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Ferre
Cannabis Sacrament Minister.
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
Posts: 7295
Location: Amsterdam
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 Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 7:17 am Post subject: DE COSTA at the CND |
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UNODC Director Costa lodges 'an appeal with the pro-druglobby'
This is the text of his speech at the past convention...
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"Before reporting on the progress generated by the 1998 UN Special Session,
let me lodge an appeal with the pro-drug lobby, so persistently opposed to
the United Nations drug conventions.
Although we may construct arguments based on the merits of individual
freedoms, including the freedom to harm oneself, I believe the pro-drug
lobbys line of reasoning depends on a false dichotomy between drug control
and crime-control; namely, on the argument that drugs are a matter of
choice, and that the legalization of drugs would curb organized crime.
I do not believe that drug policy has to choose between :
* either protecting the health, through drug control;
* or ensuring law-and-order, by liberalizing drugs.
Democratic governments can, and must ensure both: health as well as
security.
Indeed, there is a growing international consensus that supports this
view: (i) In the past couple of years, countries where drug policies have
been relatively permissive have been rethinking these attitudes[km1], as
larger threats emerge; (ii) Conversely, countries that have previously
focused on measures specifically designed to control supply now also
recognize the merits of prevention, treatment, and care of addicts.
This stronger consensus in support of the United Nations Conventions
facilitates the work of my Office, whose mandate, and aspiration, is to
act as the counter-narcotics conscience of the world.
[km1] The word LAX has offensive connotations in English it not only
means permissive but ascribes blame for permissiveness - LAX implies that
the authors of lax policies or attitudes are sloppy thinkers, lazy, and in
some cases, morally reprehensible. If you just say attitudes, the
adjective PERMISSIVE used earlier in the sentence will still be perceived
as the modifier for ATTITUDES...
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Our brother Paul von Hartmann was at the scene and I want to share the email with his comments on this speech that I just received...
| Quote: |
> "Before reporting on the progress generated by the 1998 UN Special
> Session,
> let me lodge an appeal with the pro-drug lobby, so persistently opposed to
> the United Nations drug conventions.
======================================
P.E.A.C.E. Comment:
Project P.E.A.C.E. is opposed to the harm done by the conventions. The predictable effect of prohibition has always been consistent: increasing violence, an opulent black market, uncontrollable, increasingly poisonous substances on the street, the loss of civil liberties, the rise of punishment economics, police and political corruption. The worst thing about Cannabis prohibition isn't all of that, it's the starvation, the illness, and the environmental devastation prohibition causes.
Shame on Mr. Costa for neglecting the responsibility of his office in failing to recognize the true value of the Cannabis plant. Why is the UN/FAO not planting Cannabis for food this spring? What possible reason could ther ebe to let millions of people go without the healing proteins and essential fatty acids unique to the hemp seed.
===============================================
>
> Although we may construct arguments based on the merits of individual
> freedoms,
===============================================
Yes, like the freedom to eat the world's most healthful food, most effective herbal therapeutic for illnesses, the most abundant source of organic, renewable energy, and much, much more...
===============================================
including the freedom to harm oneself,
================================================
Responsible use of "every herb bearing seed" is an inalienable right, the first instruction given by "God" in the Bible, so important S/He said it twice on the first page. But even so, including the right to harm oneself, because in a free society, there is no way to stop someone from harming themselves, if that's what they're determined to do. All we can do is make better choices readily available. And we're not doing that now, mainly because we can't afford to.
============
I believe the pro-drug
> lobbys line of reasoning depends on a false dichotomy between drug
> control
> and crime-control;
=======================
Mr. Costa's idea of drug control is a run-away black market, and terrorists funded by the economic effect of prohibtion.
=========================================
namely, on the argument that drugs are a matter of
> choice,
========================================
Most things in life are a matter of choice. But people's quality of life is one of the most broadly compelling, primary determining factors in people's choices of whether to use hard drugs or not.
========================================
>and that the legalization of drugs would curb organized crime.
========================================
Of course it would. To suggest it isn't, cannot even be considered a serious arguement.
========================================
>
> I do not believe that drug policy has to choose between :
>
> * either protecting the health, through drug control;
=============================================
Drug chaos reigns. Corruption is common. To pretend otherwise has not been believable for quite some time. Such a waste of tax dollars at this time in history is immoral, and maximally counter-productive.
==============================================
> * or ensuring law-and-order, by liberalizing drugs.
================================================
Liberalizing drugs has little to do with freedom to farm. Cannabis is the most valueable agricultural resource on Earth. Once Mr. Costa understands that, only then he will be qualified for his position.
==============================================
>
> Democratic governments can, and must ensure both: health as well as
> security.
===============================================
I agree. Prohibition threatens both. Freedom to farm ensures both. There is nothing more fundamentally destabilizing than food insecurity.
===============================================
>
> Indeed, there is a growing international consensus that supports this
> view: (i) In the past couple of years, countries where drug policies have
> been relatively permissive have been rethinking these attitudes[km1], as
> larger threats emerge;
==============================================
The science supports needle exchange and Cannabis availability. The nutritional science supports freedom top farm.
==============================================
(ii) Conversely, countries that have previously
> focused on measures specifically designed to control supply now also
> recognize the merits of prevention, treatment, and care of addicts.
>
> This stronger consensus in support of the United Nations Conventions
> facilitates the work of my Office, whose mandate, and aspiration, is to
> act as the counter-narcotics conscience of the world.
============================================
Nice fantasy, but in reality, the world does not respond to a conscience, other than in making
"forbidden fruit" more expensive and profitable.
============================================
>
> [km1] The word LAX has offensive connotations in English it not only
> means permissive but ascribes blame for permissiveness - LAX implies that
> the authors of lax policies or attitudes are sloppy thinkers, lazy, and in
> some cases, morally reprehensible.
============================================
That about covers it, except you forgot "grossly negligent," which in fact you have also been in
failing to plant the world's most useful sustainable, organic crop.
==============================================
If you just say attitudes, the
> adjective PERMISSIVE used earlier in the sentence will still be perceived
> as the modifier for ATTITUDES...
>
===============================================
Attitude doesn't matter. What matters is substance, and the true value of the resources we have to
work with if we are to avoid synergistic collapse of the Natural Order.
Paul von Hartmann
Project P.E.A.C.E.
Planet Ecology Advancing Conscious Economics
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That sums it up very well. Thanks brother Paul.
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Fyrefly1
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 07 Sep 2004
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 7:50 am Post subject: |
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Indeed, a great response to the speech!
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Fyrefly1
"All truth passes through three stages: first it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident."
Arthur Schopenhauer, 19th Century Philosopher |
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entropical
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Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 95
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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Well yes, that is the issue basically - drug control does not control drugs but focus controlling people using them. These policies have not been shown to benefit the health of users - on the contrary, the opposite is the rule. The consensus Costa is talking about may well exist in pre-arranged and designed public UN meetings. On the streets all over the world a different kind of consensus is rising - namely, that the war on drugs has failed. Those who percieve it as a success must have a different objective and a completely different goal than those they state.
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Ferre
Cannabis Sacrament Minister.
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
Posts: 7295
Location: Amsterdam
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:31 am Post subject: |
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Another excellent comment from our brother Paul, who is making a documentary at present times and is also very active for ENCOD and THC Ministry at the (global) political level.
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Friends,
When the game goes bad, you change the game. Drug War economics are obviously a losing game. This is confirmed by the illegal Supreme Court installation & subsequent phoney election that usurped control of the US White House by the military industrial chemical multinational consortium, imposing prohibition on competitive sustainable organic agricultural industries.
If people figure out what's really valuable, inclusive of "environmental externalities" that threaten our existence, then the basis of the current economic system will necessarily change. Economic inertia will then shift away from prohibition of the world's most useful plant, as it must. It may have to happen by this Spring. No one can say for sure. Dr. Helen Caldicutt has estimated that we have twenty years to save the planet, but I think she's being optimistic.
Cannabis is a critically determinate resource for achieving organic, agricultural sustainability. This is essential to regulation of the Earth's carbon cycle and stabilization of the global warming trend.
Ask the people in Madagascar who have to go further and further from home to find wood, where the soil has been washed into the sea because the trees were cut for fuel. Don't you yhink they would rather have grown hemp for fuel? Then ask why didn't they? Now ask why aren't we?
Mankind still behaves, economically, as if there is no consequence to chemically and radioactively bombarding the Natural Order. The warped values of our species reflect the toxic, unevenly distributed, finite, expensive chemicals that our money is based in. Bad choice, but we perpetuate it through prohibition.
Sustainable resources are not optional, yet prohibition treats the most critically determinate piece of a very complex puzzle as though it weren't worth anything. How ironic that the first crop cultivated by early man would be the one most criminalized by modern man.
The economics of poison and punishment have acheived predictable, inevitable, albeit temporary supremacy. In spite of obvious conclusions drawn from credible science, objective legal and sociological opinion, ancient global tradition, historically proven best sustainable agricultural practices and "self-evident" collective majority of reason, the prohibition of the world's most useful crop still stands. Harm reduction is still misrepresented by frontmen for the prison and pharmaceutical industries, and continues as an institutionally wounded policy and HIV/AIDS wins many more precious lives than it ever, ever should.
With such developments, then harm reduction has become a legal matter, for an objective court to settle. As an individual, speaking for those who cannot speak, I certainly will not be conscripted into supporting extinctionism. A sustainable carbohydrate economic dynamic is preferrable to the toxic stew people are investing their time and labor into. I will not serve that paradigm of radioactive, chemical death, led by an arrogant falsely wealthy man who cannot even properly pronounce the word "nuclear."
Attacking Nature has become a sport for American oligarchs who will drive the world into the ground to insure that their economic base is perpetuated, generation after maleable generation. I sympathize with your evident frustration, Peter. The illusionary world in which drug policy is being decided can be recognized by the effect it is having on the courage of compassionate people who are stand up to it.
Thank you and Andria and others for being on the front line to witness the turning point. That's what this must be, as it adds up more and more clearly as a direct and immediate threat to graeter and greater numbers of people. Consensus is possible for the first time in the history of our species. Our system of governance must obviously evolve in accord with our ability to communicate the truth.
Essential civilian demand, as described in Executive Order 12919, backed by non-violent civil disobedience, in the form of coordinated tax revolt and labor strikes, may be the only way to reclaim our "self-evident" freedom to farm. Civil disobedience to restructure the global economy could be the surest, most peaceful and lawful means that people have for initiating a new set of values.
A new economic paradigm must be consciously created, in coordination with a new system of governance, that places respect for the integrity of the Natural Order at its apex. The Laws that govern the seasons, the atmosphere and the ocean currents upon which our lives depend, are the practical manifestation of whichever "God" people choose to credit with devising complex synergistic systems within which we are barely managing to exist, for not much longer.
Perhaps it really is necesary for the illogic, which is causing so much illness and death, to become so pervasive that even the most adamant prohibitionist who loses a loved one to cancer or AIDS, or heart disease or diabetes, must recognize the tragic absurdity in the notion that a unique and essential healing herbal food resource could ever be within the rightful jurisdiction of any court.
PvH
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_________________
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█ Radio Free Amsterdam
People who know truth, speak truth.
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Ferre
Cannabis Sacrament Minister.
Joined: 14 Apr 2003
Posts: 7295
Location: Amsterdam
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:38 am Post subject: |
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Seems there is still a long way to go before those politicians respect democracy, I just received this email from one of the attendants for ENCOD on the congress...
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Dear Friends,
I'm scared.
The following may read stupid, particularly if you work in the trenches of the drug war, fighting for drug treatment and AIDS/Hepatis treatments to dying drug-users. It is. It may also turn out to be more dead bodies for no good reason..
This morning, the ONDCP "hangman"as described by TNI's Martin Jelsma, - Dave Murray of the ONDCP - raised the issue of the status of NGOs at a session of the ad hoc committee of the whole; that is are we there as participants or observers. After another wasted hour, this afternoon, the Nigerian chair, a playful man, in subdued voice said that "NGOs with ECOSOC status could watch from the back unless one nation State objected" Murray looks over at us and intimates to the chair: "if there are rules on this, I do not have to make a direct rejection statement." A Dutch govt. delegate raised a point of order but in fact she said that the secretariat had confirmed that we do not have observer status in that meeting."
Most of the nation states delegates there were in support of us staying, who spoke (five) but Murray and his blonde female sidekick, clearly had a problem with us being there and did what U.S. government folk are becoming world-famous for doing - bullying the least powerful. We left with rage and dignity.
The issues in question there are of paramount importance to the health and security of injection drugs-users and their significant others, but as the last 25 yrs of history has showed us, not to U.S. govt. officials, whose obssession remains with whether we are drug dependent, or not. Many of you will not need to be reminded of what the outcomes of their policies are...shamefully, of one of the most affluent nations of the world, they have 25% of IDUs infected with HIV disease. Their prisons fill up with other non-violent prisoners and many of them are used as cheap labour for the major multi-nationals. Some say it's a deliberate strategy that keeps this population disenfranchised and in the end under somebody's control.
If Gary Webb, writer of "Dark Alliance" had not exposed the complicity of CIA agents in the distribution of cocaine and heroin around the planet, I might be able to bear it.
As it is, I cannot. WHY do we let ourselves be so easily bullied?
Andria Efthimiou-Mordaunt
www.usersvoice.org.uk
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Mystic Power
admin THC-Ministry YahooGroup
Joined: 23 Aug 2004
Posts: 3605
Location: Key West
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 3:00 am Post subject: |
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| Some say it's a deliberate strategy that keeps this population disenfranchised and in the end under somebody's control. |
Yep....and I'm one of the one's saying it.
Bliss on,
Ben
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"In Lak'ech"
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Torkel
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 1396
Location: West Virginia, USA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Some say it's a deliberate strategy that keeps this population disenfranchised and in the end under somebody's control. |
Yea, and I'm one of the ones they tried to disenfranchise & control. 
Fuck the usa government and their bullying/scare tactics...I again say loudly--fuck the usa government and anyone who sympathises with their agenda. 
Peace,
Torkel
_________________
Miller vs U.S. (230 F 2nd 486,489): "The claim and exercise of a Constitutional right cannot be converted into a crime."
Miranda vs Arizona (384 U.S. 436, 125): "Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule-making or legislation which would abrogate them."
HAGANS vs LAVINE (415 US 533 N-3,note 5): "Once JURISDICTION is challenged it must be proven by the Plaintiff." |
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Mystic Power
admin THC-Ministry YahooGroup
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Torkel wrote: |
Fuck the usa government and their bullying/scare tactics...I again say loudly--fuck the usa government and anyone who sympathises with their agenda.
Peace,
Torkel |
Torkel. I sense you're blocking. Tell us how you really feel. 
Bliss on...it pisses 'em off.
Ben
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Torkel
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 1396
Location: West Virginia, USA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Torkel. I sense you're blocking. Tell us how you really feel. |
Well, I am frustrated as hell with this life the way it has worked out for me & my family. 
I am angry as a motnerfunker that I can not find a job because the gov't handed me a felony for growing cannabis 
I am angry that the gov't nullified my college education by giving me an 'economic death sentence'
I am angry that my family has no health insurance
I am angry that our hypocritcal gov't has no 'real' checks and balances
I'm gonna go into the woods now and smoke what dried bud I have left and throw some rocks and holler a the top of my lungs   :
later,
Torkel
_________________
Miller vs U.S. (230 F 2nd 486,489): "The claim and exercise of a Constitutional right cannot be converted into a crime."
Miranda vs Arizona (384 U.S. 436, 125): "Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rule-making or legislation which would abrogate them."
HAGANS vs LAVINE (415 US 533 N-3,note 5): "Once JURISDICTION is challenged it must be proven by the Plaintiff." |
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Mystic Power
admin THC-Ministry YahooGroup
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Location: Key West
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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I understand.
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"In Lak'ech"
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Fyrefly1
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 07 Sep 2004
Posts: 2209
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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Know what you mean....and I feel for you brother!
After your rant, try and keep on projecting the future you want!
You know, the one that's full of all the joys and successes you've ever dreamed of, for you and your family and friends.....
Take advantage of all the help that's offered and be thankful for what you get.
It may take some time. Be patient and your life will turn out better than you imagined!
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Fyrefly1
"All truth passes through three stages: first it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident."
Arthur Schopenhauer, 19th Century Philosopher |
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Lilli
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 12 Dec 2003
Posts: 4218
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Torkel wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Torkel. I sense you're blocking. Tell us how you really feel. |
Well, I am frustrated as hell with this life the way it has worked out for me & my family.
I am angry as a motnerfunker that I can not find a job because the gov't handed me a felony for growing cannabis
I am angry that the gov't nullified my college education by giving me an 'economic death sentence'
I am angry that my family has no health insurance
I am angry that our hypocritcal gov't has no 'real' checks and balances
I'm gonna go into the woods now and smoke what dried bud I have left and throw some rocks and holler a the top of my lungs :
later,
Torkel |
Theres room at my house for you and your family. If you need it!!! I just happen to have been blessed (14 months ago) to live in a mini mansion 4 floors. 100 year old stone home ( we bought it for 100$ down)Theres jobs here in my city!! Much love.
_________________
I pass to you the torch that Christ once passed to me.
Others are still in the dark and need
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"I AM"
"Gathering the fragments so that
none are lost"
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Fyrefly1
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 07 Sep 2004
Posts: 2209
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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Yay, Lilli!
That's what being a Cannabis sacrament Minister is all about...
The heck with all the talk, here is someone who actually walks the talk!
_________________
Fyrefly1
"All truth passes through three stages: first it is ridiculed, second it is violently opposed, and third it is accepted as self-evident."
Arthur Schopenhauer, 19th Century Philosopher |
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sara
Cannabis Sacrament Minister
Joined: 29 May 2003
Posts: 448
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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sista Lilli,
your home will bring joy and blessings to all who will enter it,
Amen! 
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quietly, “he does not fall below.”
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Mystic Power
admin THC-Ministry YahooGroup
Joined: 23 Aug 2004
Posts: 3605
Location: Key West
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Fyrefly1 wrote: |
Yay, Lilli!
That's what being a Cannabis sacrament Minister is all about...
The heck with all the talk, here is someone who actually walks the talk!
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Yes! Lilli lives her truth!
| sara wrote: |
| your home will bring joy and blessings to all who will enter it. |
Amen to that, too! It's a healing sanctuary.
Bliss,
Ben
_________________
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"In Lak'ech"
~ Ancient Mayan: "I am another YOU." ~ |
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