{"id":8521,"date":"2014-06-26T11:00:11","date_gmt":"2014-06-26T15:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/evetushnet\/?p=8521"},"modified":"2014-06-26T11:00:11","modified_gmt":"2014-06-26T15:00:11","slug":"today-global-protests-call-for-support-not-punishment-for-drug-users","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/evetushnet\/2014\/06\/today-global-protests-call-for-support-not-punishment-for-drug-users.html","title":{"rendered":"Today, Global Protests Call for Support, Not Punishment, For Drug Users"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

from Substance.com:<\/p>\n

\n

In an unprecedented display of people power against the war on drugs, thousands of activists in 100 cities across the world will rally on Thursday, June 26, to push one message: \u201cSupport. Don\u2019t punish.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

The concerted campaign will remind national governments and the UN of the growing size and clout of people who use drugs and their supporters as a political constituency\u2014and the futility of pouring billions of dollars into efforts to enforce prohibition.<\/p>\n

At least 150 NGOs will be involved worldwide, either as active organizers or as supporters, but the London-based International Drug Policy Consortium<\/a> (IDPC) is acting as the hub. Jamie Bridge, the IDPC\u2019s senior policy and operations manager, tells Substance.com<\/em> that the momentum building behind the day of action is \u201ca sign that people do<\/em> want to mobilize behind this kind of message.\u201d<\/p>\n

The global day of action first took place last year but will more than double in size for 2014, thanks to a more aggressive recruitment policy and the support of big organizations like the New York-based Open Society Foundations<\/a>. Niamh Eastwood, executive director of Release<\/a>, a UK organization campaigning for drug policy reform, recalls that last year\u2019s events ranged in scale and scope from \u201ca small number of marginalized drug users in India, standing with signs saying \u2018Support. Don\u2019t punish,\u2019 which was deeply moving,\u201d to a \u201cmuch more elaborate event involving street art and dancers\u201d in Romania.<\/p>\n

June 26 is the date because it\u2019s when the UN holds its International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Sickeningly, governments of countries including China<\/a> and Indonesia<\/a> have been known to mark the day with the executions and torture of drug offenders. Drug policy reform activists want to reclaim the date. For too long, says Bridge, \u201cgovernments have taken it upon themselves to celebrate<\/em> fighting this war on drugs. There\u2019s not a lot to celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

from Substance.com: In an unprecedented display of people power against the war on drugs, thousands of activists in 100 cities across the world will rally on Thursday, June 26, to push one message: \u201cSupport. Don\u2019t punish.\u201d The concerted campaign will remind national governments and the UN of the growing size and clout of people who […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1071,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[46,55,234],"class_list":["post-8521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-our-enemy-the-state","tag-prayers-to-ven-matt-talbot","tag-the-war-on-some-drugs"],"yoast_head":"\nToday, Global Protests Call for Support, Not Punishment, For Drug Users<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"from Substance.com: In an unprecedented display of people power against the war on drugs, thousands of activists in 100 cities across the world will rally\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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