Author Archive | salviad

Jimmy Carter promised to end prohibition in the 1970’s, will Obama be forced to deliver now that Washington State and Colorado have legalized?

By on November 19, 2012 in News 1

via chycho

Below you will find a brief summary of where we stand regarding America’s War on Drugs:

  1. The Carter and Reagan Years

  2. Some Astonishing Statistics

  3. Obama and the Hypocrisy

  4. Washington and Colorado Legalize

  5. Our Present Predicament

  6. How to End Prohibition

I. The Carter and Reagan Years

“In 1973 Oregon became the first state to modify its law and decriminalize marijuana use, which meant possession became a civil offense punishable by a fine. A key reason for this legislative change was pressure exerted by the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws (NORML), a private citizens group founded in 1971 that believed drug laws were unfair to recreational users. The American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Bar Association (ABA) also supported marijuana law reform – the AMA came out in favor of dropping penalties for possession of insignificant amounts of marijuana in 1972, while the ABA recommended decriminalization in 1973.”

“Ten other states followed Oregon in decriminalizing marijuana and it appeared the nation was well on its way toward a federal policy of less stringent marijuana regulation.

… Read the rest

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What to Expect from the Obama Administration for the Next Four Years: Synopses from Tariq Ali, Gore Vidal, Noam Chomsky, Chris Hedges, and Ralph Nader

By on November 14, 2012 in News 2

via chycho

We are already familiar with Obama’s policies from the last four years, so we should not expect much to change now that he has retained his title as the President of the United States of America. No matter the opinion on his domestic policy both in praise and in criticism, most would agree that his foreign policy has been a dismal failure. Hence, in the grand scheme of things his administration gets a failing grade, especially considering that foreign and domestic policy have become indivisible.

Tariq Ali: Obama’s Expansion of Af-Pak War “Has Blown Up in His Face”

Below you will find four interviews conducted by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now! The first is a 2008 interview with Gore Vidal about where we’ve come from – up to and including the Bush years. The second, third, and forth are 2012 interviews with Noam Chomsky, Chris Hedges, and Ralph Nader, respectively, summarizing Obama’s first term and giving us a glimpse of what to expect for the next four years.… Read the rest

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Washington State and Colorado Join the Fray: Cannabis Legalized

By on November 7, 2012 in News 11

via chycho

The big news from last night is not that the lesser of two evils won the US presidential elections, but that “Washington and Colorado voters legalized recreational use of marijuana.”

“’It’s very monumental,’ said Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, a Washington-based group that advocates legalization. ‘No state has ever done this. Technically, marijuana isn’t even legal in Amsterdam.’”

Under the measures, “personal possession of up to an ounce (28.5 grams) of marijuana would be legal for anyone at least 21 years of age. They also will permit cannabis to be legally sold and taxed at state-licensed stores in a system modeled after a regime many states have in place for alcohol sales.”

In addition, the cultivation of up to six plants for personal use will be legal in Colorado while still remaining illegal in Washington State.… Read the rest

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Commodification of Water, the Quintessential Issue of Our Time

By on November 2, 2012 in News 15

via chycho

Commoditization of the commons is the most important issue of our time, the most vital aspect of which is the commodification of water, usable water (pdf) to be more precise. As Global Water Corporation, a Canadian water privatization company has stated (pdf):

“Water has moved from being an endless commodity that may be taken for granted to a rationed necessity that may be taken by force.”

Strong words indeed for an important issue. Gavin Power, the deputy director of the United Nations Global Compact, reiterated this message when he made the following statement after receiving support from some of the largest corporations in the world in an effort “to help [sic] solve the global water crisis”:

“The scale of the water problem is so big that governments can’t solve it alone. They need the help of the private sector.”

Privatization of water, however, has some serious adversaries.… Read the rest

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Precedent Set: $5 a Gallon Gasoline Leads to Easing of Environmental Regulations for Refineries in California

By on October 27, 2012 in News 5

via chycho

“Gasoline closing in on a record $5 a gallon prompted Governor Jerry Brown to direct California regulators to relax smog controls so oil refineries could increase supplies of cheaper fuel… [granting] refineries permission to make an early shift to winter-blend gasoline, typically not sold until after Oct. 31.”

Some have cited problems at refineries for the spike in fuel costs, some have put the blame on a short squeeze, some have suggested that policies and regulations that “insist refiners produce a specific blend of gas to meet tough state air quality standards” are the culprit, while others have been warning us for years of pending higher fuel costs due to peak oil.

Speculation, however, as to the causes of the price spike are a moot point. What matters is the admission by our representatives in government that our current economic system cannot support high oil prices, and that the environment and our health will be sacrificed to keep the machine churning.

… Read the rest

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The Solution to our Environmental Woes is to End Prohibition

By on October 12, 2009 in News 1

via chycho

The best solution to our environmental problems is to end prohibition. There is no other viable option short of the immediate end to military conflict that will have the same positive impact on the ecosystem. Our first step towards a sustainable existence should begin with cannabis. Its assimilation into our civilization is the safest, simplest, most efficient immediate solution that we can implement in time to prevent an ecological catastrophe.

Cannabis is a plant, and its use is as old as civilization itself. It has thousands of immediate and potential applications. Its cultivation rejuvenates the soil, it can replace wood products, it’s medicinal, and it can be used as building material, textiles, paint, plastic, fuel, paper, food and body care. It is one of the most important bounties of nature. It’s a plant that we were meant to use.

So what’s the hold up? The short answer is America’s “War on Drugs”.

… Read the rest

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In Reaction to Marc Emery’s Extradition

By on October 5, 2009 in News 0

via chycho

Civilizations are remembered based on how they treat the most vulnerable in their society, and based on our performance so far, history will not have a favorable record of us, if any.

We have allowed greed, ignorance and apathy to victimize our children, to discard our elders, to brutalize our delinquents, and to dehumanize our invalid. Fear has consumed our collective. Its toxicity has rotted our humanity, which is why compassion seems to have vanished from our vocabulary.

… Read the rest

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What Happens in Society when Personal Data Becomes Readily Available

By on October 2, 2009 in News 1

via chycho

I came across the following post on AskReddit that I wanted to share since it has been one of the main themes on this site.

It is from an individual asking a question from the community regarding the ethical and legal nature of his or her actions. It is a perfect example of what happens in society when personal data becomes readily available.

I have also included four replies from other users to the question. There were over eleven hundred replies, and I chose the ones that I agreed with. There are other points of view.

As for my personal take on this issue, I believe the person is a piece of shit, and as one of the comments pointed out, nothing more than a kapo.

… Read the rest

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Do You Want to Know Why Iran has a Nuclear Program?

By on September 26, 2009 in News 0

By chycho:

I had an American friend tell me that she was fascinated with Iran, and wanted to know my opinion regarding Iran’s nuclear program, especially since a so-called new plant was just announced, or “revealed”, depending on your perspective and source of information.

Below you will find my reply to her question, and a re-post of the first article. Please note that these articles were written over the last few years so there is some repetition between them. Facts do not disappear over time, so I believe it’s always a good idea to repeat some of the important points.

Just to make sure that the most recent US accusations at the UN regarding Iran’s nuclear program are put into context, it’s important to know that CNN has revealed that “The United States was aware of Iran’s unfinished uranium enrichment site for several years.”

My email reply, links to previous posts, and a re-post of the first article follow:

GO TO FULL STORY… Read the rest

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