Nonetheless, in an interview on December 14, Obama made three path-breaking statements. First, he said that enforcing federal marijuana legislation in Colorado and Washington was not a priority of his administration; he had “other fish to fry.” Second, he reiterated his own opposition to legalization, but then added: “at this point.” For the first time, a sitting US president hinted at a possible, perhaps even likely, change of future policy. Finally, Obama advocated holding a “national conversation” on the question of state versus federal legislation on such issues. The importance of these statements cannot be overestimated.
The third change in recent months occurred in one of the world’s largest drug-supplying countries: Mexico, through which practically all of the illegal drugs shipped to the US – cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and methamphetamines – must pass. On December 1, Enrique Peña Nieto succeeded Felipe Calderón as President. As happens almost everywhere, the transition became a moment to scrutinize the outgoing government’s policies, even if the new administration does not intend to modify those policies in the short term. Fortunately for Mexico, history seems to be judging Calderón’s “war on drugs” severely.
Indeed, The Washington Post reported in late November that internal government documents, made available to its Mexico City correspondent, showed that more than 25,000 people disappeared during Calderón’s six-year term, in addition to the roughly 60,000 deaths directly linked to the drug war. The advocacy group Human Rights Watch wrote a public letter to the new president, asking what he intends to do about the thousands of missing Mexicans. Then, in a series of leaks and explicit statements, the new government pointed out the previous policies’ high legal, bureaucratic, and financial costs, and that many more crimes of all types were committed, despite sharply higher spending on law enforcement and security.
In short, the most recent emblem of the traditional, internationally imposed drug-enforcement approach, based on punitive and prohibitionist policies, is turning out to be a catastrophic failure, costing Mexico dearly while producing no results for the country, the rest of Latin America, or the US. Consequently, the main advocates of this approach (Calderón, former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, the current and former presidents of Brazil, and America’s conservatives and security establishment) are losing public support. Proponents of a different strategy (Presidents Juan Manuel Santos and Otto Peréz Molina of Colombia and Guatemala, respectively, among others), based on public-health premises and legalization, are gaining ground.
Gunmen kill Mexican environmental activist and son
An environmental activist who took a stand against drug gangs has been murdered along with her 10-year-old son in the southern state of Guerrero.
Juventina Villa Mojica was under police protection after receiving death threats when she went to make a phone call and was ambushed by at least 30 attackers, reported Democracy Now. Her seven-year-old daughter survived, but her 10-year-old son was also killed. More than 20 members of her extended family, including her husband and two other children, had already been murdered.
Keep in mind that just a few days ago Dr. María Gorrostieta Salazar, former mayor of the municipality of Tiquicheo, Michoacan, Mexico was brutally tortured and killed at the hands of a Mexican drug gang for also denouncing drug cartel violence. Completely unacceptable. I wonder what the PRI, who tomorrow reclaims their
dictatorshippresidency after 12 years out of power, plans to do about this…
Prohibition Kills
Prohibition Kills and
Prohibition Kills
Maria Santos Gorrostieta, who had already survived two assassination attempts, was driving the child to school at around 8.30am when she was ambushed by a car in the city of Morelia.
The 36-year-old was hauled from her vehicle and physically assaulted as horrified witnesses watched, according to newspaper El Universal. They described how she begged for her child to be left alone and then appeared to get into her abductors’ car willingly.
The little girl was left wailing as her mother was driven away on Monday November 12.
For the next week, her frantic family waited by the phone for a ransom call that never came. Gorrostieta’s body – stabbed, burned, battered and bound at wrist and ankle – would finally be found eight days on dumped by a roadside in San Juan Tararameo, Cuitzeo Township.
She left behind her daughter and two sons as well as her second husband Nereo Delgado Patinoran.
Hailed as a heroine of the 21st century, her death has prompted much soul-searching in a country ravaged by violence.
Human beings crave stimulation. Illicit mind altering chemicals stimulate human being’s minds. Humans will not stop seeking such stimulation. That is something law enforcement industrialists, prohibition industrialists do not understand because it is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.
This is what happens when substance addiction and abuse is treated like a law enforcement problem, not a public health problem. Further, it means when politicians run on a law and order platform and people appointed to enforce laws talk about evils of drugs in the USA, people like Maria Santos Gorrostieta are collateral damage in pursuing and maintaining their careers. Citizens who go on about the stigmatization and shame of substance ab/use and trade of prohibited mind altering chemicals are co-conspirators in murder of people like Santos Gorrostieta, too.
Help find DIANA ZAMORA CARDENAS, age 16 and her 1-month-old daughter DAVINA ALCALA Missing from HANFORD, CALIFORNIA since 10/29/2012. Details: Diana was last seen at home on October 29, 2012. She may be traveling with her daughter, Davina. Diana and Davina may be in the company of an adult male. They may travel to Mexico. Diana has a birthmark on the inside of her left arm.
ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST) or Hanford Police Department at 1-559-585-2540.
DIANA ZAMORA CARDENAS:
DOB: Jan 3, 1996
Age Now: 16
Missing: Oct 29, 2012
Missing From: HANFORD, CA
United States
Sex: Female
Race: Hispanic
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5’1” (155cm)
Weight: 118lbs (54kg)
DAVINA ALCALA
DOB: Sep 19, 2012
Age Now: 1 Month(s)
Missing: Oct 29, 2012
Missing From: HANFORD, CA
United States
Sex: Female
Race: Hispanic
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 2’0” (61cm)
Weight: 8lbs (4kg)
Mexicans see a losing battle in the war on crooked police
President Calderon vowed to create a trustworthy federal police force. Now as he apologizes for a police shooting of a U.S. Embassy vehicle, citizens scoff at the very notion.
Diego Reyes of MEX celebrates winning the gold medal after victory in the Men’s Football between MEX and BRA
Congratulations, Mexico: now you have that international title. Time to climb the Angel of Independence.
We’re Going for the Gold!
Mexico and Brazil play tomorrow for the Olympic gold medal in football. Although Mexico is the underdog against heavily favored Brazil, the Mighty Mexicans have shown resiliency and have proven the ability to win against the Brazilians in recent matchups.
Look for a tight game with hopefully Mexico standing atop the winners’ stand at the end!
Images via fuckyeahchivas
Wow, did I get some bad information….
Hey
— Ken (@diegueno) August 10, 2012@nbcolympics, did you hear that#MEX won the#Olympics gold in men’s#soccer? I just found out now.#jingoism#London2012
Should I apologize to NBC? Do you think that my tweet broke them down as badly as they built up and dropped Jordyn Wieber to shatter in a zillion pieces?
If Kim Il Jong Produced a Variety TV Program in Mexico, it would be Se Vale
They do a dramatic skit, then break out in to a dance production. After a commercial break, the cast does a physical challenge like some kind of Japanese game show.
My compliments to Mercedes Fernández Arnaiz for channeling one of the weirdest dictators of recent history.
