1- English experts are considering the legalization of cannabis in their country, what are the real effects of cannabis on people, how do they become addicted whereas it was first a recreational habbit? What are the risks of such a law? Does it respect the European Law? What about the reaction of people all over Europe? What are the Dutch position, knowing that they are currently thinking of closing down many coffee shops?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/sep/14/cannabis-licence-legalisation-pertwee
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/09/14/incontinence-a-life-sentence-under-nhs-91466-27261426/
2- How do online newspapers make money? over the last few year we have been attending to the most spectacular rise of online publication. but how do those new media work? Is it the same everywhere in Europe? How do the Eastern Europe, poorer and probably not able to afford high technology, keep up with the intense rhythm of the West?
3- How has History treated the Roms? when they finally manage to settle and create a family, European countries kick them out? What are they going to do? Why do they have to live Europe? Where are they gonna go? Europe should home for migrants, how comes that the European Court doesn't react? What about the other minority? what are their spell?
4- Is Rupert Murdoch a dangerous man? how have we let one man controlling most of the worldwide media, and how is this against the freedom of the press/ right to know etc.? The NI is discussing the sponsorship of a school in London, what would the consequences be? Is that the first step to a long and regrettable escalation?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/sep/12/rupert-murdoch-academy-schools
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23877192-lets-not-get-so-paranoid-over-a-rupert-murdoch-school.do
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1311806/TUC-CONFERENCE-Bob-Crow-careful-wishes-for.html
5- Are the disabled people treated the same in Europe? Why does nobody pay attention to them on national and European scale? Is there any specific law which provides disabled access in the EU? Does it apply to every countries in Europe? are disabled people integrated among people the same in the EU? what could be done to improve their integration?
Considering that you have to write a Wallstreet Journal style feature, your story ideas 1 and 5 seem most promissing. For story 1 you could look at the possible and expected effects of the new policy. For this you could focus on the "clients", the people who are or were addicted to cannabis. Your story could start with some considerations of a former addict and illustrate his or her experiences and opinions with the opinions of proffessionals in the field and complete it with some opinions of policy makers. And you would need some figures about the prevalence of cannabis addiction and the effect of legalization on the number of addicts.
ReplyDeleteFor story 5 you need to know whether there are any policies regarding disabled people. If you find one you can investigate how the work and whether the people concerned are happy about it. You might find some European agency which occupies itself with this subject. Look here: http://europa.eu/agencies/index_en.htm
Good luck
Some hypothesis for the first idea...
ReplyDelete- Is cannabis more dangerous than alcohol? What or who proves that it is? If both are harmful, why is alcohol sociabilly accepted while cannabis is illegal in most countries (and seen as a real "drug" while alcohol is not)
- Would the legalization of cannabis change people's or social ways of life?
- Is there any political interests in legalizing/not legalizing cannabis apart from public health?
Hope you get some "inspiration" from this...
Ana.
If Cannabis has always been less dangerous than tobacco, alcohol or even coffee..why it has been ilegalized for so long???
ReplyDeletewhy they want to take over the cannabis issue at this moment??
nice topic!!
Miguel Duran
Most people think that legalizing drugs would mean a more responsible behaviour, because people, and especialy the young, like doing what is illegal. Is different the drug-taking in countries where is legal?
ReplyDeleteBea
To go where Ana left: - Is there any political interests in legalizing/not legalizing cannabis apart from public health?
ReplyDeleteI think the answer to this question is logical!
- Tourism in Holland drives on drugs and coffeeshops, as well as the Dutch economy. There must be reports about the independence of Dutch tourism on there drugspolicy.
Hypothesis:
- It would be very harmfull for Dutch economy to make drugs ilegal..
Bobbie