FEATURE
‘ A NEW ENDING ’ FOR SMOKERS
Aaron Biebert ’ s latest smoking flick reveals the ‘ devastating ’ and deadly impact of misinformation around vaping .
Words : Jordan Millar
Acclaimed filmmaker Aaron Biebert is back again , releasing a ‘ powerful ’ and ‘ heart-breaking ’ documentary on the ‘ misguided ’ stigma around vaping . The director , best known for ‘ A Billion Lives ’ and ‘ You don ’ t know nicotine ’, dedicated his previous projects to the ‘ devastating ’ impact of smoking … and his latest short film is no exception . In ‘ A New Ending ’, Biebert uncovered the shocking story of a fouryear-old boy , who was prescribed cigarettes to help him breathe . After developing a life-long addiction , Brian Burt died of smokingrelated diseases . His widow , Marion , told the producers that lung specialists dismissed vaping as an alternative to Brian ’ s smoking habit , claiming they didn ’ t know the long-term effects . She said : “ I can ’ t tell you how angry I was , I just thought : ‘ one word from you might have saved his life .’ “ There are lives , families , entire universes being wiped out with smoke … they ’ re in public health , they should know .” Marion stressed that the reduced risk alternative has already saved the lives of so many people , including her own , but there ’ s a stigma that makes vapers seem like they ‘ don ’ t matter .’ In the documentary , Biebert highlighted the unnecessary death caused by ‘ lies ’ and a ‘ distracted public ’, saying that the ignorance around vaping is ‘ robbing the joy ’ of people who quit smoking . He said : “ I ’ ve met so many people who ’ ve been beaten down to the point where they won ’ t stick up for themselves any longer . “ When stigma is used on people for so long , they start to shut down … it ’ s one of the most shameful activities I ’ ve seen in my life .” Biebert stressed that we need to stop letting ‘ mass media hysteria ’ and misinformation decide the fate of smokers and vapers . He said : “ After a lifetime of fighting for a happier ending , people must now fight the sad endings written by others . “ What if your own family , neighbours and even strangers claimed to know how your life story ends … would you start to believe it ? “ It cannot be overstated how outrageous this is , the shame and stigma is now refocused on people who quit smoking … we must look at ourselves and examine the assumptions we cling to .”
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