The Us War On Cocaine Has Destroyed The Lives Of Millions Of Innocent Farmers In Colombia

[LongHairBri]

What the U.S. government is doing in Colombia has not slowed drug trafficking, but rather, created millions more victims through fumigation and displacement

 

Imagine for a moment that China, in an effort to reduce cigarette smoking and associated health costs among its population, declared war on U.S. tobacco production. Imagine Chinese planes flying over American tobacco fields, spraying crop-killing poison that destroys not just tobacco, but all vegetation, wiping out farmers’ livelihoods, displacing millions of families, and contaminating the environment. Such an act of hostility and disregard for national sovereignty would provoke, at the very least, military aggression from the United States. Yet, unbeknownst to most Americans, for the past 20 years the U.S. has conducted just such a campaign against Colombian coca farmers.

 

I visited Colombia for the first time in January 2012 on a delegation with Witness for Peace, an organization focused on changing U.S. policy in Latin America. A public health worker, I’d signed up for the trip to understand the origins and motives of a drug trade that contributes to a violent illicit market and shatters countless lives through addiction. By the time I left Colombia, I realized that while people who suffer from drug dependence are clear casualties of the trade, the millions of Colombian small farmers poisoned and displaced by U.S. drug policy are perhaps its greatest victims.

 

With appalling addiction rates in the U.S., particularly during the crack epidemic that swept the country during the 1980s, it’s hard to blame the United States for taking an aggressive stance against drug suppliers. The problem is that most of the “suppliers” in Colombia are not swaggering kingpins who lord over drug plantations, but poor farmers who grow coca, itself a harmless plant, but which happens to be the main ingredient in cocaine, to sustain meager livelihoods and feed their families. During my trip to Colombia I not only saw the coca plant, a short, unremarkable bush, but tasted it in the form of aromatic coca tea and cookies made with coca flour. Coca is a medicinal plant often used to create flour and healing balms. The dried leaves are also chewed during some indigenous spiritual ceremonies. But when filtered through other ingredients, typically cement, gasoline and battery acid, coca leaves produce cocaine, an addictive stimulant drug. For the past two decades, U.S. drug policy in Colombia had centered around reducing the cocaine supply by eradicating its leafy ingredient, the coca plant.

 

The United States’ War on Drugs, launched under former President Nixon in the 1970s, seeped into Colombia during the 1980s. A full-scale military strategy, Plan Colombia, was drafted under President Clinton and implemented in 2001 by President Bush. Plan Colombia was an aggressive campaign against drug suppliers that called for the eradication of the coca plant through aerial fumigation (spraying herbicide from planes) and manual eradication (pulling the plant up by the roots). Since the Plan was initiated, the United States (working with Colombian anti-trafficking police) has sent planes laden with glysophate herbicide to spray on small farms, indigenous reserves, and national parks where coca is grown. Colombian farmers report that when the concentrated substance rains down, it kills not only coca, but everything else it touches. Subsistence crops such as rice, corn and potatoes wither, rivers are laced with poison, wild animals and livestock die, children sicken, and chemical rashes spread over the skin of anyone in the path of the planes. The farmers, stripped of their homes and livelihood, burdened with sickness and chemical burns, flee to the cities where slums spring up as people fight over scarce resources amidst 12-20% unemployment.

 

read the rest over at: http://www.alternet.org/drugs/156230/in_its_mad_and_hopeless_war_on_cocaine%2C_the_us_has_destroyed_the_lives_of_millions_of_innocent_farmers_in_colombia_

[MightyMightyMezz]

They probably protect certain coca growing areas as well if you know what I mean. Kind of like how our soldiers protect poppy farms in Afghanistan.

[Kingdiamond]

How soon people forget just how crooked and dirty our government truly is .

[Kevin]

Colombia recently legalized cannabis and cocaine for personal use but a certain division of the alphabet needs the big coke sales to fund their covert ops so they may have to find another cash cow.

 

Anyway, they already moved the drug war from the jungles to the pharmacies and doctor's offices.

[Dr. Bob]

I think that many would agree that cocaine has destroyed many lives in the United States. I would also think that most people think cocaine is a very bad thing for people and this country. We are trying to distance ourselves from drugs of abuse, the drug culture, and illegal activity in order to promote marijuana as a safe medication that helps people.

 

While applying the 'war on drugs' against MEDICAL marijuana is something we should all rally around, do we really want to associate ourselves with the cocaine producers? Or cocaine use? Is this an effective use of our political clout?

 

Not making a statement, simply asking a question.

 

Dr. Bob

[MightyMightyMezz]

I think that many would agree that cocaine has destroyed many lives in the United States. I would also think that most people think cocaine is a very bad thing for people and this country. We are trying to distance ourselves from drugs of abuse, the drug culture, and illegal activity in order to promote marijuana as a safe medication that helps people.

 

While applying the 'war on drugs' against MEDICAL marijuana is something we should all rally around, do we really want to associate ourselves with the cocaine producers? Or cocaine use? Is this an effective use of our political clout?

 

Not making a statement, simply asking a question.

 

Dr. Bob

 

 

I, for one am not willing to throw those peasant farmers under the bus for the sake of trying to have an antiseptically clean image on our little site.

[Dr. Bob]

I, for one am not willing to throw those peasant farmers under the bus for the sake of trying to have an antiseptically clean image on our little site.

 

Clearly you have a point.

 

There is a little more at stake here than a website though. I support medical marijuana. I have no comment on cocaine and those involved in the production or use of it, other than that I have seen it ruin many lives and even communities.

 

Dr. Bob

[MightyMightyMezz]

 

 

Clearly you have a point.

 

There is a little more at stake here than a website though. I support medical marijuana. I have no comment on cocaine and those involved in the production or use of it, other than that I have seen it ruin many lives and even communities.

 

Dr. Bob

 

But the people whose birthright is the benign traditional use of the coca plant are being forced into commercial production by the economics of the illegal cocaine trade and then being attacked by US-funded spraying and paramilitary forces. Our country's drug policy has devastating effects on countless human beings and I think this is a great place to discuss it.

 

 

Just found this trailer

 

Edited July 16, 2012 by MightyMightyMezz

[nthlghts]

If the USA cared about drug trafficing, we would seal the border! Our government does not want to stop the drug trade, it uses it to indoctrinate our people. They allow this bunny muffin in, then reduce the rights of those that use. If the resources of the drug war were poured into border security, drug prices would soar and availability would be very limited. This would put the drug back in hollywood destroying those that it should. The North American union is their dream, millions of poor wait in Mexico, S America to exploit for money.

[Dr. Bob]

Don't forget the poor poppy farmers, just a traditional crop used to make the heroin that destroys the poor in this country. Aren't they entitled to make a living too? Aren't those folks victims too?

 

Dr. Bob

[cristinew]

The drug war is a failure.. back when drugs were legal.. you could buy heroin at the drug store, more of less the same amount of addicts, but far less violence

[Dr. Bob]

The drug war is a failure.. back when drugs were legal.. you could buy heroin at the drug store, more of less the same amount of addicts, but far less violence

 

I would agree with that. When you make something people use illegal, you create criminals using it. Heroin and Cocaine are not the same as marijuana however. They are problems, and marijuana is a solution. I became interested in marijuana due to my work with narcotic addiction. I have little sympathy for those contributing to the production and importation of illegal cocaine and heroin. Nor for those that traffic it here in the states.

 

Just my opinion, and I don't think a forum trying to overcome the stigma of illegality and drug abuse in the case of medical marijuana meshes with the support of cocaine production. It is not a mom and pop farmer in Columbia growing coca. It is large landowners and drug lords exploiting the workers to make enormous profits. You are worried about spraying the fields? What happens to the farmers at the hands of the drug lords if they come up short in production? Your compassion for the common farmer is fine, your understanding of his/her plight at the hands of those in power (drug lords, cia, whatever) is a great quality. But the image of the poor farmer exploited by the spray planes of the drug war is only part of the story. It is designed to make you feel sympathy.

 

You know what stew is? It is when you take someone and put them in a 55 gal drum of acid until nothing is left but mush. A common practice in the drug trade south of the border. How about taking a power drill to various body parts, or killing an opponents' wife and children to send him a message to stay out of your territory? Want to hitch your horse to that wagon?

 

This is not what medical marijuana is about. Let's not go there.

 

Dr. Bob

[nthlghts]

Right on Doc!

 

I would agree with that. When you make something people use illegal, you create criminals using it. Heroin and Cocaine are not the same as marijuana however. They are problems, and marijuana is a solution. I became interested in marijuana due to my work with narcotic addiction. I have little sympathy for those contributing to the production and importation of illegal cocaine and heroin. Nor for those that traffic it here in the states.

 

Just my opinion, and I don't think a forum trying to overcome the stigma of illegality and drug abuse in the case of medical marijuana meshes with the support of cocaine production. It is not a mom and pop farmer in Columbia growing coca. It is large landowners and drug lords exploiting the workers to make enormous profits. You are worried about spraying the fields? What happens to the farmers at the hands of the drug lords if they come up short in production? Your compassion for the common farmer is fine, your understanding of his/her plight at the hands of those in power (drug lords, cia, whatever) is a great quality. But the image of the poor farmer exploited by the spray planes of the drug war is only part of the story. It is designed to make you feel sympathy.

 

You know what stew is? It is when you take someone and put them in a 55 gal drum of acid until nothing is left but mush. A common practice in the drug trade south of the border. How about taking a power drill to various body parts, or killing an opponents' wife and children to send him a message to stay out of your territory? Want to hitch your horse to that wagon?

 

This is not what medical marijuana is about. Let's not go there.

 

Dr. Bob

[Dr. Bob]

Right on Doc!

 

Even a blind squirrel gets a nut sometimes.

 

Dr. Bob

[phaquetoo]

[MightyMightyMezz]

Personally I am comfortable discussing the situation. It certainly is parallel to the war on Cannabis sativa.

Don't forget the poor poppy farmers, just a traditional crop used to make the heroin that destroys the poor in this country. Aren't they entitled to make a living too? Aren't those folks victims too?

 

Dr. Bob

 

Apparently our military leaders agree with you. Lol @ soldier: "If the farmer has a good crop then he can get paid for all his hard work and we can deal with the trafficking afterwards." 2+2=?

 

Edited July 16, 2012 by MightyMightyMezz

[MightyMightyMezz]

 

 

I would agree with that. When you make something people use illegal, you create criminals using it. Heroin and Cocaine are not the same as marijuana however. They are problems, and marijuana is a solution. I became interested in marijuana due to my work with narcotic addiction. I have little sympathy for those contributing to the production and importation of illegal cocaine and heroin. Nor for those that traffic it here in the states.

 

Just my opinion, and I don't think a forum trying to overcome the stigma of illegality and drug abuse in the case of medical marijuana meshes with the support of cocaine production. It is not a mom and pop farmer in Columbia growing coca. It is large landowners and drug lords exploiting the workers to make enormous profits. You are worried about spraying the fields? What happens to the farmers at the hands of the drug lords if they come up short in production? Your compassion for the common farmer is fine, your understanding of his/her plight at the hands of those in power (drug lords, cia, whatever) is a great quality. But the image of the poor farmer exploited by the spray planes of the drug war is only part of the story. It is designed to make you feel sympathy.

 

You know what stew is? It is when you take someone and put them in a 55 gal drum of acid until nothing is left but mush. A common practice in the drug trade south of the border. How about taking a power drill to various body parts, or killing an opponents' wife and children to send him a message to stay out of your territory? Want to hitch your horse to that wagon?

 

This is not what medical marijuana is about. Let's not go there.

 

Dr. Bob

 

 

Traditionally all there probably were were mom and pop coca leaf growers. Coca leaf is a rich source of vitamins and minerals as well as a number of alkaloids besides cocaine. It has been a boon to indigenous peoples since Pre-Columbian times. For us to create a black market then target the "small farms, indigenous reserves, and national parks where coca is grown" for destruction is a war on native peoples. With this in mind, why don't they spray the all the cartel plantations which supply most of the US-bound cocaine do you suppose?

[cristinew]

Nice video.... US troops gardening the big bankers heroin if they get away with it they get the money, if you get caught with it, you will spend time in the big bankers private prison , win win for the banker ,

[SFC]

All of the horror you speak of Bob would not have occurred or still be occurring without our war on drugs. I don't even believe we would have had the addiction problems we do had we not made the market. Sure you would always have addicts or people that take things to far but they are a small percentage of the population. Think how much easier treatment would be without the stigmatizing effects of our "War".

 

There needs to be controls on narcotics, but you take away the criminality you take away the market, you take away the violence and with most of the problems.

 

We allow the pharmaceutical industry to grow all the poppy's they want, but we arrest a peasant farmer or worse. You ever see the combines they use for harvesting, ir looks like they are harvesting corn. Crazy.

[Dr. Bob]

Yeah, crazy indeed. I don't think I'll comment on this topic. Y'all rationalize it if you want, I'll concentrate my energy on MMJ, not crack.

 

Dr. Bob

[nthlghts]

Heroin and cocaine will never be decrimalized, you are wasting your breath. If your statements were true alcohol would not be the problem it is. And let me say before you mention another country, our culture and desires are different so results will not be the same.

 

 

All of the horror you speak of Bob would not have occurred or still be occurring without our war on drugs. I don't even believe we would have had the addiction problems we do had we not made the market. Sure you would always have addicts or people that take things to far but they are a small percentage of the population. Think how much easier treatment would be without the stigmatizing effects of our "War".

 

There needs to be controls on narcotics, but you take away the criminality you take away the market, you take away the violence and with most of the problems.

 

We allow the pharmaceutical industry to grow all the poppy's they want, but we arrest a peasant farmer or worse. You ever see the combines they use for harvesting, ir looks like they are harvesting corn. Crazy.

[MightyMightyMezz]

Yeah, crazy indeed. I don't think I'll comment on this topic. Y'all rationalize it if you want, I'll concentrate my energy on MMJ, not crack.

 

Dr. Bob

 

After watching this documentary on Peruvian cocaleros your comments seem all the more ethnocentric and callous.

 

Tells how in the 60's there was only small scale production of leaf for personal use in the traditional manner. Highlights the crushing poverty and exploitation that drives farmers to deliver raw coca leaves to distant markets at the risk of losing everything.

 

Edited July 17, 2012 by MightyMightyMezz

[SFC]

Please don't misunderstand me. I am not condoning cocaine and heroin use I am just stating that we have created a problem when there was none. We will never stop it and the only hope to curtail it at all is a completely different strategy. I doubt I will ever see cocaine decriminalized in lifetime either and I am not losing any sleep about it.

[Dr. Bob]

Morphine was over the counter and uncontrolled in the late 1800's. Research that a bit and then come back and tell us how if we only would not make something illegal there would be no problem.

 

Think the world of you bro, but this is not a point I am going to support.

 

Dr. Bob

[MightyMightyMezz]

Morphine was over the counter and uncontrolled in the late 1800's. Research that a bit and then come back and tell us how if we only would not make something illegal there would be no problem.

 

Think the world of you bro, but this is not a point I am going to support.

 

Dr. Bob

 

The point (the US war on cocaine has destroyed the lives of millions of innocent farmers in Columbia) is true whether you support it or not. If you are not comfortable discussing it then don't, but don't try to stifle the discussion.