FEATURE
‘ LET BLOOMBERG RUN THE WHO ’
World Vape Show London heard that the United Nations health body was failing smokers when it came to tobacco control .
Words : Patrick Griffin
The World Health Organization represents a ‘ real and present danger ’ to public health according to Christopher Snowdon from the Institute of Economic Affairs .
Snowdon , the IEA ’ s Head of Lifestyle Economics , said the global health body had never been keen on vaping , but had ramped up its attacks in recent years .
Speaking at the World Vape Show London , he said : “ The WHO is very influential around the world , particularly in developing countries , who rely on it for research .
“ In many countries , when the WHO says something , that message is taken quite seriously .
“ But unfortunately , insofar as it ’ s defined by its tobacco control efforts , it has been infiltrated by zealots , with the biggest of them all being Michael Bloomberg . policies and that is becoming increasingly antie-cigarette .
“ We should care about this because the majority of people in most countries now believe that vaping is at least as dangerous , if not more dangerous , than smoking and this comes in part from the WHO .”
Snowdon was highly critical of former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg , whom he described as a ‘ fanatical anti-smoking , anti-vaping and antinicotine zealot .’
He told the WVS audience at London ’ s ExCeL : “ The World Health Organization is very largely funded by Michael Bloomberg and … it is increasingly difficult to separate these two entities .
“ Bloomberg has already spent in the region of $ 116 million trying to get e-cigarette flavours banned .
“ It is now a real and present danger to public health because of its enormous , fanatical , antivaping attitude .”
He said the WHO ’ s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control treaty was being used to ‘ fight a war on vaping ’ adding : “ Every two years , the member states get together to thrash out new
“ He is essentially spending a very large part of his fortune before he dies on ill-conceived paternalistic ventures including his anti-vaping crusade .”
He said the UK government should consider withdrawing its WHO funding if the organisation continued its anti-vaping campaign .
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