EU Absurd and surreal is putting it mildly !!

[Orb Skewer]

http://corporateeurope.org/news/tobacco-lobbyists-all-fired-ahead-key-vote

 

[AgentAnia]

From the CEO "report":

Paul Murphy MEP explained that in the Parliament, MEPs “are subjected to a lot of astroturf campaigning in the sense that it is manufactured. We get emails from so-called ordinary constituents about electronic cigarettes. But they are really detailed about the Directive.”

‘Astroturf’ is the name given to seemingly grass roots campaigns, that have actually been established, encouraged and sometimes funded by companies and corporate lobby groups interested in their success. One MEP assistant told CEO: “They have organised online, created electronic cigarette forums. They’re quite an aggressive lobby”. Another said: “We get a lot of abuse on Twitter about calling for more legislation on electronic cigarettes.”

So if "ordinary" vapers write their MEP, they obviously are shills for corporate lobbyists? Here's how ECITA responds to that (ECITA Blog)

This is the thing that the pencil pushers of all ilks seem unaware of – the community of vapers is active, and extremely passionate. I cannot think of any other product that has such huge support from its users, not because the industry has brain-washed them, but because these are people who feel that these products have really changed their lives – and maybe even saved them. These are people who have read the scientific research, done the homework – and REALLY, REALLY care about this issue.

This press release is an insult to not only the electronic cigarette industry (we can take it) but it is a deathly insult to the millions of everyday vapers who have attempted to engage with the political process – exactly as they are supposed to!

CEO has clearly failed to do any research at all – and their prejudice is insulting to me, my colleagues, and ESPECIALLY to the ordinary vapers.

 

[gayhalo]

I can't get my comments to come up on that site....

There is an idiot on there who says we must all give up smoking so get the laws passed.... I would love to have a go at the misinformed idiot.

 

[Bill Godshall]

I posted a comment, but it hasn't appeared.

The author of this article is either a tobacco prohibitionist or a Big Pharma funded PR hack.

 

[tommy2bad]

Comments are up now and most seem to take great offence at being called lobbyists.
Some kind of moderation is being done I think but not as bad as I thought it would be.
TBH I think their understanding of the ecig comunity and industry is lacking which makes me doubt the rest of their paper. Pity as they raise some interesting stuff about lobbying. Then again they may be just propaganda to cover the actual lobbyists who have power.
More disturbing is the willingness of MEP s to feed them lies. I'm looking at you Paul Murphy!

 

[gayhalo]

I thought I may have gone too far but my comments are there. I must stop doing this as I get annoyed when I read rubbish and then reply over the top.

 

[(So) Jersey Girl]

Very interesting. This statement appears at the end of the comments section.

"Note from CEO
Submitted by Corporate Europ... on July 10, 2013 - 12:38
Several paragraphs in the above article, published earlier this week, about lobbying on the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) have been interpreted as claiming that all or most citizens contacting MEPs on the issue of regulating e-cigarettes are the result of a lobbying campaign orchestrated by the e-cigarettes industry (astroturf). This is clearly not the case.

Several comments refer to lobbying on the TPD by the pharmaceutical industry, which is an issue we would be very interested in exploring further. Tips are greatly appreciated: ceo@corporateeurope.org"

 

[tommy2bad]

Here is a clue for them.
Mega Corruption Scandal At The WHO

 

[ECBuggie]

I thought I may have gone too far but my comments are there. I must stop doing this as I get annoyed when I read rubbish and then reply over the top.

C'mon over the top is what those big pharm puppets have been doing. I told them they are public health enemies and enemies of my vaping family and myself. (And it wasn't said just to sound bombastic. It further means if they succeed in their attempts, I'll consider their e-cig laws enemy laws and act accordingly) I also told them they didn't need info or education on e-cig. What they need is correction in a correction facility to de-corrupt them. Now I'm waiting for my comment to appear if ever.

And I don't think I was over the top.