Please help with this drugs policy reform advocacy

[sweetheart]

This book contains an eloquent and unimpeachable argument for the very
reforms of the drugs laws that we've all discussed here.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1566398606/qid=1120424933/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-5913897-2396631

My advocacy idea is to "amazon" this book to critical legislators and
leaders the world over, in the belief that it will dispell ignorance and
give them the courage to overturn this destructive state of affiars.

I ask your help, DU'ers, in 2 ways. (either, or both)
1. On this thread, compile a list of "who" should get a copy
2. Pay for and send the copies.

I have started by sending a gift wrapped copy (knowledge is a gift), to:
1. Rt. Hon. Tony Blair
2. Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown
3. Hon Kenneth Clarke

I considered asking DU for your help in sending one to every single
congressman and senate person, and then i realized that most of them
are a total waste of time. So, given that 1 sending of this book
is not cheap... and we have to make them count, then who else should
we send them to?

[sweetheart]

1. Ok, here's the beginning of a list

Firstly, in the art of book lobbying, it is pointless to send to persons
who are stupid. As well, it is pointless to send to people who get
lots of mail. So here's my extended list:

Angela Merkel - CDU leader (head of german party most likely to become
prime minister of germany come this fall)

Lord Hope of Craighead - crossbench law lord (UK house of lords), and
chair of the international criminal law association.

Charles Schumer - US senator (my senator)

If you guys helped me out, i would love to send one to each member of
the US senate... but not an option on a private person's budget.

If i knew the names of any intelligent people in japan's government,
or any in the french government, it would be worth a try... but the
person has to really be wise, smart enough to get that the drugs laws
are incredibly destructive to their societies, and in a position to
bring about change.

If other nations in the world started breaking with american drugs
laws to not criminalize their own youth and follow the lemmings off
the cliff, then it would be easier to win that in america proper.
History shows us that the UK ended slavery and granted women voting
sufferage before the US did. In that sense, i think its critical we
look "global" in terms of influencing the end of the pointless
tragedy of the american drugs war.

These are open on my list:

Jerrold Nadler (my congressman)... does he have any influence?

Prince of Wales, Charles... is a powerful advocate for oppressed,
and could be a valuable outspoken friend of the people?

Queen Elisabeth - she meets with tony blair regularly, but i don't
know if she cares about destroying britain's youth, nor if she's
smart enough to realize that the drugs war is a failure.

Vladimir Putin - possibly, Russia could be a powerful advocate of
people's rights in the american WOD, but i don't know if he's smart
enough?


(mexico's president and the leader of its opposition party, and its
best and brightest?) I don't know the names, but these chaps pay
a heavy toll for the failed WOD, and might be wise enough to realize
a profound change is necessary.

(brazil as well?)

[Mythsaje]

2. That book

was written by a judge, wasn't it?

There's also something done by the former Seattle Chief of Police--yeah, the guy who was running things during the WTO riots--not sure if it's a book or what...

Also very good is "Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do," by Peter McWilliams.

Here's the on-line version.

http://www.libertysearch.com/directory/consensual_crimes/

[sweetheart]

3. Its why the book is so excellent

The judge has written a book so cordial and so eloquent, that what
has sounded like a bias argument every other published version i've
ever read, is grounded and sound coming from a judge who has worked for
over 20 years persecuting the drugs war... and as a drugs war prosecutor.

It is an ideal book to put in the hands of legislators and people who
think with "legal mind", as they have been poorly served by most of
the literature for the harm reduction meme.

Peter McWilliams, a west hollywood writer/publisher of witty and wise
books is not the source to win the argument with hard core
conservatives. The book impresses me to bits, as his indictment
really is judicial. He uses case law to make his case for the erosion
of civil liberties, not partisan rhetoric. I feel that if a non-partisan case can be made to the right people, that it will make them
wiser. The WOD is a failure in every single regard, and when proven
comprehensively, the only way to perpetuate the status quo is through
total denial of rationality, science, evidence and proof. At some point
the insane persons who persecute this war will have to come down off
the roof and get real... and i'm hoping to prepare the ground, in
whatever way is suitable, for that climbdown to sanity.

[Mythsaje]

4. Actually,

it was a "conservative" who turned me on to Peter McWilliams in the first place. The left has been remarkably silent about the drug war, while opposition to it has been rising on the right.

Odd, that...

[sweetheart]

5. I know peter mcwilliams

and i think he's a respectable chap. We haven't spoken in a
few years, and i'm glad he's on to drugs advocacy. Just that as he
was, last time we communicated, being brought up on cannabis charges
in a LA criminal court, his drugs advocacy looks motivated by
his own habits. I think that's ok, personally, but for hard core
conservatives, it is their fear that drugs advocacy is really just a
bunch of drugs users wanting it legal.

It is why the judge's book is so powerful by contrast.

[Dez]

6. I thought he was dead. n/t

[sweetheart]

7. well that explains it

I last had contact with him in 1999 or so.

Back in 1984, he had a nice flat with a big hot tub in it, and he used
to pick up guys off the street, make love to them, and keep their photos.
He showed me his photo album and it was breathtaking that he'd "done"
so many lovers. Such was gay life once upon a time.

I still got a pencil from him around here some place that says,
"word processor" on it... back when he was publishing little complaining
books about technology.

I think now, on our last contact, that he was advocating cannabis for
AIDS, and was being brought up in an LA court for drugs.

[Asgaya Dihi]

8. Peter

They cut him off from medical marijuana and he strangled on his own vomit some time later. Was a bad way to go.

http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n948/a03.html

There's a list of a few other victims of the drug war at the following link. What we've been doing causes more harm than it does good on about every level, a lot of victims had little to do with drugs as such.

http://www.dpft.org/deaths.html