so a lot happens lots starts here in Washington DC for me it was my career
Washington DC for me it was my career
Washington DC for me it was my career there’s a lot of else that’s going on
there’s a lot of else that’s going on
there’s a lot of else that’s going on here too which is that Washington has
here too which is that Washington has
here too which is that Washington has the distinction of being one of the
the distinction of being one of the
the distinction of being one of the great capitals of the world for cocaine
great capitals of the world for cocaine
great capitals of the world for cocaine consumption there’s greater per capita
consumption there’s greater per capita
consumption there’s greater per capita cocaine use here particularly among
cocaine use here particularly among
cocaine use here particularly among white-collar workers
white-collar workers
white-collar workers second only to New York so what I want
second only to New York so what I want
second only to New York so what I want to do is begin in this point of
to do is begin in this point of
to do is begin in this point of consumption of cocaine consumption and
consumption of cocaine consumption and
consumption of cocaine consumption and take you back down the commodity chain
take you back down the commodity chain
take you back down the commodity chain not to where we typically think of when
not to where we typically think of when
not to where we typically think of when we see these crazy maps full of arrows
we see these crazy maps full of arrows
we see these crazy maps full of arrows pointing north not back to where coca is
pointing north not back to where coca is
pointing north not back to where coca is grown in cocaine is produced in South
grown in cocaine is produced in South
grown in cocaine is produced in South America but rather I want to take you
America but rather I want to take you
America but rather I want to take you halfway back down the commodity chain to
halfway back down the commodity chain to
halfway back down the commodity chain to those areas hiding under those red
those areas hiding under those red
those areas hiding under those red arrows in Central America those spaces
arrows in Central America those spaces
arrows in Central America those spaces through which cocaine is merely moved
through which cocaine is merely moved
through which cocaine is merely moved like packages in a DHL hub these are
like packages in a DHL hub these are
like packages in a DHL hub these are transshipment zones through which
transshipment zones through which
transshipment zones through which cocaine moves on its journey northward
cocaine moves on its journey northward
cocaine moves on its journey northward to markets such as those I’m sure just
to markets such as those I’m sure just
to markets such as those I’m sure just outside the door here so I want to take
outside the door here so I want to take
outside the door here so I want to take you specifically to look at a region in
you specifically to look at a region in
you specifically to look at a region in eastern Honduras it’s known as the
eastern Honduras it’s known as the
eastern Honduras it’s known as the Mosquito Coast region of Eastern
Mosquito Coast region of Eastern
Mosquito Coast region of Eastern Honduras and Nicaragua and this is an
Honduras and Nicaragua and this is an
Honduras and Nicaragua and this is an area of tremendous biological and
area of tremendous biological and
area of tremendous biological and cultural diversity it has many protected
cultural diversity it has many protected
cultural diversity it has many protected areas internationally recognized world
areas internationally recognized world
areas internationally recognized world heritage sites and so on and I want to
heritage sites and so on and I want to
heritage sites and so on and I want to take you specifically into the
take you specifically into the
take you specifically into the communities of the two waka people
communities of the two waka people
communities of the two waka people they’re one of Honduras is smallest
they’re one of Honduras is smallest
they’re one of Honduras is smallest ethnic groups fewer than 2,000 people
ethnic groups fewer than 2,000 people
ethnic groups fewer than 2,000 people they’re regionally known for the
they’re regionally known for the
they’re regionally known for the spectacular dugout canoes that they
spectacular dugout canoes that they
spectacular dugout canoes that they produce almost entirely by hand no
produce almost entirely by hand no
produce almost entirely by hand no chainsaws here that just pure acts and
chainsaws here that just pure acts and
chainsaws here that just pure acts and ads and I want to take you through the
ads and I want to take you through the
ads and I want to take you through the ways that I’ve become aware that this is
ways that I’ve become aware that this is
ways that I’ve become aware that this is an area that is being both culturally
an area that is being both culturally
an area that is being both culturally and ecologically devastated by both the
and ecologically devastated by both the
and ecologically devastated by both the consumption here in the US of cocaine
consumption here in the US of cocaine
consumption here in the US of cocaine but also what I would argue are the u.s.
but also what I would argue are the u.s.
but also what I would argue are the u.s. is deeply flawed policies with
is deeply flawed policies with
is deeply flawed policies with to the global war on drugs all right so
to the global war on drugs all right so
to the global war on drugs all right so how did I get into drugs well uh after
how did I get into drugs well uh after
how did I get into drugs well uh after working the National Geographic I went
working the National Geographic I went
working the National Geographic I went to live in Eastern Honduras for two
to live in Eastern Honduras for two
to live in Eastern Honduras for two years working on a research project
years working on a research project
years working on a research project there and that began a career as a
there and that began a career as a
there and that began a career as a geography professor by which I’ve been
geography professor by which I’ve been
geography professor by which I’ve been very privileged to be able to repeatedly
very privileged to be able to repeatedly
very privileged to be able to repeatedly return to this place over time and that
return to this place over time and that
return to this place over time and that has allowed a wonderful opportunity to
has allowed a wonderful opportunity to
has allowed a wonderful opportunity to really understand the very dynamic
really understand the very dynamic
really understand the very dynamic relationships between people there and
relationships between people there and
relationships between people there and the forests with which they coexist and
the forests with which they coexist and
the forests with which they coexist and I’ve learned a lot about how forests
I’ve learned a lot about how forests
I’ve learned a lot about how forests make people and people make forests in
make people and people make forests in
make people and people make forests in this region and one of the things that
this region and one of the things that
this region and one of the things that my repeat research trips to the region
my repeat research trips to the region
my repeat research trips to the region had shown me and it really convinced me
had shown me and it really convinced me
had shown me and it really convinced me of was just how profoundly resilient the
of was just how profoundly resilient the
of was just how profoundly resilient the to walk of people and their eco and the
to walk of people and their eco and the
to walk of people and their eco and the ecosystem which defines them have been
ecosystem which defines them have been
ecosystem which defines them have been and by resilient I mean they have shown
and by resilient I mean they have shown
and by resilient I mean they have shown a remarkable ability to bounce back for
a remarkable ability to bounce back for
a remarkable ability to bounce back for example in the 1930s their population
example in the 1930s their population
example in the 1930s their population was devastated by a smallpox epidemic
was devastated by a smallpox epidemic
was devastated by a smallpox epidemic they were reduced to about a hundred
they were reduced to about a hundred
they were reduced to about a hundred people and it was through the choices
people and it was through the choices
people and it was through the choices made by women like Dona Rufina here she
made by women like Dona Rufina here she
made by women like Dona Rufina here she was pushing a hundred when I saw her in
was pushing a hundred when I saw her in
was pushing a hundred when I saw her in 2011 she just died before Christmas last
2011 she just died before Christmas last
2011 she just died before Christmas last year because there was so few to walk
year because there was so few to walk
year because there was so few to walk him in to Mary she among her six
him in to Mary she among her six
him in to Mary she among her six husband’s life is short and in the
husband’s life is short and in the
husband’s life is short and in the region for men snakebite disease and
region for men snakebite disease and
region for men snakebite disease and other things on your six husband there
other things on your six husband there
other things on your six husband there was not a single to walk a man but she
was not a single to walk a man but she
was not a single to walk a man but she raised all of her children to speak to
raised all of her children to speak to
raised all of her children to speak to walk it and to learn that to walk away
walk it and to learn that to walk away
walk it and to learn that to walk away so all of her children though
so all of her children though
so all of her children though genetically diverse some in
genetically diverse some in
genetically diverse some in incorporating much non Amerindian blood
incorporating much non Amerindian blood
incorporating much non Amerindian blood they nevertheless speak to waka and
they nevertheless speak to waka and
they nevertheless speak to waka and identify themselves culturally as to
identify themselves culturally as to
identify themselves culturally as to waka so she and other women like her
waka so she and other women like her
waka so she and other women like her have been essential for passing on what
have been essential for passing on what
have been essential for passing on what it is to be too waka talk you’ve also
it is to be too waka talk you’ve also
it is to be too waka talk you’ve also been extremely successful at bouncing
been extremely successful at bouncing
been extremely successful at bouncing back from the threat of colonists
back from the threat of colonists
back from the threat of colonists incursion into their territory savvy
incursion into their territory savvy
incursion into their territory savvy political leaders like Edgardo Benitez
political leaders like Edgardo Benitez
political leaders like Edgardo Benitez have been able to organize international
have been able to organize international
have been able to organize international allies to have in 1999 their territory
allies to have in 1999 their territory
allies to have in 1999 their territory declared the toake sangmi biosphere
declared the toake sangmi biosphere
declared the toake sangmi biosphere reserve
reserve
reserve and then perhaps most impressively after
and then perhaps most impressively after
and then perhaps most impressively after Hurricane Mitch wiped out two of their
Hurricane Mitch wiped out two of their
Hurricane Mitch wiped out two of their communities and almost all of their
communities and almost all of their
communities and almost all of their horticultural and agricultural lands
horticultural and agricultural lands
horticultural and agricultural lands decade’s worth of agroforestry plots
decade’s worth of agroforestry plots
decade’s worth of agroforestry plots they were able to rebound in a way that
they were able to rebound in a way that
they were able to rebound in a way that used the storm as a window of
used the storm as a window of
used the storm as a window of opportunity to reorganize their
opportunity to reorganize their
opportunity to reorganize their agricultural activities and to in fact
agricultural activities and to in fact
agricultural activities and to in fact be more sustainable planting precious
be more sustainable planting precious
be more sustainable planting precious trees like mahogany for example so it
trees like mahogany for example so it
trees like mahogany for example so it was with funding from the committee for
was with funding from the committee for
was with funding from the committee for research and exploration from National
research and exploration from National
research and exploration from National Geographic that I returned in 2011 to
Geographic that I returned in 2011 to
Geographic that I returned in 2011 to walk a territory thinking that I was
walk a territory thinking that I was
walk a territory thinking that I was going to be able to research the latest
going to be able to research the latest
going to be able to research the latest ways in which they were manifesting
ways in which they were manifesting
ways in which they were manifesting their cultural their socio ecological
their cultural their socio ecological
their cultural their socio ecological resilience and went down with an
resilience and went down with an
resilience and went down with an undergraduate and a graduate student and
undergraduate and a graduate student and
undergraduate and a graduate student and it had been a while since I’d been back
it had been a while since I’d been back
it had been a while since I’d been back I’d had two kids I got in tenure and
I’d had two kids I got in tenure and
I’d had two kids I got in tenure and this had been my longest time away after
this had been my longest time away after
this had been my longest time away after three days of traveling through the
three days of traveling through the
three days of traveling through the region to get into the Tohoku area by
region to get into the Tohoku area by
region to get into the Tohoku area by dugout canoe this is a community prior
dugout canoe this is a community prior
dugout canoe this is a community prior to our visit this is what we saw we saw
to our visit this is what we saw we saw
to our visit this is what we saw we saw landscapes just devastated this is the
landscapes just devastated this is the
landscapes just devastated this is the site where a community I’d known and
site where a community I’d known and
site where a community I’d known and where I’d eaten my first monkey and
where I’d eaten my first monkey and
where I’d eaten my first monkey and drunk all sorts of fermented beverages
drunk all sorts of fermented beverages
drunk all sorts of fermented beverages and people were gone I was told they’d
and people were gone I was told they’d
and people were gone I was told they’d fled to Nicaragua some of them were
fled to Nicaragua some of them were
fled to Nicaragua some of them were living poor in the capital city
living poor in the capital city
living poor in the capital city we saw patterns of deforestation I never
we saw patterns of deforestation I never
we saw patterns of deforestation I never seen before right down to the water’s
seen before right down to the water’s
seen before right down to the water’s edge on incredibly steep slopes and when
edge on incredibly steep slopes and when
edge on incredibly steep slopes and when I talk to people about what was going on
I talk to people about what was going on
I talk to people about what was going on they kept telling me the same thing
they kept telling me the same thing
they kept telling me the same thing narcos now when I had lived in this area
narcos now when I had lived in this area
narcos now when I had lived in this area in the mid 90s we heard planes in the
in the mid 90s we heard planes in the
in the mid 90s we heard planes in the night I mean cocaine has been moving
night I mean cocaine has been moving
night I mean cocaine has been moving through Central America since the disco
through Central America since the disco
through Central America since the disco era and I was able to use knowing the
era and I was able to use knowing the
era and I was able to use knowing the local language and being able to talk to
local language and being able to talk to
local language and being able to talk to people in the 20 years of trust I built
people in the 20 years of trust I built
people in the 20 years of trust I built up in this region to really ask people
up in this region to really ask people
up in this region to really ask people what was going on why why were drugs
what was going on why why were drugs
what was going on why why were drugs why was the mere passage of drugs
why was the mere passage of drugs
why was the mere passage of drugs through this area having this effect and
through this area having this effect and
through this area having this effect and key to understanding this is to
key to understanding this is to
key to understanding this is to understand that when a plane lands and
understand that when a plane lands and
understand that when a plane lands and is unloaded of its a 700 kilos of
is unloaded of its a 700 kilos of
is unloaded of its a 700 kilos of cocaine the plane is burned that gives
cocaine the plane is burned that gives
cocaine the plane is burned that gives you a me
you a me
you a me an idea of how little the plane is worth
an idea of how little the plane is worth
an idea of how little the plane is worth relative to its cargo it’s just not
relative to its cargo it’s just not
relative to its cargo it’s just not worth flying back so what you see is an
worth flying back so what you see is an
worth flying back so what you see is an absolute tsunami of money hitting these
absolute tsunami of money hitting these
absolute tsunami of money hitting these communities that comes with that brings
communities that comes with that brings
communities that comes with that brings in that buys impunity and that buys
in that buys impunity and that buys
in that buys impunity and that buys weapons so traffickers in this region
weapons so traffickers in this region
weapons so traffickers in this region have been able to buy up land from –
have been able to buy up land from –
have been able to buy up land from – walka and other indigenous groups and
walka and other indigenous groups and
walka and other indigenous groups and pay for the labor to have that force
pay for the labor to have that force
pay for the labor to have that force those forest lands converted into cattle
those forest lands converted into cattle
those forest lands converted into cattle pasture and they’re doing it in huge
pasture and they’re doing it in huge
pasture and they’re doing it in huge swaths 500 hectares at a time and the
swaths 500 hectares at a time and the
swaths 500 hectares at a time and the question is why would drug traffickers
question is why would drug traffickers
question is why would drug traffickers want to be interested in cattle ranches
want to be interested in cattle ranches
want to be interested in cattle ranches well these are untraceable transactions
well these are untraceable transactions
well these are untraceable transactions right so they’re a wonderful way to
right so they’re a wonderful way to
right so they’re a wonderful way to launder drug profits otherwise known as
launder drug profits otherwise known as
launder drug profits otherwise known as the land laundering and in fact when the
the land laundering and in fact when the
the land laundering and in fact when the US Treasury Department froze the assets
US Treasury Department froze the assets
US Treasury Department froze the assets of a Honduran trafficking organization
of a Honduran trafficking organization
of a Honduran trafficking organization they found that a lot of the assets that
they found that a lot of the assets that
they found that a lot of the assets that they held were in palm plantations and
they held were in palm plantations and
they held were in palm plantations and cattle ranches so it’s a great way to
cattle ranches so it’s a great way to
cattle ranches so it’s a great way to launder money but it’s also a really
launder money but it’s also a really
launder money but it’s also a really excellent way for criminal organizations
excellent way for criminal organizations
excellent way for criminal organizations to diversify their investment portfolios
to diversify their investment portfolios
to diversify their investment portfolios they are good capitalists like everyone
they are good capitalists like everyone
they are good capitalists like everyone else and they are investing in the
else and they are investing in the
else and they are investing in the tropical land rush driven in part by
tropical land rush driven in part by
tropical land rush driven in part by high demand for ethanol which is fueling
high demand for ethanol which is fueling
high demand for ethanol which is fueling literally the expansion of African oil
literally the expansion of African oil
literally the expansion of African oil palm plantations these were planted on
palm plantations these were planted on
palm plantations these were planted on illicit lands on lands illicit ly
illicit lands on lands illicit ly
illicit lands on lands illicit ly purchased very close to the Mosquitia
purchased very close to the Mosquitia
purchased very close to the Mosquitia and in fact moving into the Mosquitia
and in fact moving into the Mosquitia
and in fact moving into the Mosquitia and the result of course is that the
and the result of course is that the
and the result of course is that the money narcos can can manipulate buys
money narcos can can manipulate buys
money narcos can can manipulate buys complicity with government officials
complicity with government officials
complicity with government officials leaving the to walk a very much on their
leaving the to walk a very much on their
leaving the to walk a very much on their own to fight this scourge and not
own to fight this scourge and not
own to fight this scourge and not surprisingly this was a group of men of
surprisingly this was a group of men of
surprisingly this was a group of men of to walk and mosquito men who went to
to walk and mosquito men who went to
to walk and mosquito men who went to challenge some traffickers who were
challenge some traffickers who were
challenge some traffickers who were clearing land very close to their
clearing land very close to their
clearing land very close to their territories and they were rebuffed with
territories and they were rebuffed with
territories and they were rebuffed with ak-47s an m16 so leaders are threatened
ak-47s an m16 so leaders are threatened
ak-47s an m16 so leaders are threatened if they speak out there was literally no
if they speak out there was literally no
if they speak out there was literally no one in the region to witness this
one in the region to witness this
one in the region to witness this process
process
process no one knew this was going on and so to
no one knew this was going on and so to
no one knew this was going on and so to walk they’re also unable to move through
walk they’re also unable to move through
walk they’re also unable to move through their traditional seasonal agricultural
their traditional seasonal agricultural
their traditional seasonal agricultural and fishing activity so they’re stuck
and fishing activity so they’re stuck
and fishing activity so they’re stuck fishing for crappy little fish
fishing for crappy little fish
fishing for crappy little fish near their home communities because they
near their home communities because they
near their home communities because they are not allowed basically they’re sealed
are not allowed basically they’re sealed
are not allowed basically they’re sealed off by a narco cordon to secure the area
off by a narco cordon to secure the area
off by a narco cordon to secure the area and perhaps one of the most pernicious
and perhaps one of the most pernicious
and perhaps one of the most pernicious effects of the traffickers is their
effects of the traffickers is their
effects of the traffickers is their tremendous skill at being able to pit –
tremendous skill at being able to pit –
tremendous skill at being able to pit – they’re dividing conquer strategies
they’re dividing conquer strategies
they’re dividing conquer strategies their ability to turn neighbors against
their ability to turn neighbors against
their ability to turn neighbors against neighbors so one of the things they do
neighbors so one of the things they do
neighbors so one of the things they do in approaching a remote indigenous
in approaching a remote indigenous
in approaching a remote indigenous community has identified that weakest
community has identified that weakest
community has identified that weakest link that one family that is so poor
link that one family that is so poor
link that one family that is so poor that they can act as the lane
that they can act as the lane
that they can act as the lane consolidators on behalf of the narcos
consolidators on behalf of the narcos
consolidators on behalf of the narcos and this pits family against family this
and this pits family against family this
and this pits family against family this is a picture of Walter I took it in
is a picture of Walter I took it in
is a picture of Walter I took it in about nine years ago we were finishing
about nine years ago we were finishing
about nine years ago we were finishing up post hold survey in his community
up post hold survey in his community
up post hold survey in his community he’s in the one-room schoolhouse that
he’s in the one-room schoolhouse that
he’s in the one-room schoolhouse that has since been sold to narcos and we
has since been sold to narcos and we
has since been sold to narcos and we were having a little dance Walter and
were having a little dance Walter and
were having a little dance Walter and his brother this past Easter had heard
his brother this past Easter had heard
his brother this past Easter had heard that their cousins were clearing land
that their cousins were clearing land
that their cousins were clearing land for narcos in the area he went to
for narcos in the area he went to
for narcos in the area he went to confront those narcos and was killed
confront those narcos and was killed
confront those narcos and was killed with an m16 the man behind these
with an m16 the man behind these
with an m16 the man behind these children is the man who shot him and I
children is the man who shot him and I
children is the man who shot him and I know this man he was a lovely man he’s
know this man he was a lovely man he’s
know this man he was a lovely man he’s the father of these four and other
the father of these four and other
the father of these four and other children these are good people
children these are good people
children these are good people caught in an impossible situation and
caught in an impossible situation and
caught in an impossible situation and they really are hanging on by their
they really are hanging on by their
they really are hanging on by their fingernails this incredibly resilient
fingernails this incredibly resilient
fingernails this incredibly resilient community that I once knew is as the
community that I once knew is as the
community that I once knew is as the Tabaka leader said really not far from
Tabaka leader said really not far from
Tabaka leader said really not far from disappearing so the question is what can
disappearing so the question is what can
disappearing so the question is what can we do about this I think one of the
we do about this I think one of the
we do about this I think one of the things there are three things we can do
things there are three things we can do
things there are three things we can do one tell your friends who recreationally
one tell your friends who recreationally
one tell your friends who recreationally consume cocaine to just what the cost of
consume cocaine to just what the cost of
consume cocaine to just what the cost of their recreational use is doing two
their recreational use is doing two
their recreational use is doing two places overseas second I think we really
places overseas second I think we really
places overseas second I think we really need to rethink the war on drugs we’re
need to rethink the war on drugs we’re
need to rethink the war on drugs we’re not talking about legalizing cocaine
not talking about legalizing cocaine
not talking about legalizing cocaine let’s not get carried away here just
let’s not get carried away here just
let’s not get carried away here just talking about sitting down and reviewing
talking about sitting down and reviewing
talking about sitting down and reviewing drug policy orthodoxy which has for 40
drug policy orthodoxy which has for 40
drug policy orthodoxy which has for 40 years done nothing but move traffickers
years done nothing but move traffickers
years done nothing but move traffickers into ever more remote regions where they
into ever more remote regions where they
into ever more remote regions where they create all sorts of social and
create all sorts of social and
create all sorts of social and ecological chaos not to mention the
ecological chaos not to mention the
ecological chaos not to mention the damage going on in urban areas I think
damage going on in urban areas I think
damage going on in urban areas I think the Organization of American States has
the Organization of American States has
the Organization of American States has broken with drug war orthodoxy it’s one
broken with drug war orthodoxy it’s one
broken with drug war orthodoxy it’s one of the first big organizations to do so
of the first big organizations to do so
of the first big organizations to do so I’m working with the UN
I’m working with the UN
I’m working with the UN UNDP and the UN EP to kind of change the
UNDP and the UN EP to kind of change the
UNDP and the UN EP to kind of change the conversation within the UN system so
conversation within the UN system so
conversation within the UN system so that they can get on board with kind of
that they can get on board with kind of
that they can get on board with kind of ways to rethink the drug war but I think
ways to rethink the drug war but I think
ways to rethink the drug war but I think also we have to look at the ways in
also we have to look at the ways in
also we have to look at the ways in which our retirement portfolios and
which our retirement portfolios and
which our retirement portfolios and other financial mechanisms and the fear
other financial mechanisms and the fear
other financial mechanisms and the fear over not having enough farmland in the
over not having enough farmland in the
over not having enough farmland in the future are pushing financial markets to
future are pushing financial markets to
future are pushing financial markets to take great interest in tropical forest
take great interest in tropical forest
take great interest in tropical forest lands and their destruction and I think
lands and their destruction and I think
lands and their destruction and I think there are alternatives to that wasting
there are alternatives to that wasting
there are alternatives to that wasting less food is one of them using more
less food is one of them using more
less food is one of them using more solar energy so we don’t need to be
solar energy so we don’t need to be
solar energy so we don’t need to be feeding African oil palm to our cars is
feeding African oil palm to our cars is
feeding African oil palm to our cars is another so let’s think about those
another so let’s think about those
another so let’s think about those things about connecting the dots and
things about connecting the dots and
things about connecting the dots and understanding how we are all complicit
understanding how we are all complicit
understanding how we are all complicit in the destruction of this of this
in the destruction of this of this
in the destruction of this of this really quite unique place thank you
”
Be First to Comment