A CHANCE TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

From the Netherlands came a donation for the two-day international
conference on drug policy planned for April by the James A. Baker III
Institute for Public Policy at Rice University.

"Not a cheque, but a contribution to the debate," wrote Jan G. van der Tas,
a former Netherlands ambassador to Syria and Germany, who included some of
his comments that recently appeared in a publication by the Netherlands
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His e-mail came after I mentioned in this space my determination to be a
part of this important meeting being held to examine one of the biggest
social problems in world history.

And, since I lack adequate credentials, knowledge or experience to
participate in discussions, I figured the way to take part was by tossing a
few bucks in the pot to help meet the funding needs.

I didn't ask anyone if I could do it, and nobody solicited.

The Baker Institute has funding sources to turn to, grants it can obtain to
support its activities. The reason I sent a check is because of some strong
feelings that expenses for this meeting should be shared by a great many of
us making our small donations rather than coming out of just one or two big
pockets.

'What can we do?' Over the past few years I have talked with many people
who have been victimized in some way by the drug war and others who are
concerned about how the nation's drug policy is eroding the Constitution.

They ask, "What can we do to help change things?"

Trying to find some way to make a difference can be pretty frustrating.
Rice professor Bill Martin, principal organizer of the event, said it will
take about $150,000 to cover conference expenses.

My few bucks won't mean the difference between having a conference or not
having a conference. But being a little part of this important event that
may, indeed, help change policies makes a big difference to me.

Baker Institute at Rice University in Houston is the right place for such a
meeting, and the timing is right. People in charge of the drug war have
been linking it to the nation's war on terrorism (and spending millions of
public dollars on TV commercials to promote that link).

In that conference contribution from van der Tas, he said, "we should
really get worried when we see the war on drugs and the war on terrorism
bracketed together in such a manner."

One reason is that, in fighting terrorism, "we cannot afford to be
satisfied with such poor results as the drug warriors achieve in the war on
drugs," he said. "But above all, because drugs and the drugs trade are not
the real problem, like terrorism is. The real problem with drugs rests with
drug prohibition and the fanatical, U.S.-inspired efforts to enforce it. It
is indeed the war on drugs itself that produces -- unintentionally perhaps,
but inevitably -- the almost limitless gains and illegal resources that can
among other things be channeled into financing international terrorism."

Concern in many nations People in many countries of Western Europe, in
Canada, in Australia and elsewhere, he said, "are beginning to understand
that criminalizing a market where such huge demand exists must directly
lead to undreamt-of opportunities for criminals."

You likely know that the fellow in charge of Baker Institute, the founding
director, also is a former ambassador. Edward Djerejian represented the
United States in Syria and Israel.

In addition to hearing from the former ambassador from the Netherlands, I
got a package of information from Armin Meile, the consul general of
Switzerland here in Houston.

"The Government of Switzerland has been searching for many years for a way
to help the unfortunate human beings trapped in the vicious circle of drug
abuse," Meile said in his cover letter. "Prevention, therapy, harm
reduction and law enforcement are the pillars of the drug policy of
Switzerland."

This conference has attracted the interest of people whose careers focus
upon international issues. It will involve people who are experts in
discussing and negotiating complicated problems with political and social
and moral facets.

It could be the start of something big.