(Home Office) Proposals for control of GBL

New controls for a range of substances including GBL were set out today in two public consultations launched by the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

The aim is to prevent the misuse of GBL, 1,4 BD, BZP and a range of anabolic steroids as part of the Home Office's drug strategy and its commitment to responding to the changing drugs environment and emerging threats to public health.

GBL (gamma-butyrolactone) and its precursor 1,4 BD (1,4-butanediol) have wide legitimate uses as solvents but can be converted into the Class C controlled drug GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) in the body. The consultation sets out three options for control and invites industry, commerce and the general public to set out to the Government the potential impacts of the different approaches. These responses will inform the action that Government takes forward.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

"I am determined that we respond to the dangers of these drugs and that is why I have committed to controlling them. It is absolutely right that we continue to adapt our drug policy to the changing environment of substance
misuse.

"This is the next step in tackling the unregulated market of so called 'legal highs'."

The second consultation sets out the Government's intention to control BZP (1- benzylpiperazine) as a Class C drug. It also makes clear the Home Office's aim, in line with the advice published today from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, to control a group of related compounds or substituted piperazines that have the same or very similar harms to BZP.

The consultation also sets out the Government's intention to update the list of steroids currently controlled as Class C drugs by adding a further 24 anabolic steroids and two non-steroidal substances to the class.

LONDON appointed by Aegis Trust to secure corporate sponsorship for Rwandan genocide survivors campaign

LONDON has been appointed by the Aegis Trust – an independent, international organisation that is dedicated to eliminating genocide – to secure a sponsor for the charity’s “Candles for Rwanda” campaign.

The online Candles for Rwanda global campaign marks the 15th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide and is being primarily driven by a series of viral films which show prominent celebrities, politicians and diplomats lighting candles in memory of those who lost their lives. The films, which aim to encourage donations, feature individuals including Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck, Sandra Bullock and David Cameron. The films can all be viewed at www.candlesforrwanda.org/donate and on YouTube.

LONDON is working with Aegis Trust to secure corporate sponsorship for the initiative and to develop the online campaign in order to maximise public awareness and increase the number of donations made.

Commenting on their appointment, Michael Moszynski, CEO of LONDON said:

“Aegis Trust has achieved an amazing coup in securing the support of some of the most prominent people on the planet for this very important initiative. However without corporate sponsors to secure funding of £250,000 to promote global awareness of the initiative, people will not know about the campaign or how to donate.

This is a global issue and a global campaign so as a new type of global agency we are giving our time at no cost to do what we can do to help spread the word. I would like to personally appeal for an individual, media owner or company to come forward to help make this happen. ”

Dr James Smith, Chief Executive of the Aegis Trust, said:

“The backing of prominent world figures for Candles for Rwanda has created an opportunity to change the lives of people still suffering from one of the international scandals of the past two decades. They are not sitting with a begging bowl. But we owe it to them to lend a hand in rebuilding their lives and their country. There couldn’t be a better partner than LONDON behind this; I know with support from sponsors something special can happen.”

Darfur rebel hands himself over to ICC

The Aegis Trust welcomes the arrival in the Hague of Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, leader of the United Redemption Front (URF), in response to the summons issued under seal by the International Criminal Court on 7 May for his suspected role in the attack on the African Union base at Haskanita, North Darfur, in October 2007. This is the first time that an individual charged with crimes under international law has presented himself to court in response to a summons.

"Attacks on peacekeepers can never be tolerated and those responsible must be brought to justice," says Dr James Smith, Chief Executive of the Aegis Trust. "Abu Garda's arrival in the Hague increases the pressure on others to follow suit, not least the Sudanese Government, which has so far refused even to recognise the authority of the ICC, never mind send any of the suspects in its ranks to the Hague."

Abu Garda is one of the three rebel commanders previously subject to sealed indictments for the Haskanita attack, in which twelve AU peacekeepers were killed. It is widely believed that the URF is not the only rebel group facing the sealed indictments. The other suspects have yet to come forward, although the leaders of all the major rebel groups in Darfur have made statements of intent to cooperate with the ICC - most explicitly in a short film released through the Sudan Tribune on 2 March this year (see http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article30331).