Controversial topic: Drugs!

Controversial topic: Drugs!

Drugs always are a controversial topic and I believe that they should be more discussed in our society. In scientific terms we can define drugs as chemical substances that affect the normal function of the nervous system altering the mood, perception or consciousness. Some of the most popular drugs are alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and LSD. I believe all drugs are potentially addictive in different levels.

 

      The most popular legal drugs in Chile are alcohol and cigarettes. I think they are legal for economic reasons like profit. Their impact in the lives of the people is really harming. Examples of this are lung cancer and the big amounts of accidents and violence in which alcohol has a big influence.

In my opinion the contemporary way of life is so stressful that push people into escaping by consuming drugs. I believe that some of them, like marijuana are relatively inoffensive and useful. Marijuana has many uses, like recreational, medical, cultural, religious, and probably many more. His prohibition causes drug trafficking industries that are far more dangerous and harmful to societies than the legalization. Drug trafficking always hit the most vulnerable parts of the population, and the legalization of marijuana will reduce his impact considerably. And in global terms third world counties like Mexico and Nigeria always get the worst part of the drug trafficking industries.

I believe marijuana should be legal for people in a mature age, because drugs can control your life if you don't have enough willpower. On the other hand there are harder drugs, like cocaine, crack, pasta base and a lot more that should remain illegal because they are so addictive and harmful that their consumption destroys people lives. Without information and without self-control, marijuana may lead you to experiment harder drugs.

If all drugs were legal I believe there would be less of some types of crime and more of other types of crime. Hard drugs could cause more violent types of crime. It will be like alcohol impact but like ten times bigger. It’s necessary to discuss the effects of each drug in society and then decide what thing to do.

It is not a simple and easy subject, but as a democratic society we have to discuss about it.

My best holidays: A journey to the south of Chile

 

My best holidays: A journey to the south of Chile

Great holidays always become great memories. In the summer of 2008 I traveled to the south of Chile with my whole family: My dad, Hector, my mom Nancy, my grandfather Alejandro; my three brothers Daniel, Claudio and Javier and my little sister Sofia.  My dad took us successfully from Los Andes to Puerto Montt. It lasted two weeks.

 

We traveled in our van, so there were many hours on the road. We carried all the necessary things to make a camp to sleep during the night: tents sleep bags, flashlights, food, med kits and a lot of stuff. The van was completely full plus eight people on it! Definitely a big part of my memories of those days are the long times in the van waiting to arrive to our destination.

Although I am not a camping person, because I love my bed and my fridge, I had a really good time staying in different places every night.

What I remember most clearly of those holidays is visiting the beautiful city of Valdivia; taking a bath in the thermal springs of Chillán; being amazed by Saltos del Petrohue and having delicious lunch in so many restaurants.

When I was a kid I used to read a lot of Chilean mythology. I remember when we stayed in Chiloe and went to swim to a lake. When I was in the water I got a little separated from my family and suddenly remembered a terrifying legend about a monster called Cuero that captures you, takes you to the depths and eat you alive. I was so scared! I swam quickly to the shore and stayed there until we came back to the camp. It’s so funny to remember that today!

I would love to have holidays like these again!  

Movies are my way to know great histories

When I was a kid, I used to watch a lot of movies with my group of friends, mostly scary movies, it was like a ritual of every Friday. We watched like hundreds of them and it was really fun. Now I don't have so much time for watching movies, but in vacations I like to watch marathons of them. In fact, during the year I constantly save movies to watch when I have time, they are like my secret weapon to fight boring moments.

My favorite kind of films are drama films that are about real life. I also like thriller films a lot because it makes me feel strong emotions and they keep me stuck in the narration. The combination of these two is a good film for me. Also a touch of fantasy or science fiction in the movie's history can be really nice. For me, a perfect movie is the one that  leaves you thinking a lot when it ends.

One of my all-time favorite films is V for Vendetta, a political thriller about a dystopian fascist England in which a mysterious freedom fighter called V, portrayed by Hugo Weaving, tries to start a revolution with the help of a woman called Evey, portrayed by Natalie Portman. It is based in a graphic novel written by Alan Moore. I like it because it makes you think in ways to get social changes in today times. I have seen this movie like five times, and one of these days I will read the graphic novel.

I would definitely recommend it to everyone, because it has a action, a love story, suspense and a deep political background.

And my final recommendation and movie I would like to watch again is The Help, because it's funny and sad at the same time. Also because it has a great history and it is stared by Emma Stone, one of my favorite actresses.