The Jamaica Plain Forum Presents, "Addicted to Failure: Exporting the Drug War Overseas"
http://jamaicaplainforum.org/2007/03/28/addicted-to-failure/

Sanho Tree, Director of the Drug Policy Project
Institute for Policy Studies

Friday, July 27th at 7:00pm
First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist Parish Hall
6 Eliot St (across from the Monument), Jamaica Plain, MA

It is no secret that current policy ignores the effects of racism and poverty that helps drive the illicit drug economy.  In the US, these roots include decaying school systems, lack of inner city and rural jobs, shortage of affordable housing, lack of health care, and social alienation.  International challenges include exportation of the "War on Drugs" to Colombia and Afghanistan, "counternarcotics" aid to repressive regimes, and environmental destruction caused by our eradication and fumigation policies.   

Why have these policies not succeeded despite hundreds of billions of dollars having been thrown at the problem?  Are there alternatives to the current drug war quagmire?  Sanho Tree, Director of the Drug Policy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies, will dissect the politics behind these failed policies and suggest avenues for fundamental reform.  

Mr. Tree advocates for systemic reform by reaching out to non-traditional allies and employing innovative tactics to promote a sustainable, constitutional, and humane drug control policy.  He encourages replacing the punitive and coercive "social control" model of drug policy with a public health and economic development model.

About our Speaker
Sanho Tree is an international expert on drug policy matters.  He is a Fellow and Director of the Drug Policy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC.  He has been featured in the ABC News/John Stossel documentary on the drug war which aired in July 2002 and has also appeared on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher.   Mr. Tree is a former military and diplomatic historian; he has collaborated in the past with Dr. Gar Alperovitz on The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb and the Architecture of an American Myth (Knopf, 1995).  From 1996-97, he assisted entertainer Harry Belafonte and continues to work as an occasional consultant for him on international issues. He was also associate editor of CovertAction Quarterly, an award-winning magazine of investigative journalism. In the late 1980s he worked at the International Human Rights Law Group. Currently, he serves on the boards of Witness for Peace and the Andean Information Network.

For more information, visit the Jamaica Plain Forum website at www.jamaicaplainforum.org <http://www.jamaicaplainforum.org/>
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More About The Jamaica Plain Forum

Hosted by the First Church in Jamaica Plain Unitarian Universalist, the Jamaica Plain Forum is a free, public series of discussions, lectures, and events addressing current topics of interest to the Jamaica Plain community.

Speakers include people from the Jamaica Plain community who are involved in dynamic and stimulating work near and far, as well as regional and national authors, activists, artists and thinkers.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Jamaica Plain Forum. All activities follow the principles of tolerance, respectfulness and inclusiveness.

Although no fee is required for attendance, donations will contribute to building-use fees and JP Forum expenses. All Jamaica Plain Forum activities are wheelchair accessible.
Visit our website for more: www.jamaicaplainforum.org <http://www.jamaicaplainforum.org/>

http://jamaicaplainforum.org/2007/03/28/addicted-to-failure/