Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: BRB, at UNGASS

Russell Brown

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 16:47:48 +1200

As it’s the declared “outcome document” for the session, what chance is there that large chunks might be amended or even better, discarded?

Probably very little. But it's still interesting:

http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/the-place-where-things-happen-strangely/

Rich of Observationz

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 15:38:30 +1200

About half the countries in the UN are despotisms of some kind – while it's obviously necessary to deal with them to try and stop wars and so forth, why should they have any say in what our government lets us put in our bodies?

Alfie

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 14:49:23 +1200

It’s a horrible document in a number of ways.

As it's the declared "outcome document" for the session, what chance is there that large chunks might be amended or even better, discarded?

Russell Brown

Tue, 19 Apr 2016 14:24:15 +1200

It’s not the most readable document – 24 pages of text with no index. I note that the word “cannabis” only appears once (3c, page 10) in the context of increased cooperation to “measurably reduce or eliminate” drug production; and while the word “health” is scattered about, the phrase “harm…

Alfie

Sun, 17 Apr 2016 17:11:37 +1200

I'm looking forward to Russell's UNGASS coverage. I see Columbia's President Juan Manuel Santos has added his voice to those calling for a rethink on prohibition.

For those who are interested, here's the UNGASS draft outcome statement [PDF]. It's not the most readable document — 24 pages of text with…

Hugh Wilson

Fri, 15 Apr 2016 16:00:51 +1200

That gentrification has been happening for a while*, but the intersection of Ludlow and Rivington – where the cover of Pauls Boutique was shot – is still there (and vaguely recognisable)

*The Tenement Museum is a testament of sorts to the Lower East Sides prolonged gentrification, and is well worth…

Rich of Observationz

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 18:38:09 +1200

Sadly it closed about 10 years ago. It's some sort of clothes shop now.

I guess even the Lower East Side gets gentrified.

BenWilson

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 15:46:42 +1200

Have a great time and keep us posted!

Ian Dalziel

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 15:24:45 +1200

Can we look forward to a photo of you, Peter Dunne and Helen Clark at CBGBs?

ThoughtSpur

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 14:29:48 +1200

Interested in your coverage.
The recent spike in interest following Helen Kelly's experience has been fascinating.
Seems NZ is oddly conflicted about drugs. We seem to both delight in out addictions and have a po-faced attitude to it – especially when it's 'other' – as in poor people vs a…

oga

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 13:40:51 +1200

Isn't it the usual thing to approve the minutes of the previous meeting before commencing the next? That's what I know from my governance experience.

Stupid

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 12:08:43 +1200

That's awesome that you're attending Russell! Have fun in NY & BK

Ross Bell

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 10:13:32 +1200

You can imagine the diplomatic wrangling that led to that decision. Certain people fear countries showing up at NY and trying to renegotiate the weak outcomes document. Remembering that this was drafted in Vienna where most countries don't have missions.

Russell Brown

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 09:45:42 +1200

They’re approving the minutes at the start of the meeting rather the end. Go figure.

So the conclusions of the meeting are written before the three-day meeting and approved on the first morning? That's ... interesting.

Russell Brown

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 09:42:45 +1200

Shit! Is UNGASS next week?

Sorry – should have reminded you!

Ross Bell

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 09:31:54 +1200

Here's an interesting/cynical piece of news: the new agenda for UNGASS has member states approving the "Outcomes Document" (ie the usual 'declaration' one gets at these hui) on the morning of day 1!! They're approving the minutes at the start of the meeting rather the end. Go figure.

Ross Bell

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 09:30:00 +1200

Shit! Is UNGASS next week?

Geoff Lealand

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 08:23:42 +1200

Excellent! Have fun, when there is an opportunity.

Russell Brown

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 07:55:46 +1200

Note that two days after I return I'll be on the panel at the Tuesday April 26 Table Talk with Ali Mau: Cannabis – Beyond Prohibition, part of Ika restaurant's Salon series. I expect I'll have plenty to tell.

Public Address

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 07:55:46 +1200

Discussion from blog post.