Prohibition: The So-Called war on drugs Essay

†¢ Nick Possum: In the thrall of the monster drug barons It is also obvious that so much of the government propaganda regarding those fine sacred herbs Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa is just bullshit. †¢ Alcohol worse than ecstasy on shock new drug list The position of ecstasy near the bottom of the list was defended by Prof Nutt, who said that apart from some tragic isolated cases ecstasy is relatively safe. Despite about a third of young people having tried the drug and around half a million users every weekend, it causes fewer than 10 deaths a year. One person a day is killed by acute alcohol poisoning and thousands more from chronic use. †¢ Marijuana Delivery Services Flourish In NYC †¢ Scientific American: Large Study Finds No Link between Marijuana and Lung Cancer †¢ Nathan Guttman: Israelis at center of ecstasy drug trade †¢ Law Enforcement Against Prohibition After nearly four decades of fueling the U. S. policy of a war on drugs with over half-a-trillion tax dollars and increasingly punitive policies, our confined population has quadrupled over a 20 years period making building prisons this nation’s fastest growing industry. More than 2. 2 million of our citizens are currently incarcerated and every year we arrest an additional 1. 6 million for nonviolent drug offenses — more per capita than any country in the world. The United States has 4. 6 percent of the population of the world but 22. 5 percent of the world’s prisoners. Every year we choose to continue this war will cost U. S. taxpayers another 69 billion dollars. Despite all the lives we have destroyed and all the money so ill spent, today illicit drugs are cheaper, more potent, and far easier to get than they were 35 years ago at the beginning of the war on drugs. Meanwhile, people continue dying in our streets while drug barons and terrorists continue to grow richer than ever before. We would suggest that this scenario must be the very definition of a failed public policy. This madness must cease! †¢ Inquiry into drug trial that became a nightmare †¢ Sheryl Jackson-Sczbecki: Marijuana — Through The Haze †¢ Peter Dale Scott: o The Global Drug Meta-Group: Drugs, Managed Violence, and the Russian 9/11 o A Ballad of Drugs and 9/11 †¢ 15 Ways the Auto Industry Would Change if it Operated Like Drug Companies. Just say No to drugs — from Pfizer, Merck, Roche and the other major drug pushers. †¢ Marcia Angell, M. D: The Truth About the Drug Companies In 2002 †¦ the combined profits for the ten drug companies in the Fortune 500 ($35. 9 billion) were more than the profits for all the other 490 businesses put together ($33. 7 billion). †¢ Chris Largen’s satirical novel JUNK is â€Å"a riotous exploration of prohibition. † †¢ The Narco News Bulletin †¢ Oscar Heck: Chavez Frias not losing much sleep over the USA’s intent to â€Å"punish† Venezuela (Also here.) I believe that the DEA and other US-based organizations such as USAID, the American Center for International Labor Solidarity, the Center for International Private Enterprise, the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs are fronts for the CIA †¦ and that a part of the CIA’s job is to assure that 1) drug exports to the USA are not halted 2) that this drug trade is controlled by the US government. †¢ 2005-07-31: Oregon Anti-Meth Bill Aimed at Cold Meds. The Senate on Saturday approved a plan to make Oregon the first state in the nation to require a prescription for many cold and allergy medicines, an attempt by lawmakers to shut down methamphetamine labs. †¦ The legislation would require prescriptions by mid-2006 for medicines containing pseudoephedrine and two similar substances, which are used in such popular medicines as Sudafed, Claritin and Theraflu. †¢ Jeanne Lenzer and Nicholas Pyke: Woman Commits Suicide While Testing New Antidepressant. Was Traci Johnson Driven To Suicide By Antidepressants? That’s A Trade Secret, Say US Officials †¢ Jennifer Moody, Albany Democrat-Herald, 2005-06-21: Retired DEA agent will run for sheriff Carl F. Worden, Liaison Officer for the Southern Oregon Militia comments: Please get this out to anyone you know in Linn County Oregon: You’ve got a guy running for Sheriff in Linn County by the name of Michael Spasaro, a former DEA Agent. Don’t vote for this guy unless you want a Sheriff who has no use for the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. I know of this guy, and I know some of the federal drug cases he worked on. He is NOT a guy you want as Sheriff. The Sheriff of a county is the only constitutionally elected official who has the power to curtail illegal federal actions in a given county. With his record, you can throw the Constitution right out the door if he becomes your Sheriff. †¢ 2005-06-23: Federal agents fan out to bust medicinal marijuana providers †¢ America’s War on Cannabis: PostModern Witch Burning †¢ You’ve Been Drafted: Uncle Sam Wants You for the War on Drugs. According to US Congressman Sensenbrenner’s draconian mandatory minimum sentencing bill: If you â€Å"witness† certain drug offenses taking place or â€Å"learn† that they took place you would have to report the offense to law enforcement within 24 hours and provide â€Å"full assistance† in the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of the people involved. Failure to do so would be a crime punishable by a mandatory two year prison sentence. †¢ 2005-05-27: Bali court sentences Corby to 20 years in jail Prosecutors had demanded life in jail for Corby, who has argued the 4. 1 kg (9 lb) of drugs found by Bali airport officials in her unlocked bag last year were planted. †¢ Sydney Morning Herald, 2005-05-15: PM has left [Schapelle] Corby out to dry: Democrats [Registration required. ] Party leader Lyn Allison said the Government’s letter outlining drug-trafficking allegations among Australian airport baggage handlers should have been sent much earlier. †¢ Nate Blakeslee: The People Left Behind: Elaine Bartlett & Life on the Outside †¢ The Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. Major studies of drugs and drug policy, information on the â€Å"War on Drugs†, charts and graphs of Drug War statistics, US government publications related to drug policy, historical research on drugs and drug policy, the drug legalization debate, and much more. †¢ 2005-04-20: MS Victims to Get Cannabis Drug in Canada A cannabis-based medicine formulated by a UK company to help sufferers of multiple sclerosis has been approved for use for the first time — in Canada. †¢ BBC, 2005-04-18: US church’s illegal tea faces ban The Supreme Court is to consider whether a US branch of a Brazilian religion can import an hallucinogenic tea used as a sacrament. †¢ Kerre Woodham, 2005-04-17: Stakes high in Corby saga You can’t help but feel sympathy for Schapelle Corby, the 27-year-old Australian woman at the centre of a drugs trial in Bali. Surely she cannot have been so stupid as to try to smuggle 4kg of marijuana into Bali, where it would sell for less than it does on the streets of Australia. †¢ R. William Davis: The Elkhorn Manifesto †¦ Marijuana Prohibition was created in 1937, not to protect society from the â€Å"evils of the drug Marijuana,† as the Federal government claimed, but as an act of deliberate economic and industrial sabotage against the re-emerging Industrial Hemp Industry. †¢ Peter Dale Scott: A Post-Election Wrap-Up: Iraq, 9/11, Drugs, Cheney, and Watergate Two †¢ Four Alberta RCMP officers killed during raid Four RCMP officers were shot and killed after conducting a raid on a marijuana grow operation northwest of Edmonton on Thursday [2005-03-03]. †¢ David Adam, The Guardian, UK: Ecstasy trials for combat stress American soldiers traumatised by fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan are to be offered the drug ecstasy to help free them of flashbacks and recurring nightmares. †¦ Several studies in the US are planned or are under way to investigate whether MDMA, LSD and psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, can treat conditions ranging from obsessive compulsive disorder to anxiety in terminal cancer patients. †¢ Court allows drug-sniffing dogs during traffic stops The Supreme Court yesterday expanded police power to conduct searches, ruling that an officer who stops a motorist for a routine traffic violation can use a drug-sniffing dog to detect narcotics in the vehicle, even if the officer had no reason to suspect the car would contain drugs. The decision, in an Illinois case, gives law enforcement the authority to use drug-detecting dogs in the course of any minor traffic stop. †¢ J. Orlin Grabbe: The Function of the Drug War The function of the Drug War is to create the Drug Crisis. The Drug Crisis involves billions of dollars in hidden cash flow. Addicted to this flow of money are law enforcement agencies, drug producers and distributors, covert agencies who use it as a source of black funding, and politicians and bankers who are hired to protect the drug revenues. Addiction to drug revenues requires that the drug war be fought so as to be lost. Failure thus becomes the criterion of success. †¢ UK Guardian, 2004-10-13: MPs back legalisation ‘road map’ MPs, peers and former police officers are to back the publication today of the first ever report outlining a â€Å"detailed road map† to the legalisation of drugs in Britain. †¦ Transform’s director, Danny Kushlick, predicted that drugs would be legalised in the not-too-distant future because prohibition had been a catastrophe of startling proportions †¦ †¢ Pot Blocks Cancer-causing Herpes. Ingredient responsible for marijuana’s high could be the basis for new antiviral drugs †¢ Huge Ecstasy Bust Do Israelis control most of the world trade in MDMA? †¢ A Brief History of the Regulation of Controlled Drugs in Britain — Chapter 3 of the Fourth Report of the Shipman Enquiry (2001-2004). †¢ Colin Brown: Opium trade booms in ‘basket-case’ Afghanistan [This] will prove highly embarrassing for Tony Blair, who cited cutting the supply of heroin as one of the main reasons for the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001 †¦ †¢ Doctors’ strike in Israel good for health. According to the American Medical Association, adverse reactions to prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals are a leading cause of death and injury in the United States. †¦ As of this writing, there is a doctors strike in Israel. The death rate has fallen so sharply during the strike that the Israeli funeral parlors and burial associations are complaining. †¢ Glen Yeadon: Ambassador of Death, Right-Wing Death Squads, Drug Smuggling: George Bush’s Plan for Iraq †¢ Christopher Largen: A History of Medical Marijuana †¢ ‘DRUG’ OR SACRAMENT? YOUR RIGHT TO DECIDE About the 1999 police raid on the Dutch Santo Daime Church. †¢ Drug report barred by FDA — Scientist links antidepressants to suicide in kids It seems that the â€Å"war on drugs† does not apply to drugs which are making millions for the pharmaceutical companies. †¢ Xymphora: More on George and Drugs †¢ Cannabis online: click now and it’s with you in 24 hours On Thursday [2004-01-29] British drug law underwent its most radical shakeup for decades when cannabis was downgraded to class C. Although simple possession is unlikely to lead to prosecution in most cases, the drug remains illegal and dealing or possession with intent to supply will carry a maximum 14-year prison sentence. But a Guardian investigation has established that at least five large-scale online cannabis vendors are operating in this country, in competition with more established Dutch sites. As a result, the drug has never been so easy to buy online. A copy of (almost) the entire Serendipity website is available on CD-ROM. Details here. Prohibition: The So-Called War on Drugs Page One Page Three A Drug War Reading List Civil Asset Forfeiture Serendipity Home Page http://www. washingtonpost. com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/17/AR2007081701716. html.

Abstract Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Abstract - Research Paper Example The paper examines how the vision of Hrothgar is accurate in predicting that Beowulf would become a victim of his own pride if he would not be careful. He made his warning clear to Beowulf, but that warning was not enough in the end. Yes, he had his better spiritual qualities, such as his understanding of the role of fate in his life. On the other hand he was not strong enough to stay humble and not become too proud. The paper explores the way the events in Beowulfs life made it difficult for him not to become proud. He simply had too much power and success, and too human not to be affected by all that. His humanity had to result in some flaw, and that flaw is pride. The paper demonstrates that Hrothgar sees this and that Beowulf would put himself in danger because of it (Stitt; â€Å"Beowulf†). Stitt, Michael. â€Å"The Transformation of the Heroic Beowulf†. English 477, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. n.d. Web. 8 October 2014

Course Discussions DB Forum 2 Reading OT Narratives Essay

Course Discussions DB Forum 2 Reading OT Narratives - Essay Example Literary approach assist in the correct interpretation of narratives as well as appreciating the rich artistic beauty found in these narrations of the bible. The book of Joshua as a narrative story ought to be viewed as a literature in its study. This paper will go through a literary analysis of Joshua chapter seven and verses one to twenty-six, (Joshua 7:1-26). It is worth noting that the analysis that will be done is not exclusive and is not limited to further examination of the same. When one reads the whole chapter, one get to site a number of literary forms that have been used to spice up the narrative and to attract the attention of the reader. To start with, there is the presence of a catalogue. This is generally a list of enumeration of names, persons or even things and normally arranged alphabetically. In reference to this chapter, the first verse shows this where it shows the names of close relatives of Achan, for instance, Achan son of Carmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah.The names are alphabetically arranged. Secondly, the chapter has a number of dialogues. A dialogue is basically a literal work whereby two or more characters are represented as conversing. This is evident from the chapter where Joshua converses with men he had sent to go and spy over Ai (7:3). Another example is a dialogue between Joshua and God especially when they were defeated by men from Ai. There is also a dialogue between Joshua and the sinful Achan. ... A monologue is still another literary form used in this chapter. This is whereby a sole speaker normally directs his/her remarks to one audience or an individual. This is justifiable in verses 19 -20 between Joshua and Achan. Additionally, oracle is yet another literary form as found in this chapter. In general terms, an oracle is a divine communication which is evident in verses 13-14 of this chapter. Simile has been used whereby it is comparing two entities as performing the same function. For instance, in chapter 7:5, after the Israelites were defeated by men of Ai, they melted like water. The people are compared to how ice melts after receiving the news that they had been defeated in the battle and their men killed. There is also the use of metaphors in this chapter of the bible. A metaphor is basically a language used to add descriptive meaning and the meaning have little connotative similarity with the actual meaning. This can be exemplified from Joshua 7, 8 "Israel has turned their backs to their enemies" and in the following verse (9) ".cut off our name from the earth". These are just but a few of the literary forms found in this chapter. Question two: One interpretive issue or problem from the narrative of Joshua and provide an explanation of the problem and a resolution Joshua complaining to God (Joshua7:7-8) After the Israelites were defeated by men of Ai and thirty-six men killed, Joshua was dismayed. Earlier in the previous verse we see him going to the ark and tearing his clothes, fall face down and putting dust on his head. Later he is seen pausing three questions and two statements to God. The second question looks at these questions and statements as an issue derived from the narrative. Verse seven pauses the first question," Alas, O

International Relations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

International Relations - Research Paper Example Intergovernmental organizations are formed to address specific issues such as security, trade, the welfare of refugees and children, environmental conservation and management and food safety. These intergovernmental organizations engage nation-states to reach agreements, treaties and protocols that bind and which are crucial to solving some of the issues that characterize international relations. Multi-national corporations are large, wealthy, and it is impossible to deny their influence on the international stage. Multi-national corporations play a controversial role in many aspects of the foreign policy of nation-states, but their participation is considered good politics and business. Multinational corporations create many opportunities for employment and the huge profits they make increase the wealth of nations. Non-governmental organizations actively participate in international activities that are common to many nation-states. Non-governmental organizations tackle a variety of issues that include poverty, human rights, gun control and provision of education. Non-governmental organizations that address human right issues operate across nation-states and which focus on protecting human rights. Intergovernmental organizations, multi-national corporations, and non-governmental organizations have enhanced their influence in international activities, and it is impossible to ignore their participation blatantly. These three act as the thread that connects the nation-states of the world together.

War and Peace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

War and Peace - Essay Example This paper studies the official catholic teachings on peace and war in the broader perspective of the globalised world. It gives special attention to the prevailing societal set up and emerging trends in the governments. The paper reviews the present teaching of the Roman Catholic Church then follows statements of the church bishop, Pope John Paul II. The Australian Catholic Church social justice council has two documents (already in the market) that outline the statements of the pope John Paul II that contains the teachings of catechism of the Catholic Church on the issue of war and peace. He published these documentaries when the Republic of Iraq was facing the threat of military intervention by a contingent of allied forces. This was because Iraq had failed to meet the inspection resolutions of the UN concerning weapons production and mass destruction of persons through wars (Marc, 2002:46-49). The document by the pope provides a basic source for the local communities on the justi ce groups and individuals seeking information on the stand of the church towards war and peace. It reviews the teachings of the church on the issue of war and peace as contained in the catechism with excerpts from the Holy Father and church leaders from across the world. The responses of the Catholic Church in regard to use of force are in two strands that answers the issues of pacifist and just war. Basing on the gospel values and the experience of the national and global violence, pacifism regards war as being unthinkable and unjustified. The just war tradition opposes the use of force in the engagements of war. The moral conditions resort to protect the innocent and restore justice (Shannon and Thomas, 2003:245-269). The teachings of the church on war and peace have changed over time and continue to do so in response to the emerging trends across the globe. For example the just war theory has formalized by the St Augustine continues to evolve considering the moral framework of th e changing nature and circumstances of war as a form of response to aggression. In the current society, terrorist acts of terror are common as the immediate mode of conflict resolution. In spite of these, the strict church moral requirements demand that war should be the resort and that peaceful diplomatic means should are necessary to curb the issue of war. The Catholic Church has called for peaceful resolutions of differences in order to prevent wars and not constitute the legitimate use of force (Rock, 2011:189-191). The Christian views in the issue of war and peace have diverged widely in the recent past due to the current world events. In the modern society, people hold many different opinions due to the crisis surrounding countries like Iraq. However, the roman church calls for the convergence of the Christian views on the judgments of the secular events formed in the teachings of the church leaders. The catechism has teachings of the Catholic Church on the avoidance of the wa r. The teachings offer total respect to the human life as God given and thus subject to total respect by all humans. This clearly reflects in the commandments documented in the catechism, which calls that You Shall Not Kill (n 2302). The respect for human life paves the need for peace and it only comes in the absence of war. Peace is a tranquility of order, which comes from the respect to human dignity and the respect for the individuals and the entire community (Marc, 2002:77-79). Peace comes out of Justice and love. The

Compensation Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Compensation Practice - Essay Example This entails use of rewards in place of punishment to get the expected results and this was also influenced much by the motivational theorists such as Abraham Maslow (Armstrong & Baron, 2005). The needs of workers must be taken care of for them to be productive. This in turn led to development of performance management systems to evaluate employees and reward them accordingly; compensation is no longer job based but is based on performance. Successful companies thus strive to develop effective compensation strategies to ensure workers are rewarded accordingly and that the business strategies are achieved. According to Heneman (2002 p. 198) the cornerstone of a compensation strategy is the compensation philosophy of the company. This is the strongly held belief about goals of all components of compensation system relative to business strategy. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the compensation practice of a publicly traded company. To achieve this, the company to be discussed is an international company dealing with foods and beverages; PepsiCo, Inc. Its short history will be outlined after which its compensation strategy will be evaluated bearing in mind best practices and challenges faced. Its impact will then be discussed followed by the factors impacting on the practices such as unions, laws and regulations and finally, a brief summary. Company Background PepsiCo, Inc is a leading global food and beverage company with respected brands throughout the world. It was formed in 1965 after the merger of Pepsi-cola Company and Frito-lay, Inc. It acquired Tropicana in 1998 and Quaker Oats in 2001 and an addition of Gatorade thereafter (PepsiCo, 2013). Its mission is to be the world’s premier consumer Products Company focused on convenient foods and beverages with a vision to improving all aspects of the world in financial success which is to be achieved through driving shareholder value. It operates in a very competitive environment but its main competitor is coca-cola company. It boasts of net revenue of over $65 billion as recorded in the financial year 2012. It is managed by a board of directors with Indra Nooyi as the board chairman and chief executive officer since 2006 and has a workforce of 297, 000 scattered in many parts of the world. Its headquarters are in Purchase, New York in the United States. It is committed to delivering sustainable growth through empowering people and as such its compensation philosophy is for employees to act and be rewarded as business owners’ thus recruiting, retaining and motivating workforce. Compensation Strategy Compensation is a vital part of performance management in organizations. This involves rewarding employees for their achievements and also correcting underperformance. A company has a great task of deciding on how to reward employees as this strategy may make or break the company. According to Aquinis (2011) the compensation strategy should be aligned to business strategy to ens ure the organizational goals are achieved and to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. If the business strategy is cost-cutting then the company cannot go on to develop costly compensation strategies such as those involved with monetary rewards. Before everything else when

Identify the artifacts produced on the images during CT scans Essay

Identify the artifacts produced on the images during CT scans. Describe the - Essay Example Several strategies have been developed to prevent artifacts. In this article, different artifacts in CT imaging and various techniques to prevent then will be elaborated. Different researchers have classified artifacts in different manner. While some experts have classified artifacts based on appearance, like ring artifacts, shading artifacts and streak artifacts (Goldman, 2007, 222), others have classified them based on the causes (Yazdi and Beaulieu, 2008, 135). In this articles, classification by Yazdi and Beaulieu (2008, 135) will be used. Patient-based artifacts occur because of some attributes in the body of the patients. The most common patient-based artifacts are metallic artifacts. These artifacts occur due to presence of irremovable metals in the body of the patient like hip prosthesis, dental filling, fracture fixation rods, cardiac prosthesis, chemotherapy ports and surgical clips. Metallic artifacts appear like streaks on images. They occur because of improper and inaccurate correction of beam hardening within the back projection that is filtered. As such, metals absorb photons heavily and cause overestimation of activity in the metallic region. This is the reason why patients are asked to remove all metallic objects in their body prior to entering the scan room. Several techniques have been developed to prevent on minimize metallic artifacts in CT images (Yazdi and Beaulieu, 2008, 136). One such strategy is to disregard data related to projections from metal objects and reconstruct image only based on projec tion data from non-corrupted regions. However, this method is very costly for regular scans and convergence problems occur frequently. Another strategy is to reconstruct images by manually identifying the missing projections and replacing them with non-missing projections of the surrounding areas. This method is known as projection-interpolation method. Other strategies to