The Safe Sig Runs Full-Page Ad in the New York Times addressed to WHO

[Vocalek]

As part of a highly public effort to compel the FDA and the World Health Organization to recognize, and act on, the opportunity that the electronic cigarette represents for helping to end the tyranny of tobacco inhalation, The Safe Cig, an electronic cigarette company, has published an open letter to the World Health Organization in The New York Times. The provocative letter, which challenges the FDA's current stance on electronic cigarettes, also potentially makes the company a target for "big tobacco" in its quest to maintain its strong-hold over the world's smoking population, and the hard-fought political safe-haven that it enjoys amongst the world's regulatory agencies.
(Photo: Login )

The letter, addressed to The World Health Organization, draws attention to the 8.6 million people worldwide living with a serious illness caused by smoking tobacco, and further highlights the staggering 96 billion dollars in annual medical costs associated with the effects of tobacco consumption in the US alone.



"There was no way we were letting another year go by with over six million senseless deaths when we know we can help" CEO of The Safe Cig, John David Cameron.

Cameron believes he and his team have developed a transparent, common sense, tobacco-free alternative to cigarette addiction. The Safe Cig contains just a few simple ingredients: water, food flavoring, vaporizing fluid and nicotine. Conversely, tobacco cigarettes contain more than 4,000 chemicals (notoriously including arsenic and formaldehyde), over 50 of which are known carcinogens. It is important to point out that, despite misconceptions, nicotine is not considered to be a carcinogen. Some new studies are even calling nicotine a "wonder drug." (Graham. M, Researchers Light Up For Nicotine The Wonder Drug, Wired, 6.20.07 )

Read more: The Safe Cig Electronic Cigarette Implores The World Health Organization To Join Their Fight Against Tobacco On World No Tobacco Day - Press Releases: PR Newswire - SunHerald.com

 

[dordas23]

Cool article, thanks for posting the link. If the FDA doesn't regulate ecigs as tobacco, though, they'll probably want to label them "lethal weapons," or some such nonsense. God forbid they might simply leave something alone.

 

[Vocalek]

I am not sure how far they will get trying to appeal to WHO's sense of logic and fair play. From what I have read of their Tobacco Framework, it appears as though their goal is to totally wipe out any form of tobacco use, including nicotine extracted from tobacco (unless, of course, the product is manufactured by one of their Big Pharma buddies.)

Look up Jack Henningfield.

 

[Placebo Effect]

I've e-mailed the press release contact to try and get a copy of the ad.

 

[Placebo Effect]

Text of the ad:

In support of the World Health Organization’s efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking on World No Tobacco Day

Statistics concerning the loss of life, and loss of quality of life, that directly result from the simple act of tobacco inhalation are a real cause for concern, action and remedy. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 8.6 million people worldwide live with serious illness caused by smoking tobacco. More alarmingly, in the United States alone, 88 million non-smokers,including 54% of children aged three to eleven, are exposed to second-hand smoke each year.These figures highlight the devastating human cost of tobacco inhalation, which in turn burden our troubled US healthcare system with over 96 billion dollars annually in medical costs associated with the effects of tobacco consumption.

We are a company who sincerely believe that there is an opportunity to make a decisive, positive difference. At the core of our conviction is the common-sense assumption that any effective substitute to inhaling tobacco should be aggressively explored, researched and developed. Specifically, we believe that the electronic cigarette is a practical, safer alternative to tobacco smoking, and may represent a critical tool for tackling this epidemic.

Unfortunately, a great deal of misconception and misunderstanding has developed around the electronic cigarette. This has prompted us to secure SGS, CE, and ROHS certification, and to have produced MSDS reports for our products. While this offers us comfort that our devices and fluids are free of toxins, the real question concerns the inhalation chemistry and toxicology when they are used.

We have therefore taken it upon ourselves to initiate and fund inhalation studies using our products at leading academic institutions. The truth is, however, that no single company can go this alone.

We therefore suggest and propose that it is in the best interest of the world’s citizens, their health, and their future wellbeing, that the WHO establish an independent commission of inquiry to research and explore the role of the electronic cigarette as a viable and potentially life-saving alternative to cigarette smoking.

With your help, we can definitively determine if the electronic cigarette represents an opportunity to end the tyranny of tobacco inhalation.

We support the work of the World Health Organization, and all efforts that aim to tackle the problem of tobacco in a forthright and meaningful manner. The lives of countless millions will be saved and enriched in a world without the threat of smoking-related disease.

You can help save millions of lives by signing this letter with us online at Electronic Cigarettes | Electric Cigarette | E-Cigs | TheSafeCig.com

 

[JustJulie]

I am not sure how far they will get trying to appeal to WHO's sense of logic and fair play. From what I have read of their Tobacco Framework, it appears as though their goal is to totally wipe out any form of tobacco use, including nicotine extracted from tobacco (unless, of course, the product is manufactured by one of their Big Pharma buddies.)

Look up Jack Henningfield.

This +1,000,000.

In my opinion, it's just an advertising ploy on the part of The Safe Cig . . . the name kind of says it all.

 

[sqirl1]

This +1,000,000.

In my opinion, it's just an advertising ploy on the part of The Safe Cig . . . the name kind of says it all.

exactly. anything called "the safe cig" is most likely a peice of crap. I doubt this is going to do anything.

 

[Nicko]

Anti-smokers will love it.

All that talk about the dangers of second hand smoke.

Please rescue me from this ocean of insanity. I'm drowning!!

 

[Vocalek]

This interview with the CEO of the Safe Cig discusses his motives for running the ad: Safecig CEO: E-Cigs Are Safe - Fox Small Business Center Video - FoxSmallBusinessCenter.com

 

[Jacinda222]

Nice interview!

 

[Placebo Effect]

He's a very good speaker. It's a damn shame he didn't call it The Safer Cig, as calling a nicotine product 'Safe' not only makes it very easy for people to attack you, but if his company is successful, it could attract lawsuits from State AGs or Banzhaf-types.

 

[silkakc]

Great interview and I love his way of talking It's pretty cool too that he's James Cameron's brother! I like the name SafeCig. It's easy and memorable and says it all- it is a safer cig.

 

[Tom09]

A full-page add of independent health organizations, consumer advocate groups and involved individuals calling out the WHO for their staunch opposition to harm reduction would have been great. Well, may be not “calling out”, better worded like "inviting to open the dialogue”.

Since the present add had been done by a single company and as if WHO (and TC mainstream) would actually operate on harm reduction principles (?satire), it much boils down to marketing. Certainly, clever exposure of their product (and e-cigs in general) and a very nice CEO in this FOX interview.
But don’t get me started on the ploy of posing those SGS, CE and ROHS Certificates to imply consumer safety...

 

[Vocalek]

Keep in mind that Mr. Cameron only found e-cigarettes 6 months ago. Not sure what the business arrangement is. SafeCig has been around longer than that, so either he became an investor or bought out the company.

I believe the man sincerely thinks that these products can save lives. He is a billoinaire in his own right and is pouring money into funding all kinds of research to prove the products are safe. I don't think he is aware of all the political background and the state of hostility from the "health" organizations that we have been fighting.

 

[div]

very nice interview, thanks for posting it vocalek.

 

[Tom09]

Mr. Cameron - billoinaire.

That could be huge! I don’t know much billionaires. I certainly like how John Cameron presents himself in this interview and I don't question this man's motives. Could you link to show that TheSafeCig’s bearded Cameron is a billionaire? Thanks.

 

[Vocalek]

All I can tell you is that he is the younger brother of Titanic and Avatar director James Cameron James Cameron Biography and that he put up the money for the New York Times full-page ad and is funding a number of university-based studies on e-cigarette safety.

 

[sqirl1]

WOAH! I didn't know he was James Cameron's younger brother! ok now I'm interested! James Cameron is a great man whoes movies all carry a deep message about the value of human life. If he's the younger brother of somebody like that, this is a great thing! James better have somebody vaping in his next movie (which I hope to god will be Terminator 5, 3 and 4 weren't the same without him directing them)!

 

[Demarko]

All I can tell you is that he is the younger brother of Titanic and Avatar director James Cameron James Cameron Biography and that he put up the money for the New York Times full-page ad and is funding a number of university-based studies on e-cigarette safety.

Definitely awesome on the ad, in my oppinion, but the studies interest me even more! Can't wait to hear the findings.

 

[StormFinch]

Here's the Wikipedia on Mr. Cameron; John David Cameron - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edit: And his filmography; http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800128879. Yeah, the man has money.