thoughts… ask me. If you have friends, colleagues, associates, family, medical professionals… direct them to me. If I do not know the answer, I’ll ask someone else.
Please consider a *free* membership by joining the consumer group CASAA.

They released this comprehensive explanation today:

“We believe that even if youth use were increasing, it is still a public health benefit – provided that use of smoking products continues to fall.”

“Epidemic?” A Perspective of Youth Vaping & Tobacco Use Trends

It isn’t just me. Oliver Kershaw also explains it here:

“Treating the symptom, not the cause – is never an effective outcome.”
You are my friends and family. I wouldn’t want you thinking funding is the root of the created opioid epidemic, either.
Turns out, in my mission to change the world, the world has changed me.
Each of you have the power of many that I cannot have alone. I consider you all intelligent and able to think for yourselves, and I thank you for your time.

This, from Diane Caruana – goes right along with what I said above.

Added 9/22/16:
I must be getting on someone’s nerves… Good.

Have you met my OUR friends at vapers.org.uk? 

vapersukgraphic.JPG

I proudly joined David on his latest podcast: David G Model Citizen.

You can find me here trying to be cordial on Facebook

You can find me here being a bit more evil on Twitter

You can find me here on Instagram

You can also find me on LinkedIn

It’s FREE, have you joined CASAA? Have you added your testimony here?

Are you familiar with Tobacco Harm Reduction For Life

GONZO GIVES

Medical, Research, Science Professionals:

Research:

Politics:

E-Cigarette Politics 

A Billion Lives

A Billion Lives

think

Your comments are NEVER filtered, always encouraged and welcome on this blog. There is definitely more to come.

Keep ON #Vaping On.

Kevin

Do Something, ecigs, smokers, Smokers, Smoking, Truth, Vaping

DO Something.

20 Comments
dosomething

Do Something.

We’re preaching to the choir. In the photo.

That’s me on the middle right. (#ecigs #save #lives)
dosomething

Us. Ourselves. #hashtagging. A lot. I’m just as guilty of this as the next person. We yell, scream and show evidence to the contrary when they’re spitting out wrong information.

We know they’re lying. They know they’re lying.

But HOW does the public know they’re lying?
How do smokers know?

How do we reach smokers in the most effective way?
How do we even *find* them?

Do Something.

*David Goerlitz, the Former Winston Man, recently had this to say.

advocacy

 *David Goerlitz

Folks, ~we~ are the choir. We, the choir, need to be clear, loud and in tune when we sing to the congregation!

There are national consumer organizations. CASAA & The Vaping Militia and Not Blowing Smoke. These are great organizations for consumers in the United States, with mountains of information and help, and have state organizations working with them as well.

Worldwide, there are the NNA, GFN, ECITA, THRA, Vapers.org.UK, EVUN and more links to wonderful organizations on both sides of this blog. The Information within those sites is astounding. VERY informative. People who care.
Do Something.

Fighting along side the consumer organizations are the National industry organizations: SFATA, (The Smoke Free Alternatives Trade Association), the AVA (American Vaping Association) and VISTA (Vaping Industry Supported Proactive Advocacy) who don’t shy away from lending a hand to consumers.

There is a Political group in the United Kingdom called Vapers In Power!

There are vape meets, where vapers go.. There are vape shops, where vapers go… I’m starting to see a pattern. There are street corners and break areas at work where we vapers show others our equipment and explain how vaping works. On occasion, we victoriously “convert” a smoker.

 

So now  comes my question:

How can we pass on our knowledge and experience to the smokers we don’t know personally? Those who have the desire to stop smoking but may be leery of ecigs? How do we allow them the opportunity to know?

How do we #DoSomething?

That’s rhetorical, of course, since most people reading this blog are vapers. I’m preaching to the choir.

When I was smoking, if you came to me and said you had the best thing ever, or advice, I’d listen but probably blow smoke in your general direction while you spoke. Maybe smokers aren’t looking for us. Maybe they haven’t decided to #dosomething. Maybe they want to smoke.

For a little while, I’ve been pondering what I can DO. I don’t have a shop, I don’t have journalist buddies at my fingertips with a line to the mainstream media. The President hasn’t answered my questions I’ve posed. I have a full time job.

Do Something.
There are people who #DoSomething.

I would LOVE to do what @mihop asks here:

drma

Why yes, yes I would. Not feasible, but YES, yes I would.

advocacy2

I TRY, Sealion Sho2daPan!

I’ve put some thought into this, and have decided, along with my day job, It IS my job.

For awhile now, I’ve tweeted the results of the first survey – to show anyone on the fence about vaping – what – we – know –
I’ve tweeted it to the moon & back by now. Well – I don’t think that’s enough.

I want to speak to smokers.

I want to

Do Something.

You’ll see wat I mean here:

 
me
                                                                                                     Kevin Crowley
● Speaker ● Tobacco Harm Reduction ● Advocate
E-cigarettes save lives.

My goal, in fact my passion, is to speak with as many people as possible to present a fair, balanced opportunity to understand e-cigarettes and vaping and why it works. They can then make an informed and educated choice for themselves.

The information I provide will empower them with the knowledge to personally succeed in reducing or eliminating tobacco in their lives.
I want every smoker to know that research and science exist, despite media stories and many public health “experts” worldwide claiming otherwise.
I want to speak directly to smokers. I want to speak to the elderly, people who aren’t online. The people who are afraid or don’t know anything. The unsure. The doubters. I would like to talk with church groups, medical organizations, rotary clubs, senior citizen centers, active military members, veterans, business owners, firefighters, cooks & waitresses, self-employed, corporate jet-setters, stockbrokers, gas station attendants, doctors, nurses, clerks, truck drivers. Everyone.
I want the next generation to “wonder” what smoking IS.
I will share a brief introduction. I’m 47 years old. I started smoking when I was 9. Thirty+ years smoker – two packs a day. I repeatedly tried to quit with the patch, gum, cold turkey. I finally stopped smoking in less than 48 hours with an e-cigarette, and so did my wife-accidentally – at the same time.
I lost my Grandmother in 1998 and my Father in 2014, both to lung cancer.
After almost two years of being smoke-free I was completely inspired to create and author “The Vaping Truth Survey” to raise awareness properly about e-cigarettes worldwide, despite the rhetoric and media blitz of misinformation. This garnered over 7,000 participants worldwide from 72 countries.
That survey itself gives clear and specific information about what “vapers” – e-cigarette users know, do and experience. How they succeeded. It gives someone contemplating the use of an e-cigarette distinct insight to those who are unaware of the potential as their way out of the grip of tobacco. For those to gain the knowledge to potentially be free from tobacco forever. Forever.
I am on a mission to educate & inform, based both on both personal experience and information obtained from the worldwide survey & other reliable sources. I want every member of every group to be comfortable with what they learn to walk into a vape shop with confidence. This is their first step on their journey to end their relationship with tobacco.
If you have any questions or would like booking information for your group,
please feel free to email me at: kevincrowley@hotmail.com
Thank you,
Kevin Crowley
Do Something.

I want local vendors – wherever I am speaking – involved. SFATA or AVA or VISTA members get MY top priority. I don’t want them to sponsor ME specifically, I want them to offer starter kits, giveaways at each event. I want them to offer every person attending a 10% coupon or some other incentive.

I want them to inspire people. I want them to #SponsorASmoker. I want them to #DoSomething. I want to get to the smoking public. The people who matter. Smokers. Friends, family, loved ones of smokers. WE have no other choice.

They deserve the truth. We can #DoSomething and give them that truth. We need to be proactive and do EVERYTHING we can DO to get our word out properly. If you have a better idea, bring it. I’m looking for ideas.

If you want a national network or international network of vapers (Vaper Speakers, Vaping Speakers, E-Cigarette Speakers?) on one list – willing to do this for free or pay, bring it.

We need to REACH the people who need to hear it most to make an informed choice.

Smokers.

We need to be informative, we need to be loud, and we need to do this NOW.

We need to #DoSomething.

Do Something.

Any suggestions or comments are always welcome.

These professionals

Do Something.

Research & Science at ecigarette-research.org

Doctors & Professionals at M.O.V.E.

If you didn’t see the FINAL results of the first Vaping Truth Survey – they’re HERE.
For every action, there’s a reaction if you

Do Something!

THESE are national consumer and industry organizations in the United States who keep US informed.

 

August8th.org

A BILLION LIVES

More to come.
As always,
Keep ON #Vaping On.
Kevin.