Newsletter July 2019

PRAXIS GREECE

July 2019 http://evs-mediart.weebly.com/

Praxis Greece was founded in 1995 and is a
youth association, which supports refugees
through social media and cultural activities and

events.

International Day against risk on health.

Drug Abuse and Illicit The scope of cannabis production and consumption
is massive. Estimated 95% of the world’s heroin
Trafficking supply comes from opium produced in Afghanistan
and almost all the cocaine comes from three coun-
June 26 is the International Day against Drug tries: Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. However, canna-
bis is grown in almost every country in the world,
Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and the aim of the day both indoors and outdoors, and often in small
is to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve amounts only by the users themselves. Therefore, it
the goal of an international society free of drug is often traded freely by people not involved in oth-
abuse. At the end of the 19th century, a major opium er criminal activity. The law enforcement pressure
epidemic happened in China, and Great Powers has actually inadvertently driven the cannabis pro-
fought for control of opium markets, because it was duction indoors, which in turn promotes higher po-
such an important source of revenue for the govern- tency products (because the most potent female
ment. “Many national economies were as dependent plant, called sinsemilla, has to be grown in isolation
on opium as the addicts themselves.” However, anti so the pollination from the male plant cannot reach
-opium activists held a first international conference it) and increases the share of production in the con-
on narcotic drugs in Shanghai in 1909 which, over sumer countries.
the next fifty years, led to a multilateral system to
control production, trafficking and abuse of drugs. At the same time, we should expand evidence-based
approaches to prevention, treatment and support of
Drugs should remain controlled but in order to con- addiction. I vote for good evidence-based research
trol the production, manufacture and trafficking in results, also considering the health effects of certain
an effective way one would call for a legalization of drugs, instead of fearmongering and bending evi-
some drugs at least. Illicit drug trafficking is such a dence in a way to suit a certain agenda. Some recent
big market that it will never disappear completely. studies have shown that microdosing psychedelic
The more sanctions a government or a control sys- drugs might have promising benefits for mental
tem implements, the more will people find illicit wellbeing for people suffering depression and anxi-
and secret ways to persevere. It is a good business ety, among other mental illnesses. If it really helps
since so many people prefer to escape their prob- mental stability and improves focus, I do not see
lems rather than confronting their mistakes and why these drugs should not be used as treatment,
weaknesses, and drugs provide an effective solution considering all the other prescription drugs readily
to that. People will always find ways to escape real- available. It should be socially and academically
ity and we have become hard-wired for a quick fix. acceptable to research drugs in order to be more
Today’s society cannot wait months or years to deal knowledgeable on the subject.
with their problems, they want a quick solution –
and oftentimes the solution is not the best and will Having said all that, and even though there are
make the problem even worse – but a promise of a drugs that may have some health benefits and drugs
good time sounds better than confronting ourselves that could be considered not as dangerous and phys-
and looking inside us. By legalizing the softer drugs ically addictive as others, it is still evident that psy-
(such as cannabinoids or hallucinogens), there will chological addiction can be just as damaging. I have
be more control over what people produce and what seen people struggle with enjoying life. It might be
clients take in their bodies, therefore having less that the body’s reward system is not functioning
fully by releasing less feelgood hormones as the av-
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United Nations Office erage person when sober, therefore some people need to engage in
on Drugs and Crime risk-taking behavior to feel alive. More impulses are needed to
achieve that surge of happiness, chasing after another high to feel
Is a global leader in the anything at all. And it is sad to see, how, in the end, not much else
fight against illicit drugs matters than getting that high again; relationships and human con-
and international crime. nections suffer, as it becomes impossible to communicate with peo-
Established in 1997, ple who are under the influence. It is hard to accept or understand
UNODC operates in all the severity of the problem as an addict, because addiction affects
regions of the world the brain’s executive functions, and people may not be aware that
through an extensive their behavior is causing problems for themselves and others. It is
network of field offices. understandable that to the people who develop an addiction it is the
United Nations wrote a only way to live or to feel anything positive, but it is extremely sad
resolution about effec- to see a happy person change into an empty shell of their former
tively addressing and selves, walking around like a living zombie. As humans we mostly
countering the world have the freedom of choice, and while I cannot tell people how they
drug problem which in- should live their lives, I hope they think long and hard before mak-
cludes measures such ing that choice.
as: addressing demand
and supply reduction, Written by Jaanika Malla
and improving access to
controlled medicines 3
while preventing diver-
sion. Some challenges
that have emerged are
new psychoactive sub-
stances, strengthening
international cooperation
and alternative develop-
ment. The biggest con-
cern is the health and
welfare of humankind.

Nelson Mandela’s Day would be deprived of their freedom and impris-
oned for a period of 27 years.

Nelson Mandela was born into a family of the International pressure on the Government of
kingship of South Africa. His great- grandfather South Africa was able to release Mandela in
was king of the Tembu, a royal house of strong 1990. From there, his party, the African National
influence of African descent. His father was bap- Congress won the elections and he became as
tized as 'Rolihlahla' that in Xhosa language South Africa's first black president by universal
means 'weapon' problems. suffrage. Their struggle to abolish the law of
apartheid, and an end to racial discrimination in
After a happy childhood, filled with excellent edu- his country earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in
cation, Mandela became young and escaped 1993.
from his tribe once he knew it had a ranged a
marriage for him. He died at his 95 years, the 5th of December,
2013, becoming a figure so beloved and contro-
He arrived in Johannesburg to study law, where versial, for his evolution as revolutionary
he was confronted with the reality that his country "terrorist" until democratic president. Their cause
lived: apartheid. It was a system of racial segre- was recognized with more than 250 honorific
gation imposed by the Afrikaners, the white mi- mentions and a big amount of awards.
nority of Dutch origin. After graduating as a law-
yer, Mandela began a path of social activism with Written by Ananda Antón Linares
youth groups attached to the political party of the
African National Congress.

Their manifestations in public, with calls for civil
disobedience to demand equal civil rights in favor
of the afro civilization, made him gain prominence
in South Africa. In 1956 Mandela was first arrest-
ed and tried for treason. But only until 1962 he

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A “Paki” not: A Story cion and incredulity. He took me by surprise,
when he asked me to indicate the specific mod-
Written Right After el. He would search for it, for that he kindly re-
quested that I wait a minute. “Does it really
It was around 21:00, almost all the central mar- work?”, I added with an apparent irony. “If it does
kets had been closed. I was in an urgent need of not work, please come back tomorrow and I will
a battery charger for my mobile phone. While I give you a new one, a better one. I will remem-
was crossing the central square, desperate and ber you”. He made a demonstration of the new
irritated, a row of hand-crafted tables on my charger and surprisingly enough, it worked.
right side caught my attention. The illegal
“facilities” of the Pakistani were “specializing” in That man, a foreigner with absolutely no qualifi-
all kinds of gadgets. That might was the place to cations for the national bureaucratic system,
be. So, I headed straight for the charger. made me feel embarrassed. I left him with a
smile and I thanked him twice. He smiled back,
In general, the perception over this kind of out- as if he had forgiven my racist attitude. In a dura-
door shops could not have been less positive. tion of five minutes, I bought two things: A
Nationals’ mentality regarding Pakistani people charger and dignity. Or maybe not. Dignity has
who sell illegal products has not strengthen the no price.
attitude of the local societies towards the migrant
population. Conversely, Pakistani experience a Written by Paschalina Garidou
generalized racist perception of inferiority and
ethnic depreciation.

I approached one of the shop owners, looked
him in the eyes and asked him in my mother lan-
guage, if he could provide me with a mobile
charger, in a generalized atmosphere of suspi-

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Promoting social inclusion through activi-
ties, at Alexander hotel, in Lefkonas, Serres

(13/06/2019)

At the World Refugee
Day

(20/06/2019)

A warm welcome at
the camp

(19/07/2019)

Panseraraikos BC and the6Greek naional Basketball team U18
started a symbolic movement, planting olive trees to promote the

global environmental awareness (05/07/2019)

Pride Event in Asteria Theater
(27/06/2019)

Greek, English and Spanish lessons at Praxis
office and at Alexander hotel

Hassan is Yezidi and he 7
teaches our Spanish
volunteer Kurmanji Radio Broadcasts by Praxis, local and
European volunteers

Clean Serres Contact Us

Clean Serres is a mobile application by which local Office Address:
people have the ability to report any problem, regard-
ing various cleaning issues. In this way we can actively PRAXIS cultural Organisation

help the municipality to keep our town clean. Ioustinianou 19
62124 Serres
Download the App in the site: Greece

https://cleanserres.gr/en/ Contact Person:

Anna Alevra
Phone: 0030 23210 58800
Fax: 0030 23210 58802
Mobile: 0030-6944263636

E-mail:

[email protected]
[email protected]

Visit our Website:

http://praxisgreece.com/

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