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.