Read also the first progress report of August, the report of September, that of October and of April 2011

On 4 March 2009 we organised the conference “Coca 2009 – from persecution to proposal” in the European Parliament in Brussels.

During the conference, an agreement was presented between ENCOD and the organizations of coca leaf producers in Bolivia, which would serve as a framework for the import into Europe of traditional coca products, through legal means. This framework would include rules that guarantee the protection of the environment and the equal distribution of generated profits.

The purpose would be to increase the legal demand for coca leaves, as a part of the solution to offer to cocagrowers in the Andean region a sustainable alternative to the illegal market.

Unfortunately, we have not been able to follow up on this agreement. What is lacking is a concrete action plan that involves all possible counterparts of this operation. In the first place the possibility should be investigated to import coca leaf derivates from Bolivia using the same margins as are currently employed by Coca Cola and other companies that commercialize their products in Europe. Secondly, we should find ways to avoid the international legislation that penalizes the consumption of coca leaves and their derivates outside Bolivia and Peru. In these countries consumption is allowed due to cultural motives. We would have to prove that those cultural motives do not disappear when crossing the border.

In Bolivia, the counterparts of this plan are the organisations of coca leaf producers, the enterprises that commercialise traditional coca products on the national market, individual experts and state institutions that are defending the use of coca leaves for legal purposes.

In Europe, these counterparts would be enterprises and organizations that are involved in fair trade import of tropical food, solidarity groups with Bolivia, Bolivian embassies and all those European citizens who wish to contribute to the recognition of the coca leaf as one of the most useful and valid product that can serve the entire humanity.

How will “Plan C” be implemented?

Between the end of September and October 2010, during a visit to Bolivia, we will meet with the Bolivian counterparts to explore and determine the necessary steps to obtain a legal export to Europe of coca leaf derivates that meet the standards mentioned in the agreement.

Between January and March 2011, we will organize a conference in the European Parliament in Brussels with representatives of the European counterparts to initiate a concrete strategy to promote legal import to Europe of these derivates. The conference will count with the presence of Bolivian parliamentarians.

Among others we consider to create a European association of consumers of the coca leaf, that would collectively import legal coca derivates from Bolivia, for the personal consumption of its members.

For the implementation of this plan, we request your support.

During our stay in Bolivia we count with the (limited) logistical support of the Bolivian government and parliament for the organisation of the meetings.

However, many costs related to this action have to be financed from our own pockets. We look for the support of all European citizens who wish to contribute to a lasting and reasonable solution for the coca leaf issue. We ask them to invest in Plan C.

Every person who makes a donation of min. 50 euros will be offered a yearlong membership of the European association of coca leaf consumers, once we will have established it (possibly in March 2011).

Thus, the investors in Plan C could well be the first ones in Europe to benefit from traditional coca leaf derivates imported through legal ways. Furthermore, those who make their deposit before 15 September 2011 will be offered a special souvenir from Bolivia. To receive it please note your address on the form below.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you wish to have more information or pass on this message to others who could be interested to support Plan C.

Many thanks for your support,

Joep Oomen and Beatriz Negrety

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