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Subscribe to RSSRadio Netherlands Worldwide reports: Steeped, chewed, or set alight in a ritual: the coca leaf has been used for millennia in the Andes for medicinal and sacred purposes. The rest of the world, however, sees it as the source plant for the illegal narcotic cocaine.
Which explains why (as reported by the AP) the U.S. will file a formal objection today to Bolivia’s proposal, according to a senior U.S. government official.
Juan Karita / AP
An indigenous woman chews coca leaves outside the U.S. embassy inaugurating the national day of coca leaf-chewing in La Paz, Bolivia, on Jan. 26. Bolivia has petitioned the U.N. to end an international ban on coca leaf-chewing. A mild stimulant, the leaves have deep cultural and religious value in the region. The U.S. will file a formal objection today to Bolivia?s proposal, according to a senior U.S. government official.
Gaston Brito / Reuters
A coca grower dries coca leaves during a "Dia Nacional del Pijcheo de hoja de Coca" (National Coca Leaf Chewing Day) rally to promote the chewing of coca leaves and its industrialization in front of the U.S. embassy in La Paz January 26, 2011. Bolivia is the third largest producer of coca leaves in the world, local media reported.
Juan Karita / AP
Indigenous gather in front of the U.S. embassy to inaugurate the national day of coca leaf-chewing in La Paz, Bolivia, on Jan. 26.
Read RNW's full report here.
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I guess they don't have a Starbucks!?
The headline says cocoa, which is something totally different FYI
Recent news has supported President Morales policy of "coca si, cocaina zero." Morales has vowed to cut down 20,000 acres of coca fields in, bought planes and helicopters to fight drug traffickers, opened up legal markets for the coca leaf, such as the Bolivian soft drink, Coca Colla and Coca Bryco. Chewing coca is a world of difference from snorting cocaine. Chewing coca is not addictive, has health benefits, helps with altitude sickness, and alleviates stomach pains. The UN can erase the stigma it has connected to the coca leaf without having to facilitate drug trafficking. The U.S. needs to wake up and stop being an obstacle to coca legalization. Upon inauguration, Obama has promised Bolivia better relations. Coca legalization should be an easy agreement between the countries, strengthening ties, instead of another clash, perpetuating the U.S.-Bolivia breakup of 2008.
Why does the US always have to try to be the 'big man', or really, the 'big bully'! Theres obviously no harm in coca leaves, infact theres all good in coca leaves. There are more vitimins in the leaves than most fruits and it aids in all sorts of health issues. It sounds like the only reason the countries that want to oppose the ban have got, is the fact that the leaves are the main ingredient in the manufactur of cocain hcl. Yes this is true of course, but you would need to grow at least 100 kilos upwards and have a procise environment for the bush to grow, which would be an impossible task for most countries. If its left to the south american countries to produce and export, it would boost there economy and in turn this would eradicate the need to manufacture 'illegal cocain hcl'. This in turn would be a step in the right direction for the war on drugs. Everyones a winner!