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da Syringe
Festival 2002
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Third
Smoke-in goes off without
any Police brutality Well
the 3rd smoke-in at Raintree Park was a major success with
over 200 people showing up to be part of the days events. A special
thankyou to Santa for coming along to lend his support to NAP. Thanks
to everyone who helped out on the day, especially those involved in
catering. The free xmas lunch went down really well. Now NAP will be moving to organise the 1st
Darwin International Syringe Festival. This will be a week and a half
of activities and will include the 4th “Smoke-up for Human
Rights” being held in Raintree Park on the 10th of August. The syringe festival aims to highlight the impact
of prohibition and zero tolerance policing on the health and wellbeing
as well as being a celebration of drug culture. I hope that you will
find yourself involved in one of the many events. We must also remember the patients of Dr Pang.
Here are 40 people who currently have no access to the medical
treatment that they urgently require. NAP will be taking further action
on this issue in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can send an
email to the Health Minister, Jane Aagaard on minister.aagaard@nt.gov.au Or write to Jane Aagard, Minister for Health, Parliament House, Darwin, NT 0801 |
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Darwin Syringe Festival The Darwin
Syringe Festival Needs You
3rd
August to 14th August 2002 Brought
to you by NAP and PARIAH
http://www.napnt.org/index.htm
http://www.country-liberal-party.com/ Supported/Sponsored by: Your
agency/club/group/organization could be mentioned here. Contact us to
find out how (0415 16 2525 or email darwinsyringefestival@yahoo.com) The inaugural
“Darwin Syringe Festival” will be held in and around Darwin from the 3rd
of August until the 14th of August 2002. The syringe
festival will serve a number of purposes: ·
It will
highlight the human rights abuses faced by injecting drug users in the
Territory on a daily basis, ·
It will
increase community awareness on issues around blood borne viruses and
needle and syringe programs, ·
It will
increase community awareness of the impact of prohibition on the health
and wellbeing of drug users, ·
It will allow
for a celebration of drug culture, and ·
It will enable
people to get involved in the struggle to end the “War on Drugs” on a
number of different levels. Timetable of
Events
Saturday 3rd August 12 noon- 2pm Opening lunch - community feast The ‘treehouse’ botanical gardens, bring a plate of food to share plus your beat box Sunday 4th August 1pm-4pm Sausage sizzle Mccarthur park, Grey, Palmeston, meet NAP and the staff of the NT AIDS council Monday 5th August 5- 8pm Live and
uncensored poetry recital, open mike, Lake Alexander, East Point Tuesday to Thursday 6th to 8th August 11am- 2pm Syringe art exhibition Smith street mall Thursday 8th August 8pm-8am Pyjama party movie marathon Northern Territory University,students lounge, featuring cult classics, ‘darling it hurtz’, ‘dogs in space’ , ‘drug store cowboy’ plus more Friday 9th
August 10am-4pm Northern Territory University fair day NAP stall time and venue to be confirmed Saturday 10th
August 12 noon NAP monthly smoke up for human rightsRaintree Park. Compete in the fit Olympics,see the crowning of the needle queen plus free food, music, theatre, syringe art and 1.6 meter joint. Dress in i.v inspired costume.
NAP joins ‘jesse’s wish’, memorial service for victims of the war on drugs and talent quest @ tracy village sports club Monday 12th August 7pm Hep C public forum, Railway Club, Somerville Gdns Rd, Parap
Tuesday 13th
August 2.30-5.30pm After skool Sausage sizzle next to Casuarina Library Wednesday 14th
August 9am Closing
party; to educate at magistrates court -
support the n.a.p martyrs - dress in
i.v inspired costume.
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Darwin’s 3rd
“Smoke-Up for Human Rights” a success: on to
the “Smoke-up for Human Rights 3” has been
declared a success by event organisers. More than 200 people
participated in the event which included speakers on the drug house
laws and the lack of drug treatment options in the NT, a free Christmas
lunch, Santa and a 1.4 metre joint. Participants enjoyed a celebration type
atmosphere, toking on joints and sampling some of the hemp inspired
culinary delights on offer. NAP Coordinator Gary Meyerhoff said “the
success of the event indicates the level of dissent that there is in
the community when it comes to Labor’s zero tolerance approach to
illicit drug users.” “Many people would agree that to reduce drug
related harms we need to end the War on Drugs and do away with the
prohibition of currently illicit drugs.” “Clare Martin is showing comtempt for the
ordinary Territorian and their views.” Ms Martin used parliamentary privilege to
declare NAP an offensive organization. Mr Meyerhoff said “she doesn’t
know just how offensive we can be.” NAP members are now gearing up for the
inaugural Darwin International Syringe Festival, being held in Darwin
from the 3rd to the 14 of August. The Syringe Festival will aim to highlight
the impact of prohibition and zero tolerance policing on the health and
wellbeing of drug users and their families, whilst also acting as a
celebration of drug culture. The Festival will feature a range of events
including an opening picnic in the Botannical Gardens, a “Syringe Art”
exhibition in the Smith St Mall, Sausage sizzles, an overnight movie
marathon, Dance Party and a closing party at the Darwin Magistrates
Court. “Smoke-up for Human Rights 4”, featuring a syringe costume
competition and drug Olympics, will be held on August the 10th, 12
noon, Raintree Park and will be a culmination of the week of events
leading up to it. For further info
contact the crew on 0415 16 2525 or email darwinsyringefestival@yahoo.com NAPnote: Don’t forget that you can ring talkback radio weekday mornings on 105.7FM (ABC Darwin) on 1800 801 840 between 9.00 am and 9.40. |
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Support letters
from around the world Joycelyn Woods July 8, 2002
Chief Minister Aagaard Northern Territory Health Council Northern Territory Australia Honorable Minister Aagaard: You may recall that we at NAMA have expressed concerned this past winter regarding the treatment of opiate dependent individuals in the Northern Territory. This past week we received information that a local Health Officer Dr Shirley Hendy has prohibited Dr Henry Pang from prescribing schedule 8 drugs as of the 8th of July. NAMA is inquiring as to whether this information is true and if so what is being done to continue the treatment of those patients under Dr. Pang's care. I can only personally hope that the information I received was not complete and that efforts are being made -- as would occur here in the United States -- to ensure that each and every patient has continued access to treatment. In spite of the rumors and myths about treatment for opiate dependence in the United States and from my experience with international organizations treatment for addiction in the U.S. is far better than other countries. For example in such an instance in New York our state agency that has oversight would have staff at the physician's office to effect a transfer for every patient. I can not believe that Australia would not make the same efforts. Therefore we in the United States are asking that you ensure that all patients under the care of Dr. Pang will continue to receive treatment. Together, we can make a difference. |
To Whom It May Concern: I am
writing as an individual, not as a representative of the Australian
Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League, where I work currently in the ACT. I have followed the events leading up to the proposal of this opiate based treatment clinic in the Northern Territory. On several occasions I have been shocked by the attitudes of the politicians in power in the Northern Territory. It amazes me that for some reason people with ailments that require opiates to treat them are not given the same rights as other people with health needs. I don't understand how they could even consider closing down the only methadone clinic in the area. It's as good as saying we no longer acknowledge that you have a dependency problem, and although we've provided you with this treatment, for some people up to seven years, all of a sudden you will have to seek out other treatments. Which is all very well if there were many other options. I have recently been involved with putting together a resource which looks at treatment options for opiate dependent people. In most states and territories, you have a choice of: Maintenance treatments like: Methadone, Buprenorphine (Subutex), Naltrexone, and detoxes, residential therapeutic communities (rehab's), and other alternative treatments. As I understand it, now in the Northern Territory, you have one option: Buprenorphine detox. So, in fact there are NO maintenance treatments available at all. This is simply not acceptable, this is like saying to an asthmatic: "You can have your Ventolin to relieve your asthma when you have attacks, but I'm afraid you can no longer get the Becloforte to prevent it from occurring so frequently, so although you are a chronic asthmatic you'll just have to use your Ventolin more than you should because the government have decided they aren't going to acknowledge that asthma is a problem that requires preventing for chronic asthmatics" It's insane, they wouldn't even consider doing that, and imagine the public outcry. That's the problem with issues like opiate dependency; it's too easy for people to feel removed from it. Most people don't have regular contact with an opiate user or someone with a dependency on opiates, but almost everyone knows an asthmatic, so it's easy to feel, well I know that it's unfair, but it doesn't effect me so who cares. Through the work I'm doing on this treatment resource, I have been made aware of some of the research on the success rates of different treatments (success usually being measure by not returning to using heroin or other opiates within the first 3-6mths) and overall methadone comes out on top. Buprenorphine is relatively new in Australia, so it's hard to know exactly how it will go, but from the feedback I've received about people who have transferred off methadone onto Buprenorphine, they have experienced a variety of issues, some people have experienced feeling 'speedy' on Buprenorphine, and many have gone back onto methadone. Also, it's not recommended that you go on Buprenorphine if you suffer from a respiratory illness (eg: asthma), or if you have a liver condition such as acute hepatitis, or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. All of which are not major issues for going on methadone, in fact people are advised to go onto methadone if they fall pregnant, or are suffering from a liver condition, as it lessons the stress in comparison to using heroin (an uncontrolled substance). So, knowing what we do about the fact that Hepatitis C infection is highest in injecting drug users, it seems a bit cruel to give them one option and that that option is not suitable for a significant percentage. I feel there is no reason why, in almost all states and territories across Australia, people have several options for opiate dependence, including the most successful and popular (methadone), yet in the Northern Territory they only have one option. I haven't even touched on the fact that there are only 4 doctors who will prescribe S8 drugs, as many have had their ability to prescribe S8's taken away from them. This is yet again a huge injustice to anyone requiring S8's for any reason. Now, although it shouldn't matter as drug users have the same rights as anyone else, but there is also the fact that any older people who need morphine or any such medication for pain relief etc will now have to struggle to get in to see one of these 4 doctors, that's provided there is one of these four in their area, otherwise they would have to travel to the doctor. It's not like people will just go, "Oh well, it's all too hard I just won't bother seeking out my pain relief or my medication that helps me stay heroin free" because they don't have that choice! They can't switch it off, just as I can't switch my asthma off. So, I would like to support the proposal for an opiate treatment clinic, as I feel it's the least they should do after taking away the methadone clinic. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter of support and concern for what's happening in the Northern Territory. Regards, Skye Jewell Education
Project Worker The
Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League GPO
Box 1552, Canberra ACT 2601 Fax:
(02) 6279 1610 Ph:
(02) 6279 1606 skyej@aivl.org.au
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| NAP
in the media A busy week in the media for NAP, although we have been censored from Radio Larrakia. NAP members spoke to Fred McCue on ABC radio on Thursday and Friday mornings and we got the following article in the Sunday Territorian. SANTA GETS JOLLY OVER RIGHT TO GO UP IN SMOKE “We’ve got a Christmas in July theme in the park so I thought I would drop in and help them out,” he said. “It’s a slow time of the year for me and NAP relies on donations and volunteers so I thought I would volunteer to help the cause along.” NAP co-ordinator Gary Meyerhoff said the network had more than 600 signatures on a petition protesting the Government’s drug house legislation which was recently passed through parliament. Mr Meyerhoff reminded Territorians that yesterday’s “Smoke-up for Human Rights” was not about using drugs but a demonstration against the new laws. “The only way we’re actually going to change the drug laws is by getting out on the streets and doing events like this because we failed at all the other attempts like writing to government,” he said. “Things are getting worse for drug users and the war on drugs is raging all over the world. It’s not about us smoking dope. “When we’re talking human rights it’s not the right to smoke dope, but it’s the right not to have your house searched by police all the time and cavity searches and people look in your bank accounts. “The effects that will happen because of these laws, like searching without a warrant and declaring it a drug house and mandatory sentences for people caught in there, is only going to target specific communities.” Mr Meyerhoff said young and indigenous Territorians were already targeted by police and the Government’s new laws would make it easier for this to happen. |
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Syringe
Art – poster and sculpture competition
To participate in the syringe art festival,simply make a poster either including a syringe or drawn/painted using a syringe . Reclaim
the streets of darwin and use them as your gallery space!! to
contribute to the syringe sculpture exhibition,bring your art either
made from or containing a syringe to smith street mall Tuesday 6 august
11am where we’ll be exhibiting for 3 days.if your unable to attend,
phone 0415162525 and we’ll arrange to pick it up.. NAP fundraising party: Fundraising party and celebration at 19 Gilbert Street, Ludmilla, 7pm this Friday, then on to Throb nightclub for a night on the town. Court Dates
– Important Thursday 18th July – 9am, Darwin Magistrates Court Mention – Disrupting the legislative assembly whilst it was in motion 14th and 15th August – 10am, Darwin Magistrates Court Hearing – Causing substantial annoyance – Justice Department (This hearing will coincide with the closing party of the Darwin Syringe Festival. Come and cause substantial annoyance with us at an all day fancy dress party at the court house. Food, music, fun and justice. All welcome.) 6th and 7th November – 10am, Darwin Magistrates Court Hearing – Failing to leave government premises – Parliament house grounds Late November – date to be confirmed, Darwin Magistrates Court Hearing – Assault Police, Loitering – first
community smoke-in NAP Volunteers NAP is always on the lookout for volunteers, especially now that we have the Syringe Festival coming up. We meet every Wednesday at 7pm at the Railway club in Parap. All are welcome. We need volunteers for catering, staffing stalls, phone contacting, email contacting, postering, designing leaflets etc. To get involved, call Gary or Ema on 0415 16 2525
or email napnt@yahoo.com |
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