Snort Cocaine, Kill the Environment - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

dlish · 03-15-2010, 02:26 AM

In another spin on how we view drugs and the environment, an interesting news report has come out on the adverse effects that the cocaine trade has on the Environment.

for every gram of cocaine, 4m2 of forest is cleared to make way for cocaine plantations.

what do you think about the new angle that is being spun? instead of cocaine is bad for your health, it's Cocaine is bad for the environment. surely people care for their health more than the environment, to want to see a change?

will people think about the environment before they snort? and will this work?

Snort more cocaine and the rainforest dies - Times Online

Quote:

Don’t sniff: cocaine users are killing the planet. Every time they snort a line, part of the rainforest dies — or so say the police in a new campaign against drugs.

They hope that appealing to young people’s environmental concerns will prove more effective than urging them to “just say no” to drugs. Linking with Greenpeace, the police plan to spread the message that for every gram of cocaine made, four square metres of rainforest are destroyed.

Chris Pearson, drug analyst at the Metropolitan police’s intelligence bureau, said: “The cocaine trade is destroying the rainforest. Young people don’t tend to listen to the police, but they might listen to Greenpeace and they might listen to their peers.”

The move is backed by the government. Vernon Coaker, the schools minister, said: “Teaching young people about the devastating environmental consequences of the drugs industry is one way we can tackle drug usage, though we need to balance this with giving young people clear information and advice on the other effects of drugs.”

Law enforcement agencies destroy fragile ecosystems when they target illegal coca plantations, often dropping more chemicals on them from the air.

Environmentalists hope that images of rainforest destruction will make cocaine use as politically incorrect as wearing fur from animals caught in the wild. “Just telling young people that using cocaine is bad doesn’t work,” said John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace.

“You need to change teenage culture and point out that it has all sorts of consequences. Then they start talking about it more loudly and you could get into that fur coat situation.”

The new approach follows evidence that cocaine use is increasing among young people in the UK, partly driven by lower prices.

Some MPs believe the “save the planet” message will also appeal to environmentally conscious middle-class cocaine users.

filtherton · 03-15-2010, 02:46 AM

I think that most adverse environmental effects associated with cocaine use could also probably be pinned on law enforcement's misguided war on drugs. Cocaine growers probably wouldn't have to destroy more rainforest if law enforcement agencies weren't destroying fragile ecosystems when they target illegal plantations.

Maybe Greenpeace should focus their message more on policymakers.

Glory's Sun · 03-15-2010, 04:03 AM

Nobody ever called me a hippie, I guess I know why now.

Tully Mars · 03-15-2010, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by filtherton

I think that most adverse environmental effects associated with cocaine use could also probably be pinned on law enforcement's misguided war on drugs. Cocaine growers probably wouldn't have to destroy more rainforest if law enforcement agencies weren't destroying fragile ecosystems when they target illegal plantations.

Maybe Greenpeace should focus their message more on policymakers.

Absolutely, we go to countries like Columbia and destroy thousands of acres with chemical air sprays. Officials say the chemicals only effect the coca plant. Farmer say they can't get anything to grow after the sprays. I trust the farmers more then the government. It's kind of like finding out a building has a rodent problem and deciding to blow up the building.

Prohibition didn't work with alcohol and it isn't working with drugs. As long as people desire to use drugs there will always be a supply. The amount of my tax dollars going to fight this so called war on drugs pisses me off to no end.

samcol · 03-15-2010, 04:23 AM

even more reason to end the war on drugs. will anyone quit snorting coke to save the rain forest though? i really doubt it...

ASU2003 · 03-15-2010, 04:12 PM

FuturePundit: Dopamine D2 Receptor Blocker Cures Cocaine Addiction In Rats

Just force the addicts to take this shot and we won't have this problem when they get caught. If it gets treated as a medical issue instead of a criminal issue, it would work out better in the end.

Tully Mars · 03-15-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASU2003

If it gets treated as a medical issue instead of a criminal issue, it would work out better in the end.

Truer words have never been said. But that's not been the strategy in the US for generations. We've been standing in water, trying to hold it back for so long few realize we're standing in the surf and fighting the tide. There are so many forces keeping "drugs" illegal it's near impossible to imagine changing course.

It's not that surprising really. Everyone wants short quick answers to even the most complex problems. If you take the stand drugs=bad and work backwards it all makes sense. Problem is the situation is far more complex. Does everyone who drinks turn into an alcoholic? Of course not, but some do. Still I'd argue by far most drinkers are social and not seriously harming anyone. I'd argue the same for several other substances.

Marijuana and other drugs were demonized starting in the 30's. We started out watching "Reefer Madness" not knowing the real madness would be spending billions of dollars trying to infringe upon the freedoms of adults. We've taken it so far that US citizens can't (or at least couldn't, may have changed don't know.) grow and use hemp, a completely benign yet very useful substance. I think all of the founding fathers used hemp.

Land of the free my ass.

raging moderate · 03-16-2010, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by filtherton

I think that most adverse environmental effects associated with cocaine use could also probably be pinned on law enforcement's misguided war on drugs. Cocaine growers probably wouldn't have to destroy more rainforest if law enforcement agencies weren't destroying fragile ecosystems when they target illegal plantations.

Maybe Greenpeace should focus their message more on policymakers.

Agree 100%. Our country could stand to do a few more drugs anyway. Besides the war on drugs is accomplishing nothing other than lining corrupt officers' pockets and screwing people who actually do work their asses off AND export a product that people actually want. Not to mention the ridiculously horrible things we do to these supposed "criminals" when we catch them in other countries where their deeds are not even illegal.

yournamehere · 03-17-2010, 09:38 AM

If the thousands of people murdered each year during the process of delivering drugs to your neighborhood isn't a deterrent, why should a few acres of rain forest bother you? You'd have to have a unique set of morals to ignore the first; yet be affected by the second.

03-15-2010, 04:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
samcol Junkie Location: Indiana	even more reason to end the war on drugs. will anyone quit snorting coke to save the rain forest though? i really doubt it... __________________ It's time for the president to hand over his nobel peace prize.

03-17-2010, 09:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
yournamehere Invisible Location: tentative, at best	If the thousands of people murdered each year during the process of delivering drugs to your neighborhood isn't a deterrent, why should a few acres of rain forest bother you? You'd have to have a unique set of morals to ignore the first; yet be affected by the second. __________________ If you want to avoid 95% of internet spelling errors: "If your ridiculous pants are too loose, you're definitely going to lose them. Tell your two loser friends over there that they're going to lose theirs, too." It won't hurt your fashion sense, either.

03-15-2010, 02:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
filtherton Junkie Location: In the land of ice and snow.	I think that most adverse environmental effects associated with cocaine use could also probably be pinned on law enforcement's misguided war on drugs. Cocaine growers probably wouldn't have to destroy more rainforest if law enforcement agencies weren't destroying fragile ecosystems when they target illegal plantations. Maybe Greenpeace should focus their message more on policymakers.

03-15-2010, 04:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	Nobody ever called me a hippie, I guess I know why now.

03-15-2010, 04:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
ASU2003 immoral minority Location: Back in Ohio	FuturePundit: Dopamine D2 Receptor Blocker Cures Cocaine Addiction In Rats Just force the addicts to take this shot and we won't have this problem when they get caught. If it gets treated as a medical issue instead of a criminal issue, it would work out better in the end.