What is International Drug User’s Day (IDUD)
The IDUD is something that is not celebrated in the US. It is Novemeber 1st and the first celebration was in Holland (where else) and most of the big celebrations since have been there. But this year BF hosted the main event in Denmark and the US NAMA contingent was very lucky to be there and participate. Usually there are several celebrations across Europe.
IDUD is a day of drug user activism and celebration as well as a day of remembering our fallen comrades and those who have passed because of harsh drug laws.
It began with socializing and a lunch at BF.
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Getting Ready for the Celebration Joergen Kjaer makes final preparations for IDUD. |
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The Celebrations Start Sitting at the front table with Joergen Kjaer (not visible) and Job Joris Arnold, director of MDMH (one of the main JunkieBonds) are Joycelyn Woods speaking to Job with Norma Alexander and Howard Lotsof looking on. |
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Norwegian Discussion Stena Henriksen (BF Toensberg) and Per Finstad (BF Oslo) discuss advocacy issues in Norway and make plans for organizing when they return home. |
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A Mouthful for Berne Berne Stalenkrantz (BF Sweden) chomps down lunch (on left) while digesting all the things that have happened these past four days. |
Honoring Those We Miss
After having lunch everyone jumped in the bus to go the memorial site. Here an Apple Tree was planted and we know it will grow and become a place where those we have lost from drug use are remembered. A solemn moment of silent was given to honor those that are no longer with us.
Read Joergen Kjaer’s Memorial Speech from last July.
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The Memorial Site With the flowers laid down Joergen begins to plant the tree. Denmark as the host nation removed the first shovel of dirt for the Apple Tree planting. One person from each country then removed some dirt, Howard Lotsof took the shovel for the United States. |
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A Picture is Posed Standing behind the newly planted tree are the dignitaries. Top: Howard, Lotsof, Norma Alexander, Joergen Kjaer and Joycelyn Woods. Bottom: Top row is Theo van Dam and Stan Ritzer of LSD Nederland. |
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A View from the Memorial Looking from the park and down the stairway to the street. The park and area is quite a large area that can’t be missed |
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Looking Through the Open Park A view of the tree that will grow with the park behind. The flowers were laid in front of the tree. |
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The Memorial Site This past summer BF took stones — one for each narcodeath in 2002 and painted names on them and put them at the opening of several parks. From this came a memorial in the summer at the park where they got permission to plant the tree. Pictures
Top: The Memorial this summer. |