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p6
 A couple of weeks ago I went to a seminar on Afghanistan. There were a
number of exiled Afghani politicians there. They were urbane, pro-western and very opposed
to the Taliban. But they were even more opposed to the bombing of Afghanistan. They
pointed out that the war would have already cost billions. Cruise missiles alone cost a
million dollars a pop. And they pointed out that If those billions had been spent on
massive humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, together with judicious bribes to local
warlords, 'the Taliban would have handed over Osama Bin Laden on a silver platter' (their
words not mine). It would at least have been worth trying.
I was opposed to the bombing. And voted against it in parliament. First of all I believe
that the United Nations should have led any war against terrorism' from the very
beginning. This would have given it more legitimacy in the eyes of the Muslim world. As it
is, many suspect that it is not a war against terrorism at all, but a war against the
enemies of America.
I also think that diplomacy and negotiation should have been given a chance. Some
supporters of the bombing have consoled themselves with the Idea that the bombing was
'targeted'. The truth is that we were told that the bombing on Kosovo was' targeted' but
after the war was over, it was quietly revealed that only 40 per cent of those bombs hit
their target. In Afghanistan very many innocent men women and children have died as a
result of our bombing. The thousands of deaths in New York were a terrible tragedy But
nothing is gained by adding innocent Afghan casualties to innocent American casualties.
And the bombing has caused even more anger and bitterness against America across the
Muslim world.
Pro-bombers now feel vindicated because the Taliban regime has apparently collapsed. But
we still have not found Osama Bin Laden. And Afghanistan now seems at the mercy of
competing warlords. Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world. It was
already reduced to rubble by over 20 years of civil war. Now America, the richest country
in the world, has reduced that rubble to even smaller rubble with Its B52 bombers and
cluster bombs.
I am all for a 'war against terrorism'. But an effective war need not involve bombing. We
need justice for the Palestinians, an end to the bombing of Iraq, and Britain and America
should stop propping up corrupt monarchies across the Middle East. To coin a phrase - we
need to be tough on terrorism but also tough on the causes of terrorism.
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Over the last fifteen years
Stoke Newington has been transformed into a unique and vibrant social centre, attracting a
sophisticated cosmopolitan clientele from a wide area. With ongoing changes to Britain's
antiquated drug laws opening new opportunities for those who wish to celebrate the use of
cannabis in Middle Eastern cuisine, cakes and fudges, and the door to the medical
dispensation of cannabis open, an opportunity for substantial social and economic benefit
is within our reach.
Shortly before David Blunkett's 'sudden' announcement of cannabis reclassification,
Cannabis Action London submitted to Hackney Council and the Home Affairs Committee
Inquiry, The Governments Drug Policy. Is it working? -proposals for a licensed cannabis
cafes pilot scheme in Hackney.
Following the tested Dutch regulations that require no advertising, no hard drugs, no
nuisance, no alcohol, no sale to under 18's and no more than 30g per transaction, Cannabis
Action proposes an initial three cafes. A community cannabis cafe can enhance the
restaurant developments south of Hackney Town Hall while another, also on Mare Street, to
complement the growing entertainment industry, can provide a fast take-away service. This
must be enabled to supersede the illegal market by keeping long hours, offering the widest
choice of resin and herbal cannabis at lower prices, a quality guarantee and ethical
trading, to benefit producers and consumers.
Building on a well-earned reputation for quality leisure and peaceful socialisation, Stoke
Newington can derive considerable benefit by hosting Hackney's third cannabis cafe.
Cannabis cafes vary through the bookshops of San Francisco, Dutch coffee shops and trendy
juice bars, to London's organic bakery. The few which have become established are very
successful and frustrated by lack of expansion opportunities.
One of the principal advantages of the opening of cannabis cafes will be the freeing of
police time from the futile and relentless burden of cannabis prohibition to the
much-needed struggle against the growing problem of violent crime often associated with
hard drugs.
Drugscope, which advises the government, has recently come out in support of cannabis
cafes. This is a view held by many opinion polls, media, and shades of political opinion.
Hackney Council Leader Jules Pipe feels the pilot scheme may require legal reform but he
is mistaken. Lambeth police introduced an effective decriminalisation without such reform
and the Home Office have written to Cannabis Action acknowledging that, 'Police
Commissioners have discretion as to how the law is applied.' Holland is a co-signatory to
UN Conventions and has not been expelled.
Since 1 May 1999, Cannabis Action London has organised three marches from Kennington Park
to the hugely successful cannabis festival in Brockwell Park and initiated a consultation
process in Lambeth about licensed cannabis cafes. As the movement against prohibition
grows. more than 120 cities will be taking worldwide action on 4 May 2002. The oppressed
and impoverished producers of cannabis at last have a small hope of receiving some part of
the prosperity so long denied them Where better than Stoke Newington to celebrate this new
dawn?
Many people have expressed interest in the Licensed Cannabis Cafes Pilot Scheme. I shall
offer copies to every library in the borough and can provide them on request. phone 07752
844 424 or 020 7737 6289,
Finally, I would like to invite everybody who is concerned about, interested in,
enthusiastically in favour of, or vehemently opposed to this proposal, to come and hear
and be heard at the community discussion at Saint Mary's Community Centre, Defoe Rd, on 23
January at 7pm. I will be inviting local councillors, charities concerned with drugs and
alcohol, Diane Abbott, who recently supported the Legalisation of Cannabis Bill, Hackney
police, and the media.
Alistair Williams,
CANNABIS ACTION LONDON and long-term Stoke Newington resident |
