Pubdate: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 Source: Washington City Paper (DC) Copyright: 2003 Washington Free Weekly Inc. Contact: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/489 Cited: Common Sense for Drug Policy http://www.csdp.org/ CITY LIGHTS: OUR CRITICS' PICKS FOR THE WEEK 18 TUESDAY In the United States, as posturing congressmen rant in Jan Thielen's documentary Coca Mama: The War on Drugs, children are dying in the streets because of drugs. The DEA's answer? Dumping poisons over the Andes that kill coca plants, as well as trees, fish, animals, other cash crops--and children. If that doesn't add up, neither does the rest of the ineffectual "war on drugs," which hasn't decreased the cultivation of cocaine or its flow into this country. This award-winning hourlong film concentrates on Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia--where some regard coca as sacred and others see it as the only way to make a living--and it traces those countries' militarized anti-drug policies to the U.S. government. The film screens as part of a documentary teach-in, which also features a short talk by Kevin Zeese, president of Common Sense for Drug Policy. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Visions Cinema Bistro Lounge, 1927 Florida Ave. NW. $6.50. (202) 667-0090. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake