THE FIREBREAK
@the_firebreak
Exposing radical NGOs, confronting biased reporters. Editor: @zaruk
The Health Promotion unit manages @WHO's policies on tobacco, vaping, alcohol and inactivity risks. It employs 5 people. This means all of their reports and policies are outsourced to consultants. But who? They aren't transparent. @zaruk follows the money. thefirebreak.org/p/the-whos-att…
Stigmatizing vapers, spreading misinformation... Part 2 of @zaruk's 3-part series on the irrationality of opposition to tobacco #HarmReduction strategies looks at why regulators handcuffed themselves with policies against vaping, snus and nicotine pouches. thefirebreak.org/p/why-have-hea…
#HarmReduction health strategies save lives and show compassion and respect for patients. @zaruk tries to understand why health leaders campaign against harm reduction tools like #vaping, #snus and nicotine #pouches. Their zealot dogma is costing lives. thefirebreak.org/p/why-is-harm-…
The 2025 Firebreak Filthy Fifteen is out. In 3 parts, our writers list the 15 worst marketing fear-based scams built on relentless activist scaremongering. The first 5 look at the useless labels the consumer is ultimately paying for. @zaruk thefirebreak.org/p/the-firebrea…
In the 90s, Bennington College faced closure and had to redefine itself. It took the fiscal sponsor route, feeding off foundation funding. This tiny college became nothing more than an activist incubator with philanthropists using it to set up NGOs. @zaruk thefirebreak.org/p/beyond-benni…
The recent debate on public funding and tax-free status of universities should be more a question of how foundations and NGOs are using the academe to run campaigns. @zaruk raises many questions with one clear answer: reform of the academe is necessary. thefirebreak.org/p/beyond-benni…
Did you know #BeyondPlastics doesn't exist? It's not an NGO, no 501(c)(3), no budget and no transparency. It is fronted by #BenningtonCollege, a small Vermont liberal arts college. @zaruk shows how the academe is now in the foundation fiscal sponsor game. thefirebreak.org/p/beyond-benni…
Bias in scientific research has deeply hurt trust in expert advice. A main culprit of this deceit is the Collegium Ramazzini that influences IARC. @zaruk takes a look at how their 10 #KeyCharacteristics of carcinogens plays into their political agenda. thefirebreak.org/p/iarcs-automa…
How can IARC scientists test the 100s of thousands of chemicals affecting the millions of genetic and social variables in the exposome? By creating an automated checklist called the 10 #KeyCharacteristics of carcinogens. One problem: it's not scientific. thefirebreak.org/p/iarcs-automa…
Interesting message in @zaruk's Inbox today. The Firebreak is not attacking civil society, the media or the litigation industry. We're just demanding they play by the same rules as everyone else. We're attacking their hypocrisy. Become fully transparent and we'll be fine with you
Cancer justice vigilantes link every cancer to some chemical exposure. They created a place they call the exposome to advance this dogma, calling it preventative. @zaruk argues there are two types of prevention and prefers the quick wins of harm reduction. thefirebreak.org/p/the-exposome…
Activist scientists created a world where chemicals, ultra-processed food, microplastics, environmental exposures are lurking, waiting to strike and cause diseases. They call it the #exposome. @zaruk shows how it's just another old fear in a new bottle. thefirebreak.org/p/the-exposome…
People used to complain about industry capture of the media, but that was through advertising and we could see that. @zaruk shows how the foundation-funded activist takeover of the media is not transparent, campaign-driven, unethical and deceiving. thefirebreak.org/p/where-have-a…
The mass migration of journalists from legacy media groups sparks a question: Where are they going? @zaruk shows how foundation funds have made for great times for some old hacks Are there ethical issues about taking large payouts to shill for foundations? thefirebreak.org/p/where-have-a…
In the conclusion of the tobacco #HarmReduction series, @zaruk looks at those academics, NGOs and philanthropists directing a skeletal team in the WHO to spread misinformation and vitriol against nicotine alternatives. The @WHO badly needs reform. thefirebreak.org/p/the-whos-att…
Policymakers should embrace tobacco harm reduction ... point. It saves lives, reduces healthcare costs, reflects a compassion to the challenges smokers face... @zaruk shows how anti-tobacco activists spread misinformation to obstruct health improvements. thefirebreak.org/p/why-is-harm-…
Tobacco harm reduction alternatives respect the challenges smokers are struggling with. The WHO tells them they should just quit, spread misinformation and refuse to consider relative risks. @zaruk thinks it's time for some compassion and common sense. thefirebreak.org/p/why-is-harm-…
It’s not just the lack of solid science that pervades #WCTC2025 but an intense conviction in contrived or misleading science coupled with no grasp of trade-offs or unintended consequences arising from Mr Bloomberg’s big ideas. Some scepticism or curiosity would be a good start.
Michael Bloomberg with the Prime Minister of Ireland at the World Conference on Tobacco Control, in Dublin (the conference is largely funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies). I wish this conference had more solid science to back up the policies being proposed.
The MAHA movement has been busy erecting new institutions to transform Washington. In 3 months, we've seen the MAHA Institute, MAHA Action, MAHA Commission, MAHA Films... @zaruk looks at the motivation and the urgency to make MAHA great again. thefirebreak.org/p/the-rush-to-…
Anti-industry activist campaigns don't just happen. NGOs choose which chemical to attack according to its winnability, fear factor and funding opportunity. @zaruk compiled the 12-Point Fear and Outrage Checklist to help activists with their next campaign. thefirebreak.org/p/inside-the-p…
