True Sun, the people will not be allowed to speak at this type of hearing.
It is a place though in where public awareness could benefit us.
If enough people showed at the court steps just prior to the hearing, say 2pm, it may strike a note with the media. Tv coverage from citizens who could actually explain what this is all about and state they have quit smoking with this safer device than cigarettes would possibly help inform the masses. It cannot be a mud slinging bash the FDA situation. Be tacful. Be truthful. Be quick and to the point.
I would think there are many in and within driving distance in the DC area.
This is a time to make friends, not adversaries. There are many who have never smoked that are not even aware of this device and have no reason to look at it, for it, or accept it other than its appearence of smoke they don't want to breathe. Anyone I have explain the device to has accepted it with open arms , even people who have never smoked.
The coin has been tossed and the FDA is not going to just go away. I don't want DEG in my liquids and I'm sure most don't. Let them keep dirty juice out of us. To just blanket ban it all is like killing 1 to save a 1000, 10 to save 10,000 or 10,000 to save a million. In our case its the reverse..kill 10,000 that smoke cigarettes and save the 10 that might quit. Perverse rationalization huh?
Embrace the enemy, know them better than yourself, then convert them with the facts.
Just MHO,
Vaporer
Been lurking instead of posting for the last few days, mainly letting people vent. I now see that perhaps we are ready to stop crying and start acting.
Vaporer's suggestion is a good idea, but far too late for this battle. There's no way to plan any signifcant rally the eve before the hearing, and anything "thrown together" at the last minute could do more harm than good. If people are going to show up tomorrow, please keep it calm. Getting angry and calling people names (aka "Nazi") in the presence of the press will hurt us A LOT! Breaking laws, creating disturbances, and getting thrown in jail does not come across as being the responsible group of people who just want to continuing to use e-cigarettes to our betterment. Rather, it would make us appear as 60's throwbacks who never grew up.
This battle is about over, and we may lose it. The war isn't over though. Should the outcome of tomorrow's hearing go against us, then we need to plan for the next step...whatever it is. We can do a lot though.
In looking at the credentials, money, and power of those at ASH, and other anti-smoking groups, we have forgotten the power that we do have, the power of the people! There are numerous occassions when grassroots efforts have prevailed. Most of us have some sort of training or talent that can be used. Healthcare workers, scientists, teachers, lawyers and legal workers. Can you design websites? Are you good at raising funds, public speaking? Do you have a contact with the media or an elected official? Can you write news articles or draw political cartoons? Can you troll websites, looking for "lone rangers", such as the one who began selling ......, so that we can deal with i? Think about what you can do to help.
We should plan the rally for the next event, whenever and whatever it is. It will be well organized, fun, informative and will show the "powers" what kind of people we are, responsible people who need our voices heard.
If we want to continue to vape legally, we are going to have to fight. Ya with me?
