As I have created a new blog, I won't post here any more. For an article on British Health Tourism in Spain click either on the header or here.
Thursday 31 July 2008
Monday 9 June 2008
Home Countries Olympic Squads?
Pere Fornes
Squareonenews sport
The reason to ban separate squads in the Olympics seems to be that the home countries are not members of the International Olympic Committee. Only Great Britain is a member of the IOC.
There is an ongoing row about a GB football team reappearing, probably for the London 2012 Olympics. Scotland and Wales do not want to join a GB football team because they see this as a first step towards losing their independent status and towards having to compete in a GB football team in all international tournaments. Furthermore, this could imply that the four home countries could lose their voting rights within FIFA and would have to merge their separate associations into a GB one.
It would be unfair to have a GB football team in the 2012 Olympics represented only by English players because the Scottish and Welsh had refused to join it.
As squareonenews reported, there was one time in the Olympic history when the home countries hockey squads played separately and this year is the 100th anniversary of that event.
That sets a precedent. If there was one time when English, Scottish and Welsh squads played in the Olympics, there can be a second time.
o
Squareonenews sport
The reason to ban separate squads in the Olympics seems to be that the home countries are not members of the International Olympic Committee. Only Great Britain is a member of the IOC.
There is an ongoing row about a GB football team reappearing, probably for the London 2012 Olympics. Scotland and Wales do not want to join a GB football team because they see this as a first step towards losing their independent status and towards having to compete in a GB football team in all international tournaments. Furthermore, this could imply that the four home countries could lose their voting rights within FIFA and would have to merge their separate associations into a GB one.
It would be unfair to have a GB football team in the 2012 Olympics represented only by English players because the Scottish and Welsh had refused to join it.
As squareonenews reported, there was one time in the Olympic history when the home countries hockey squads played separately and this year is the 100th anniversary of that event.
That sets a precedent. If there was one time when English, Scottish and Welsh squads played in the Olympics, there can be a second time.
o
Thursday 29 May 2008
Sunday 25 May 2008
EDIMBURGO. CAPÍTULO 1.
Pere Fornes.
Squareone entertainment.
A manera de despedida después de dos años y medio de estancia en Edimburgo que terminará el próximo viernes 30, hoy publico el primer capítulo de una novela que escribí durante mi estancia. Es como un complemento al artículo “Vivir en Edimburgo” ya que puede ayudar a los lectores a familiarizarse con la vida Edimburguesa.
La novela, como todas, mezcla ficción y realidad. Todos los personajes y anécdotas que se cuentan tienen una base tan real como la vida misma, por muy chocante que pueda resultar.
CAPÍTULO 1.
ROBERTITO
El Robertito era famoso en el barrio de Campanar y en toda Valencia en general. La fama se la había ganado con el paso del tiempo. Medía 1’95 y tenia una cicatriz en la cara. Muchas leyendas circulaban sobre el origen de esa cicatriz, aunque nadie se atrevía a preguntarle. La leyenda que más circulaba contaba que, a la edad de 16 años, volvía por la noche del barrio del Carmen con un amigo por el viejo cauce del río Túria cuando dos gitanos les quisieron atracar y él se negó. Éstos sacaron sus navajas y el Robertito se las apaño para quitarle la navaja al primero. El segundo le rajó la cara pegando un salto. A partir de ahí diferentes personas contaban multitud de desenlaces diferentes con un denominador común: el Robertito tenía mogollón de huevos.
Esto le sirvió para ganarse fama, pero con el tiempo se hizo incluso más y más famoso. Empezó a traficar con droga y pronto subió a lo mas alto, pasando en grandes cantidades y manejando grandes sumas de dinero. Desde adolescente había llevado el pelo rapado aunque últimamente se lo afeitaba: se había apuntado a la moda de los ciclos de esteroides y como resultado tenia una masa muscular descomunal, aunque se estaba quedando calvo como efecto secundario de la testosterona. A primera vista, parecía un toro a dos patas. 1’95 de altura y 135 Kg. de músculo daban respeto. Solo sus amigos se atrevían a mirarle a los ojos.
El Robertito cogió a Boby, su pitt-bull y bajó al parque de la calle Castielfabib donde solía pasearlo.
José Ramírez, Suburbio para los amigos, era conocido en el barrio de Campanar por su afabilidad y simpatía. Tenia una tienda de animales en la Avenida Maestro Rodrigo y los clientes le apreciaban por su excelente servicio. Era amante de los animales y de la naturaleza y siempre estaba dispuesto a colaborar en causas benéficas. Esa tarde se levantó de la siesta más tarde de lo esperado. Tenía que abrir la tienda de animales a las 4 y ya eran las 4 y diez. No era una tragedia muy grande pues la tienda era suya, y vivía en la avenida General Avilés, a unos cinco minutos de la tienda. Pero Suburbio era muy metódico. Era puntual y odiaba llegar tarde. No podía soportar la idea de que algún cliente hubiera ido a la tienda a las 4 y cinco. Salió corriendo de casa sin tomar café ni nada.
Al cabo de un rato de abrir, el Robertito entró en la tienda del Suburbio, que aun no se había acabado de despertar del todo.
-Oye, que vengo a devolverte el perro este que te compre hace tres semanas, que está enfermo, y a que me devuelvas el dinero.
Siguiendo el protocolo de atención al cliente, Suburbio le explico a Robertito gentilmente como era el procedimiento en esos casos.
-No, hombre, yo te explico como va la cosa… Déjame el perro y yo lo llevo al veterinario para ver lo que tiene. Tú no te preocupes que la visita al veterinario corre de mi cuenta. Si es algo temporal se le cura y te devuelvo el perro, y si no tiene arreglo te devuelvo el dinero.
El Robertito soltó al perro, cogió a Suburbio del cuello y lo arrastro hasta la trastienda. Le pegó un puñetazo en el pómulo, luego un codazo en las costillas, le cogió del pelo por la parte de detrás de la cabeza y le pegó un cabezazo contra la pared. El Suburbio cayó al suelo y su nariz empezó a sangrar. El Robertito le levantó, le cogió del cuello y empezó a darle puñetazos por la cara y el cuerpo mientras gritaba:
-¿Me vas a pagar? ¿Me vas a pagar? ¿Me vas a pagar?
El Suburbio no tardo en responder:
-Si!Si!Si! Por favor, no me pegues mas!
...............
2 de Julio de 2005. 17’00h. Carlos iba conduciendo su Seat Ibiza por la Avenida Maestro Rodrigo. El móvil sonó. Era un mensaje:
TE ESPERO EN EL PARQUE NANO
Después de aparcar el coche en la Calle Castielfabib, Carlos se dirigió al parque. Tana, la perra de Ricardo vio a Carlos y se fue corriendo hacia él moviendo la cola. Después de unos minutos de festival de bienvenida con la perra, Carlos y Ricardo se chocaron las manos.
-Oye, acabo de pasar por delante de la tienda de animales del Suburbio y he visto que esta cerrada, ya no esta el rótulo ni nada.
-Ah, ¿tú no te enteraste de la movida que le paso con el Robertito, no?
-No, ¿quien es el Robertito?
-¿No te suena quien es el Robertito?
-No.
-Joder, pues debes de ser el único. Se nota que te has pasado tiempo fuera de Valencia, pero ya era famoso antes. Un ciclao que también trapichea y es bastante mafias. Fue a devolverle un perro que le había comprado al Suburbio y a aquel se le ocurrió decirle que primero tenia que llevarlo al veterinario. Sin mediar palabra, el Robertito lo cogió del cuello y empezó a arrearle mientras le preguntaba: ¿me vas a pagar? ¿me vas a pagar? Hasta que el Suburbio consiguió responder que si, que le iba a pagar. A la primera que le arreó ya le iba a decir que si, pero como el Robertito continuaba arreándole no le dejaba ni que abriera la boca..
-Joder! Que hijo de puta! ¿Le rompió la nariz o algo?
-No, pero yo le vi al cabo de dos días y tenia un ojo morado, la cara hinchada y le costaba respirar porque le había pegado en las costillas. El Robertito siempre ha tenido fama de chungo, pero se ve que en ese momento estaba en mitad de un ciclo de testosterona, que aun los pone más agresivos.
-¿Y ahora que hace el Suburbio?
-Se ha ido de camarero en un crucero por el mediterráneo.
-Eso es lo que tengo que hacer yo. Viajar, cambiar de aires.
-¿Como llevas lo de tu madre?
-Empecé a bajar la dosis de codeína a los 15 días y vino lo peor, el ver que me he quedado sin familia, el pensar: “¿y ahora qué?”
-El día del entierro se te veía de puta madre.
-Mira...el poder de Morfeo.
Hubo un silencio
-Pero ahora, dentro de lo que cabe estoy bien. He decido que me voy. Seguramente a Escocia en enero a estudiar inglés 6 meses.
-¿Y eso?
-Lo encontré por Internet, ya sabes que yo aquí he ido a academias de inglés, pero si quiero hablar fluidamente, la mejor opción es irme fuera.
-Si, y te sentará bien. ¿Donde está Escocia?
-En el norte de Inglaterra.
-¿Y a que parte de Escocia vas?
-Edimburgo.
-Escocia, Edimburgo, lo mirare en el mapa… o por Internet.
-¿Por qué en enero y no antes?
-Quería ir en septiembre pero todas las plazas están ocupadas. Podría ir a Inglaterra en septiembre pero es mucho más caro.
-Y que te vas… ¿Solo?
-Si.
-¿No te da un poco de rollo?
-Pues no, más solo que estoy ahora no voy a estar. Además, allí seguro que conoceré a gente. Van más españoles y gente de otros países a estudiar inglés.
-La verdad es que me estás dando envidia, suena bien.
-Bueno, me tengo que ir que he quedado con Ramsés. Si quieres mañana quedamos en serio y nos tomamos unas cervezas.
-Vale, ¿cuando te vas al pueblo?
-Pasado mañana.
-¿Te pasaras por Valencia antes de irte a Escocia, no?
-Si hombre, y si no, tu también puedes pasarte a verme.
-También.
-Au nano.
-Au.
Squareone entertainment.
A manera de despedida después de dos años y medio de estancia en Edimburgo que terminará el próximo viernes 30, hoy publico el primer capítulo de una novela que escribí durante mi estancia. Es como un complemento al artículo “Vivir en Edimburgo” ya que puede ayudar a los lectores a familiarizarse con la vida Edimburguesa.
La novela, como todas, mezcla ficción y realidad. Todos los personajes y anécdotas que se cuentan tienen una base tan real como la vida misma, por muy chocante que pueda resultar.
CAPÍTULO 1.
ROBERTITO
El Robertito era famoso en el barrio de Campanar y en toda Valencia en general. La fama se la había ganado con el paso del tiempo. Medía 1’95 y tenia una cicatriz en la cara. Muchas leyendas circulaban sobre el origen de esa cicatriz, aunque nadie se atrevía a preguntarle. La leyenda que más circulaba contaba que, a la edad de 16 años, volvía por la noche del barrio del Carmen con un amigo por el viejo cauce del río Túria cuando dos gitanos les quisieron atracar y él se negó. Éstos sacaron sus navajas y el Robertito se las apaño para quitarle la navaja al primero. El segundo le rajó la cara pegando un salto. A partir de ahí diferentes personas contaban multitud de desenlaces diferentes con un denominador común: el Robertito tenía mogollón de huevos.
Esto le sirvió para ganarse fama, pero con el tiempo se hizo incluso más y más famoso. Empezó a traficar con droga y pronto subió a lo mas alto, pasando en grandes cantidades y manejando grandes sumas de dinero. Desde adolescente había llevado el pelo rapado aunque últimamente se lo afeitaba: se había apuntado a la moda de los ciclos de esteroides y como resultado tenia una masa muscular descomunal, aunque se estaba quedando calvo como efecto secundario de la testosterona. A primera vista, parecía un toro a dos patas. 1’95 de altura y 135 Kg. de músculo daban respeto. Solo sus amigos se atrevían a mirarle a los ojos.
El Robertito cogió a Boby, su pitt-bull y bajó al parque de la calle Castielfabib donde solía pasearlo.
José Ramírez, Suburbio para los amigos, era conocido en el barrio de Campanar por su afabilidad y simpatía. Tenia una tienda de animales en la Avenida Maestro Rodrigo y los clientes le apreciaban por su excelente servicio. Era amante de los animales y de la naturaleza y siempre estaba dispuesto a colaborar en causas benéficas. Esa tarde se levantó de la siesta más tarde de lo esperado. Tenía que abrir la tienda de animales a las 4 y ya eran las 4 y diez. No era una tragedia muy grande pues la tienda era suya, y vivía en la avenida General Avilés, a unos cinco minutos de la tienda. Pero Suburbio era muy metódico. Era puntual y odiaba llegar tarde. No podía soportar la idea de que algún cliente hubiera ido a la tienda a las 4 y cinco. Salió corriendo de casa sin tomar café ni nada.
Al cabo de un rato de abrir, el Robertito entró en la tienda del Suburbio, que aun no se había acabado de despertar del todo.
-Oye, que vengo a devolverte el perro este que te compre hace tres semanas, que está enfermo, y a que me devuelvas el dinero.
Siguiendo el protocolo de atención al cliente, Suburbio le explico a Robertito gentilmente como era el procedimiento en esos casos.
-No, hombre, yo te explico como va la cosa… Déjame el perro y yo lo llevo al veterinario para ver lo que tiene. Tú no te preocupes que la visita al veterinario corre de mi cuenta. Si es algo temporal se le cura y te devuelvo el perro, y si no tiene arreglo te devuelvo el dinero.
El Robertito soltó al perro, cogió a Suburbio del cuello y lo arrastro hasta la trastienda. Le pegó un puñetazo en el pómulo, luego un codazo en las costillas, le cogió del pelo por la parte de detrás de la cabeza y le pegó un cabezazo contra la pared. El Suburbio cayó al suelo y su nariz empezó a sangrar. El Robertito le levantó, le cogió del cuello y empezó a darle puñetazos por la cara y el cuerpo mientras gritaba:
-¿Me vas a pagar? ¿Me vas a pagar? ¿Me vas a pagar?
El Suburbio no tardo en responder:
-Si!Si!Si! Por favor, no me pegues mas!
...............
2 de Julio de 2005. 17’00h. Carlos iba conduciendo su Seat Ibiza por la Avenida Maestro Rodrigo. El móvil sonó. Era un mensaje:
TE ESPERO EN EL PARQUE NANO
Después de aparcar el coche en la Calle Castielfabib, Carlos se dirigió al parque. Tana, la perra de Ricardo vio a Carlos y se fue corriendo hacia él moviendo la cola. Después de unos minutos de festival de bienvenida con la perra, Carlos y Ricardo se chocaron las manos.
-Oye, acabo de pasar por delante de la tienda de animales del Suburbio y he visto que esta cerrada, ya no esta el rótulo ni nada.
-Ah, ¿tú no te enteraste de la movida que le paso con el Robertito, no?
-No, ¿quien es el Robertito?
-¿No te suena quien es el Robertito?
-No.
-Joder, pues debes de ser el único. Se nota que te has pasado tiempo fuera de Valencia, pero ya era famoso antes. Un ciclao que también trapichea y es bastante mafias. Fue a devolverle un perro que le había comprado al Suburbio y a aquel se le ocurrió decirle que primero tenia que llevarlo al veterinario. Sin mediar palabra, el Robertito lo cogió del cuello y empezó a arrearle mientras le preguntaba: ¿me vas a pagar? ¿me vas a pagar? Hasta que el Suburbio consiguió responder que si, que le iba a pagar. A la primera que le arreó ya le iba a decir que si, pero como el Robertito continuaba arreándole no le dejaba ni que abriera la boca..
-Joder! Que hijo de puta! ¿Le rompió la nariz o algo?
-No, pero yo le vi al cabo de dos días y tenia un ojo morado, la cara hinchada y le costaba respirar porque le había pegado en las costillas. El Robertito siempre ha tenido fama de chungo, pero se ve que en ese momento estaba en mitad de un ciclo de testosterona, que aun los pone más agresivos.
-¿Y ahora que hace el Suburbio?
-Se ha ido de camarero en un crucero por el mediterráneo.
-Eso es lo que tengo que hacer yo. Viajar, cambiar de aires.
-¿Como llevas lo de tu madre?
-Empecé a bajar la dosis de codeína a los 15 días y vino lo peor, el ver que me he quedado sin familia, el pensar: “¿y ahora qué?”
-El día del entierro se te veía de puta madre.
-Mira...el poder de Morfeo.
Hubo un silencio
-Pero ahora, dentro de lo que cabe estoy bien. He decido que me voy. Seguramente a Escocia en enero a estudiar inglés 6 meses.
-¿Y eso?
-Lo encontré por Internet, ya sabes que yo aquí he ido a academias de inglés, pero si quiero hablar fluidamente, la mejor opción es irme fuera.
-Si, y te sentará bien. ¿Donde está Escocia?
-En el norte de Inglaterra.
-¿Y a que parte de Escocia vas?
-Edimburgo.
-Escocia, Edimburgo, lo mirare en el mapa… o por Internet.
-¿Por qué en enero y no antes?
-Quería ir en septiembre pero todas las plazas están ocupadas. Podría ir a Inglaterra en septiembre pero es mucho más caro.
-Y que te vas… ¿Solo?
-Si.
-¿No te da un poco de rollo?
-Pues no, más solo que estoy ahora no voy a estar. Además, allí seguro que conoceré a gente. Van más españoles y gente de otros países a estudiar inglés.
-La verdad es que me estás dando envidia, suena bien.
-Bueno, me tengo que ir que he quedado con Ramsés. Si quieres mañana quedamos en serio y nos tomamos unas cervezas.
-Vale, ¿cuando te vas al pueblo?
-Pasado mañana.
-¿Te pasaras por Valencia antes de irte a Escocia, no?
-Si hombre, y si no, tu también puedes pasarte a verme.
-También.
-Au nano.
-Au.
Wednesday 21 May 2008
Ana Luján Sánchez Interview
Pere Fornes
Squareonenews entertainment
The Scottish company The Curve Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary yesterday with a production by four choreographers. Ana Luján Sánchez was one of them, together with Merce Cunningham, William Forsythe and Ross Copper, artistic director of The Curve Foundation.
Ana, originally from Valencia, Spain, was awarded the Best Female Contemporary Artist award by the British Critic’s Circle in 2003 as well as the Artes Escénicas award by the Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) in 2006.
We met with Ana before the performance to learn what brought her to the UK and what her relationship with The Curve Foundation is. “I started dancing when I was six and I also did gymnastics and judo. I soon had to decide between the three of them and I chose ballet. When I was ten I started to realise that I really enjoyed going to ballet classes. By the age of 14 I had decided that I wanted to be a professional dancer and I had also realised that dancing wasn’t a professional career in Spain.”
There was only one professional company in Spain, the Compañía Nacional de Danza. She went to an audition there at the age of 15 but couldn’t get in because she was too young. “I then started talking to my parents and teachers about the possibility to go to England to get into a professional dance company because in Spain I couldn’t get a job. I applied for the Rambert School in London and they accepted the application so I came to England in September 1994.”
She stayed in the school for a year and a half, until the director of the Rambert Dance Company offered her a contract in 1995, when she was 19, and she stayed there until August 2006 working with international choreographers.
In 2005 she choreographed a solo called “Cervantes” for a workshop. Ross Copper, director of The Curve Foundation liked it and bought it for the company. Ana came to Edinburgh to re choreograph the solo with The Curve Foundation. “We held an audition and I had to choose two guys for the solo. After that, they have been performing the piece for the last three years.
“It was a solo danced while the audience was coming in the auditorium, before the show started. Normally the audience is down and watches the dancer. This solo is about the physical struggle that a dancer has to go through, and the mental concentration, to overcome the fact that she is looking at the audience as they walk through to get into the theatre. The dancer is a spectator, as well as a dancer.”
After dancing professionally for 14 years, Ana also likes directing. “I like dance because it is a way of expressing what I feel, because is very internal, and I share it with the audience and colleagues. Now I am in the stage where I want to share my knowledge and experience with younger dancers. But I also like to direct my ideas or projects with other artists.”
At present she works with the Leeds-based company Phoenix Dance Theatre.
http://www.analujansanchez.co.uk/.
o
Squareonenews entertainment
The Scottish company The Curve Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary yesterday with a production by four choreographers. Ana Luján Sánchez was one of them, together with Merce Cunningham, William Forsythe and Ross Copper, artistic director of The Curve Foundation.
Ana, originally from Valencia, Spain, was awarded the Best Female Contemporary Artist award by the British Critic’s Circle in 2003 as well as the Artes Escénicas award by the Generalitat Valenciana (Spain) in 2006.
We met with Ana before the performance to learn what brought her to the UK and what her relationship with The Curve Foundation is. “I started dancing when I was six and I also did gymnastics and judo. I soon had to decide between the three of them and I chose ballet. When I was ten I started to realise that I really enjoyed going to ballet classes. By the age of 14 I had decided that I wanted to be a professional dancer and I had also realised that dancing wasn’t a professional career in Spain.”
There was only one professional company in Spain, the Compañía Nacional de Danza. She went to an audition there at the age of 15 but couldn’t get in because she was too young. “I then started talking to my parents and teachers about the possibility to go to England to get into a professional dance company because in Spain I couldn’t get a job. I applied for the Rambert School in London and they accepted the application so I came to England in September 1994.”
She stayed in the school for a year and a half, until the director of the Rambert Dance Company offered her a contract in 1995, when she was 19, and she stayed there until August 2006 working with international choreographers.
In 2005 she choreographed a solo called “Cervantes” for a workshop. Ross Copper, director of The Curve Foundation liked it and bought it for the company. Ana came to Edinburgh to re choreograph the solo with The Curve Foundation. “We held an audition and I had to choose two guys for the solo. After that, they have been performing the piece for the last three years.
“It was a solo danced while the audience was coming in the auditorium, before the show started. Normally the audience is down and watches the dancer. This solo is about the physical struggle that a dancer has to go through, and the mental concentration, to overcome the fact that she is looking at the audience as they walk through to get into the theatre. The dancer is a spectator, as well as a dancer.”
After dancing professionally for 14 years, Ana also likes directing. “I like dance because it is a way of expressing what I feel, because is very internal, and I share it with the audience and colleagues. Now I am in the stage where I want to share my knowledge and experience with younger dancers. But I also like to direct my ideas or projects with other artists.”
At present she works with the Leeds-based company Phoenix Dance Theatre.
http://www.analujansanchez.co.uk/.
o
Wednesday 7 May 2008
Cannabis Grade Gets High
Pere Fornes
Squareone Features
“Most marijuana smokers are Negroes, Hispanics, jazz musicians, and entertainers. Their satanic music is driven by marijuana, and marijuana smoking by white women makes them want to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and others. It is a drug that causes insanity, criminality, and death -- the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”
When Harry Anslinger, the first marijuana drug czar, expressed these objective and unbiased thoughts on cannabis in the 1930’s, a war on cannabis, and on drugs in general, started. That policy, exported from the USA to several other countries, has been really successful: there are far more people who take cannabis or other illegal drugs nowadays than there were in the 1930’s.
The decision by Gordon Brown to upgrade cannabis to class B drug, in spite of his advisors’ recommendations, seems more a desperate attempt to regain some popularity than a rational decision based on compelling evidence. A recent report by the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs says that there is not need for reclassification. The main concerns about the new varieties of the drug (erroneously called “skunk”, as skunk is just one of the new varieties) is that it was supposed to cause mental illnesses on users. Surprisingly, the report has concluded that the prevalence of schizophrenia and psychoses has been reduced during recent years. This totally contradicts the theory that cannabis threatens mental health. Furthermore, cannabis use has decreased since it was downgraded in 2004.
There is a bit of naivety on this debate. It is true that, for people who suffer schizophrenia and psychoses, cannabis can make symptoms worse but that only means that it should not be taken by those people, the same way as people with liver problems should not drink alcohol and people with heart problems should not consume caffeine. Cannabis can make depressions worse as well.
The arguments used to keep cannabis illegal (supposed addiction, harm to mind and body) could be used to forbid both tobacco and alcohol. In July 2006, the UK Parliament Science Select Committee acknowledged that the drugs classification system was based on historical prejudice rather than medical evidence: cannabis is less harmful than tobacco and alcohol.
One of the harms cannabis causes, and nobody denies, lung damage, can be avoided using “steamers”, which are devices that warm up the weed without burning it. Therefore, users can get high by inhaling the steam without smoke and without harming their lungs.
Supposed harmful cannabis effects, like withdrawal symptoms, are quite similar to those of the drug of everyday use considered to be the most beneficial one (caffeine). According to a report published by the Scottish executive in 2002:
“There is no doubt that it is possible to become dependent on cannabis. Between 5% and 10% of drug users seeking treatment report that cannabis is their main problem drug. Studies among cannabis dependent users reveal that when they stop, they experience physical withdrawal symptoms, such as decreased appetite, weight loss, lethargy, irritability, mood changes and insomnia.”
According to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Centre, Caffeine withdrawal symptoms are headache, fatigue, sleepiness/drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, work difficulty, irritability, depression, anxiety, flu-like symptoms, and impairment in psychomotor, vigilance and cognitive performances. Significant caffeine withdrawal has been shown to occur after abstinence from a dose as low as 100 mg/day, which is the caffeine equivalent of one 6 oz. cup of brewed coffee or two to three 12 oz. servings of caffeinated soft-drink. Some caffeine users report becoming "addicted" to caffeine in the sense that they report an inability to quit or to cut down their caffeine use, they continue to use caffeine despite having medical or psychological problems made worse by caffeine.
A similar comparison can be established about the dangers of cannabis (and caffeine) regarding cardiovascular system and fertility.
It is sometimes pointed out that Sweden, which has a very tough policy on drugs, has a very low rate of drugs consumption. Nevertheless, it is not so often said that the rate consumption has been increasing like everywhere else. Problematic drug use has almost doubled since 1980 to a level hovering around the European average.
Brown seems to want to keep following Anslinger’s line: war on cannabis. The result of Anslinger’s policies during 80 years, however, is very clear: cannabis consumption goes up.
cannabis smell
Squareone Features
“Most marijuana smokers are Negroes, Hispanics, jazz musicians, and entertainers. Their satanic music is driven by marijuana, and marijuana smoking by white women makes them want to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and others. It is a drug that causes insanity, criminality, and death -- the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.”
When Harry Anslinger, the first marijuana drug czar, expressed these objective and unbiased thoughts on cannabis in the 1930’s, a war on cannabis, and on drugs in general, started. That policy, exported from the USA to several other countries, has been really successful: there are far more people who take cannabis or other illegal drugs nowadays than there were in the 1930’s.
The decision by Gordon Brown to upgrade cannabis to class B drug, in spite of his advisors’ recommendations, seems more a desperate attempt to regain some popularity than a rational decision based on compelling evidence. A recent report by the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs says that there is not need for reclassification. The main concerns about the new varieties of the drug (erroneously called “skunk”, as skunk is just one of the new varieties) is that it was supposed to cause mental illnesses on users. Surprisingly, the report has concluded that the prevalence of schizophrenia and psychoses has been reduced during recent years. This totally contradicts the theory that cannabis threatens mental health. Furthermore, cannabis use has decreased since it was downgraded in 2004.
There is a bit of naivety on this debate. It is true that, for people who suffer schizophrenia and psychoses, cannabis can make symptoms worse but that only means that it should not be taken by those people, the same way as people with liver problems should not drink alcohol and people with heart problems should not consume caffeine. Cannabis can make depressions worse as well.
The arguments used to keep cannabis illegal (supposed addiction, harm to mind and body) could be used to forbid both tobacco and alcohol. In July 2006, the UK Parliament Science Select Committee acknowledged that the drugs classification system was based on historical prejudice rather than medical evidence: cannabis is less harmful than tobacco and alcohol.
One of the harms cannabis causes, and nobody denies, lung damage, can be avoided using “steamers”, which are devices that warm up the weed without burning it. Therefore, users can get high by inhaling the steam without smoke and without harming their lungs.
Supposed harmful cannabis effects, like withdrawal symptoms, are quite similar to those of the drug of everyday use considered to be the most beneficial one (caffeine). According to a report published by the Scottish executive in 2002:
“There is no doubt that it is possible to become dependent on cannabis. Between 5% and 10% of drug users seeking treatment report that cannabis is their main problem drug. Studies among cannabis dependent users reveal that when they stop, they experience physical withdrawal symptoms, such as decreased appetite, weight loss, lethargy, irritability, mood changes and insomnia.”
According to the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Centre, Caffeine withdrawal symptoms are headache, fatigue, sleepiness/drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, work difficulty, irritability, depression, anxiety, flu-like symptoms, and impairment in psychomotor, vigilance and cognitive performances. Significant caffeine withdrawal has been shown to occur after abstinence from a dose as low as 100 mg/day, which is the caffeine equivalent of one 6 oz. cup of brewed coffee or two to three 12 oz. servings of caffeinated soft-drink. Some caffeine users report becoming "addicted" to caffeine in the sense that they report an inability to quit or to cut down their caffeine use, they continue to use caffeine despite having medical or psychological problems made worse by caffeine.
A similar comparison can be established about the dangers of cannabis (and caffeine) regarding cardiovascular system and fertility.
It is sometimes pointed out that Sweden, which has a very tough policy on drugs, has a very low rate of drugs consumption. Nevertheless, it is not so often said that the rate consumption has been increasing like everywhere else. Problematic drug use has almost doubled since 1980 to a level hovering around the European average.
Brown seems to want to keep following Anslinger’s line: war on cannabis. The result of Anslinger’s policies during 80 years, however, is very clear: cannabis consumption goes up.
cannabis smell
Friday 2 May 2008
COWGATE CENTRE CELEBRATES 30 YEARS COMBATTING HOMELESSNESS
SquareOne News Feature
by Katie Smyth
Located underneath a block of student flats in a quiet corner of Holyrood Road the Cowgate Centre’s unobtrusive exterior belies the vital work that goes on behind its heavy blue door. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Scotland’s only drop in centre for homeless people is open day and night 365 days a year, offering a unique range of services. Manager Lorna Gunn chats to SquareOne about the efforts of her dedicated team.
“Basically at night we’re a crisis centre,” she explains. “If you find yourself on the street with nowhere else to go you can arrive here. Staff will try and find you accommodation whether it’s a hostel, B&B, or if you’re young we will contact the out of hours emergency social work department to try and find you a safe place to be.” However, aware of the limitations to what it can actually achieve the Cowgate Centre also has facilities for homeless to sleep in the centre, offering mats for 40 people to rest on.
Pressure for space and a desire to help people truly in need, and not just those who find themselves too wasted after a night on the booze, means that the centre implements a strict door policy. Gunn explains two staff man the CCTV guarded door at all times and all visitors must sign a register. She claims, “It’s mostly for the safety of the individuals who use our service. We like to know who’s in the building, what kind of state they’re in and what their general needs are.” Those felt to be too intoxicated will not make it over the threshold but will be asked to go for a walk and come back when they are sober.
It is said that you are only ever two pay cheques away from homelessness and Gunn cannot attribute it to a few specific factors: “People come here who have had marriage break-ups and they’ve had to sell their house, we have people who have alcohol or drugs problems, people who have arrived from the EU who were promised jobs and their jobs have fallen through.” The latter can also be counselled at the centre by a multi-lingual staff.
However, the centre does not just operate as another shelter. During the day it runs a variety of drop-in surgeries to help the homeless get back on their feet. “We’ve got English classes, employability classes, benefit agencies coming in. We’ve got an alcohol support group and a drugs support group,” Gunn explains, naming just a few of the services on offer. The Cowgate Centre forms just one part of FourSquare, an Edinburgh wide initiative whose various outlets cover every aspect of homelessness from basic shelter to improving an individual’s employability, (through Spectrum) to providing basic start-up furniture for tenancies.
MSP Sarah Boyack lauded the many achievements of the FourSquare organisation at its 30th Anniversary Launch last November: “the organisation was the first to set up a Stopover for homeless young people, with Follow Up the first to provide tenancy support to ex-homeless people and the Cowgate day and overnight centre the first to achieve registration with the Care Commission.”
The Cowgate Centre sees itself as the first port of call for people without a roof over their heads. The highly trained staff can put them in touch with the relevant authorities and organisations, acting as an advocate. Gunn says, “We can link you with people who will help you budget, get you into employment, get you back on the straight and narrow. Normally within 28 days we will try and move you on from our service.”
The centre deals with a high turn over of people helping 8000 individuals last year, including over 500 who made use of the morning drop-in service. Gunn is keen to stress the close working relationship with the Edinburgh City Council who fund FourSquare. Over the past few years the Council has developed a new homeless strategy. The second phase, to be launched 25 May aims to eradicate homelessness by 2012 and is already looking at means of prevention such as helping people sustain their tenancies. “I think there will always be a turnover but I think Edinburgh Council is addressing these issues,” says Gunn.
Another aspect of the Cowgate Centre’s work the Council aids is the morning gym project. By issuing free leisure passes at the Commonwealth Pool the partnership have managed to get more people off the streets, promoting well-being instead of searching for drink.
However the centre also relies heavily on donations. While philanthropists such as a certain Mr X have provided the means to take people out of the homeless scene for a day and enjoy go-karting, Go Ape and fishing, the centre also welcomes clothing, towels and toiletries. Gunn claims, “People can arrive with only the clothes on their back and it’s quite degrading. At the minute we are a bit low on gent’s toiletries.” Even a half-empty bottle of shampoo would be a welcome addition to the sparse armoury at the centre. Donations are vital if the Cowgate Centre is to continue its hard work for the next 30 years and anyone wishing to help should view the “Just Giving and Fundraising” page of the FourSquare website at www.foursquare.org.uk. As the only Care Commission registered centre in the whole of Scotland the Cowgate Centre stands at the forefront of homelessness prevention and provides a crucial element of FourSquare’s fight against people sleeping rough.
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