U.S.
According to a recent research of the Health and Human Services, since 1992, there has been a decrease in the use of illegal drugs among teen-agers. Nevertheless, among the entire population, the number of those that use hallucinogens - doubled between 1994 and 1996 - as well as the on of new consumers of heroin - 44,000 in 1992 and 141,000 in 1995 - has increased. The overall use of marijuana, heroin, tobacco and alcohol among Americans has not changed.
(INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 08/08)
CHINA
After three months of investigations in the southern province of Guandong, the police has arrested 3,801 people suspected of being drug-dealers, and has confiscated 1,000 kilos of narcotics. The anti-drugs police has also individuated 33,600 drug-addicts; 28,000 have been sent to rehabilitation centers, and 3,100 to forced labor camps.
(INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 07/08)
FRANCE
Even if the majority of the French people are against the depenalization of cannabis, the debate on hashish remains open, says L'EVENEMENT DU JEUDI.
(L'EVENEMENT DU JEUDI 13/08)
U.S.
In a study of the Johns Hopkins University is stated that MDMA (ecstasy), if taken in big quantities, as happens in discos, is a powerful neurotoxic that destroys cerebral cells that produce neurotransmitter of serotonin and provokes depression and anxiety. This is what differs ecstasy from other amphetamine derivatives that attacks the neurotransmitter of dopamin.
(EL PAIS 08/08)
SAUDI ARABIA
An Indian sentenced to death for trafficking has been decapitated in Jeddah with a scimitar. The person was accused of having smuggled an uncertain quantity of drugs into the kingdom.
(IL GIORNALE 09/08)
ITALY
Oristano, Sardinia - During a recent concert, the reggae band "Pitura Freska", after having exalted the joint, has been indicted for incitement to law disobedience.
(CORRIERE DELLA SERA, LA STAMPA 12/08)
AFGHANISTAN
In the next weeks an agreement between the UN and the Muslim movement of the Talebans could be signed for the eradication of opium crop. The deal consists of a multimillion international financing of the Afghani irrigation system, destroyed after 18 years of civil war. The Talebans should declare the production of opium a violation of the Muslim law.
(THE TIMES 11/08)
COLOMBIA
The terror atmosphere initiated by the narco-cartels continues. After, in 1993, the police killed Pablo Escobar (the king of the Medellin cartel), a series of car-bombs have exploded in the major cities provoking violent incidents all over the country. The big recession and the number of unemployed people could worsen the situation.
(INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 12/08)
U.S.
In 1996, According to a report of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, over 1,000 people without precedents, have been put in jail for drug-related crimes. Drug sentences are major the cause of the increase of prison inmates.
(FINANCIAL TIME 10/08)
THE NETHERLANDS-SURINAME
Under the request of the Dutch police, Interpol is chasing Desi Bouterse, ex military dictator. Mr. Bouterse is suspected of having been involved in an international trade of cocaine. According to "De Telegraaf" Mr. Bouterse could be indicted for smuggling drugs into Holland and for money laundering activities. Suriname refuses to consign Bouterse to the Dutch authorities.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG 07/08, SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 09/08, LE MONDE 10/08, FINANCIAL TIMES 13/08, DIE PRESSE 18/08)
USA-COLOMBIA
The United States and Colombia have decided to combine their efforts against heroin trade. The head of DEA has recently said that the two governments will establish a special team in Bogota' with American as well as Colombian experts that could rely on secret information.
(SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 07/08)
GERMANY
The Bavarian authorities of control opposes the establishment of the presidiums for drug addicts recently voted by the city council of Munich. The authority considers the bill contrasting with the federal law on narcotics. The final decision is expected in October.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG 09/08)
SWITZERLAND
Zurich - "working-bus", so are called the minibuses that every morning in four areas of the city gather drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally disturbed people enrolled in one of the 70 public or private institutions for 85 francs a day. Although the program that combines prevention, repression and solidarity, has become bigger in the last years, it fails in reaching the "core" of drug addicts.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG 09/08)
GERMANY
Those found positive in ecstasy tests will be fined, and their driving license can be revoked. With this decision XTC has been listed among prohibited substances for drivers. Fines will be between 30 and 75 German marks.
(SUDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 11/08)
SWITZERLAND
The hard repression on drugs is an effective deterrent against the use, because it raises the prices. Young users often have money problems, problems that affects small dealers as well.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 12/08)
SWITZERLAND
After 2 years of methadone 42% of the 14,000 drug addicts involved in the project are completely drug-free. Only 10% of the drug addicts can be reached and enrolled in the program thouth. Despite some interesting results also connected with repression, methadone has been considered good, but not perfect. The Liberal party, that favors methadone and the distribution of sterile syringes, opposes the project and asks for the penalization of consumption.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 13-14-18/08)
U.S.
"The New Yorker" has recently published the unpublished journals of William Burroughs. "try to imagine the banality of America without drugs" says the author, "no more stoned in the streets, only good, clean and decent Yankees similar from coast to coast... nothing will exist but homogeneity and conformity. It will be the end of individualism and character".
(CORRIERE DELLA SERA 13/08)
ITALY
The officers of the Ministry of Finance have confiscated 473 kilos of heroin or cocaine and 32 tons of hashish and marijuana, 1,186 people have been arrested 3,700 indicted.
(IL SOLE 24 ORE)
ITALY
Identkit of the new Milanese pusher: young male from Tunis, attracted to Italy by its freedom of habits. These pushers despise their fellow countrymen that sell things at traffic lights. They move very quickly and are cautious, while cutting the stuff, in keeping it not lethal. They rarely use drugs, but drink a lot and sleep where they can.
(IL SOLE 24 ORE)
AUSTRALIA
A study of the National Research Center has pointed out that among the 90% of those that smoke cannabis on a daily basis, there is a dependence similar to that of alcohol.
(IL GIORNALE 15/08)
SPAIN
On the relation between narcomafia and Era terrorist, tenant Javier Zaragoza of the spanish police has said: "it is possible that such a relation exists, the police has investigated for years" "the connection could lie in the money laundering activities".
(EL PAIS 12/08)
COLOMBIA
The chief of the police is very satisfied for the recent arrest of king of heroin Waldo Simeon Vargas, a.k.a the "Minister". Mr. Vargas is considered the boss of the Peruvian Mafia and is accused by DEA of controlling the heroin market in the region. This is the first success of the Colombian-American cooperation.
(EL PAIS 12/08)
FRANCE
In a letter to Colombian president Ernesto Samper, president Chirac has stated his support for the Colombian and Mexican proposal of a special session of the General Assembly on narcotics.
(LE FIGARO 08/08)
MEXICO
After a fight between rival drug-gangs, liaisons with the army have been discovered, provoking a loss of faith from the people in those who are supposed to fight against the trafficking. The major parties have called for a new strategy and for a change in the army.
(EL PAIS 06/08, THE ECONOMIST 15/08, INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 12/08)
U.S.
Can marijuana be considered a medicine? In a report issued by the National Institute of Health, is stated that "for some potential indications, marijuana should be studied". Cannabis effectiveness is known for its control of glaucome, against nausea for anti-cancer, as appetite stimulant for people with AIDS, as pain relief for multiple sclerosis.
(THE ECONOMIST 16/08)
GREAT BRITAIN
In the Economist an article in favor of the legalization; the arguments are in favor of a free society where none should prohibit to adults any kind of behavior that does not harm anybody. Prohibitionism has failed, while legal drugs could be safer products. The article ends urging Tony Blair in this direction, a direction that could leave his mark in British history.
(THE ECONOMIST 16/08)
MEXICO
David Carmos, an American citizen has to stay in jail 10 years for possession of drugs. The decision was taken by a Judge he never met during a trail in which he never appeared. He appealed to the American Embassy, but in these days the American and the Mexican government are so keen to cooperate in the war on drugs that they forget human rights.
(INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 14/08)
SWITZERLAND
The "Voila'" project of prevention against drugs, initiated at the end of the 1980s in the Solothurn canton, will be financed by the Federation for 1,5 million francs. The aim of the project is to friendly introduce prevention among teens and raise their awareness. The same idea has been exported to other 13 cantons.
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 19/08)
JOIN THE CORA
----------------------
Yes, I want to be member
(send by Email, or fax, or Mail)
Name and Surname ........................................
Address, Post code, City, State ..........................................
Email .....................................
Occupation .............................................
Date of Birth ..............................
Phone home ..............
office .................
fax ......................
mobile .....................
and I am enclosing a membership fee of .....................
By means of
/Postal Order to CORA
/Crossed Cheque to CORA
/ccp (only in Italy)
/Bank Account (choose below)
/Credit Card type ...........................................
no ......................................................................Expiry Date ......................
MEMBERSHIP FEE OF CORA 1997 IN EUROPEAN UNION
Austria 800 ATS, Belge 2000 Bfr, Denmark 500 DKK, Finland 400 FIM, France 330 FF, Germany 100 DEM, Great Britain 35 GBP, Greece 5000 GRD, Ireland 20 IEP, Italy 100.000 LIT, Luxembourg 2000 Lfr, The Netherlands 100 , LG, Portugal 5000 PTE, Spain 5000 ESB, Sweden 500 SEK
BANK ACCOUNT
- no. 010381 to CORA, Deutsche Bank (Abi 3002, Cab 03270), Italy
- no.10067.00101.1032083440/4 to CORA, France
- no. 310107591981 to CORA, Belge
MAIL CCP: ONLY IN ITALY
- c.c.p. 53362000 to CORA, Via di Torre Argentina 76, 00186 Roma
