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Ken Livingstone Mayor of London, former MP “I think all drugs should be decriminalised and addicts could register with their GP for them so organised crime could be driven out of drugs.” Source: IRC on VirginNet, Nov 12, 1997 --------------------Hello – and here’s hoping the sun’s come out for you as well. We’ve a lot to cover in this newsletter so take your time! Its been a busy and eventful month as ever with some great results all round on the political media and international fronts….read on… and…. As always – please remember that you can do a lot more than just read this newsletter - discuss the issues on the Transform forum, help publicise Transform and the website, make a donation, read the ‘what you can do’ bit *see bottom of the news letter*, and get active! -------------------- -Please keep your comments, ideas, stories and contacts coming in. e-mail: info@tdpf.org.uk , -Forward this onto your friends; subscribers can join by visiting: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Contact.htm -All previous newsletters are viewable on our website should you have missed them or only just signed up: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Newsletter.htm -Make a donation – as ever we need financial support to maintain the organisation…set up a regular donation online here: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/index_online_giving_links.htm Thanks for reading! Until next month, Fran Kellett ----1. UK NEWS----- *Joseph Rowntree Foundation report on injecting rooms * Give them all the crack they want *Comedian Ben Elton calls for legalisation *Tackling Drugs Day * Tobacco pack warning consultation launched *Storm in a pint glass *UK Links
---- 2. INTERNATIONAL NEWS ---- *Transnational Institute report on HIV/AIDS in Myanmar/Burma *US alarm at Mexico's decision to legalise heroin and cocaine *Colombia’s lost war against cocaine * China's drug lesson for the world *International Links & Books
----3. WHAT TRANSFORM HAS BEEN UP TO----- *Vancouver conference report *Publicity *Prohibition is the problem - Find out who’s part of the solution *Publications *Funding *STOP PRESS! Transform blog
---- 4. WHAT YOU CAN DO ---- *Write to your MP if you have one – or visit them! *Get active online *Help with our fundraising! *Work for Transform! Job vacancy *Volunteer for Transform: Trustee Treasurer vacancy
----1. UK NEWS----- ** Joseph Rowntree Foundation report on injecting rooms “Drug Consumption Rooms (DCRs) are places where dependent drug users are allowed to bring their illegally obtained drugs and take them in supervised, hygienic conditions. There are approximately 65 DCRs in operation in eight countries around the world but there are none in the UK. The Independent Working Group (IWG) on Drug Consumption Rooms was set up to address the question of whether DCRs would have a significant impact on drug-related problems in the UK and whether they should be trialled in this country. Over a 20-month period, the IWG reviewed the growing body of evidence, commissioned research where there were significant gaps, visited DCRs abroad and heard from relevant witnesses. The IWG has concluded that DCRs are a rational and overdue extension to the harm reduction policy that has produced substantial individual and public benefits in the UK over the last two decades. DCRs offer a unique and promising way to work with the most problematic users, in order to reduce the risk of overdose, improve their health and lessen the damage and costs to society. The IWG therefore recommends that pilot DCRs are set up and evaluated in the UK”. Transform did 8 radio and television appearances discussing this story, including BBC News24 and Radio 5 Live Drive Time with Nicky Campbell (2 million listeners!). An mp3 of this show will be posted on the website this month. To read the full report visit: http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/ebooks/DCR-Summary.pdf Read what the BBC had to say: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5007032.stm Journalist Johann Hari (often of the Independent) also wrote on the subject: http://www.johannhari.com/archive/article.php?id=882 -------------------- ** Give them all the crack they want “ Millions of pounds may be spent on policing the drugs industry from the poppy fields of Pashtun farmers to Old Compton Street, but I could still wander out of my front door right now and score within minutes. All right, it would probably turn out to be talcum powder. I could probably sue under the Trade Descriptions Act, but still, right here in Soho, in the heart of London, where the electronic surveillance systems are among the most sophisticated in Britain, an illegal trade thrives — and with it, crime.” Rachel Campbell-Johnston in the Times, May 29 Read on: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,20911-2201188.html ------------------- **Ben Elton calls for legalisation Ben Elton recently addressed the Scottish Parliament and called for legalisation. Great that he’s taken up the baton again, even better that he’s going to the Scottish parliament! Taken from BBC News online. Read more here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/5032634.stm -------------------- ** Tackling Drugs Day The government’s Tackling Drugs Day was on the 23 rd May, and in case you missed it (it seems like the entire media couldn’t be bothered with this bit of propaganda), Transform prepared a press release. To read it visit: http://tinyurl.com/r6lox -------------------- * Tobacco pack warning consultation and website launchedPicture health warnings on tobacco products are the subject of a public consultation and website launched today by the Department of Health. The consultation welcomes people’s views on the Government’s proposal to put images of smoking related diseases on the packaging of tobacco products packaging by autumn 2007. They already do this in a number of European countries and Canada. Department of Health website 27 th May For more visit: http://tinyurl.com/omgc4-------------------- **Storm in a pint glass Has the predicted chaos ensued since the extension of pub opening hours? “ West Yorkshire police says "it has definitely not seen a massive increase in incidents", Northumbria has experienced much the same, while at Merseyside Police some officers believe alcohol-related crime may have gone down”. By Finlo Rohrer For the full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/5007610.stm -------------------- ---USEFUL UK LINKS--&--UPCOMING EVENTS-- *Links: http://forum.tdpf.org.uk/forum/ - Discuss the latest news stories on the Transform discussion forum www.politics.co.uk - a new site for us. It’s “a unique online resource about UK politics. It provides in-depth coverage of political developments and useful political information”. They also have an issue of the day. http://www.dailydose.net - excellent daily/weekly round up of news (free subscription), links and peerless searchable UK drug news archive.
---- 2. INTERNATIONAL NEWS ---- ** Transnational Institute report on HIV/AIDS in Myanmar/Burma The increasing number of injecting drug users (IDUs) and the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Burma presents one of the most serious health threats to the population in the country, and also to the region at large. Infection rates among IDUs in Burma are among the highest in the world. “Funding for Aids programmes should be exempted from a boycott as, whatever political side one is on, it is the population that is ultimately affected. And the Aids epidemic is not limited by time or geography and will intensify problems for any future regime and possibly neighbouring countries… Increased aid, de-politicisation and acknowledgement of the epidemic by all players are essential for further prevention.” TNI consistently produces what are, in Transform’s reasonable well informed opinion, the best reports on international drug issues. Take some time to check them out. For the full report see: http://www.tni.org/policybriefings/brief17.pdf -------------------- ** US alarm at Mexico's decision to legalise heroin and cocaine
Mexico was set to become one of the first countries in the world to legalise the possession of drugs ranging from heroin and cocaine to cannabis and LSD. In a remarkable bill that has horrified the United States, Mexico was to allow 'addicts and consumers' to carry specified amounts of the drugs for personal use. Unfortunately the US got wind of it and sent in the diplomatic heavies to threaten and cajole Mexico into backing down. Which they did. On the one hand a depressing end to the story, on the other hand – at least it shows that active reform is on the table the world over. The US bullying tactics are not sustainable for ever….watch this space. The Guardian Jo Tuckman in Mexico City For the full story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1764789,00.html and with a bit more depth as to what it really means: *Mexico Moves to Decriminalize Drug Possession -- No, Wait, Nevermindhttp://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/434/nomexico.shtml and Transform being name checked by a ‘Times’ journalist: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n584/a01.html “According to Transform, a drug policy foundation, we spend four times more on problematic drug users than on problematic alcohol and tobacco users”.
------------- ** Colombia’s lost war against cocaine “The farmers make a lot more from coca than pineapples or bananas but their profits are miniscule compared to those earned along the winding smuggler's route that finally ends in Europe or the US”. BBC News 23rd May ‘From our own correspondent’ by Matt FreiRead on: http://tinyurl.com/qu8th -------------------- ** China's drug lesson for the world “We either do what Mao did - allow our governments to be simply totalitarian on this issue and implement a scorched earth policy - or we legalize opium and other drugs to break the back of the underworld trade. We then deal with addiction by educational and medical means. It is the present and almost universal in between that is so unsatisfactory and so dangerous.” The Transnational Foundation for Peace & Research Jonathan Powell May 5th 06 For the full story: http://www.transnational.org/forum/power/2006/06.16_China_drugs.html -------------------- ** INTERNATIONAL LINKS & BOOKS --Keeping the Door Open (KDO), http://www.keepingthedooropen.com/ A brilliant Canadian drug law reform organisation who’s mission is: “ In KDO’s shared vision of the future, problematic substance use is understood to be a complex social, cultural, health, and economic issue. Substance users are effectively engaged in systems of care, and live harmoniously within inclusive communities, and are given the opportunity to live healthy and dignified lives.” --ENCOD The European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies, is a pan-European network of currently 120 NGO's and individual experts involved in the drug issue on a daily base. They produce monthly bulletins and their latest can be viewed here: http://www.encod.org/BULLETIN17.pdf This one focuses on Drug Policy in Europe. --TNI the Transnational Institute “ was founded in 1974 as a worldwide fellowship of committed scholar-activists. It was one of the first research institutes established to be transnational in name, composition, orientation and focus”. They have a drugs section – for further info visit: www.tni.org ----3. WHAT TRANSFORM HAS BEEN UP TO----- **THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HARM REDUCTIONHeld in Vancouver, Canada 1st two weeks of May 06. Danny Kushlick writes a brief resume of his highlights : “Stephen Lewis is the Canadian envoy to the UN on HIV/AIDS. He gave the best speech I have ever heard, focusing on the ‘tension’ between criminalisation and harm reduction. I went as part of a delegation to meet with the Mayor of Vancouver to extol the virtues of legalisation, regulation and control. Keeping the Door Open KDO http://www.keepingthedooropen.com/ hosted a series of ‘dialogues’ on drugs at one of which I spoke alongside Gustavo de Grieff, the former Attorney General of Colombia. The inaugural planning day for the international coalition of drug policy reform NGOs also took place. Hosted by KDO and facilitated brilliantly, the event went really well. We now have a team of some of the best drug policy minds on earth working towards a shared vision. This day grew out of a meeting that I convened in LA last year. A steering group was set up and we will be talking regularly to build a sound organisational basis for co-ordinated campaigning globally”. LINKS on the above: -STEPHEN LEWIS Stephen Lewis has been nominated for a Nobel peace prize. For more information on him and his nomination see the following: www.stephenlewisfoundation.org http://www.uswa.ca/program/content/3342.php -VANCOUVER PREVENTION DOCUMENT – best city wide drug policy on the planet This report, the drugs prevention strategy for the city of Vancouver, Canada, contains calls for regulated drug markets based around a public health model of drug control. It is significant in that it is an official municipal drug strategy. It also cites the Transform report. Well worth a look, particularly for those working in Uk local government drug policy. View the pdf document here: http://tinyurl.com/l899f -GUSTAVO DE GRIEFF Currently an investigator with the Colegio de México, the former attorney general of Colombia explained (in an interview with the daily Por Esto!) that while he did that job he realized the futility of the drug war: "The police arrested the drug traffickers, dismembered cartels, confiscated property, destroyed laboratories, intercepted drug shipments and, in spite of all that, nothing happened in the general panorama of the drug fight, because it kept coming to the consumer markets, among those, the most important, in the United States. The business is so profitable that if you disintegrate one cartel, other narco-traffickers take its place in the market." For more on Gustavo read on: http://www.leap.cc/who/conversation_gustavo.htm -INTERNATIONAL COALITION For further info on the international coalition of drug policy reformers:http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/435/2020group.shtml As Danny Kushlick of the British reform group Transform related, the year when he was in conversation with a UN official and asked him when drugs would be legalized. "Never," the official responded. "Well, what about by 2020?" Kushlick asked. "Oh, before that," the official replied, "maybe by 2015." * PUBLICITY **Transform was busily being interviewed as the JRF Injecting rooms report was released and could be seen and heard in the following places: 22/23 rd May: -It was the ‘debate of the day’ on politics.co.uk: http://tinyurl.com/l8ccp -Radio 5 Drivetime interviewed Steve re: JRF & Injecting rooms -BBC News 24 interviewed Steve re: JRF & Injecting rooms -Sky News Radio interviewed Steve re: JRF & Injecting rooms -Club Asia Radio r interviewed Steve e: JRF & Injecting rooms -Radio 5 Live interviewed Steve re: JRF & Injecting rooms -BBC Radio Wales interviewed Steve re: JRF & Injecting rooms and at other points in May Transform were found here: -Sky News Radio re: the government’s Tackling Drugs Day -Mail on Sunday (night and day magazine) re: emotive issues-------------------- **FIND OUT WHO’S PART OF THE SOLUTION: Transform has launched an archive of quotes – supportive of drug law reform - collected over a number of years, from politicians, opinion formers, criminal justice, celebrities, the non-governmental sector & religious leaders. Read the impressive list(s) here: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/MediaNews_Reform_supporters.htm Any suggested additions? Send them, with references please, to steve@tdpf.org.uk -------------------- **PUBLICATIONS: Our most recent publications: *AFTER THE WAR ON DRUGS OPTIONS FOR CONTROL The updated version has finally arrived back from the printers. Please get in touch if you would like a hard copy, otherwise download a pdf version from the front page of our website: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Policy_General_AftertheWaronDrugsReport.htm *PUBLICITY LEAFLET “Illegal Drugs.” Copies are available in print – get in touch if you would like one, or even a whole bunch of them. You can download a pdf version from here: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Parliament_WhatYouCanDo.htm#leaflet *ANNUAL REPORT A pdf version is available here, and get in touch if you’d like a copy all your own : http://www.tdpf.org.uk/AboutUs_AnnualReport.htm . -------------------- **FUNDING As ever our funding needs remain pressing…. ideas, contacts and suggestions are always welcome, and PLEASE - if you haven’t already - sign up online to make a regular donation, however small, to the organisation. It can really make a difference. http://www.tdpf.org.uk/support_Transform.htm Our secure online donation page administered by the Charities Aid Foundation. Donations can be one off or regular, large or small. Please give generously - we need your support. (Transform relies solely on donations from individuals and charitable trusts to maintain its work) We can also accept ‘Give as you earn’ payroll donations: visit your payroll office to pick up a donor instruction form and visit the CAF website. Our registration number is: 000476760. --------------------*STOP PRESS! Transform blog Transform have a new volunteer who is in the process of setting up a blog. This should be up and running next month, so watch this space!
---- 4.WHAT YOU CAN DO ---- **GET TO WORK ON YOUR MP. If you haven’t done this yet – Get on with it! You pay their wages to represent your views. Write to them, email them, pay them a visit. Its easy and effective campaigning….. **FIND OUT HOW YOUR MP VOTES Every week, a dozen or so times, your MP votes in the UK Parliament. This is their definitive exercise of power. The Public Whip extracts their voting record from the pages of the Parliamentary transcript so that you can see it and hold them to account. Start off by writing to your MP/councillor and ask them their views on the current drug policy. Ask their opinion on the ‘War on Drugs’, the fact that it isn’t working and what they think should be done. They have a duty to reply, and then you can begin a dialogue. Remember always to be polite however much you may disagree with them! Book a visit to their surgery - you can meet with them and discuss any issue that you fancy. Its really easy! One of our volunteers visited his MP, who just happened to be Charles Clarke – the (former) Home Secretary! The meeting was very positive, and various Transform materials were passed on. Transform provided a detailed briefing and training before the visit. Call us for help. Do you know who your MP is?! They may have changed since the election. Find out here: http://www.locata.co.uk/commons Transform representatives regularly visit their MPs, and with our help have had very productive discussions. Its one of the most effective and easiest things you can do. Transform supporters have even had meetings with ministers including the Home Secretary. **MEDIA Try writing/e-mailing your local paper or a national paper. Look out for drug related stories in newspapers (and other publications) and respond in the letters pages. You could perhaps write to individual journalists. Your letters don’t all have to be critical - we regularly send letters saying “congratulations on your recent article. Here is some information we thought you might be interested in”. Its not often journalists get praise! -------------------- **ONLINE ACTIVISM The internet gives you the opportunity to engage the drug law reform debate as never before. There are literally thousands of online forums, discussion groups, and media feedback opportunities where you can get involved and inject a little common sense into the debate. MPs websites: A number of MPs now have fairly fancy websites where you can post comments or discuss issues on forums. Check Vernon Coaker (the new Drugs Minister)’s website: http://www.vernon-coaker-mp.co.uk/ and ‘They work for you’s web page on him: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/vernon_coaker/gedling Paul Flynn MP for Newport, is a staunch Transform supporter – visit his site here: and ‘They work for you’s web page on him: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/paul_flynn/newport_west He’s just publicly called for the legalisation of cannabis for medicinal use. Read on for the full story: http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/news/0,,1782179,00.html *A new discussion forum has popped up on the Government drugs site – no one’s really used it yet so maybe it needs some Transform supporters to help liven it up a bit. Have a go – and let us know what response you get… http://www.drugs.gov.uk/talking-shop/forum/?forum=160008 The most recent post is in regards to the JRF Injecting rooms report. *Try some other unlikely places…… The Daily Mail for example; a long time bastion of reactionary Drug War thinking has recently begun to open up to more progressive policy ideas. Whether you like the paper or not, the fact remains that it is highly influential in Whitehall and read by millions of floating voters. Many news stories and opinion pieces offer an opportunity to add comments at the end – so if you see a drug story that you think doesn’t tell the whole story – let them know! *THEY WORK FOR YOU: A brilliant independent website doing what Hansard should be doing – ie providing easy access to parliamentary debate and publications. You can post commentaries next to MPs comments in the house. Searchable by MP or by key words you can add your own comments to any comment made by anyone in the house. There are frequent debates on drug issues (you can set up an email alert on any individual or key word) so do a search, find some incoherent warblings from some misinformed MP - and set them straight! *For more help with raising awareness through the media see below and the ‘What you can do page’ on the TDPF site here; http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Parliament_WhatYouCanDo.htm For further advice please call the Transform office on 0117 941 5810. Send in your media tips, suggestions for web activism warnings, successes and failures - we’ll include them here. -------------------- **Work for Transform! Job vacancy Our Office Manager is leaving. If you fancy working in a small dedicated team – visit here for further information: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/AboutUs_JobVacancies.htm (NB this is currently Bristol based) *Volunteer for Transform: Trustee Treasurer vacancy How’s your financial knowledge? If its good enough to prepare cash flow forecasts and understand end of year reports and you’ve got some time to spare – becoming Transform’s treasurer might be for you. The board meetings are held every 2-3 months, in Bristol and there will be a few hours outside of this required. If you’re interested, please get in touch for more detail: info@tdpf.org.uk or 0117 941 5810 -------------------- Please pass this newsletter onto your friends - subscribers can join by visiting: http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Contact.htm For other ideas and more details on what you can do see : http://www.tdpf.org.uk/Parliament_WhatYouCanDo.htm For more information and analysis: www.tdpf.org.uk Transform Drug Policy Foundation is a registered charity no: 1100518 The organisations, agencies, and information linked from www.tdpf.org.uk represent a variety of viewpoints from across the drug policy field. Transform is not responsible for the contents of sites linked on this newsletter, and does not automatically endorse linked information. Any suggested additions or corrections please email info@tdpf.org.uk If you have received this mail in error, or if would like to unsubscribe from the list, just click reply/e-mail info@tdpf.org.uk with ‘unsubscribe me‘ as the subject. Fran Kellett email: fran@tdpf.org.uk This document accompanying this transmission may contain confidential information, which may be legally privileged. This information is intended for the use of the named individual. You are notified that any disclosure, copying and distribution is prohibited. If you receive this message in error please delete it.
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