Comments on: The War on Coca Leaves http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2008/03/the-war-on-coca-leaves/ A Guide to Mestizo Shamanism in the Upper Amazon Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:12:21 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jose Froton http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2008/03/the-war-on-coca-leaves/comment-page-1/#comment-4485 Jose Froton Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:04:22 +0000 http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2008/03/the-war-on-coca-leaves/#comment-4485 I need to communicate to the many rightfully angry people who despise Americans. Vast numbers of the American population so strongly disagree with the US' current "War on Drugs" and the cruel and imperialistic methods of which most Citizens are never told or aware of. As an educated ethnobotanist, I have cried many times at the United States Civil Rights War on people both here in the States and abroad. Through the education of the public by several anti-drug-prohibitionist Citizen grass roots groups here in the US, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition(L.E.A.P.), the Marijuana Policy Project(M.P.P.), the American Civil Liberties Union, and others, WE are fighting hard against our government's war and hate mongering imperialistic laws. More people in America have been quickly been given a rude awakening about not only the social and civil injustices that occur here in our own country, a war against the civilian population, but equally important, about the completely EVIL injustices committed by both racist and propagandistic international policies that ruin the lives of countless millions! Yes! I cannot help but cry when I read how a poor mother in one of the coca producing areas in Bolivia falls to her knees, crossing her hands as if praying and begging a US paid guerrilla to please not destroy her family's coca fields because then they will have nothing to help them supplement their limited food resources, and then he shoots her in the forehead dead, murdered in front of her own children, dead! Now the family is without a mother, and everything the guerrillas destroyed of theirs! YES! I CRY! The psychological impact is so utterly cruel, I can understand why many in Latin America hate Americans! Please understand, WE are doing our very best, without hopefully being either murdered or jailed for conspiracy, to change and put to an end to all injustice committed by my own government; I stand not alone. I am one man amongst a vast voice demanding change. I am man enough to say these things without fear. I am proud of President Evo Morales standing up against the criminal policies the US Government expects from its perceived "lesser power" and kick out the DEA and any government leftovers! One man has made a huge change by standing up for justice, and I also, stand beside you all! Amen! I need to communicate to the many rightfully angry people who despise Americans. Vast numbers of the American population so strongly disagree with the US’ current “War on Drugs” and the cruel and imperialistic methods of which most Citizens are never told or aware of. As an educated ethnobotanist, I have cried many times at the United States Civil Rights War on people both here in the States and abroad. Through the education of the public by several anti-drug-prohibitionist Citizen grass roots groups here in the US, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition(L.E.A.P.), the Marijuana Policy Project(M.P.P.), the American Civil Liberties Union, and others, WE are fighting hard against our government’s war and hate mongering imperialistic laws. More people in America have been quickly been given a rude awakening about not only the social and civil injustices that occur here in our own country, a war against the civilian population, but equally important, about the completely EVIL injustices committed by both racist and propagandistic international policies that ruin the lives of countless millions! Yes! I cannot help but cry when I read how a poor mother in one of the coca producing areas in Bolivia falls to her knees, crossing her hands as if praying and begging a US paid guerrilla to please not destroy her family’s coca fields because then they will have nothing to help them supplement their limited food resources, and then he shoots her in the forehead dead, murdered in front of her own children, dead! Now the family is without a mother, and everything the guerrillas destroyed of theirs! YES! I CRY! The psychological impact is so utterly cruel, I can understand why many in Latin America hate Americans! Please understand, WE are doing our very best, without hopefully being either murdered or jailed for conspiracy, to change and put to an end to all injustice committed by my own government; I stand not alone. I am one man amongst a vast voice demanding change. I am man enough to say these things without fear. I am proud of President Evo Morales standing up against the criminal policies the US Government expects from its perceived “lesser power” and kick out the DEA and any government leftovers! One man has made a huge change by standing up for justice, and I also, stand beside you all! Amen!

]]> By: Chuntaro's Corner http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2008/03/the-war-on-coca-leaves/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Chuntaro's Corner Mon, 24 Mar 2008 08:02:00 +0000 http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2008/03/the-war-on-coca-leaves/#comment-88 Arauco monien palei, marchimew!<br/><br/>Kallalla cemanahuac-tewatnsinsuyo!<br/><br/>Mama Coca, huel cualli, nican ca!<br/><br/>Mama Coca, Maka pejuta waste!<br/><br/>Since I am no ones pastor and none of my friends are running for office (yet). I am in no need to measure my words and in one of those rare occasions I am going to give it my best try to talk about ethno-euro-centrism and what I see as plain ignorance on this particular topic without losing my marbles. <br/><br/>If the UN instead of showing its lack of understanding and sensitivity towards the nations that traditionally use coca leaves does some of the things that it was formed to do such as fight poverty, malnourishment, ignorace,marginalizing of children and women and protect nations that are being attacked by invading forces; It may restore some credibility in the eyes of many disappointed people all over the world.<br/>The UN and the INCB are openly showing how an international entity that is based on the respect to human values and virtues and is supposed to be the moral backbone for this planet is completely clueless about the spirituality and the nutritional value of the coca leave. Ironically the Mama Coca can be the solution to many of the problems this institution is trying to solve. The UN could have the coca leave be part of its efforts to eliminate hunger. Instead of feeding a whole bunch of people in places like Uganda, Ethiopia and Haiti with lab produced portions of fat an protein that send peoples bodies into shock, the pilchjar, mambear, drinking in tea or chewing of the coca leave could be employed as a way to relax, nurture an ready the body for more solid food and larger amount of fats and proteins. The excess of antioxidants and digestive enzymes would not hurt an starving metabolism either.<br/>An important component in all indigenous cultures is the one of sovereignty. The respect to the rights and beliefs of others equals peace. Wise words by the Tlatoani Benitotzin Juarez based in the Huey Tlatolli of the continent. I recommend that the UN looks into this.<br/>But, since I am openly upset, here is my decree:<br/><br/>If we as native people have to leave the Mama Coca, then in the best retributive spirit; I call for European countries with membership on the UN and the non indigenous peoples in the US (European-Americans only) to call for a halt on consuming alcohol, and to stop using medicines that could be perceived as drugs that have been marketed and stolen from the American continent such as Cacao, Tobacco and Coffee. By the way I would also make a recommendation on the proper treatment and education of consumers of cocaine or any other manufactured substance in the states and Europe. I would like to recommend too, to make sure that people get the proper societal acknowledgement and emotional nurturing they need so they do not have to escape from their reality by using cocaine. Aho, Wastelo, Kallalla, Ometeotl, Amen! Arauco monien palei, marchimew!

Kallalla cemanahuac-tewatnsinsuyo!

Mama Coca, huel cualli, nican ca!

Mama Coca, Maka pejuta waste!

Since I am no ones pastor and none of my friends are running for office (yet). I am in no need to measure my words and in one of those rare occasions I am going to give it my best try to talk about ethno-euro-centrism and what I see as plain ignorance on this particular topic without losing my marbles.

If the UN instead of showing its lack of understanding and sensitivity towards the nations that traditionally use coca leaves does some of the things that it was formed to do such as fight poverty, malnourishment, ignorace,marginalizing of children and women and protect nations that are being attacked by invading forces; It may restore some credibility in the eyes of many disappointed people all over the world.
The UN and the INCB are openly showing how an international entity that is based on the respect to human values and virtues and is supposed to be the moral backbone for this planet is completely clueless about the spirituality and the nutritional value of the coca leave. Ironically the Mama Coca can be the solution to many of the problems this institution is trying to solve. The UN could have the coca leave be part of its efforts to eliminate hunger. Instead of feeding a whole bunch of people in places like Uganda, Ethiopia and Haiti with lab produced portions of fat an protein that send peoples bodies into shock, the pilchjar, mambear, drinking in tea or chewing of the coca leave could be employed as a way to relax, nurture an ready the body for more solid food and larger amount of fats and proteins. The excess of antioxidants and digestive enzymes would not hurt an starving metabolism either.
An important component in all indigenous cultures is the one of sovereignty. The respect to the rights and beliefs of others equals peace. Wise words by the Tlatoani Benitotzin Juarez based in the Huey Tlatolli of the continent. I recommend that the UN looks into this.
But, since I am openly upset, here is my decree:

If we as native people have to leave the Mama Coca, then in the best retributive spirit; I call for European countries with membership on the UN and the non indigenous peoples in the US (European-Americans only) to call for a halt on consuming alcohol, and to stop using medicines that could be perceived as drugs that have been marketed and stolen from the American continent such as Cacao, Tobacco and Coffee. By the way I would also make a recommendation on the proper treatment and education of consumers of cocaine or any other manufactured substance in the states and Europe. I would like to recommend too, to make sure that people get the proper societal acknowledgement and emotional nurturing they need so they do not have to escape from their reality by using cocaine. Aho, Wastelo, Kallalla, Ometeotl, Amen!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2008/03/the-war-on-coca-leaves/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Anonymous Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:19:00 +0000 http://www.singingtotheplants.com/2008/03/the-war-on-coca-leaves/#comment-87 Great article Steve~<br/><br/>I hope they are successful in holding onto their traditions. Cleary, the government does not understand the importance of this tradition in the Andean culture. I'm sure their take on it is to slow the incoming cocaine traffic into this country. <br/>Do you think that by making the coca leaves illegal this would cause a breakdown in the Andean culture and social fabric?<br/>Perhaps they should look at making the processing and export of this leaf illegal,because from what I understand the leaf itself is not highly addictive...it's the processing that turns it into illegal cocaine. <br/>There are several ways around this...I hope they stick to their guns and push the UN to honor international indigenous rights.<br/><br/>nanci Great article Steve~

I hope they are successful in holding onto their traditions. Cleary, the government does not understand the importance of this tradition in the Andean culture. I’m sure their take on it is to slow the incoming cocaine traffic into this country.
Do you think that by making the coca leaves illegal this would cause a breakdown in the Andean culture and social fabric?
Perhaps they should look at making the processing and export of this leaf illegal,because from what I understand the leaf itself is not highly addictive…it’s the processing that turns it into illegal cocaine.
There are several ways around this…I hope they stick to their guns and push the UN to honor international indigenous rights.

nanci

]]>