This is the next in a series of updates to keep you informed about the planning of the 1998 Global Days against the Drug War, which will be held on Saturday June 6th, Sunday June 7th, and Monday June 8th, immediately preceding the UN General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS), which takes place in New York, June 8th, 9th and 10th. For more information see www.legalize.org, which is updated regularly.

NB: the next issue of Legalize! Update will contain a call for participation that you can forward everywhere.

CONTENTS

1. 9 events planned so far !

2. Event names

3. The Global Coalition for Alternatives to the Drug War

1. 9 EVENTS PLANNED SO FAR!

A few days ago we received notice from the newly formed Legalize! Belgium chapter, informing us that they are planning an event to be held either in Brussels or Antwerp, on Saturday June 6th. A meeting is scheduled in Antwerp on Februari 13th at which further decisions will be made.

This means that the current total of planned events is 9 now. The past few weeks, announcements have been made concerning events in Tel Aviv, Tallinn (Estonia), New York, San Francisco, Colville (Washington), Dallas, Sweden (probably Stockholm or Goteborg), and Amsterdam.

Some of the events will consist of multiple activities. Nimrod Kerrett, of Legalize! Israel, wrote to global@legalize.org:

Legalize!-Israel is planning a Goa-Trance rave on Friday June 5 in order to open the Global Anti-Prohibition weekend in Israel. Sunday night, we're planning a few peaceful demonstrations near city halls around the country.

Of course you are encouraged to consider planning similar events! Events do not necessarly have to be big - a small rally, an anti-prohibition party, a forum discussion, it is up to you what form and size your participation will take ... Contact a few fellow anti-prohibitionists, get together and see what you can do.

So far, the Amsterdam event will consist of a political forum, and a street party like last year (but bigger ;). However, at a meeting last night where several organisations were present, proposals were made for more varied activities. A coalition of more than ten organisations will be formed, to coordinate all this!

We would like to encourage you to do the same in your country! Many reform groups exist in most countries; your job is finding them! Contact related organisations, tell them about the June events, propose to work together; see if there are options for national coalition formation. That will greatly ease organising events!

Another option is to contact house party organisations, clubs, concert and festival organisers, even bands! If you can work with them, you have instant access to large numbers of potential participants in your events!

Furthermore, you should work with reform oriented magazines. In Germany, HANF! will join the coalition; in Holland, we've already teamed up with HighLife Magazine! In Spain, we work with EL COGOLLO Revista Cannabica, and in Pennsylvania, we work with SPITE!

2. EVENT NAMES

Like last year, we'll use main- and subtitles, for flexibility, so everyone can use their own local event names as desired; e.g. for the street party in Amsterdam, we'll probably see something like:

The Amsterdam Anti-Prohibition Street Party

is part of

The 1998 Global Days Against the Drug War

organised by

Legalize! Nederland

member of The Global Coalition for Alternatives to the Drug War

Working with layout and font sizes etc. should allow organisers to tune the names to their liking, enabling them to stress their own identity.

3. THE GLOBAL COALITION FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE DRUG WAR!

As you know, CORA, DRCNet, NORML, the November Coalition, MAP/DrugSense, Common Sense for Drug Policy, the Transnational Radical Party, and (of course) the Legalize! Initiative are setting up a coalition of reform organisations, to provide a firm basis for the 1998 Global Days against the Drug War. See www.legalize.org/events for info about these organisations.

Many other organisations have already stated their intention to join the coalition. We have written a call for participation, intended to be sent to many organisations soon, inviting them to endorse the 1998 Global Days against the Drug War as well and to participate, by joining the coalition. This call will be signed by the coalition. We'll send you this call in the next edition of this newsletter.

To make your organisation join the coalition write to:

Other comments on the contents of this newsletter can be sent to: