Thursday, January 29, 2009

What a difference a reporter's perspective makes... On Sunday, I noted this Reuter's article quoting UNODC's Costa The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime had found evidence that "interbank loans were funded by money that originated from drug trade and other illegal activities," Costa was quoted as saying. There were "signs that some banks were rescued in that way." Now enter the AP reporting on the exact same issue. The global financial crisis is making it easier for organized crime groups to launder profits from narcotics, human trafficking and other illegal activities, the U.N.'s anti-corruption chief said Thursday The AP story says nothing about saving banks, merely that bank managers probably "were aware that what they were doing was wrong." 12:23:31 PM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []

Another wrong house Here's a break-down-the-door raid in Georgia. When 25 agents with guns drawn suddenly show up in your living room, that requires more than just an apology. Fortunately Jainet Rios and her family weren't killed. Watch the video -- Rios has some strong things to say, and she even invokes the Kathryn Johnston shooting in Atlanta. People are starting to get better informed about the dangers of the tactics of the drug war, and they're not happy. Rios definitely wants more than an apology - she wants a change in policy. 9:57:26 AM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []

Calling SSDP I think we need some edumacating in the Oak Park, Illinois area regarding drugs and the drug war. Check out Teens discuss legalization of drugs. This is the one that made my head explode: Many teens think the drug war will only increase if drugs are legalized. "It will probably become like the wild west," said Oscar, 17. "In my neighborhood, we don't even jump anymore when we hear a gun shot. If the dealers and the junkies get into something, then we all will have to hide." Wow. [Nicole:] "I've seen people get shot and beaten up badly over a drug deal gone badly," she said "If drugs become legal, then the people will really lose their minds." [...] "If drugs become legal," Malia said, "then we would probably see people lying out in the streets blowed!" Sigh. 12:01:15 AM | drug policy | Related  | permalink | comment []