Donald Baechler, Louise Lawler, and Swoon to Raise Funds for Leading Organization Advocating Alternatives to Failed Drug War
NY, NY:–(ENEWSPF)–October 23, 2102. The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), the nation’s leading organization promoting alternatives to the drug war grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights, will host its fifth re:FORM, art auction and cocktail benefit at C24 Gallery in NYC on Friday November 2nd, 2012. re:FORM is inspired by artists who have used art as a vehicle for social change.
Following four successful events which have featured supporters like Darren Aronofsky, Peter Lewis, George Soros and Elizabeth Sackler, who served as event leaders for past New York re:FORM auctions, Paulette Cole, CEO and creative director of ABC Home, Richard Branson and Deepak Chopra have joined as co-chairs for this re:FORM art auction.
Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, has been an outspoken advocate against the war on drugs. He is a member of the Global Commission, a group of world leaders which issued an historic report that maintained that the global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world. He is joined by Deepak Chopra, who is the author of Spiritual Solutions and more than sixty books translated into over thirty-five languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers in both the fiction and nonfiction categories. He is founder of The Chopra Foundation. Time magazine heralds Deepak Chopra as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century and credits him as “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine.
Contributing artists include Louise Lawler, Donald Baechler, Swoon and include over 60 other artists.
The Drug Policy Alliance is leading the way to advance policies and attitudes that best reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition, and to promote the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies.. Few public policies have undermined fundamental civil rights and liberties, social justice and public health to such an extent as the drug war. The U.S. now has the highest incarceration rate in the world—one adult American out of every 100 is currently behind bars. Representing less than five percent of the world’s population the U.S. holds close to 25 percent of the world’s incarcerated population. More than half a million people are behind bars for nothing more than nonviolent drug law violations. Over 750,000 Americans were arrested last year for simple marijuana possession alone. The drug war even targets sick and dying Americans, thousands of whom are regularly denied access to medical marijuana, despite its proven medical benefits for the treatment of a wide range of serious illnesses and conditions.
What: re:FORM art auction and benefit at C24 Gallery 514 W. 24th st. in NYC. General tickets are $150; preferred tickets also available.
When: Friday, November 2, from 7 pm to 10 pm;
Who: For more information and a full list of participating artists please contact go to www.drugpolicy.org/auction.
Source: http://www.drugpolicy.org
