Chorus of sanity

Green Democrats

There are powerful environmental reasons why we should be pitching for Obama.

A speech unnoticed here was made yesterday by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer.  He ripped into "petro-dictators" and multinational oil companies. "After eight years of a White House waiting hand and foot on Big Oil, John McCain offers more of the same," he said.

With nearly 70% of oil consumed by Americans coming from overseas, US energy policy lines the pockets of dictators in hostile countries.

"At a time of skyrocketing fuel prices, when American families are struggling to keep their gas tanks full, John McCain voted 25 times against renewable and alternative energy: against clean bio fuels, against solar power, against wind energy," said the governor.

 

Senlis sense

The overall reduction in poppy cultivation announced by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in its Afghanistan Opium Survey 2008 masks the fact that the drugs trade is now concentrated in seven of Afghanistan’s least secure provinces in the south of the country. It is clear now more than ever that the opium trade is feeding the Taliban insurgency.

“Opium is the cancer destroying the south of Afghanistan,” said Emmanuel Reinert, Executive Director of The Senlis Council. “Current counter-narcotics policies are failing to address the loss of the southern provinces to the dual scourges of poppy production and terrorism.”

 The decrease in poppy cultivation will have a minimal effect on the drugs trade, given the exponential growth in opium production since 2002. “This decrease is no more than a ripple in the ocean,” Reinert added. “Without an urgent change of direction in the country’s counter-narcotics policies, the international community will be unable to prevent the consolidation of opium production in the south of the country, and the consolidation of the Taliban which is financed by the illegal drugs trade.”

“Crop eradication has failed to reduce these provinces opium output, while succeeding to push impoverished Afghan farmers further into the arms of the Taliban insurgency,” said Almas Bawar Zakhilwal, Canada Country Director at the Senlis Council.

Sing for health

We all know that activity of mind and brain is more therapeutic than a fistful of drugs. What about ‘singing’? World-renowned health experts argue that there is overwhelming evidence that singing has a profound effect on health and wellbeing.  Their findings could one day pave the way for ‘singing on prescription.’

A conference in Folkestone next month will hear of the positive impact of singing in a bid to encourage other healthcare professionals to recognise music as a crucial form of treatment.

The conference will particularly focus on how music has been used to support the ageing population (including those suffering with dementia); those with brain injuries; and mental health service users. 

Professor Stephen Clift, Head of the Sidney De Han Research Centre for Arts and Health, said: “This conference aims to encourage the NHS to recognise the power of music as a crucial form of treatment and health promotion.  We are delighted to welcome a wealth of experts from across the globe that will provide groundbreaking insights into the enormous value of music and singing on health and well-being.

No adverse side effects and no pouring money into the pockets of Big Pharma.

Comments

[Huw O'Sullivan]

Yup, drought hit poppy growth in northern territories leading to a 6% drop in opium production.
To put that in perspective, as Paul alluded to, in 2007, opium production was 34 percent above 2006 levels and nearly double the amount produced in 2005.
It is hard to imagine that the same level of success in opium production could have been achieved without the input of NATO forces. So, many thanks to those who have worked so hard to make the world a much worse place. Special thanks to the politicians who have given any form of backing or endorsement to this criminal enterprise and without whom this could not have happened.

[paulflynn]

Thanks Huw.

I have always been puzzled about the extent of the delusions in the First World War when tens of thousands of young men were sent to 'die as cattle' without any realisation of the stalemate that could not be broken.

There is no serious commentator who believes that our mission in Helmand province can achieve its objectives. Yet no leader of any party will say this. They all support sending more soldiers to die in Helmand. `it was the same denial that led to the build-up of US troops in Vietnam,

How long can it last?

[John]

The Governement is all over the place on its drug Policy. Jacqi Smith used the supposed increase in the strength of street cannabis to justify ignoring the ACMD. Todays report in the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/aug/28/drugspolicy.justice

shows that strength has fallen it is actually weaker now than it was when Blunkett downgraded it.

I quote "But David Porteous, a criminology lecturer from Middlesex University, said: "This information suggests that, in the time that it has been a class C drug, usage levels of cannabis have fallen and so has its strength. These findings make a mockery of the decision to re-reclassify cannabis and of the government's wider claim to base policy-making decisions on scientific research."

I for one am sick of the misinformation and downright lies that the Government uses to justify its policies particularly towards drugs. The situation re Afghanistan is another example were they ignore the facts and disappear into a fantasy land of their own.

[PaulFlynn]

It's an interesting argument John,

Since cannabis was reclasssified from B to C, less cannabis is being used and its strength has gone down. Certainly sounds like a success to me. So why decide to re-classify it to B.

This argument will certainly be put in the Commons on the first day when we return.

[Jolly Roger]

If music be the food of love,
Gifted to us from the One up above,
Make us a sandwich, there's a dear,
Metaphorically of course, I've no teeth in my ear.
I'll vouch for it's value as a therapeutic aid,
When life's tribulations upon you are laid.
A dulcet tone, a lingering note,
Can help to keep ones spirits afloat.

You may remember, Paul, my old chap,
That I related the story of the absolute crap,
That was shown to my late wife and I, by Jane Hutt.
Who kept the Welsh Health purse strings so tightly shut.
And later the absolute shock and surprise,
When my wife's short life ended by early demise.
I felt myself falling, out of control,
Into the depths of depression's gaping black hole.

I was talking to the mirror one day,
And said you just can't go on this way,
You're falling apart as long days they pass.
You've really got to get up from flat on your arse.
And having been a bit musical in my earlier yoof,
I went to the attic, up in the roof.
And there under dust was my old guitar.
Still in its case, looks good so far.

I dusted it off and plucked a few chords.
It sounded quite good to my mind of dischords.
The whispered sounds of a few Beatle songs,
Seemed to ease my distress and right a few wrongs.
I still play a bit now as a home grown therapy.
It's so much more positive than lurking in my serape.
And now in my musical growth as a scion,
I've developed a liking for music Hawaiian.

The infinite variance of every sweet note,
Seems to ease my mind and keep me afloat.
When sad memories linger and darken my day,
I plug in my Hawaiian and just float away.
To tranquil seas and verdant shores,
My mood is lifted, my spirit soars.
Of course, this feeling is only temporary,
But may be done in a manner entirely extemporary.

So to those who meander through darkened days.
Please try some focus to your gaze.
Music may be your public or your private room.
Wherein you can lift the grimmest gloom.
And whilst it cannot kill the pain.
It can ease it somewhat, 'til it returns again.
And although it's effect can be restricted,
It's an safer drug, to which you may be addicted.