Colombia: Latin America

Latin America: Leaders from Mexico, Central and South America are increasingly convinced that the war on drugs is failing. Many of them are urgently debating alternative approaches, including decriminalization, since the present strategy is broken. And it seems that at least one country in North America is starting to agree. President Obamas visit this month to Mexico and Central America presaged a shift in narrative from security to economic priorities. And a new report just released by the Organization of American States concurs, calling attention to the shortcomings of repressive anti-drug policies across the western hemisphere, according to The Star. Today, many political leaders across Latin America are determined to refocus attention on growth, employment and tourism. They recognize that bad news sends out terrible signals to financial markets and would-be tourists. In the coming months we can expect more energetic discussion on access to energy, infrastructure, jobs, immigration and trade. Closer to home, there is also growing impatience with Canadas tough on crime approach, and calls for a change of direction and The Canadian prime minister visited Colombia and Peru last week, two of the most productive economies in Latin America. Canada sees Latin America, and the Pacific Rim countries in particular, as gateways to freer trade. While extolling the virtues of enhanced trade ties, Harper failed to mention that Colombia and Peru are also two of the largest producers and exporters of cocaine on the planet. Also quietly avoided was any talk of the explosive levels of drug-related violence across the region. Yet Canadians should acknowledge Latin Americans very real grievances with the war on drugs, and our shared responsibility in addressing the problem. Latin Americans have long been critical of what they describe as the Yankees war. Signs of their impatience surfaced during the 2012 Summit of the Americas when presidents from Costa Rica, Guatemala and Colombia called for an end to prohibition. To their surprise, Obama showed openness to new approaches and Harper conceded that the current approach is not working and that alternatives were needed. Many now feel that this moment marked the beginning of the end of the drug war. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.