cannabisnews.com: TLC & DPF Invite You To The Shadow Convention TLC & DPF Invite You To The Shadow Convention Posted by FoM on July 13, 2000 at 15:44:22 PT Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director - TLC Source: TLC-DPF Drug policy reform is rapidly emerging as a new movement for political and social justice in the United States. The Shadow Conventions will be the most significant gatherings to date of citizens calling for an end to the war on drugs. Prominent speakers include New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, the first U.S. governor to call for marijuana legalization and other major drug policy reforms; Reverend Jesse Jackson, who will address the racially disproportionate impact of current drug policies; and California Congressman Tom Campbell, the first major party politician to run for statewide office on a platform that includes significant drug policy reform. THE SHADOW CONVENTIONSIf you think our drug policies are doing more harm than good.If you think police should stop arresting people for marijuana.If you think there are too many people behind bars on drug charges.If you think the war on drugs is a poor excuse for reinstituting Jim Crow in America.If you think drug testing has gone too far in this country.If you can no longer stand the lies and hypocrisies of the drug war.If you think it’s time for a REAL debate in this country about how we deal with drugs.... then COME TO THE SHADOW CONVENTIONS!!!There we will launch a new anti-war movement— a movement to end the war on drugs and demand that the country’s drug policies be based on common sense, science, public health and human rights.Tuesday, August 1, 2000: Philadelphia10 AM 10 PMAnnenberg CenterUniversity of Pennsylvania3680 Walnut Street 37th StreetTuesday, August 15, 2000: Los Angeles10 AM 10 PMPatriotic Hall1816 S. Figueroa St.You can find a copy of the Event Flyer for the Philadelphia Shadow Convention at:http://www.lindesmith.org/shadowconventions/PhillyFlyer.pdfand the Los Angeles Shadow Convention at:http://www.lindesmith.org/shadowconventions/LAFlyer.pdfYou are encouraged to download these flyers and disseminate them widely either by posting, snail mail, or forwarding the URL’s. If you are unable to access the flyers on the Web please call 212-548-0611 and we will fax them to you.HOW TO REGISTER:Go to www.DrugPolicy.Org . If you do not have access to a computer, please call 212-548-0611 (Please Note: this phone number is voice mail only for registration. Any questions or comments can be included on the online registration form. Please do not respond to this email.)JUST SAY NO TO THE WAR ON DRUGSDrug policy reform is rapidly emerging as a new movement for political and social justice in the United States. The Shadow Conventions will be the most significant gatherings to date of citizens calling for an end to the war on drugs. Prominent speakers include New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, the first U.S. governor to call for marijuana legalization and other major drug policy reforms; Reverend Jesse Jackson, who will address the racially disproportionate impact of current drug policies; and California Congressman Tom Campbell, the first major party politician to run for statewide office on a platform that includes significant drug policy reform.The three principal themes at the Philadelphia convention on August 1 will be:(1) The impact of the war on drugs on American families(2) The economic costs and consequences of current drug policies and(3) The evisceration of American civil rights and liberties by the war on drugs.The Shadow Convention gathering in Los Angeles on August 15 will focus on:(1) Protecting our youth from both drug abuse and the war on drugs(2) The racist origins, conduct and consequences of the drug war and(3) The public health implications of U.S. drug policies.The Shadow Conventions will include hundreds of citizens who currently have family members incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses. Some will speak publicly, as will others who have lost family members to AIDS, or seen their families torn apart by policies that criminalize drug use during pregnancy.A choir of young people whose parents are incarcerated will perform. Former military officers will dissent, clergy will preach, and leading drug policy reformers will assess current drug war strategies and propose pragmatic alternatives. They will be joined by a variety of musicians, comedians and other entertainers.Our message is simple and straightforward: The war on drugs is doing more harm than good. Our current drug policies are driven largely by ignorance, fear, prejudice and profit. Our political leadership seems able and willing to tolerate extraordinary levels of hypocrisy in its policies and statements regarding drugs and drug users.THE UNITED STATES DESPERATELY NEEDS A TRULY OPEN AND HONEST DIALOGUE—ONE THAT ASPIRES TO A NEW NATIONAL DRUG POLICY BASED UPON COMMON SENSE, SCIENCE, PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS.The Shadow Conventions present drug policy reformers with a unique opportunity to educate our fellow citizens regarding the costs and consequences of the government’s "war on drugs." It is not just the brief moments when our message will engage the national media, but also the changing perceptions among media, politicians and others as we successfully organize our efforts and combine with others seeking to reform backward and entrenched public policies.As we work on putting together these two conventions, we can feel the momentum building behind our efforts. Let’s make the most of this opportunity.You can help make these Shadow Conventions a success in several ways. First, plan to attend or volunteer if at all possible. You can register FREE by visiting: http://www.drugpolicy.org/ on the Internet or by calling 212-548-0611 (Please Note: this phone number is voice mail only for registration. Any questions or comments can be included on the online registration form. Please do not respond to this email.) At the same time, your generous financial support will enable us to reach even more people and help ensure that we reach the widest possible audience. Your special contribution of $25, $50 or $100, will help TLC-DPF advance the cause of drug policy reform during this critical election year. Contributions can be accepted at the Website listed above or sent to:Attn: Shadow Conventions The Lindesmith Center - Drug Policy Foundation 925 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10019.Thank you, and see you there!!Ethan NadelmannExecutive DirectorThe Lindesmith Center Drug Policy Foundation http://www.dpf.org/http://www.drugpolicy.org/The Lindesmith Center, created in 1994, is the leading independent drug policy institute in the United States. The Drug Policy Foundation, created in 1987, has been the principal membership-based organization advocating for drug policy reform. The two organizations merged on July 1, 2000. We plan to launch, under a new name, later this year, with the objective of building a national drug policy reform movement.Related Articles & Web Sites:Shadow Conventionshttp://www.shadowconventions.com/Drug Policy Foundationhttp://www.drugpolicy.org/Shadow Conventions:http://www.lindesmith.org/shadowconventions/Overthrow The Governmenthttp://www.overthrowthegov.com/Groups To Detail Convention Planshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6367.shtmlBeyond Conventional Behavior http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6348.shtmlThe Failed Drug Warhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6331.shtmlPanel Could Ground Johnson's Drug Ideashttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6327.shtmlDrug Ideas Land Governor on Podium http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6289.shtmlActivists Plan To Counter The Conventions http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6286.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by FoM on July 13, 2000 at 19:45:05 PT Thanks Again Rainbow Thanks Rainbow,I'm one of the limbo news people I suppose but I'm sure MapInc. qualifies as a public service news media I'm sure. I think that with the volume of news about McCaffrey's latest idea, good writers out there will find out what we need to hear. I'm definitely non profit and try to provide information though.Peace, FoM!PS: Maybe I should say good investigative reporters rather then writers but they're that too! [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Rainbow on July 13, 2000 at 19:35:26 PT correction to last post It looks like the people to get the cheapest rate are News Media folks much like yourself I think. good ole barry might be exempted though. All agencies except those on the White House Staff eg Chief of Staff. Here is the statement that I ttried to rejurgetate.Three types of fees may be charged for FOIA requests -1. The costs of searching for the documents 2. The costs of reviewing the documents to decide if they should be included in the response to your request 3. The costs of duplicating the documents Your fee will depend on what kind of request you are making - A If you are making a request for "commercial use," you can be charged all three types of costs B. If your request is not for "commercial use," you will only pay the search and duplication costs C. If your request is on behalf of "an educational or non-commercial scientific institution" or as a "representative of the news media," you will only pay duplication costs. Any person or organization which regularly publishes or gives out information to the public can be considered as "news media." Many public service organizations, therefore, meet this definition. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Rainbow on July 13, 2000 at 19:28:51 PT App It looks like the people to get the cheapest rate are News Media folks much like yourself I think. good ole barry might be exempted though. All agencies except those on the White House Staff eg Chief of Staff. They have 3 types of cost 1. search, 2. editing (probably the biggest :-) ) and 3 Number of pages duplicated.1. pays all three 2. pays two of them and 3. pays duplicating only which of course varies among agencies.I only read the Introduction but will look at the rest latter.PeaceRainbow [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on July 13, 2000 at 19:00:18 PT A Step By Step Guide Hi Rainbow! I haven't seen you for a while! Good to see you! Here is what I found. Maybe this can help us?Peace, FoM!Using The Freedom of Information Act - A Step By Step Guidehttp://www.aclu.org/library/foia.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Rainbow on July 13, 2000 at 18:43:40 PT Public Information It surely is covered under teh Freedom of Information act. It can not be a national security issue.I do not know how to do a FoI but I bet the NORMl office in DC does.PeaceRainbow [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 13, 2000 at 18:07:25 PT Good Idea! Hi MikeEEEEE, Good idea! I'll sure keep my eyes open. If you see anything let me know too. I would like to know. I think this is in a development stage. We'll see how far it goes. I just copied this out of one of the articles linked to this one. That's probably where we'll hear more or Salon will do another story I bet.Peace, FoM!The Writers Guild of America sent critical letters to the networks when the TV controversy emerged, but it is waiting to see what develops at the movie studios. Writers Guild of America http://www.wga.org/Coming To A Theater.....http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6385.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on July 13, 2000 at 17:55:56 PT Great Idea FoM, I'd like to see a list for films that contain propaganda messages, what type of propaganda, etc. That way I and many people could stop supporting government sponsored BS. Maybe there's a source that could compile the list. 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