Roar Mikalsen - HUMAN RISING - radiofri..

USAs representant til organisasjonen truet med å trekke tilbake all amerikansk støtte til
organisasjonens forsøksprosjekter om ikke WHO stanset publikasjonen. I følge WHO
eksisterer derfor ikke denne rapporten, men du finner en kopi av den på
www.tdpf.org.uk/wholeaked.pdf. Her er denne WHO rapportens konklusjoner:
“The growth of the coca bush is fundamental in the subsistence economy of many
farmers in Bolivia. It is a rather efficient crop since the leaves can be harvested three or four
times a year. In addition it satisfies an internal (legal) demand because of its multiple
applications in the traditional Andean culture. Moreover, the transport to the market and
the retail sale (both legal activities) generate employment and a source of precarious income
to the retailers and their families.
The coca leaf still plays many functions and its 'chew' and other applications are fully
integrated in the Andean traditional culture and the cosmic vision. Most traditional users fall
into this model of use. The coca leaf holds an important place in the various aspects of their
lives.
The following are the main uses of the coca leaf: As a source of energy (the
predominant use): it increases performance at work and helps to fight against tiredness,
sleepiness and cold. In addition, the 'chew' organises the periods of work and rest. It is not
considered a foodstuff although it diminishes the sensation of hunger and it provides some
minerals and vitamins. It may be used as a foodstuff when there is a shortage of traditional
foodstuffs.
Medicinal: It is used for organic diseases, on account of its chemical properties in
herbal teas, syrups and plasters made with the leaves. It is also used to diagnose and treat
culturally defined diseases whose aetiology is supernatural, of psychosomatic nature,
expressing interpersonal or social structure conflicts.
Magical-religious: It is used for communicating with the supernatural world and to
obtain protection. It is used by soothsayers to avoid or to find out causes of bad luck. It is
used also in all the magic-religious rituals, especially in offerings to the 'Pachamama' that
personifies the Earth so as to obtain sufficient foodstuffs, protect one's health and the
environment.
Social: It is used to maintain social cohesion and co-operation among the members of
the community. It also plays an important role in all the communal ceremonies, in the
reciprocal inter-changes of work and in socialising.
The instrumental type of use, prevalent in the cities and among the non-ethnic
Quechua and Aymara population, exhibits changes away from the traditional uses due to
acculturation and adaptation to modern lifestyles. Hence some traditional uses have become
irrelevant or meaningless. This type of users value the coca leaf mainly for its energy-giving
and medicinal properties and do not know about its ritual, customary uses or, prefer to
ignore them. An important issue is the defence of the coca leaf as a symbol of identity and
belonging. Users and non-users also reject the view that associates coca leaf use to a
backward way of life characteristic of indigenous populations (the expression of a prejudice).
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