From: [Michael Hess] at [f48.n375.z1.fidonet.org] (Michael Hess) Newsgroups: talk.politics.drugs Subject: Database press release. Date: Sun, 26 Jun 1994 23:17:00 -0500 X-FTN-To: All Hi All! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DO ELECTED OFFICIALS REALLY HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY REQUIRE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT UNITED STATES DRUG POLICY? ============================================================= The annotated bibliographical reference project, POLITICAL DRUG POLICY AWARENESS v. 1.0, will fill the gap that policy makers have in factual drug use and abuse information. It will show the tremendous human and economic costs incurred by using the traditional Criminal Justice Model presently in use in the United States. Harm Reduction Strategies will be explored. While the primary focus is current US Drug Policy, this project covers a lot of international information. US Drug Policy traditionally has driven much of the worlds current policies concerning drug use. Ironically, many countries around the world are adopting the Harm Reduction Model. Views from outside of the US are essential to much of this projects success. The heart of this effort is the SHared file Area Database (SHAD). The SHAD concept is being developed to compile factual text files including case studies, government reports, anecdotal evidence, news stories, empirical evidence and commentary from various sources including the Internet and FidoNet(r). This effort enables a "ready made" BBS file area to be easily available with monthly updates. Encourage your sysop to add this important file area for public drug policy education. Phase I of the project consists of three key parts: ==================================================== 1. IDENTIFY -- Find US Drug policy files and resources available online. 2. VERIFY -- Compare available files against other published sources. 3. CONDENSE -- Assemble verified important excerpts in easily readable form. The first SHAD release was May 4th, 1994. This file was adjusted and contains 133 text files. It is compressed in zip format and is named SHAD0594.ZIP. The June 5th, 1994 release contains 57 text files and is named SHAD0694.ZIP. [Note: SHAD0594.ZIP and SHAD0694.ZIP are identical to the previously named, ALLINFO1.ZIP and ALLINFO2.ZIP respectively]. The July release will contain at least 56 text files (as of 06/25/94) and will be named SHAD0701.ZIP. An important part of this approach is making public participation in the SHAD central to source development. A number of drug policy related files regularly circulate through the online community. The combined results of these inter-related projects will be POLITICAL DRUG POLICY AWARENESS v. 1.0: An effort to indentify and isolate the files that are factual. Divorcing these files from the speculation and posturing that occurs on both sides of current drug policy debate will keep elected officals focused on facts. Phase II refines and combines information contained in the SHAD =============================================================== POLITICAL DRUG POLICY AWARENESS v. 1.0 -------------------------------------------- An evolving, factual reference providing realistic guidance for today's elected officials faced with tough questions about current U.S. drug policy. We will stop much of the violence and further erosion of civil liberties by getting factual information out to where it counts: Into the hands of every policy maker and elected official in a position to have an impact on current Law Enforcement Model driven strategies. This reference compendium of targeted and condensed verifiable cites about current US Drug Policy will be made available online to the public at no cost. A unique facet of the SHAD and PDPA project makes research data files compiled and stored monthly easily available to the online community. This encourages further study and wide dissemination. This will in turn lead to a highly evolving reference with new "schools" of data being added even as current Worldwide Drug Policy changes. Phase III Distribute POLITICAL DRUG POLICY AWARENESS v. 1.0 =========================================================== Phase III is the most important part of this effort! Getting this reference into the hands of every elected official is CRITICAL to the overall success of this project! If every concerned citizen prints a copy of this reference and hand delivers it to the elected official(s) of their choice, THE IMPACT WILL BE DRAMATIC! I expect to have the first version of POLITICAL DRUG POLICY AWARENESS v. 1.0 available online on or about October 10th, 1994. In the meantime, please participate in Phase I and Phase II of this project. Phase III will end the madness. Factual information delivered by the public to elected officials will be stronger than any force to end the persecution of millions of people WORLDWIDE. The hypocrisy will end when we show ALL elected officials we know the facts. For inclusion in the SHAD, send any cite or reference, news story etc. to: Internet: [michael hess] at [f48.n375.z1.fidonet.org] (e-mail only please) E-mail and files, FidoNet 1:375/48, direct dial or USPS: The BBS News BBS (N81)............ Voice: (evenings) 205-567-9051 c/o Michael Hess ................. Data: (23 hours) 205-567-9310 123 Holiday Drive ................ SHAD files & updates daily! Titus, Alabama 36080 ............. Historical, Civil Liberty & Legal texts This information packet, SHAD & PDPA concept, copyright (c) Michael Hess 1994 Permission is hereby granted to distribute this information as long as the copyright notice is left intact. FidoNet is a Trademark of Fido Software Inc. -end- [michael hess] at [f48.n375.z1.fidonet.org] == The solution to the problem changes the problem.