OPINION
Page 6
Friday, June 17, 1988
The Michigan Daily
Is the "War" on ecology or on drugs?
THIS WEEK, THE LATEST step in
the Reagan administration's "War
on Drugs" was revealed. Federal
agricultural scientists have been
experimenting with biological and
chemical methods to eradicate coca
crops, the source of cocaine, in
South America.
This plan, one more chapter in
Reagan's "War on Drugs," is envi-
ronmentally and politically un-
sound, and still does not address the
root causes of this country's drug
problem. In this program, the Uni-
ted States intends to drop herbicide
pellets over "millions of acres" of
South American tropical forest and
subtropical savannah land. Thus far,
many major pesticide producers
have refused to allow their products
to be used in this program. Any
herbicide being developed by the
researchers for use outside the Uni-
ted States will not subject to the
same approval process as herbicides
produced for domestic use.
The deadly effect of this policy
has been seen many times in Third
World countries to which U.S.
pharmaceutical and chemical pro-
ducers export unapproved products.
Third World farmworkers are regu-
larly exposed to toxic DDT. Addi-
tionally, many infants died when
Nestle's pushed its milk formula on
Third World mothers who were un-
aware of the need to sterilize milk
bottles, could not feed their babies
when the formula ran out, and did
not pass on immunities through
breastfeeding.
The fragile and rapidly disappear-
ing tropical rain forests of South
America may also be endangered by
the herbicide spraying. It is likely
that an herbicide will harm wildlife,
plants, and trees which are not the
target crop. The senior project re-
searcher claimed that although he
was concerned about the environ-
ment, "our major concern here is
the efficiency of the product, that it
does a good job of killing coca."
The Reagan administration has
stated that it will only carry out the
program in consenting countries.
Such a policy raises serious ques-
tions; historically, the United
States has forced its client nations
into anything it proposes. Con-
frontations are likely between the
citizens and governments of coun-
tries in which the program is im-
plemented.
This plan smacks of the-hypo-
crisy which characterizes the Rea-
gan administration. As revealed last
summer in the Iran-Contra hear-
ings, the CIA, with the knowledge
of some Reagan administration
officials, engaged in drug-running
as a way to finance the mercenary
contra army. Reagan's entire "War
on Drugs" is also hypocritical on a
very basic level. An administration
which has so severely cut funds for
social programs should only expect
drug usage to increase.
History has shown that prohibi-
tion doesn't work. The Reagan ad-
ministration must work to eradicate
the social causes which lead to drug
abuse in the first place. The gov-
ernment must permanently disman-
tle its own drug network, address
the pervasiveness of drugs in soci-
ety's upper crust, and drastically
increase funds for social programs
which will work to reduce home-
lessness and unemployment.
Vol. XCVII- No. 7S
Unsigned editorials represent the majority views of the Daily's
Editorial Board. Cartoons and signed editorials do not
necessarily reflect the Daily's opinion.
State legislature dumps rent control:
Housing battles
AFFORDABLE HOUSING in
Michigan suffered a double blow in
June with the defeat of one bill and
the passage of another.
In spite of overwhelming evi-
dence that national housing short-
ages have been created in large part
by huge U.S. military spending,
the Ann Arbor City Council refused
to endorse the Omnibus Housing
Bill presented to them last week by
the Ann Arbor Tenants Union. This
legislation seeks to create per-
manently affordable housing
through cuts in the military budget
and through programs which would
make housing community owned
and controlled.
Fortunately, with or without the
approval of the CityrCouncil, the
Omnibus Bill promises to bring
the scandals of homelessness, sky-
rocketing rents, and declines in
home-ownership into the forefront
of national conciousness. Never-
theless, the City Council's failure
to support the bill is a disappoint-
ment to Ann Arbor residents who
believe in equity for all its citizens.
Even more disturbing was the 75-
24 passage of Senate Bill 583 in
the Michigan State Assembly.
Flying in the face of all democratic
processes, this bill prohibits com-
munities from enacting local rent
control ordinances and becomes ef-
fective as soon as Governor Blan-
chard signs it into law.
Rammed through the legislature
with heavy lobbying on the behalf
of state landlords, the bill
effectively guts the Detroit rent
stabilization campaign. With rent
control ordinances illegal, Michigan
landlords will not have to spend
money trying to defeat the
referendum on the August ballot.
Whatever one's opinion of rent
control, a statewide ban on rent
control ordinances is fundamentally
undemocratic. Even Mayor Cole-
man Young and the Detroit Free
Press, rent control foes, have up-
held the principle that its adoption
should remain in the control of lo-
cal communities. Undoubtedly, the
same Congressional representatives
who favor state regulation of rent
ordinances would balk at analogous
regulations governing corporations.
The constitutionality of Senate
Bill 583 should be challenged in a
court of law. Unless it is rescinded
- and unless the national Omnibus
Housing Bill receives Congres-
sional approval - dark days and
cold nights lie ahead for renters and
the homeless.
A recent MIT study estimates
that the United States will lack 7.5
million units of low-cost housing
by the turn of the century and
nearly 19 million Americans could
be out on the streets without any
sort of shelter. This situation is
unacceptable but not inevitable;
however, recent state and national
legislation make overwhelming
poverty and homelessness a very
real and frightening prospect.
South Africa update
NEW DEVELOPMENTS related to
South Africa have occurred which
warrant special attention. The
Michigan legislature passed a bill
which would require the State's
pension fund to divest itself from
firms doing business with South
Africa. Hopefully, this bold move
will be paralleled in Congress,
which will soon consider legisla-
tion that would impose a compre-
hensive trade embargo on South
Africa and require most U.S. firms
to divest. Congressional represent-
atives should be encouraged to vote
in favor of these sanctions.
In addition to these events, a
three day general strike called by
Black South African trade unions
ended last week. Police killed seven
Blacks in the resulting civil unrest.
The strike was among the largest
ever staged there, despite the two
year long state of emergency that
South Africa is under: a sign gov-
ernment clampdowns are failing.
Many workers did not go to work
yesterday either, as it was the 12th
anniversary of the Soweto uprising.
On June 16, 1976, thousands of
Black students were leading a
peaceful demonstration against the
use of Afrikaanas in school
(Afrikaanas is the language of the
white South Africans) when South
African troops opened fire on the
crowd, killing over 1000 demon-
strators. Over 90 percent of Black
commuters stayed away from work
to mark the 12th anniversary of the
massacre - a further indication
that white South Africa is fighting
a losing battle.
Across the globe in London,
Nelson Mandela, the symbolic
leader of the African National Con-
gress, was honored in a benefit
concert at Wembly stadium last
week. It is a little-known fact that
the CIA, because of its "respect" for
international law, tipped off the
South African police on the where-
abouts of Mandela 26 years ago,
leading to his arrest.