CASAA Call to Action: I thought I would never have to write this post. It’s a very sad day. Someone needs to tell this story and since I have no “skin in the game” it’s going to be me. Please don’t assume that I enjoy this post because that’s not the case. Dr. Farsalinos is a long time friend of the Vaping community who has previously provided valuable Scientific evidence. His previous study was titled “Evaluation of Electronic Cigarette Liquids and Aerosol for the Presence of Selected Inhalation Toxins”. This Scientific study focused on the presence of diacetyl (DA) and acetyl propionyl (AP) in eJuice/liquids. Either of which, at a certain level, pose a health risk for Vapers. A detailed post on this study is found on his blog. A must read abstract published in a peer-reviewed medical journal and worthy of telling your eJuice vendors about. NO single scientist in the world has published as many vaping sentric scientific studys as Dr. Farsalinos. If you review the following page you will see 15 peer-reviewed and Published research citations related to Electronic Vapor Products (Electronic Cigarettes) by Dr. F. On October 8, 2014 his new crowdfunded Scientific study launched with a complete title of “Temperature of evaporation, liquid consumption and vapor analysis in realistic conditions” and available for your review at the Indiegogo web site. I covered this issue in the following post and provided a follow up post titled Vaping Convergence: The DNA40 Board & The Dr. Farsalinos Scientific Study.
My issue is the failure of the Vaping Community leadership to support the crowdfunding Campaign of Dr. F titled “Temperature of evaporation, liquid consumption and vapor analysis in realistic conditions” which launched on October, 8, 2014 and ends on December 7, 2014 and currently shows total contributions of only $17,129.00 via a paltry 260 contributors with a reasonable goal of $72,000.00. [Editorial Note: Current Campaign data appears at the end of this post. Thank you!] It’s not going to produce the required funds for these critical studys. It won’t even come close. This is a tragedy! Given the recent introduction of the game changing Evolv DNA40 board, the issues that Dr. F planed to study, and the deeming FDA Vaping regulations, I can not think of a more important and timely scientific study in the history of vaping. Before I point fingers, I need to disclose a few issues. I contributed $110 and generated 88 clicks to the crowdfunding web site and these clicks contributed a total of $90 in additional contributions. I have “no skin in the game”. I have done my best to publicize this campaign and I am aware of additional contributions from folks who were willing to listen to my evangelism. It is not my intent to boast or brag. Rather to paint a picture that I tried my best to set an example for others.
It’s time to point fingers. Why and how did this pathetic support from the Vaping Community leadership occur? Who is to blame? I’m aware that some of the following comments will be controversial but in my view it needs to be said.
– At the top of the list is the pathetic and self serving actions of every single grass roots Vaping Organization and Vaping Trade Association (one exception noted below). I’m no stranger to politics and some of the specious and self serving internal advice you may be receiving but where was your public support? Some of your work is very good and I understand internal policy’s but your lack of public support is deplorable. Even a paltry $500 would have been a good faith effort but all of you chose to relish in your own self serving actions at the expense of the vaping community. Given the fact that “…The crowdfunding campaign is addressed mostly to professionals and not e-cigarette consumers…” you should be ashamed of yourselves. Some of you chose to ignore my requests for help and others tried to spin the issue with me to suit your own agenda.
– Vaping vendors were for the most part MIA. In an industry that is still thriving and generating huge amounts of profits this is deplorable. I admit that some of these vendors have no long term plans and will “milk” the vaping culture for as long as possible and then vanish from the face of the planet after the FDA lowers the boom. But the rest of you? What kind of signal does that send to consumers? That’s a lack of ethics, morality, and leadership in exchange for the “quick buck”. Shame on you!
– Finally, the well known and influential YouTube Professional reviewers. Yes, you get paid by YouTube every time a advert banner displays in your video and some of your videos receive as many as 100K views. It’s not like you didn’t have examples to follow. The outstanding audio interview with Dr. Farsalinos, conducted by Dimitris Agrafiotis (VapinGreek) and Phil Busardo contributed $100 to the Dr. F campaign. Both of these YouTube Professional reviewers provided additional endorsements to the Dr. F campaign with their prominent listing as “Crowdfunding organizing supporter”. The rest of you were silent! Is it to much to ask you to insert a text overlay in your Videos and a plea for contributions in your description. All of you self proclaimed rock stars should be ashamed of yourselves.
If all of these three groups of movers and shakers would have taken the time to publicly endorse and contribute to the Dr. F campaign, the consumer segment (you and me) would have followed in large numbers and the monetary goal would have been achieved. It’s worth noting exactly which Vaping professionals contributed $500 or more and for this I’m grateful: Altsmoke, Nicquid, Ecigsupply, Vapor Kings, Cignot, Ahlusion, The Vapour Lounge, inTaste, DashVapes Inc, Avatar Set s.r.l, SvoëMesto, Good Life Vapor, Halcyonvapors, Simply Vapour, Baker White, PureCigs, Mountain Oak Vapors, House of Liquid, Concept Liquids, Alter Ego, 5 Pawns, Innokin Technology, Electronic Cigarette Trade Association of Canada, Costa Vapor, and ATMOS LAB. If I missed one, please contact me and provide proof. I’m happy to include you in this list of outstanding behavior. If your a “consumer” and did or did not contribute, this post is not directed at you and is not intended to denigrate or offend you. Of course, I’m grateful for those “consumer” vapers who did contribute.
It’s time to rub my crystal ball. Based on the obvious lack of concern for the Vaping community, poor leadership, and no genuine advocacy for public health by these movers and shakers, I’m not optimistic about the survival of Vaping as we know it today.
– Editorial Notes – I automatically receive email notice of additional contributions for $500 or more. This post will be edited to include these new Vaping professionals. What a pleasant surprise! Since the date of publication of this post (12/1/14), contributions have skyrocketed! I’m not sure why. Maybe myself and others shamed the movers and shakers into contributing. Please keep spreading the word.
- As of 12/7/2014 (AM) with about 14 hours left contributions are $72,332.00 via 734 finders. WOW! Fantastic!. That’s 100% + of the goal of $72,000.00. See my A Vaping Tragedy Averted
- As of 12/6/2014 total contributions are $64,248.00 via 645 funders. That’s 89% of the goal of $72,000.00
- As of 12/4/14 total contributions are $53,106.00 (74% of the goal) via 482 funders. Even my own clicks and contributions have increased to 136 clicks producing $645.00 in contributions.
- As of 12/3/14 total contributions are $33,296.00 via 338 funders.