use of cannabis and other widely-used recreational drugs. response from the local paper, which published almost my whole press release, with supplementary comments, under and enjoyed it." said John. "But none of the other candidates had the bottle to reply, or take up the issue." seroin Zero tolerance Whie leading fones -notably Ann Widdecombe -have in the last year flirted with the idea of a "zero tolerance" policy even for personal use of dung to unworkable legislation that is widely flouted every day. Surveys show that millions of young people and adults of al cannabis and other drugs, for which-because of the present repressive legislaton - reb no legal source of supply.
The poine l made in the press release was very simple," says John Lister.
"As in many other towns and of students and other Oxford branded as criminals for taking drugs which have been shown and alcohol "So what is the point in both Labour and Tory politicians banging on about policies to policy not only makes harmless people into criminals, but forces them to deal with real gangsters to obtain the drugs hey want?" system - except the drug gangs. The huge profts being coined in by drug cartels hinge their heroin addiction, includ- Padraic Finn ing an expansion of octox chabilitation and counselling services staffed by trained drugs workers.
Breaking the stranglehold providing clean pharmaceutical heroin on prescription to those addicts who are not yet ready Well, the World Trade to come off the drug. • A radical social programme to tackle the roots of hard drug abuse, including a huge expansion of cultural and multinational. sporting facilities at community | In Portugal, the Left Block, equrvulent to tnc Socialist Alliance, with two MPs, hos just succeeded in changing the law to decriminolise the use of cannabis. iti clear that the terms of the orgument are beginning to move, but it is also clear that the pressure Tor pro gressive reform has to come from the left. if the momentum is lost we can safely predict that the small window of enlightened debate on the issue among the establishment politicians The decision to close period, before it slams shut again in preporation for the next election.
le also had to be unanimous. If they coulin't agree, the deci. If you know the Roald Dahl sion went to an Adjudicator appointed by the Secretary of story, the Big Friendly Glant. you might remember that the State. But even before this hap BFG, before he sees the error pened, it was likely that the of his ways, goes about after Minister would close the school aryway. and snatching children to eat. Faced with this "choice", the head and the Governors had no alternative but to go along Organisaton carme to bren with privatisation. Town Hall on Monday July 9 and snatched away Wilesden The school's fate had already been decided somewhere eise: High School to give it to a giant it was to be handed over to a A Council Committee private compary whose main aim is profit. For all her procechaired by former member of the Socialist Education dures and consultations Association, Helga Gladbaum, Councilor Gladosum could not change a thing: Her responsidecided to close the school and hand it over to be re-opened bility was to give a veil of respectability to the machinaas a City Academy under the tions of global capitalism. control of Sir Frank Lowe and owned by the huge Interpublic racy. Is it any wonder people Corporation based in the USA are cynical about politicians When a Labour Councillor Tried out in the name of democasked why all the wonderful hings promised by Frank racy and social justice?
Everyone knows schools Lowe could not be provided without handing the school need more resources. It would over to him, the Chair told him be daft to turn down the offer that could not be discussed of £2m from Frank Lowe if that is what he is offering, Why not Willesden High and to re-open make nim a patron of the as a City Academy had already been taken: the Committee But most of the money for rebuidine the school is corning from us, the taxpayers. If £8 million of our money o berg por Into the school why hand controi of the school over to a multiTo ask the question is to answer it. The World Trade Organisation is seeking to open up government services to the orivate sector. its a toolprool way of keeping profits high -have taxpayers subsidise onvate companies So, for example, Raitrack pays millions to is shareholders while pressing the Government for more cash to prop up the railways, which they ve systematically asset-stripped since Privatisation in the NHS means fewer beds and worse conditions, It also means more charging for services and more hidden government debes. necks of our children and grandchikren for years into the In Africa, forcing governments to privatise their health services, that is, to hand them over to private companies who charge for health care, is called "revenue capture".
Exactly. The WTO is really the mouthpiece of big US cororations who want to get their hands on public funds to hait a side in pront over the last 30 years.
Blair, Gladbaum and the privateers in New Labour are their willing accomplices. repents. It wil go on stealing our health, education, transport ano oner services, not to mention our taxes, if we let it.
Local campaigners don't intend to gie up on the battle to save Willesden High school, fronting are replicated time and again in battles against privatisabon up and cown tre coal try - and indeed across the POUC
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