Journey for a Tobacco-Free World

Airspace Action on Smoking and Health – Canada’s leading all-volunteer anti-tobacco organization – would like to offer you and/or your company/organization an opportunity to be part of what will, undoubtedly, be the one of the biggest single developments ever, in terms of improving global health and reducing burgeoning health-care costs.

Specifically, we’re referring to the Journey for a Tobacco-Free World (JTFW):

HEAR — AND HEED — THE CALL!
FROM SPRING TO FALL,
IT’S THE ANTI-TOBACCO RUN WALK OR CRAWL…
FROM VICTORIA TO MONTREAL!

This unique and precedent-setting project will commence on May 31, 2010 (the World Health Organization’s 23rd annual WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY), when Airspace president Errol Povah and his support crew will embark on the JTFW.

Airspace’s record speaks for itself.  Most notably, Airspace played a critical role in the development, implementation and enforcement of the landmark WCB (now Safework BC) No Smoking regulation.  After a frustrating year or two of unsuccessful lobbying of the WCB, it was only after former Airspace president Heather Mackenzie and then-vice-president Errol Povah threatened to sue the WCB – for criminal negligence causing death, among other things – that the WCB began to take both Airspace and the tobacco issue a lot more seriously.

Briefly, Airspace has played a pivotal role in many local bylaws throughout the GVRD, on the island and elsewhere.  And Errol Povah was virtually single-handedly responsible for Canada’s – possibly the world’s – first ever 100% smoke-free condominium complex.  And yes, “100%” does include inside private units.  Oliva is in Tsawwassen (Delta), B.C.

Much more info about Airspace and its many achievements is available at airspace.bc.ca and grimreaper.org

Despite all of that, a lot of people still ask the question, “Well, what exactly has Airspace accomplished?”

The short answer:  Given our extremely limited resources – and with all due respect to all of our anti-tobacco colleagues – in many ways, we have accomplished more than many other well-funded anti-tobacco organizations, combined!

The longer answer:  That’s a very difficult question to answer, for a number of reasons.

1)     Tobacco control is ever-evolving.  Some people might suggest, for example, that even if the WCB No Smoking regulation (Jan 1, 2000) had not come into effect then, it would have surely come into affect some time later.  A month?  A year?  A decade later?  Who knows, but such developments really are ‘inevitable’.  That said, the fact of the matter is that tobacco is killing people, globally, at the rate of 15,000 per day, of which 123 are Canadians!  Is resting on our laurels, safe in the knowledge that such precedent-setting tobacco control measures will happen ‘eventually’ truly an appropriate response?  Clearly, the tobacco industry would answer that question with a resounding yes…and for that reason, if no other, our response must be a loud and proud, “NO!”

2)     Rarely do we get credit for any of our achievements.  Let us be clear:  None of us at Airspace are in this for any ‘credit’; we only want to get the job done.  That said, in the case of the WCB, for instance, do you really think the WCB would invite Airspace to its awards ceremony and present us with a plaque, thanking us…and announce to the world that, if it hadn’t been for us threatening to sue the WCB, we might all still be working in smoky workplaces?  Not likely!

3)     And, last but not least, we are, to a huge extent, victims of our own success.  There’s no question:  Progress on the tobacco control front over the last few decades has been absolutely incredible.  Unfortunately, so many people believe that if their workplace is smoke-free, most of the public places they visit are smoke-free and their home and vehicle are smoke-free, then tobacco is no longer an issue.  But people are sadly mistaken if they believe that the tobacco problem has been solved…and that it’s now time for anti-tobacco activists to pack their bags, go home, say “Mission accomplished!”…and turn their attention elsewhere.  As long as there is a tobacco industry, we (collectively) have a problem!  Again, wonderful as all the progress has been, we still have a very long way to go.  After all, Canadians continue to die from smoking at the rate of 45,000 per year and, even more tragically, at least 123 Canadian kids have to take up smoking EACH AND EVERY DAY in order for the tobacco industry to just ‘break even’.

Other people wonder how their hard-earned money will be spent.  For the most part, your donation will be used to continue our effective and results-producing advocacy work, locally and around the world.  As of the date of this writing, the specific recipient details have not yet been confirmed, but we plan to give a total of 30% of the funds raised, divided equally, to 3 different and deserving kids-oriented charities…B.C. Children’s Hospital, Variety Club and Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital.  The balance will be used primarily to cover the many expenses involved in educating kids, globally…and lobbying decision-makers at all levels of government (local, provincial/state and federal), both here in Canada and internationally.

Ultimately, we will continue to do what we’ve been doing so very well for so very long:  ‘Encouraging’ decision-makers to develop the ‘political will’ (read, gonads) to do the right thing…and much sooner rather than later.

If you needed convincing of the severity of the completely (and very easily and cheaply) preventable tobacco pandemic, we hope we have achieved that.  If we failed to do that, please give us another opportunity.

If you want the biggest bang for your anti-tobacco buck, please support this extremely worthwhile, unique and precedent-setting project:  The JOURNEY FOR A TOBACCO-FREE WORLD.  We would love to have you onboard…and we won’t disappoint you!  Also, please have a look at our “Endorsements” page.  Thank you.

Please contact Errol here.

Ending the controversy about…

The most contrived controversy ever

There is much less controversy about tobacco – and the tobacco industry – than the industry would have you believe.

In fact, there’s more controversy within the anti-tobacco movement about how to eliminate both of those ‘problems’ (tobacco and the tobacco industry)…and rest assured, there’s not a lot of controversy there, either.

When it comes to tobacco, virtually all of the ‘controversy’ surrounding it is generated and perpetuated by the tobacco industry itself, with a little help from its small but efficient army of well-paid puppets, from bar & pub and restaurant associations to the highest echelons of government (just one little example:  Former [Cdn] Prime Minister Paul Martin was – and possibly still is – a tobacco executive).

In most cases, the ‘controversy’ is based on outright lies…and there is no better example of tobacco industry lies than when seven CEOs of various American tobacco companies testified before the U.S. Congress (just 15 years ago) that nicotine – the most addictive drug known — is not addictive!?!  Even at that time, the addictiveness of nicotine was sufficiently well-established within the medical and scientific communities that it was well-known by most of the population 10 years of age and older!  But, bold as that outright lie was, it planted some small seeds of doubt which, in turn, became ‘controversy’.

Fast forward fifteen years:  For the most part, it’s still business as usual for the tobacco industry:  Despite the fact that tobacco kills 5.4 million people around the world every year (causing disease and disabilities in tens of millions more), many people still think of tobacco companies as “good corporate citizens.”  Even within the business community, tobacco companies are welcomed and warmly embraced.  For example, Imperial Tobacco — Canada’s biggest tobacco company, manufacturer of Players, du Maurier and Matinee — will continue to be a ‘proud and upstanding’ member of the Vancouver Board of Trade, despite valiant efforts to have the company unceremoniously kicked out of the board.

The industry and its puppets often like to scream from the mountain-tops, “Freedom!”…and “Choice!”, blissfully ignoring the fact that addiction eliminates freedom and choice.  But again, those seeds of doubt are planted…and ‘controversy’ follows.

Bottom line:  There is no controversy!

GIVEN WHAT IS NOW KNOWN ABOUT BOTH TOBACCO AND THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY, THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION WHATSOEVER FOR ANY CIVILIZED NATION OF THE WORLD TO ALLOW TOBACCO COMPANIES TO OPERATE WITHIN THEIR BORDERS!

I have some good news and some bad news.  First, the good news.

The good news is that May 31, 2009 is still the World Health Organization’s WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY…and will be celebrated by Airspace Action on Smoking and Health and millions of other people around the globe!

Now the bad news:  My run across Canada has been postponed…by exactly one year.  That’s right, as anxious as I was to get it done this year, it has to wait a full year…and will now launch on May 31, 2010.

Physically and emotionally, I feel like I’m ready to go in 3 weeks but, in addition to some personal issues, the logistics of the whole thing — specifically, funding, sponsorship and the support team/vehicle — have not quite come together as I had hoped by now.

Like many such runs, the JTFW may well start off slowly (in terms of media/public support)…but I am more confident than ever that this event will gain momentum along the way and, ultimately, be a huge success.  Who knows, some variation of it may actually become an annual event!?!  However, as far as running across Canada goes?  Personally, I won’t be doing that more than once every 5 or 10 years!?!

Also, I’m going to make a valiant effort to update this blog once a week (or, at the very least, once every two weeks), commencing May 31 of this year, as the one year countdown begins.

Thank you once again for all of your awesome support…both moral and financial.  It is very much appreciated.

Please stay tuned.

Today is the first chance I’ve had to update everyone on the Journey for a Tobacco-Free World (JTFW).  I honestly don’t know what is more challenging; organizing the event (all of the logistics, planning, securing sponsors, etc.) or the actual ‘run, walk or crawl’ (RWC) itself.

Regarding organizing the JTFW, we are just putting the finishing touches on a budget and are currently applying to register as a charity.  That application process is long and slow…and may not even be completed by the May 31, 09, the launch date of the JTFW.  However, those who wish to donate now may do so and, as long as you clearly indicate that the donation is for the JTFW (i.e., in the memo line of a cheque), we will issue a tax receipt if/when our application for charitable status is approved.

Regarding my training:  While I created the training program myself, a number of experts (marathoners, a physiotherapist and a pediatrist) have all given it thumbs up…and 6 weeks into it, it’s going very well.  I am currently at the 4 hours per day level; 15 minutes walking, 5 minutes running, 15 minutes walking, 5 minutes running, etc.  Hey, I never claimed to be an athlete!   8-)   That said, I would challenge other ‘non-athletes’ to try my program, bearing in mind that both the walking and running is at quite a brisk pace, maintaining an average speed of about 7.5 kilometres per hour.

By mid-March, I hope to be training for 7 hours a day; roughly the amount of time I will be spending on the road on the actual JTFW (my goal:  50 km/day).  But, for training purposes, I intend to actually go beyond the 7 hours…to 8 and even 9 hours!

Other than a few minor aches and pains — and blisters on my feet — the only problem I’ve encountered thus far (touch wood!) was a suspected shin splint a few days ago.  It hurt sufficiently that walking was painful; running impossible.  I neither sought nor neceived any medical advice..and was determined to not let the shin splint affect my training program too drastically.  That said, I abandoned my normal routine (walk 15, run 5…for 4 hours) and just walked for 2 hours that day.  Pain level wasn’t worse, but it wasn’t any better either.  Next day, however, the pain was much less…and I decided to go for 3 hours, including 2 of the 3 [hourly] 5-minute runs.  No problem…and the following day, feeling no residual pain whatsoever, I was back to the normal routine, for a full 4 hours…and again, no problem.

I run a whole bunch of different routes throughout the Lower Mainland…and I’m really not sure what’s more disgusting; the amount of secondhand smoke I encounter (most often at bus shelters) or the literally thousands of cigarette butts (and other tobacco-related litter) I see on the streets and sidewalks.