Bearmunich
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Registriert seit: Sep 2013
Bewertung 24
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RE: Split Vote ? NOCH einmal Druck machen! (bis 24. 2. 2014)
Ich habe fertig *schwitz* und meine Mail an den Herrn Schulz und die Fraktionsvorsitzenden ist raus.
Zitat:Dear Mr. President Schulz,
I am writing to you because I am concerned. Concerned that you are about to make one of the biggest mistakes in recent history. Why do I think so, you may ask. Well, I'll try to explain, and I promise I'll try to keep it short.
First, my name is Pascal G*. I'm a Belgian living in Germany for almost twenty years, and next friday I will celebrate my 43rd birthday. I was a smoker untill last year, consuming over a packet a day. You must know that I tried to quit some years ago with an electronic cigarette that looked like a real one. But that didn't work for me. Last year, I felt the need to try again. I did some research, and found out that the market for electronic cigarettes has developed pretty fast since. They became more powerfull, so I don't need to charge the device several times a day. They produce enough of what looks like smoke (but in fact is just vape and quite harmless, like breathing out in cold weather), and give me a feeling that is much like smoking (some people call it flash or throat hit, I believe), so I don't feel the urge to smoke real cigarettes. They have bigger tanks for the liquids that last all day without the need to refill them. And there are plenty of tastes to choose from. In the beginning I smoked some cigarettes as well, but they were no comparison to the electronic cigarettes: they tasted awful. After only 2 days, I completely switched to vaping.
And from than on my life got better every day. The foods I eat taste much better. I can smell things I didn't smell before. My lungs started to regenerate. I even lost some (over)weight. All of that to my big surprise, and to the suprise of my doctor. Her examinations show that I am not only feeling better, but that - in a medical and measurable way - I am healthier! I joined other vapers, in forums on the internet and in "real life". Most of them can tell you similar stories. Lots of vaper told me and showed me, how vaping changed their lives, how they got healthier. None of us wants to ever smoke real cigarettes again, and I sincerely hope you do not want this as well. Therefor, I am asking you to let the members of the EP have a separate vote on Article 18 of the TPD next week. This article will do more harm, and in no way serve public health or protect the children. Here are the main reasons why I think so:
- Article 18 limits both the size of the tanks used on devices as well as the bottles the liquids are sold in. Smaller bottles are cheaper, and the cheaper price may appeal to children. Smaller tanks need to be refilled more often, which increases the risk of spilling liquid and nicotin on the skin. Also, smaller bottles will create more waste.
- The amount of nicotine allowed is way to low. There are studies showing that about 25% of smokers would need amounts above 20 mg/ml in order to succeed quitting. There are also studies showing that those limitations are based in false premisses. Scientists have shown, that nicotine is similar addictive to coffee, and the pharmaceutical industry isn't blaming nicotine for the level of smoking addiction.
- With article 18 you are allowing tobacco companies to use their brands and brand names for electronic cigarettes. Just take a look at the United States, and brands like Blu Cig or NJOY to see what kind of devices they already produce: small tanks, looking like real cigarettes. Well, after my experience, I don't think they will help people quit smoking. They will be a technical gadget, a gimmick, some smokers might give them a try. But after that, they will smoke again. Or try to quit with other nicotine delivery systems like Nicorette (by the way: I still have to come accross hard facts proving that Nicorette and the like are working cessation medecines! But I do know a lot of real people who did quit smoking with vaping devices!) Article 18 will throw away all innovations and development from the last years, throwing back the market to its state like it was some years ago - clearing all paths for the tobacco companies to sell their disposable devices, creating more waste, and not helping people to quit smoking. Article 18 will also help the pharmaceutical industry, as a real and working competitor for their cessation product range disappears from the markets.
Please Mr. President Schulz, vaping is not smoking. Electronic cigarettes are not a tobacco product. Peanuts are more dangerous, as allergic reactions already killed people. They should be regulated in a meaningful way, with regards to the security of the devices, and the allowed components of the liquids. But they should not be part of the TPD. Please allow a split vote next week! Members of the Parliament will hesitate to vote against the complete TPD as a package (since they think people will believe they are "bought" by big tobacco companies if they vote no). But a lot of them also disagree with Article 18. If you don't allow a split vote, within the next years people will see the truth. People will see, that the EP has done more harm to public health and the environment with the TPD and Article 18. With the TPD, you aim at 2% less smokers within 5 years. Without Article 12 you can get up to 8% - each year!
Yours sincerely,
Pascal G*
PS. bisher habe ich mich bei den Aktionen zurückgehalten. Twitter(bomben) und Thunderclaps, ja, EFVI Unterschriftenaktion, ja. Aber Mails oder Faxe oder Briefe? Das lasse ich lieber mal die Anderen machen, die schon länger dampfen, die besser argumentieren können, die Links zu allen möglichen Studien und so parat haben, die auch stilsicherer mit der Sprache umgehen können. Aber nach der gestrigen Sendung (vapourtrails UK) habe ich angefangen zu grübeln. Und heute morgen dann der Entschluss: jeder Beitrag, wie winzig er auch ist, kann der Tropfen sein, der den Eimer überlaufen lässt.
In der Mail steckt etwa eine gute Stunde Arbeit - zuerst wollte ich mich an den vielen Vorlagen hier im Forum orientieren, mit der Guttenberg-Methode und kleinere Änderungen zwecks Personalisieren. Aber als ich anfing zu texten, ist mit aufgefallen, wie es mir doch irgendwie leicht gefallen ist, eigene Worte zu finden.
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Split Vote ? NOCH einmal Druck machen! (bis 24. 2. 2014)
und was mache ich? Ich schreibe hier im Forum, eigentlich sollte ich arbeiten 
).
