sCOPe’s return on #WVD22 and #WNTD22 follows its around-the-clock five-day livestream in November last year during COP9 – the 9th Conference of Parties for the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

Nancy Loucas, of CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates), says sCOPe22 will add to the growing international pressure on WHO to embrace safer nicotine products, not demonize them.

“The global evidence is overwhelmingly in favour of vaping, yet hundreds of millions of smokers are blocked from accessing harm reduced alternatives. sCOPe22 will reveal what exactly is going on here,” says Ms Loucas.

In the Asia Pacific region alone, The Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand are set to join nearly 70 countries worldwide which have ignored WHO’s anti-vaping campaign and have instead regulated safer nicotine products. Each country has since reported dramatic declines in their overall smoking rates.

“We are the evidence! Not only is vaping an incredibly effective smoking cessation tool, but it’s deemed 95% less harmful than combustible tobacco. It’s utter madness for WHO to keep directing huge public health resource into bullying countries to ban these life-saving products. sCOPe22 will explore the motivation and money behind WHO’s actions,” says Ms Loucas.

On WVD22 on 30 May, sCOPe22 will broadcast via https://bit.ly/3GlEvn9

On WNTD22 on 31 May, sCOPe22 will broadcast via https://bit.ly/3wMKyg1

THR organizations set to feature include European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA), Campaign for Safer Alternatives in Africa (CASA), Vaping Saved My Life South Africa (VSML) Association of Vapers India (AVI), the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA).

The Americas are also well represented with Latin American-based ARDT Iberoamerica, Rights For Vapers Canada (R4V), the Tobacco Harm Reduction Association of Canada (THRA), and United States-based Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA).

“sCOPe22 is a global collaboration and our simple message is THR works,” says Ms Loucas. “We’re encouraging people from around the world to watch, listen and learn, as well as join the conversation. We have some wonderful advocates and experts lined up.

“COP10 will take place in 2023 with harm reduced products set to be a key discussion for delegates. Our work now is critical to achieving success next year. In fact, this year’s World Vape Day and World No Tobacco Day have never been more important,” says Nancy Loucas.

A global collaboration of THR consumer groups, sCOPe, has launched a comprehensive library of online panel discussions and presentations. To access sCOPe’s online library, visit https://bit.ly/3PG9lel

For a free digital media repository on tobacco harm reduction in Asia Pacific – including media releases, images and graphics – please visit https://apthrmedia.org

sCOPe includes leading THR associations CASAA (Consumer Advocates for Smoke-Free Alternatives Association) in the United States, ARDT Iberoamerica in Latin America, and CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates).

sCOPe recently broadcast around the clock during COP9 – the 9th Conference of Parties for the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

“sCOPe’s five-day global livestream was a huge success, countering and shining much-needed sunlight on COP9. It shows just what can be achieved when international consumer organisations come together in their tireless work to humanize and promote the life-changing tobacco harm reduction movement,” says Alex Clark, CEO of CASAA.

Hours of sCOPe’s presentations by international THR experts and panel discussions featuring consumer advocates have now been uploaded into one online library, available at the sCOPe video library

Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, says if more smokers’ lives are to be saved then the WHO must not be allowed to continue to demonize safer nicotine alternatives like vaping. Instead, it must be mandated to follow the scientific evidence.

It’s critical, she says, over the next two years that the world’s THR organisations work more closely and effectively together.

“sCOPe provides consumers, the public and the media with an invaluable resource and platform going forward. Our focus now shifts to COP10 in 2023 where risk reduced products will be a key discussion topic for delegates. With over one billion smokers’ lives at stake, consumers need one clear voice and sCOPe now provides that,” says Ms Loucas.

Chilean consumer advocate Ignacio Leiva Benitez, General Secretary of ARDT Iberoamerica, says Latin America is delighted to be part of sCOPe and now working more closely with allies from all around the world.

“sCOPe is all about showing the world’s decision-makers what has worked for us individuals and changed our lives for the better. I started vaping 12 years ago, after smoking two packets of cigarettes a day. For years I tried different ways to quit but was unsuccessful until I discovered nicotine vaping. sCOPe will enable us to fight more successfully on behalf of adult smokers, in every country, to gain better access to safer alternatives,” says Ignacio Leiva Benitez.

Access sCOPe’s online library here

For a free digital media repository on tobacco harm reduction in Asia Pacific – including media releases, images and graphics – please visit https://apthrmedia.org

The call comes as anger deepens about the World Health Organization’s blatant and baseless lies on nicotine vaping – the world’s most effective smoking cessation tool and proven to be 95% less harmful than combustible cigarettes.

The eighth episode of The Advocates Voice (TAV 8) followed the WHO releasing its report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2021. Ignoring all evidence, its latest attack on safer nicotine products was again driven and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“Proven time and time again to be morally corrupt, the WHO continues to deny the world’s 1.1 billion smokers the right to safer alternatives,” says Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA).

“The WHO is tasked with improving public health, yet it continues to condemn millions of smokers to certain death each and every year. We will never stop fighting as we are on the side of science. Time will also put us on the right side of history,” she says.

Hosted by CAPHRA and moderated by Nancy Loucas, the TAV 8 panel included leading Asia Pacific THR consumer advocates: Peter Paul Dator from the Philippines (Director of Vapers PH), Asa Saligupta (Director of ECST – ENDs Cigarette Smoke Thailand) and Samsul Kamal Ariffin (President of MOVE – Malaysian Organization of Vape Entities).

The presentation and discussion can be viewed on CAPHRA’s YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3fvNF4m. It includes founding Chairman of ATHRA (Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association) Dr Colin Mendelsohn talking about the looming restrictions for Australian vapers.

TAV 8 also covered the launch of the world’s largest collection of successful personal vape stories. Boasting nearly 14,000 testimonials, www.righttovape.org is a joint venture between CAPHRA and the US-based Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA).

“We are adults with the right to make informed decisions for our health. We are the evidence that safer alternatives work, and we are not going to be silenced. The new RightToVape site reinforces that the world’s vapers are increasingly angry that evidence is being ignored and access to safer alternatives is being denied,” says Nancy Loucas.

Vape proponents are also encouraged to sign the Right2Switch petition at change.org/v4v-petition. It urges the WHO to respect consumer rights and to stop demonizing Tobacco Harm Reduction options ahead of the next biennial meeting of the WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in November.

For a free digital media repository on tobacco harm reduction in Asia Pacific – including media releases, images and graphics – please visit https://apthrmedia.org

Already boasting nearly 14,000 testimonials, the site demonstrates growing anger from across the globe that evidence is being ignored and many people’s right to choose safer alternatives is being denied.

Now live, www.righttovape.org is a joint venture between the US-based Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association (CASAA) and the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA).

“This site will not only be a uniquely dedicated resource, but a powerful response to those who want to restrict access to vaping and other smoke-free products. The many inspiring life stories and compelling anecdotes clearly demonstrate that, in fact, consumers are the evidence,” says Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA.

The purpose of the site is to collect and publicly post successful vape stories and testimonials from people who’ve switched from combustible and unsafe oral tobacco products to safer smoke-free alternatives to quit or reduce their smoking.

Organisers are calling on adults from around the world who have first-hand experience of using low-risk alternatives as proven methods for quitting or reducing smoking. The collection of testimonials includes the personal stories of people who have successfully used e-cigarettes, snus, and other smoke-free tobacco/nicotine products.

CASAA CEO Alex Clark says his organisation is honored to combine their efforts with international allies who are working tirelessly to humanize the tobacco harm reduction movement.

“All too often the debate around safer nicotine products is framed as a conflict between corporate profits versus public health. This international collection of consumer testimonials challenges that false and antiquated narrative. It’s full of genuinely lived experiences of people who are improving their lives by switching away from combustion,” says Mr Clark.

While participants are free to write their own story, they’re encouraged to detail how long they smoked, what quit methods they tried before switching to a smoke-free alternative, how long it has been since they successfully switched, and what have been the quality of life changes they may have experienced.

Ms Loucas says the international database of consumer testimonials will be a wakeup call to the world’s politicians, public health officials, and anti-vape campaigners. Anyone trying to remove the right of adults to choose safer nicotine alternatives will have a real fight on their hands.

“We are adults. We have the right to make informed decisions for our health. We are the evidence that safer alternatives work, and we are not going to be silenced. This is an incredibly powerful new global advocacy initiative and CAPHRA is delighted to be working with CASAA to launch it to the world. Now please give us your personal stories,” says Nancy Loucas.

Those who’ve made the switch are also encouraged to sign the Right2Switch petition at change.org/v4v-petition. It urges the WHO to respect consumer rights and to stop demonizing Tobacco Harm Reduction options ahead of the next biennial meeting of the WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in November.

For a free digital media repository on tobacco harm reduction in Asia Pacific – including media releases, images and graphics – please visit https://apthrmedia.org