Colombia: Country in Cocaine Crisis
Alex James
I saw a BBC News Programme last Tuesday night, which literally was an eye opener for me, to say the least and made me more aware of Colombia’s cocaine crisis which is ruling and ruining that country. Not that I was not aware that Colombia was the world’s biggest producer of Cocaine and Marijuana, I was just ignorant to the actual statistics. I remembered many years ago hearing the name Pablo Escobar, seeing the far reaches of his control and saw a documentary recently on the History Channel, which chronicled his life and death which horrified me.
The BBC presented the film “The Cocaine Diaries-Alex James”. Alex James being a bassist for the British Pop band Blur.
He admitted in his autobiography that he had in a “previous lifetime” with the band , snorted one million pounds (currency) in cocaine and champagne. He was invited by the Colombian government to visit the country and observe the devastation his single action and persons like him, had on the industry and hoped to make celebrities like Alex and common folk who abuse the drug to get an in- dept view of what their consumption is fueling, that is… financing terrorism, landmines,damaging the environment, importation of arms and ammunition,kidnapping and murder. It was hoped that if the world actually saw what was happening in that country, through the eyes of someone they could relate to, then they would believe it and somehow initiate a positive change so desperately needed by that country.
“If I say it, they won’t believe me. If you say it, because of what you saw, they’ll believe you a lot more.”
Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos Calderon.
Alex, a former cocaine addict, now farmer and cheese maker, was courageous enough to risk his life and camera crew to gain this insight and should be applauded for that. The man has cojones that for sure!.It couldn’t have been easy, being a former user in the land of temptation to keep on the straight and narrow.He presented in my view a balanced report, of both the efforts of the Colombian government to eradicate this crisis… to a contract killer (deceased), mule and traffickers who form a chain in this vicious industry, hell bent on continuing it.
He was allowed to accompany the military on their rounds to destroy coca fields, as well interview a actual farmer growing the crops, to an actual lab where the leaves were processed into pasta basica.I was astonished to see the initial processing of the coca leaves to make pasta basica i.e. spreading cement over the leaves, combining this with petrol and adding sulphuric acid to melt the leaves to form the paste. If nothing else, just the thought of this process would change my mind if I were a cocaine user to stop!
I read an article in the Guardian UK, where the writer criticised Mr.James in a most distasteful, frivolous way…she clearly among others who commented on her article, couldn’t see the bigger picture, which is to expose the cocaine industry for what it is and to acknowledge that the Colombian Government was not responsible or supportive of the trade. Alex James was merely the medium used and the film was not solely about him. The Colombia drug trade is affecting the world, including a small country such as Trinidad and Tobago.We are used as a trans-shipment point as well as a final destination point and is fueling violence and criminal activities in this country, since there is vast financial benefits to the parties involved, which seemingly outweighs the risks. Our Government has clearly lost the battle against crime, guns, drugs, kidnapping, murder, gang related activities you name it…we cannot seem curb this epidemic admittedly…
Check out Alex James’ film:
you fell for it hook line and sinker
this is about politics and seeking to make excuses
the Colombian government is not trying to clean up the cocaine trade, they want to be the ones in control. the US forces that did not want to appear on camera, they are probably there to spy on Chavez in Venezuela.
these pleas are a waste of time. all these countries need to do is beef up their security and weed out the corrupt officers and officials. search every container and suitcase. grind the legal trade routes to a halt and then see where the illegal ones are. Dentists have used this drug as well as others and where is the problem. These Governments only fight against products that which they are not in control of. Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, etc. if it were being produced en-mass in their territories or they had a tradition of farming this we would not have this problem.
The Capitalists are only seeking their interests to snort, smoke and inject gasoline and other toxic chemicals at a cheaper price.
Hey Phranc,
I appreciate your comment, but I am not as gullible as you think. Your point about control is valid.Governments like to be in control of their country and will clamp down on anything, that would appear to be depriving them a share of the wealth. I enjoyed the feature even though you deem it a facade. I always try look for the good in things and people and hope for betterment.If it is, that this is just an act the Colombian Government is putting on for the media, they are just fooling themselves in the end.
If “The Cocaine Diaries-Alex James” just got one drug addict into thinking and maybe even motivate to come clean I see it as a success. Fact is, that clebrities do “Sell” whatever they lend their name to. Will it stop the corruption in any country? No, than again show me one country where there is not at least one corrupt politician.
saw this interesting piece on Coca Farmers… another side of the story…