The Advocates Voice

In these bulletins, we inform you about public health policy, law and consumer advocacy issues relating to tobacco harm reduction and safer nicotine products in Asia Pacific and beyond.

The Advocates Voice - November 2025

This month, 181 countries, plus the European Union will be sending delegations to attend the FCTC Conference of Parties to discuss global Tobacco Control.  In documents released by the Secretariat, we know that there will be pressure on these delegations to accept new definitions and interpretations of articles 1d, 5.2b, and 5.3 that will directly impact consumers of safer nicotine products.

11-10
07:01

The Advocates Voice - October 2025

There is an ongoing culture war between Western interests and Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) as it relates to Tobacco Control. Countries in Asia,  such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Vietnam have implemented bans of safer nicotine products with the policy guidance and support of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids - a US NGO funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.   Meanwhile, in Malaysia, there is a push, no doubt under the auspices of similar “guidance” to implement similar policies.  These efforts have ramped up in the lead to the FCTC CoP 11 in November this year.

11-09
04:00

The Advocates Voice - September 2025

Welcome back to The Advocates Voice for 2025.  As we approach the FCTC CoP 11 being held this November in Geneva,things have been heating up. .   There is no doubt  the WHO will ramp up their anti e-cig  stance   ….  and the same old lies.Clampdowns- misinformation- and attacks on tobacco harm reduction are sure to continue.This episode focuses on Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand.

11-09
07:50

The Advocates Voice - February 2024 UK & Australia

In this episode we explore the situation in Australia and the evolving situation in the United Kingdom. Draconian "regulations" or De Facto Ban? Language Warning. We let you hear from the people directly impacted.

03-13
13:38

The Advocates Voice - January 2024

2023 WrapUp and what we are looking forward to in 2024 in the THR space.

03-13
07:28

The Advocates Voice - March 2024 WHO FCTC

CoP 10 was a win for harm reduction for the most part. Countries stood up for harm reduction & didn’t allow a prohibitionist agenda to be railroaded through. But what exactly is going on and who is the captain of the FCTC ship?

03-13
12:30

The Advocates Voice - May 2023

We review disposable vapes from the perspective of environmental impacts - and how to mitigate the situation. We also provide insight around a report on big Pharma payments to New Zealand public health officials. *There is an overview on Australia NOTE: This was filmed BEFORE the announcement that was made on 2 May 2023 by the Australian Government.*

05-30
09:19

The Advocates Voice - Malaysia and CoP 10

In this episode, we have an update on what is going on with regulations in Malaysia, as well as an in depth look at how consumers can get involved in the CoP 10 process by engaging with their government officials.

03-31
07:45

The Advocates Voice - March 2023

In this episode, we speak with Peter Dator and Clarisse Virgino from the Philippines about the pathway to regulation of safer nicotine as a consumer product.  We also provide an overview of what is going on in Australia.

03-05
11:35

The Advocates Voice - Live Discussion "Misinformation, Disinformation and Bad Science"

Consumer advocates from the Asia Pacific region sit down to discuss the challenges of mis and disinformation in their advocacy work and how they have overcome obstacles in the past and how they plan to address those obstacles in the future.

02-08
51:11

The Advocates Voice 2023 Premiere - Misinformation, Disinformation and Bad Science

Adults who smoke are being disenfranchised by the fake science and fear mongering about youth.  Our advocacy needs to focus on ADULTS who smoke and or use unsafe oral tobacco and not spend time arguing about “youth epidemics.”  This is a CoP year, we need to stay focussed, on message and collaborate for the common good of all who can benefit from #TobaccoHarmReduction

02-08
09:09

The Advocates Voice - Oceania: More than the Tasman Sea divides them.

In Australia, the governments of both NSW and Western Australia are harassing vendors and reinterpreting laws to suit their anti vape agenda.  In Aotearoa New Zealand, the process has begun to amend the SmokeFree Environments Act, for Tobacco Products Only, however the detractors of THR are using it as an opportunity to push for changes to the Vape regulations, with the usual disinformation.   Lastly, in the Philippines, the Vape Regulations were never vetoed, so now we wait for 15 days after publication in the government gazette for it to become law. Airdate:  3 August 2022

08-03
08:13

The Advocates Voice - Asia Pacific Leads the Way for THR

Positive news from Malaysia where legalisation of vaping comes into effect on 3 August 2022.   In Brasil, possible movements towards legalisation and regulation of Safer Nicotine Products and in the US more businesses under threat because of the new FDA oversight on Synthetic Nicotine.  #THRworks #sCOPe22 #WorldVapeDay #WorldNoTobaccoDay

05-29
10:00

The Advocates Voice - The Oldest Pandemic needs Progressive Solutions

In each episode we inform about public health policy, law and consumer advocacy issues relating to tobacco harm reduction and safer nicotine products in Asia Pacific and beyond.   These issues affect everyone - the millions of smokers in the region, policymakers, consumer advocates and the public. #THRworks  #SmokingKills #Commit2Live Stories:                                         Starts at:  Mexico                                               :48  New Zealand                                    3:11   Australia                                          4:46   #Right2Switch                               8:50 For more information on Mexico,  please visit https://www.facebook.com/provapeomexi... For more information on Legalise Vaping Australia, please visit https://www.legalisevaping.com.au/act...   To sign the #Right2Switch Petition, please go to https://www.change.org/v4v-petition

05-06
09:53

The Advocates Voice - November 2023

The months before an FCTC CoP meeting is always filled with activity, as the parties to the treaty prepare and consumers finalise activities to get the message to delegates and the public that Harm Reduction is an intrinsic part of the treaty. In this episode: CAPHRA Shadow Report on the (non) implementation of Article 1D of the FCTC Letter to Volker Turk, Director of UNCHR, from 52 consumer organisations about the Right to Health. Consumer Panel at GTNF in Seoul, South Korea Asia Harm Reduction Forum Highlights

11-01
08:57

The Advocates Voice - September

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Rohan Sequiera about the WHO's plans to redefine "smoke" and the implications that has not only for his patients, but for all of us in the "bigger picture".

10-06
09:46

TAV Live - The Road to CoP /Overview of GFN23 for Consumers

In this livestream we will go over the information provided and discussions from the GFN23 that relate to consumer advocacy. Join Martin Cullip, from the TPA, Tom Gleeson from NNA Ireland/ETHRA, Jeff Zamora, president of ARDT Iberoamerica and Nancy Loucas, from CAPHRA as we will also take questions from those who were unable to attend the session about what consumers can do and what they should demand from their delegations who are going to Panama in November.

07-27
01:15:39

The Advocates Voice - July 2023

Science fiction often paints a picture of societies that are akin to an Orwellian novel, where a dictatorial power controls what we can read, say or do! Well maybe George Orwell’s 1984 its already here with a rather stark announcement made about a collaboration between Google and WHO of a "multi-year Collaboration Agreement" to provide credible health-related information to help billions of people around the world respond to emerging and future public health issues. So a global health organization that wants to control the flow of information via censorship, yet supports some of the worst governments in the world, all the while peddling policies contrary to public health. Can they really be trusted??

07-27
08:37

The Advocates Voice - June 2023 - COP10, Latin America, South Africa, New Zealand

The impact of CoP 10, being held in Panama in November, on tobacco harm reduction activities and policies in Latin America and South Africa. A brief overview on sCOPe Livestream for World Vape Day and World No Tobacco Day. A summary of what happened in New Zealand earlier in June with the amendments to the SmokeFree Environments Act. Finishes with a brief on WHOs proposed collaboration with Google regarding online health information.

06-15
10:57

The Advocates Voice - Special Edition Australia

What is going on in Australia? information on the situation with commentary from vapers on the ground.

05-30
09:19

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