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Blog of Mina Seinfeld de Carakushansky, Board Member representing Latin America
Professor Mina Seinfeld de Carakushansky is the President of BRAHA – Brazilian Humanitarians in Action and a member of the Board of Drug Watch International and of the World Federation Against Drugs, representing Latin America. She holds Masters Degrees in Mathematics and in Management and is a graduate of the High Strategic Studies Course (War College) of Rio de Janeiro. Read more about Mina Seinfeld de Carakushansky here.
Mina Seinfeld de Carakushansky

The philosophy of Preventive Cities has as its leaders leaders in Latin America, Juan Alberto Yaria (Argentina), Guillermo Fernandez (Argentina), Mina Seinfeld de Carakushansky (Brazil) and Olga Velez (Ecuador). Preventive Cities is a concept that developed through a focus on a truly comprehensive approach to drug demand reduction, from the smallest town to the largest city. And even, within a city it is possible to implement a Preventive Neighborhood, a Preventive school or a preventive workplace. If the local government, school system, sports and religious associations, social services organizations, parent groups and/ or others work together to reject drug use, trafficking and sales in their community, they can have a tremendous impact. This endeavor has developed over the years and has become the initiative of Mayors, city councils and other concerned groups who want to keep their communities safe and drug free. The most prolific examples of Preventive Cities’ achievements are from Argentina and from Ecuador .This process is an ongoing one requires close follow-up and guidance in many instances, with great participation of the local leaders involved.

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From the left: Mina S. Carakushanky, Paulo Carvalho, Clarissa Garotinho, Rodrigo Maia, Guillermo Fernandez


On June 29 took place a very dense one day closed seminar for a group of 43 politicians from Rio de Janeiro State. The seminar was idealized and made possible by Federal Congressman Rodrigo Maia (who is also one of the candidates for Mayor of the City of Rio de Janeiro) after he read about the philosophy of Preventive Cities and met some professionals from several Latin American countries who are directly involved in organizing communities and spreading the knowledge about what is needed and can be done to reduce the demand for drugs.

All the seminar participants are candidates in the next October local elections, for the posts of Mayors and City Councils. Among the participants, besides Rodrigo Maia, was the candidate for Deputy Mayor, Clarissa Garotinho. The Democratas and their strong partner the Partido Republicano (to which Clarissa Garotinho belongs), want to take the drug theme into the open political discussion, even knowing that they will be the voice against a seemingly tide on the opposite side. Their strength stems from the awareness that they believe and plan to do what the majority of Brazilian families want to know and see be done.

The seminar designed and coordinated by WFAD Board member for Latin America, Professor Mina Seinfeld de Carakushansky, offered information based on scientific data and concrete examples of what is happening in the world, the challenges, the opportunities and the results, for serious work for drug demand reduction. From 9AM to 6 PM, Guillermo Fernandez D’Adam, Paulo Carvalho and Mina Carakushansky presented the strength of the concept of Preventive Cities and showed the way of possible solutions to the drug problem.