^^ No I have not been to Canada and doubt I'll ever go. Lakin hada ma waxaad i leedahay reeraha o tag oo waxaad ku tidhaahda: vote for the ban of Khat, Norf said Canada is ok?

^^ Was it you who posted a picture with the words "don't chew and drive"? Do you have it? p.s. I am stepping out of this discussion now. I can't see what else I could say without having to repeat myself. All yours Norf.

N.O.R.F;765080 wrote: Dee waa sidaan sheegay. You just want to waste our time. You are a grown man. One who has lived in London for over what 20 years? If you’re unable to make your mind up about khat now then no research will change your mind. I believe to ask for evidence is little disingenuous and I’m not going to afford my time to it. You see the ban as knee-jerk but, going by your previous posts, you yourself acknowledge it has caused and continues to cause problems. I’m sure there is no dispute there (with or without research). What you have concentrated on so far is the ramifications a ban might have on the community. You have tried to scare us into thinking bus loads of odayaal baa Belmarsh loo diri. This all implies you wouldn’t be too concerned with a ban but you’re merely afraid of the unknown (and that you want to waste my time). I’m glad Malika brought up the Islamic angle. Is there a better reason for banning it (thus making it illegal)? Would you still need a research document? Horta ma waxba kuu dhiman, saaxb? Why would I want to "waste your time" when I am asking you to make sure that what you're asking for will be good for you? Norf, this is not about khat. This is about a Somali attitude that I fully despise and which you (sadly) suffer from. You are stubborn and stick to the first thought that crosses your mind (because, seemingly, it is a correct thought). But that's not how the world works waryaa. Waxanaad ogeen aya ka badan waxaad (isleedahay inaad) ogtahay. Here, let me give you a recent example of difference of opinion we had in the past (and not just you); Sheikh Sharif & the great Caravan. Remember how adamant you were that this was a good thing? I don't deny that it looked like a good thing, it smelt like a good thing and (you assumed) it could not be worse than what we had at the time. What happend next saaxib? I know how bad Khat is and how it effects families around me. I do not need anyone to sell that part of the argument to me (right behind you there warya). However, I do not know what happens next nor do I know what the results of a ban will be (your suppositions and guesses do not comfort me much either). Now if you gave me an EDUCATED guess I may be persuaded to leave the safety of the stinking marfash (figure of speech, Malika) and join you in your great quest for ban. Ma fahantay or are you going to hide behind the "moving goal posts" argument? Sayid, I can't open pdf files, saaxib.

Anigu dadkaan jeclahay ban ku qayliyaa uun. Lakin if you want salaam been been dee hoo intaan: marxaba Malika, ii waran walaalo. Walaalo baryahan la isma arkin; walaalo ma fiicantahay; walaalo dhaxnta wa khatar; walaalo wax xidho; walaalo hadana ii waran; walaalo ma fiicantahay? Walaalo ma wada..?

A Somali does not choose a career, a Somali (like his lifestyle) wanders into one. Still, never thought I'd see a day when an ugaas would ask for career help.

I'm thinking of going half day today. Should I feign sickness (which, strictly speaking is actually genuine) or should I use my last two days of holiday? I wanted to save them for a rainy day. Then again, I could force myself to stay and drive some people crazy. Salaam Juxa (labadan kale horaan o salaamay).

^^ As I already stated on countless times in the past, I only chew on special occassions (mainly Eid and fuenrals). So the banning of Khat would make no difference to my life. Marka taa dhinac dhiga. It saddens me that people of your calibre (and Norf's) are talking in such sensationalist way! I'd expect such nonsense from Alpha (and even Alpha knows he's trolling when he writes such stuff) but I really did not expect it from you (BOTH of you). Fix up. First of all, without even talking about Khat in particular you both should be very wary of any calls for the "ban" of things. It is a free world and people's freedoms should not be toyed with just because someone somewhere took exception to something or other. Secondly, if a call for a ban is genuine - and there are many instances where the curbing of the freedoms of some is beneficial to the lives of most - not with ancedotal evidence or feelings of those calling for a ban but with a proper, well researched argument that shows (and proves) that a ban is the best option for all. Khat is a drug, it's addictive and should not be consumed by a Muslim, as you say. But none of what you or Norf presented so far is reason enough for us to blindly support you in your calls for a ban. Your problem is that your both letting your hearts (as always and is is the Somali custom) rule your heads. My heart too says "ban khat". It reminds me of the three friends who committed suicide as a result of becoming marathon chewers. But I am not a hormonal teenager, I am a grown adult, I don't let my heart make my decisions for me. I will only support a ban when I say a proper, well researched and well presented argument that takes EVERYTHING into account and leaves no room for doubt or worry. The Arabs have a saying which when translated to Somali would go something like: wuxu is yedhi indhakool o maray markaaso isha ka riday (which is what Norf risks doing here). Wax fahma dee.

N.O.R.F;765055 wrote: ^Mental illness from khat is serious saxib. Banning it would mean a reduction in mental health cases among Somali men (and maybe even some women). Thats just one example. Whether a ban criminalises anyone who continues to chew or if it stops qaad getting into the country is niether here or there. It IS here and there if the ban makes no difference to the volume of khat being brought into the country ya badow. Things are bad as they are, don't make them worse with your kneejerk nonsense warya. If you feel so strongly about the subject. Why don't you put the time and effort into researching it, looking into the consequences of a ban, comparing it to places where it has already took place, finding out if a ban caused a reduction in the number of users, listing the percentage and numbers of people that have become criminals as a result of such a ban (and how many were/are jailed). And, when you've done all that, look at its impact on families and if the ban was of benefit, etc. To base your entire argument on the fact that Khat causes mental illness or that it's bad for people is shortsighted, silly and dangerously hasty. WAX FAHAN.

Gacan ka hadal! Brilliant expression.

xiinfaniin;764965 wrote: our splittest brothers in the north are these days proving to be inept in the propaganda wars. Their feckless attempts are best understood when projected against the recent movements in borama and erigavo, a political & security backdrop that seriously challenges the romantic narratives separatists tend to feed on with respect to somaliland. Buuhoodle is a darwiish stronghold , the birth place of the concept of somali nationhood. عنزه ولو طارت

Valenteenah.;764934 wrote: Actually it is illegal in Germany too, NG. Holland ayaa laga soo qaataa, so if they ban it too jiq ayey ku noqoneysaa the Europeans. I don't know how much difference a ban will make, but I truly hate how much money is spent on this drug. How is the khat chewing in Germany going? Is the ban there making any difference? Any positives? Norf, stop being hasty ninyaho and easy with the emotionals pleas. This is serious stuff.

^^ I can understand the UK banning it. After all, the UK is an island nation and (in theory at least) it is easy for it to control its borders. Those Europeans countries already have open borders with their neighbours. So how would Holland ban it when it could easily be smuggled in from Belgium or Germany? Think it should be limited or reduced rather than banned.

Where are Johnny, Nadan and the IKEA crew to come and give us their take on this topic? Norf waa qofol bila key. In the meantime, and until someone provides a better argument I advise all readers to ignore this petition.

N.O.R.F;764903 wrote: If grown adults don't know the facts about qaad and how it is detrimental to health and society at large (especially in the UK Somali community) then they should be arrested ps dagaal baan ku la jiraa the SL Govnt baryahan. You are missing the point again. Grown adults know all they need to know about khat. But that's not enough reason to have it banned. Khat is banned in Sweden, Norway & North America. However, we endlessly hear of people being arrested for smuggling it to those parts (more North America than the two European countries). Now, pay attention NORF, since it has been banned in those countries for years (1989 in the cas of Sweden), what were the gains from these bans? Did the gloom go, the clouds clear and everyone live happily ever after? Did the numbers of those that chew decrease? Did life (overall) improve for Somalis in those parts? On the flip side, did more people become criminals for buying, consuming or being caught in posession of Khat? Khat is bad, Norf. But the question you have to answer (to yourself, since you're hasty and lost all sense here) is: Do the positives of banning khat outweight the negatives? To shout 'ban it' just because you hate it is the Somali way (and I give you allowances for your haste; along the lines of not ceebtaada but caadadaada, etc). However, if you're serious about your call for a ban then I am serious for my call for a better argument. Wax fahan.

I am just glad that Norf is not part of the SL government. War I am asking you if the ban is the best thing for the community. In other words and in what could be termed muqayil lingo: is the grass greener on the other side warya? Your starting position is WRONG. Maxaad la ordaysa? Slow down and look at this from all sides. If it's proven that a ban is GOOD overall then a ban it is and poeple should vote for it in numbers. But nobody should vote for this foolish move without having all the facts first. WAX FAHAN.

^^ What dangers, the khat ones? No, even in Saaxil they have their fare share of addicits, adeer.

N.O.R.F;764879 wrote: ^Not really. I see where he is coming from. The problem I have with his request here is wuxu iska dhigaya that he doesn't know about the problems qaad has caused the community. Ngonge, ha dee. I want you to waste some of your time to find what you already know. Like I have already said, you know the ins and outs of the effects of qaad on the Somali community. You know enough to make a decision. I'm only prepared to discuss the legality issue as I think there is scope for a discussion there (the effects it has had on the community/families is a no brainer). I know the effects and problems of Khat. I know how famalies suffer from it. I know how many young, healthy men wasted their lives on it and I know how it affects people's health. But that does not mean I want to jump into asking for a ban WITHOUT looking at the consequences of such a ban. It's not about me, Norf. It's about the hundreds of people that will read this thread of yours and decide to vote for the ban of Khat. Are you sure you are doing the right thing? Are you REALLY sure?

I watched the first game and didn't bother after that. Burco or no Burco, this is not football.

You ask me to vote for the ban of something and want me to do the research myself?

N.O.R.F;764871 wrote: Waan ku fahmay. Waxaad rabtaa in laguu sheego cirku waa baluug. Waar you’ve been in the UK long enough to know the effects khat has had and is continuing to have on the community (I think you’ve been there longer than I was now). Madax adeyga jooji oo sign the petition (Eid has long gone ). I want you to tell me how banning it is going to be better. Compare it to north America and the parts of Europe that has it banned. Is there a difference? Is it positive or negative? When you say you want it banned, do you mean you want it to become a criminal offence to purchase, own or use khat? What are the numbers of criminals (through khat) in countries that ban it? War wax la kaalay dee.

N.O.R.F;764864 wrote: Waakukaa The incident in Northampton happened nearly a year ago. I only posted it to highlight the mental health issues associated with Khat. She had a history of mental illness and was chewing khat when she fell. You don’t need a coroner to establish the link. Putting it on here and asking people to sign doesn’t mean its kneejerk You want something banned becuase you believe it will be beneficial for the community. You then go on and post biast stories about a woman that jumped to her death after chewing khat. Again, the article you post says that there is no proof this was the reason for her death. So where does that leave us? Oh yes, khat is bad, ban it. BAN IT. BAN IT! Again, you want it banned and want people to support you in this, put in the work and prove that banning it will be much better than allowing it to remain. Wax fahan.

Malika, you want it banned dee, not me. It's you who have to sell this idea. To just put it here and invite people to vote is as kneejerk as kneejerk can be. Norf is posting articles about a woman who jumped to hear death after chewing some khat. But despite the title of the article, neither the coronor nor the experts did confirm that khat was the reason. Sensationalist nonsense? Look, I would welcome a ban and would love to see the day the sweet leaf is nomore. But I do not agree with this petition (as things stand) and would like to see how you and Norf would explain the pros of this problem as opposed to the massive cons. p.s. Alpha is just being silly.

N.O.R.F;764839 wrote: Assumptions assumptions my friend. Alpha, what on earth does all that mean? Assumptions? What assumptions are these? That this is a kneejerk plea? Heye, prove me wrong.

N.O.R.F;764826 wrote: Ma saxeexday? Nope. Nor would I encourage anyone to sign this kneejerk nonsense. Malika, what difference does it make is not really an argument though, is it?

Where is Tuujiye to say that Ramierz is rubbish? Sturridge is turning into a very tasty winger. Lakin waa ingrees so he'll lose it all soon. Glad to see City lose, now everyone is back in the mix.