One million Americans arrested this year for drug law violations

Drug users set to take action – International conference to end war on drugs

This year we have seen more than one million Americans arrested for violations of stale and immoral drug laws, three thousand Thai people murdered in a state sponsored campaign to eradicate drug use from the Thai population and the continuation of the spraying of the Columbian countryside with Roundup by Monsanto, to eradicate coca.

Just some of the human rights abuses faced by people around the world as a result of the US led war on drugs. The USA, a country that now has two million people in jail for drug law violations, continues to actively and aggressively push its war on drugs on governments worldwide.

In countries that follow America’s lead, ethnic and indigenous minorities are targeted, as well as people on low incomes, young people and other minorities, who already face intrusive monitoring and targeting by police and other state authorities.

Where is the real drug law reform? After decades of lobbying and working with government’s to effect change, and countless reports, inquiries and studies advocating the end of prohibition, it appears that those governments in bed with the US are no longer going to come to the table on this issue. Prohibition is genocide on a global scale that Adolf Hitler would be proud of.

Many communities around the world are taking action against the war on drugs. Drug users themselves have been fighting back for some time. In Darwin Australia this month, drug users and activists will gather for the 1st International Conference on Using Direct Action to End the War on Drugs.

The conference will feature direct action training, updates on the war on drugs, reports from demonstrations around the world and will be an opportunity for those opposed to this genocide to share ideas and tactics.

It is hoped that the conference will discuss an international day of direct action against the drug war on November 1, international drug users’ day. The concept of a coordinated global campaign of direct action against the drug war will also be floated.

For more info see the conference website http://www.angelfire.com/oz/syringefestival

The conference will be held from the 22nd to the 25th of September. It will be held in conjunction with the 2nd Darwin International Syringe Festival.

Conference and Festival organisers – Network Against Prohibition http://www.napnt.org

Call +61 (0)8 8942 0570 or mobile +61 (0)418 985 701 / +61 (0)415 162 525 Drop the (0) if you are ringing from outside Australia.

On America http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm

On Columbia http://www.guerrillanews.com/war_on_drugs/doc53.html

On Thailand http://web.amnesty.org/web/wire.nsf/May2003/Thailand