Help stop the War On Drugs - General

As many of you know the war on drugs has cost us too much in the way of money and lives. Now I'm not sure if this is a gimmick, I sure hope not. All we need is 500 000 thousand signatures on the petition, and as I speak we are at 477 484, please do your part and vote. [url="http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_the_war_on_drugs/?slideshow"]Vote Here[/url] [editline]e[/editline] Was just reading through Addicts Lounge, was posted hours before I made this thread. [QUOTE=TrouserDemon;30154582]Just a reminder to sign this; [url]http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_the_war_on_drugs/[/url] 72 hours left before it's presented to the UN.[/QUOTE] Another poster before me. [quote=Morbo!!!] [url]http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_the_war_on_drugs/?fpla[/url] In days, we could finally see the beginning of the end of the ‘war on drugs’. This expensive war has completely failed to curb the plague of drug addiction, while costing countless lives, devastating communities, and funneling trillions of dollars into violent organized crime networks. Experts all agree that the most sensible policy is to regulate, but politicians are afraid to touch the issue. In days, a global commission including former heads of state and foreign policy chiefs of the UN, EU, US, Brazil, Mexico and more will break the taboo and publicly call for new approaches including decriminalization and regulation of drugs. This could be a once-in-a-generation tipping-point moment -- if enough of us call for an end to this madness. Politicians say they understand that the war on drugs has failed, but claim the public isn't ready for an alternative. Let's show them we not only accept a sane and humane policy -- we demand it. Sign the petition and share with everyone --if we reach 1 million voices, it will be personally delivered to world leaders by the global commission. For 50 years current drug policies have failed everyone, everywhere but public debate is stuck in the mud of fear and misinformation. Everyone, even the UN Office on Drugs and Crime which is responsible for enforcing this approach agrees -- deploying militaries and police to burn drug farms, hunting down traffickers, and imprisoning dealers and addicts – is an expensive mistake. And with massive human cost -- from Afghanistan, to Mexico, to the USA the illegal drug trade is destroying countries around the world, while addiction, overdose deaths, and HIV/AIDS infections continue to rise. Meanwhile, countries with less-harsh enforcement -- like Switzerland, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Australia -- have not seen the explosion in drug use that proponents of the drug war have darkly predicted. Instead, they have seen significant reductions in drug-related crime, addiction and deaths, and are able to focus squarely on dismantling criminal empires. Powerful lobbies still stand in the way of change, including military, law enforcement, and prison departments whose budgets are at stake. And politicians fear that voters will throw them out of office if they support alternative approaches, as they will appear weak on law and order. But many former drug Ministers and Heads of State have come out in favour of reform since leaving office, and polls show that citizens across the world know the current approach is a catastrophe. Momentum is gathering towards new improved policies, particularly in regions that are ravaged by the drug trade. If we can create a worldwide outcry in the next few days to support the bold calls of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, we can overpower the stale excuses for the status quo. Our voices hold the key to change -- Sign the petition and spread the word. We have a chance to enter the closing chapter of this brutal 'war' that has destroyed millions of lives. Global public opinion will determine if this catastrophic policy is stopped or if politicians shy away from reform. Let's rally urgently to push our hesitating leaders from doubt and fear, over the edge, and into reason. This takes 30 seconds. Do it. [/quote] [editline]e[/editline] Rate agree if you signed it, this could be looked at like some sort of poll I guess.

I posted this earlier last week, thread got locked for some reason.

damn 22,000 sigs added since I checked a few hours ago.

[QUOTE=Dedmytas;30163498]I posted this earlier last week, thread got locked for some reason.[/QUOTE] If you can get a quote of your post i'll put it in the OP, admittedly I didn't look hard for any other post, just searched the front page and Addicts Lounge, sorry about that. [editline]e[/editline] 777'th post, i think it's lucky.

And how does this petition make change? I've never seen or heard any petition do actual change, but I would love to see/hear petition that changed things.

I don't want to put my postcodes etc.. why can't i vote anonymously? [editline]31st May 2011[/editline] And I don't wanna to become avaaz member

[QUOTE=Careld;30163661]And how does this petition make change? I've never seen or heard any petition do actual change, but I would love to see/hear petition that changed things.[/QUOTE] Because it coincides with loads of ex presidents and important people going to the UN commission on drug policy at a time where prohibition is being seen to be increasingly futile. This petition adds weight to the cause.

[QUOTE=Careld;30163661]And how does this petition make change? I've never seen or heard any petition do actual change, but I would love to see/hear petition that changed things.[/QUOTE] Well petitions that make change are rare, but even signing a petition that supports the same opinion is a good thing. Thinking it won't make a difference so I won't sign it is like not voting because the person you want to vote for will lose anyways. [QUOTE=Bat-shit;30163665]I don't want to put my postcodes etc.. why can't i vote anonymously? [editline]31st May 2011[/editline] And I don't wanna to become avaaz member[/QUOTE] I don't think it automatically makes you a member.

[QUOTE=TGiFallen;30163603]If you can get a quote of your post i'll put it in the OP, admittedly I didn't look hard for any other post, just searched the front page and Addicts Lounge, sorry about that. [editline]e[/editline] 777'th post, i think it's lucky.[/QUOTE] Oh man, sorry, it wasn't my post, I posted the link on another forum, not this one D: Here's the thread btw: [URL]http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1091659-Sign-this.-Fucking-now[/URL].

already did, i was in the 5000 firsts to vote, been spreading alot lately

5,000 more! HNNNNG

The postal code part is optional, I didn't enter it in.

2000 more!

What I hope will happen is that all the world leaders and such who know that it needs changing but can't publicly say it or do anything about it because of the political ramifications of changing your mind can use this as a reason to actually make changes. I really hate it when all the past presidents and heads of law enforcement and such declare that they are all for a change, only after than can no longer do anything about it. Their frank admission of doing the wrong thing just to stay in power is really disheartening to my perceptions of the ruling classes.

Less than 500 left. Woooo~

YAY! I hope very much something comes of it.

[QUOTE=TrouserDemon;30167634]YAY! I hope very much something comes of it.[/QUOTE] Ahahaha, don't get your hopes up.

I'm sure it will at least get the ball rolling, or more likely, give it a nudge.

Um what, just looked at it and now its 750,000 petitions needed.

Eh? Still 500,000 for me. EDIT:Oh, just changed. I guess they're moving it along so people have a new target to aim for. Important thing is that we've reached the 500,000 threshold for it to be delivered to the UN.

They're gonna have a live thing of the votes being added during the UN thing, as well, so the more the merrier now.