Hemp For Victory

2012-02-03T13:28:00.000-08:00

NEWS! THE NEXT HEMP BUILDING COURSE

Some comments from hemp building courses-

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"Good variety of tasks and methods covered"

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"Very practical course. Lots of aspects to be familiar with, very approachable instructor"

HEMP BUILDING COURSE IRELAND 29-31st MAY 2012

Participate in a Hemp Building Course and learn about this new revolutionary building system, you will get first-hand experience from Steve Allin the leading Hemp Building expert and author of the book 'Building with Hemp'. The three days will cover Hemp Building activity, framing theory, Hempcrete mixing and installation, Hemp Plaster mixing and applications and finishes. The course is running in Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Ireland. The cost includes your accommodation and lunches and tea breaks.

Book to attend the Hemp Building Course in Ireland click here

To download brochure PDF click here
Or email Steve for more info:hempbuilding@eircom.net
HEMPBUILDING.COM

2011-11-30T17:01:00.000-08:00

RISE UP BY SITTING DOWN AND PROTESTING

As I sit and blog, I am protesting. And I am hearing protest outside the window at 53rd & 7th in Manhattan. Hundreds of marchers have convened on the Sheraton while Obama is in town. For many reasons, I am not going to quit my protest and join theirs. So much for their claim that they are the 99% - of what? And what are they accomplishing? How many of them are wearing hemp? Just about 0%; but how many of them support violence? 31%, one poll says. And how many of them even know the name of their reps and have written a letter to them?
After spending time with this bunch of arrogant rich kids - many may not know this, but far from being poor the leaders are so filthy rich that they sleep in $700-a-night hotel rooms - I came to the conclusion that it would lead to nothing. Journalists became very opinionated, either for or against them, with outlandish claims made on both sides, the New York Post in an all-out war with the New York Daily News over this, but did any of the reporting do any good? I talked to journalists about the hemp issue while I was there, but the journalists wanted outlandish images, and I ahd to challenge one by asking if he was an American and if so, would he not want to report on something that would make a difference to Americans? Hell no, he just wanted weird images of so-called protesters. To hell with America was the press response.
Ron Paul's bill for hemp farming in the US was not once discussed by any of these journalists or rich kid bagels-n'-lox eating louts. Or the poor louts among them who slept rough and defecated on people's doors. Instead, they ran around and many of them, including Joshua Fellows, broke the law in the most hypocritical of ways. The 'peaceniks' actually managed to get arrested for having unlicenced handguns. Great. Welcome to NY, you're here to save the world. But getting a licence for your gun, or even for you car, is beyond your capabilities.
What would happen if this lot were granted power? Things are bad. And they would change. For the worse.
So anyone reading this who thinks the OWS is out to save you, please do not waste your time with them. Instead, join the real protest and write a letter to your reps in support of hemp and Ron Paul's hemp bill - making sure you point out that this would give jobs to Americans.
Jobs is something the OWS does not seem to get their heads around. It's not about $700-a-night hotel rooms for spoiled idiot organisers, it's not about illegal guns and driving dangerously and illegally, it's about the economy stupid...and hemp is a viable part of that, well worth protesting about. Please do; but in a fashion that is effective.

2011-11-29T22:48:00.000-08:00

YO BAMA

In 2008 a great hope was elected to the White House. Change was in the wind and the revolution was a'coming. Yeah right. I noted then that a man who had four times as much campaign money as George Bush smelled funny and so did his backers. His dough was not grassroots; it was from bankers, and bankers don't give you dough without expecting bread in return. So much for my clever cynicism. Below are some hard facts from a Guardian reporter. She is not the only one to notice that 44 is not supporting hemp or any other environmental initiatives. It's time for a change, and while it seems a long shot, I hope to see Ron Paul in the White House next time around, search this site and others to see his support of hemp. And read below to see Obama's lack thereof:

Report Details Obama's Broken Environmental Promises

By Suzanne Goldenberg, Guardian UK

29 November 11

arack Obama has been just as zealous as George Bush in stripping away environmental, health and safety protection at the behest of industry, it turns out.

Some environmental organisations were beginning to suspect this, after Obama over-ruled his scientific advisors and blocked stronger ozone standards. Now, a new report [pdf] from the Centre for Progressive Reform has dug up some key data revealing that the White House in the age of Obama has been just as receptive to the pleadings of industry lobbyists as it was in the Bush era. And it goes far beyond ozone.

Under Obama, a little known corner of the White House - known as the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, or Oira - has changed more than 80% of the rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

None of these were changes for the good, the report says.

"Every single study of its performance, including this one, shows that Oira serves as a one-way ratchet, eroding the protections that agency specialists have decided are necessary under detailed statutory mandates, following years — even decades — of work."

Oira was set up by Congress with the purpose of performing a last review of government regulations to see how they would work once they were put into effect. Its current chief is Cass Sunstein, a friend of Obama from his days teaching at Harvard Law School.

In practice, critics say the office operates as a one-stop wrecking machine undoing environmental, health, and worker safety protections that could cause political problems for the White House.

When lobbying Congress and the president fails to delay or weaken a regulation, industry has learned over the years that Oira can be their last best resort, the report says.

"A steady stream of industry lobbyists — appearing some 3,760 times over the ten-year period we studied — uses OIRA as a court of last resort when they fail to convince experts at agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to weaken pending regulations."

The lobbyists were particularly obsessed with trying to undo environmental protections. Corporate executives and indusry lobbyists turned up at the White House about once a week over the last decade to try to delay or weaken EPA regulations, or more than 440 meetings.

The steady stream of oil and coal industry lobbyists to Oira did not end when Bush left office – arguably it turned into a flood. Environmental regulations made up only 10% of Oira business in Bush's time, but 36% of the office's business was meeting with outside lobbyists.

Under Obama, Oira has dedicated more than half of its meetings, 51%, to discussing pending environmental regulations with industry lobbyists, the report says.

And for industry the meetings paid off – about as much under Obama as under Bush. Following those meetings with outsiders, Oira changed 84% of EPA rules during the Bush era. Depending on how you calculate it, the change rate was even higher under Obama. Oira changed 81% of environmental rules after meetings with lobbyists. But the change rate rises to 85% once all Oira decisions on environmental regulations are factored in.

Oira does not make public records of those meetings.

Is there any chance that Obama is unaware of what Oira is up to? Rena Steinzor, the law professor at the University of Maryland who wrote the report, doesn't think so. She notes that Sunstein is a longtime friend of Obama, who has for years advocated against government regulations.

Obama will have to own those decisions – and the failure to live up to his election promises of 2008 to run a government that made decisions based on science and expertise, not political calculus.

"To us this is a sharp departure from what we were promised when this president was elected," Steinzor said. "From sound practice what we really want is for the experts to be making decisions at government agencies – the toxicologists, the pediatricians, the geologists. That's what modern government is supposed to be about, not having the decisions made by an office that is not accountable for what it does."

She went on: "What Obama meant to us, what a transformative presidency meant was that the lobbyists wouldn't control government any more. We would be transparent to a fault. We would run a transparency presidency and we would have very protective rules. We have arguably in this specific case not gotten any of this and it is disappointing."

2011-11-29T15:47:00.000-08:00

TEA FOR TWO

Today I made my way to the Holier-Than-Thou-Foods on 14th Street with a shopping list that would make any holistic food guru proud. I was to get organic raw antioxidant goji berries, Earth Day Mint Tea, and Burt's Beeswax & Royal Jelly Eye Cream, plus about 6 kinds of tea the names of which are guaranteed to twist and tantalise the tongue in tangles.
Life used to be much simpler; the other day I asked a friend what tea he wanted and he replied "liquid tea." I went straight to his cupboard and got him the first bag of leaves I could lay hands on. Which might not have been legal, for as soon as it became liquid and he became deliriously happy.
And searching for the more esoteric teas I was fast becoming delirious but not happy. I was mystified and came back empty handed on most of my searches, even with ten shop assistants searching for the energising super duper anti-capitalist vegan express power bars. And I never could quantify what was a power bar. There were pro bars, pro what I had to ask, if that was not a lack of faith in the hippie empire, and then builder bars, again, building what? I might have wondered aloud to the discomfort of two genuine raw bar fanatics, and I might have given up on this project entirely and admitted to a lack of hipness had I not spotted a power bar section in the basement where a bar had berries and hemp. A genuine power bar I decided right then and there. Which just about made me deliriously happy, so I grabbed three in my state of delirious happy hipness.
Holier-Than-Thou-Foods has not always met my expectations when it comes to hemp, which happens to be organic and raw and full of omega acids and meets just about every other foodie criteria - it is Halal, it is Kosher; it is veggie, it is vegan, and it is hard to do wrong unless you are Holier-Than-Thou-Foods and you buy tons of Good Oil which is a company that barred me from their press conference/love-in when I asked about what defoliants if was using on the hemp seed. Oops! I was not deliriously happy with the way in which the SUV driving owner was running this, and I was cast from the temple. So ever since I have had to wear a disguise when shopping at outlets that carry this or any known-to-be-adulterated hemp products.
And it's a good disguise, but even it could not conceal my perplexity at not finding the specialist teas I was sent to procure. Shop assistants, as noted, saw through my attempt at being non-chalant and came to my aid but could not fulfil the want list. So I wandered. And I wondered what the world was coming to when one could not even find a stash of organic raw cacao powder with maca in a 4 oz. environmentally friendly package. There was, to be sure, cacao powder, and on another shelf, maca, but perhaps some shoppers with an urge to end up deliriously happy on liquid refreshments which used to turn ordinary Incas into raiders and pillagers had already raided and pillaged these items. Who knows. My perplexity increased but then abated when I spotted someone promoting Sanre Soothing Celebration Oil, which, to my delight, contained hemp oil. I immediately rubbed it on my skin, and started to feel happy and less delirious. And so in a saner state I wandered over to the bins of seeds and found what I had been hoping to find for years, hulled hemp seeds by the pound. I got bags for myself and friends and procured a stash for all of us.
And then I turned the tables on Holier-Than-Thou-Foods when I asked one of the diligent shop assistants where the milk was. One pointed me to the raw organic cold pressed cashew vanilla milk, another to the unpasteurised Tibetan yak's milk, and a third asked me what milk was.
I explained, "it's the stuff you put in tea," and left with my bags of hemp under my arm.

2011-10-06T11:57:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I go down with a friend to add our support to the occupation of Wall Street. I will have a sign saying fight the bankers & create jobs in the US by making hemp legal. Speaking of hemp, Mina Hegaard has relaunched her website, Minawear - click here to have a look.
She just invited her local congressman, Ron Paul, to have a look as well, after all, he is putting forward a hemp bill in the House.
Not that the GOP will support it. They are too busy supporting bankers.
But not that the Dems will support it either. They are too busy driving the getaway car
for those who robbed us. The bankers.
So what do we need? A Centrist Party, and I have mentioned that on this site, back in the summer of 2007. So I will take the initiative and start it tomorrow.
If anyone is interested, contact us at thecentristparty@hotmail.com or go to
www.centristpower.blogspot.com

2011-09-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

WHERE'S THE HEMP?
Joy Bauer, in an article in Woman's Day, on 27 September 2011, wrote about what oils were good for us. Did she mention hemp? No.
That is how the press works. They withhold information. Just this week two events had strange press - one of them being no less than the anti-Wall Street protest in Manhattan. At first there was very little press, then in the New York Times on 25 September, Gina Bellafante wrote a misleading article that had to be seriously corrected by Nathan Schneider of WagingNonviolence.org. He noted that the numbers of protestors were increasing, rather than dwindling, as the NYT reported, and that there was certainly a very specific and well-defined view to the event; Bellafante had reported it as 'impossible to decipher.' Maybe for her it was. And the story seems impossible to print along with all the news that is supposed to be fit, such as articles on Lady Kaka, or Gaga, or whatever the hell her name is. I don't care.
I do care about real journalism, and another example of bad journalism in the NYT was yesterday's story about parents 'kidnapping' their own children. While it is true that they are charged with that, conspicuous by its absence is any mention of the reason; they were being sexually abused by the state. And that in a city where the mayor is a pervert who had to settle out-of-court claims after fondling young men. You don't see much of that story, do you?
Rich white men get off; poor blacks, as in the case of the parents who saw fit to take their children away from an abusive establishment, get paraded as criminals just for being parents. It is really sick.
And so is Bauer's omission of hemp oil.

2011-09-26T16:00:00.000-07:00

LIES ABOUT ICE

The New York Times yesterday had an article by Felicity Barringer about a faulty map put out by the Murdoch people which erronsously shows that 15% of Greenland's ice had melted, reinforcing the idea of global warming. Problem is, it is untrue. Several glaciers were erased in the zeal to promote the climate change voucher business.
This is a deja vu of faulty reporting about Himalayan glaciers in 2007.

2011-08-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

RON PAUL REPLIES TO A CONSTITUENT

This summer Mina Hegaard of Minawear, who lives in Victoria, Texas - where Ron Paul has an office - wrote to her Congressman and here is his reply:

Dear Mina:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding allowing farmers to grow industrial hemp.

I have introduced my bill HR 1831, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act. Please see below my speech announcing the introduction of HR 1831.

http://www.paul.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1863&Itemid=60

HON. RON PAUL OF TEXAS

BEFORE THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Statement Introducing the Industrial Hemp Farming Act, HR 1831

May 11, 2011

Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Industrial Hemp Farming Act. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act requires the federal government to respect state laws allowing the growing of industrial hemp.

Nine States--Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont, and West Virginia--allow industrial hemp production or research in accord with state laws. However, federal law is standing in the way of farmers in these states growing what may be a very profitable crop. Because of current federal law, all hemp included in products sold in the United States must be imported instead of being grown by American farmers.

Since 1970, the federal Controlled Substances Act's inclusion of industrial hemp in the schedule one definition of marijuana has prohibited American farmers from growing industrial hemp despite the fact that industrial hemp has such a low content of THC (the psychoactive chemical in the related marijuana plant) that nobody can be psychologically affected by consuming hemp. Federal law concedes the safety of industrial hemp by allowing it to be legally imported for use as food.

The United States is the only industrialized nation that prohibits industrial hemp cultivation. The Congressional Research Service has noted that hemp is grown as an established agricultural commodity in approximately 30 nations in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act will relieve this unique restriction on American farmers and allow them to grow industrial hemp in accord with state law.

Industrial hemp is a crop that was grown legally throughout the United States for most of our nation's history. In fact, during World War II, the federal government actively encouraged American farmers to grow industrial hemp to help the war effort. The Department of Agriculture even produced a film "Hemp for Victory'' encouraging the plant's cultivation.

In recent years, the hemp plant has been put to many popular uses in foods and in industry. Grocery stores sell hemp seeds and oil as well as food products containing oil and seeds from the hemp plant. Industrial hemp is also included in consumer products such as paper, cloths, cosmetics, carpet, and door frames of cars. Hemp has even been used in alternative automobile fuel.

It is unfortunate that the federal government has stood in the way of American farmers competing in the global industrial hemp market. Indeed, the founders of our nation, some of whom grew hemp, would surely find that federal restrictions on farmers growing a safe and profitable crop on their own land are inconsistent with the constitutional guarantee of a limited, restrained federal government. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to stand up for American farmers and cosponsor the Industrial Hemp Farming Act.

Sincerely,

Ron Paul

2011-08-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

MARIJUANA REFORM

Over a dozen states have now legalised medical marijuana, but that does not mean it is available in all of them. New Jersey, for instance, is dragging its feet - a recent article in the New York Times is titled "Marijuana for Patients Remains Off-Limits as New Jersey Law Stalls", which says it all - and in Arizona, the State Attorney General, Tom Horne, has filed a civil suit this week against four cannabis clubs in the Phoenix area. He asserts: "That type of deception and blatantly illegal activity must be stopped." What illegal activity - giving treatment to patients after the state voters legalised it or holding back the treatment?

2011-08-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

ROSEANNE BARR ON HEMP

Just read the Village Voice, or what is left of it after it fired Wayne and Tim, their star reporters...but there is Michael Musto. And this week he interviews Roseanne Barr, who says she is running for president...actually I was turning the page quickly and was not reading Michael Musto, but then I saw hemp in the interview and stopped. Barr was saying she would legalise hemp and marijuana...and that last time she voted for Cynthia McKinney, who I supported on this blog!
And then I turned the pages, and found myself over and done with the Voice. And since I am already supporting Ron Paul for president, and since Barr was only talking tongue-in-cheek about being commander-in-chief, I don't need to read everything she said to Musto.
But maybe she could be vice-president...imagine that folks, Paul and Barr in the White House! And lots of hemp in the White House garden...and then the US would be back to that AAA rating.

2011-07-31T10:21:00.000-07:00

RUPERT ALERT!

The NY Daily News titled its article on Murdoch yesterday "RUPERT RIPOFF ALERT!" It seems Rupert's company lobbied the Dept. of Ed. here in NY to refuse to go through a proper bidding process and award his company millions in a contract that the company was not even up to doing...now, there are some dots to connect - because when Rupert Murdoch's woes became apparent in the UK, he hired NY schools' biggie Joel Klein to 'investigate'. Maybe Klein needs to be investigated. Who investigates the investigators?

And now some think Murdoch's empire was hacking into our computers as well...

I guess that's just more for Klein to investigate...BTW, the contract that Murdoch got in NY had to do with a data system on the computers. So he would not need to hack it.

It just gets weirder and weirder, or curiouser and curiouser.

2011-07-30T07:14:00.001-07:00

FRESH REVELATIONS MAY FINISH MURDOCH

Yesterday it emerged that the Murdoch gang had given a cell phone to Sara Payne, whose daughter was killed by a paedophile in 2000...Mrs. Payne loved the Murdoch papers and supported them till the end...when she found out that the gift of the phone was a Trojan Horse, bugged so the paper could listen in. To what? Their grief? Or, since the Murdoch empire is now known to support paedophiles who are under investigation, were they trying to support the murderer of this child? They went so far once as to bug the phone of a detective on a murder case who was surveilling someone who worked for the Murdochs...and who is now in jail.

What the hell is going on?

The Post in New York is not selling; yesterday the deli on my block threw away almost all the copies they got. El Diario sold out, but the Post was left to remainder.

And no wonder. It carries little or no information on this. Instead, it had some stupid article about drug dealers busted in Harlem, with the caption HEMP SHIRT - no, the shirt was made of cotton, as all stupid drug dealers wear, but the editor saw fit to carry on the Hearst tradition and smear hemp along with marijuana in the paper (Laura Italiano, "Busted in High Fashion, NY Post, 29 July 2011).

Let us take a long look at this scenario, and reflect on what is going on. A billionaire gives the public smelly garbage as news and the public eats it up. Thus we have wars and pollution, some of the latter from the process of making newspaper pulp. Which, like drug dealers' shirts, is not made from hemp.

Some of the smelliest garbage the Muroch people foisted on us was the Rachel North attacks on those questioning 9/11 and 7/7. And it stunk. She made good money from it all, jetsetting off to expensive hotels in Spain from which she blogged about the wines she enjoyed...and it was clever, as she was a woman who was claiming to be a victim - St Rachel the Martyr, dare question her and she could use the force of Murdoch to bring you down...I more than questioned her, to her face, which she claimed was hit by up to 40 pieces of shrapnel in the attacks - but shows no scars. She did not like the scrutiny and made sure to avoid me.

Just like a number of Murdoch journalists over the years when I have confronted them. They stink. They are part of an empire that has committed the most vile of acts and needs to be questioned about their role in 9/11, 7/7, and 3/11...which, besides being 911 days after 9/11,. just happens to fall on the birthday of one Keith Rupert Murdoch...was he celebrating as the bombs went off? We would like to know.

And we would like to close his papers and stop felling trees to produce the smelly garbage he calles news. But he is not alone - even the Guardian, which is at the fore of the exposure of his sins, has its own: for instance, it spiked the stories by investigative journalists Michael Gillard and Laurie Flynne who were investigating Scotland Yard back in 1999 and 2000. They finally published their shocking book Untouchables, Dirty Cops, Bent Justice and Racism in Scotland Yard in 2004.

One might just ask, was the Guardian also in bed with the Yardies? And what role did the Yard have in covering up 7/7 - which they must have known was an inside job? Or the sale of Quinetic, a story that the Guardian did not want to take from me? Or the extradition of Ian Norris - which had disgusting ties to the Bush Empire (which has disgusting ties to the Murdoch Empire...) - the Guardian spiked that one big time...

We may one day have to arrest and question about 30% of all journalists in the UK because this just cannot go on anymore. And I say 'we' because it looks like the Yard is also not doing its job.

2011-07-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

WAS AMY WINEHOUSE SECRETLY MURDERED BY MURDOCH?

Of course not. Sadly, she passed away at the tender age of 27 - as did Hendrix, Cobain and many other young talented musicians. And it will be no surprise if she died of the same causes...but the toxicology reports have so far been inconclusive, and the press awaits a final verdict. As well they should.

Many would not even wait for such results to figure out that some combination of ketamine, crack or other drugs put her cold in earth. She, unlike Sean Hoare, was not a whistleblower on a billionaire who may be a sick criminal with an axe to grind. She was her own worst enemy. So little mystery surrounds her demise. But as obvious as it seems to most that hers was drug induced, there is still the protocol to follow of waiting for test results and not jumping to conclusions. Someone could always have poisoned her or murdered her in some other way, or she could have died of some undetected illness. We wait for facts.

Except in the case of a man whose death was possibly beneficial for Murdoch...then we just jump to a neat little conclusion and we hear no more - even the New York Times is not giving us any more on this. Case closed. Nothing to see here folks. He was a junkie, as some of his fellow hacks told us, so there...

Personally I do not believe he was a junkie, he seemed too in control and also, that label comes from his enemies, not a series of rehab clinics. But even if he was, it would be proper to let the toxicology reports come in before any verdict. The failure to follow protocol in his case is in itself grounds for suspicion. And it stands in contrast to the Winehouse case, which the Murdoch press is now using to sell more of its papers. So at least she did not die in vain, whatever she did die of. Which, as I said, I suspect was the drugs. Rupert did not murder her.

2011-07-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

MORE ON SEAN HOARE

The police, it seems, found this chap dead - not because someone called them to the house or there was a disturbance, just that they 'happened' to want to check on him...and he 'happened' to be dead.
But of course this could not have been a conspiracy. Only a tin hat wearing paranoid weirdo from Mars would think that the man who blew the whistle on Citizen Murdoch would be found dead the day Citizen Murdoch was to testify in Parliament...
And just to soothe the paranoid weirdos of the world, the Herts police decided that there it was not suspicious. They are now awaiting toxicity reports, which, we know, will confirm their knowledge. I mean, usually the toxicity reports tell us what drugs he was on or if someone gave him chloroform and then cyanide, or whatever...but the police are not waiting for that, they just knew, like they just knew to knock on his door before the cadaver started to go off...or like Jane Standley just 'happened' to report on WTC falling - 20 minutes BEFORE the fact! I traced down Richard Porter at the BBC in 2008 and asked him about it and he refused to put her forward...he just told me there was nothing suspicious.
Nothing suspicious...that's what they're even saying about the bag Rachel Brooks' husband saw fit to get rid of clandestinely.
Nothing suspicious - about the way some of this is disappearing from the news - I mean, yesterday in the NYT - which helped break this story and to which Hoare had blabbed - did not even MENTION his death! Just like they were best of friends in the newsroom then they just kinda forgot he even existed, and nothing on the bag that was tossed either.
Now, there was lots of news about a pie that was thrown. And it even made the Daily News reporter mention that conveniently, Wendy Dang (Murdoch's wife - young enough to be his granddaughter) - just happened to get right back in her seat with her hairdo intact...in fact, some of the press said this was the best thing to happen to Murdoch...and it just 'happened' despite the police being there to guard a heavily hated billionaire...most of whom, hated or not, do not get pies thrown in their faces in a government hearing. The pieman seemed a little off for some protester too - he mumbled something about him being a 'naughty billionaire'; which does not seem to resonate with any angst; so I am asking, was he a paid stuntman, there to divert attention from the investigation - like other paid stuntpersons, some of whom pose as journalists or victims of terrorism in order to steer the public away from any real investigation?
Which there does not seem there will be in the case of Hoare. One of his neighbours in fact told the press that Hoare had told them someone was out to get him, maybe someone in the government, and not to let on that he was home if someone came a'calling. He also looked into conspiracy theories. But this did not make the mainstream press, it is on certain blogs - why is there more information on blogs than in the NYT when it was the NYT that broke this story? Maybe all the news is not fit to print...as Murdoch said to Paul Dacre, the editor of the Daily Mail, he would not be the only dirty dog on the street. I never thought this was only about Murdoch - ever since 9/11 it has been evident that many papers in the world are helping to block an investigation into 9/11 and have their own scandals. Murdoch is right about one thing at least...it takes on to know one.
And will we ever know what really happened to Hoare?

2011-07-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

MURDOCH AND MYSTERIOUS DEATHS AMONG 9/11 RESEARCHERS

Danny Jowenko, the Dutchman who analysed the WTC7 collapse and debunked the official story, has been killed recently in a car crash in Holland. Not able to read Dutch, I really cannot comment, although it is mysterious the number of deaths that seem 9/11/Murdoch related, from Mike Zebur, to Paul Vigay, to Sean Hoare, to Danny Jowenko - that is a short list.

My last post tying Murdoch to 9/11 seems to have some interesting visitors, including one from the House of Parliament, some time afternoon or evening London time. Just after Murdoch was on the stand, but not under oath, most likely lying to all of us.

In NY, the papers are putting it all on the front page, indeed it has made the NYT front page just about every day since the Fourth of July. This is followed by 2-3 pages some days. In yesterday's Daily News, Richard Cohen comments: "The similarities between Kane, Hearst and Murdoch are numerous. It's hard to summon any pity for any of them."

Yet Murdoch is trying to summon it, pointing out, not without some truth, that the other papers are trying to bring him down. Indeed they may be, but not for nothing. It was his own fault, not just the acts of one hapless journalist or even a handful. He may get sympathy from David Aaronovitch, but even that not without a quid pro quo.

Or maybe Giuliani will have some for him - Cohen points out that Murdoch helped him get elected...Cohen might one day also notice that Giuliani benfitted from 9/11 and the anthrax attacks...forgot about those? Well, we all called it a US made job - and the FBI agrees with that - but not a word in the Post about it...I guess Murdoch does not want to have anyone know.

More to come, if I do not end up on the list of mysterious deaths.

2011-07-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

KEITH RUPERT MURDOCH: 9/11 MASTERMIND?

Is Murdoch behind 9/11? Many are now asking this - with perhaps only some anecdotal evidence in the public domain - such as the allegation that News Corp tried to hack 9/11 victims' phones - to get info on anyone, like William Rodriguez, who saw anything suspicious? The Murdoch press, including the likes of DDT loving Andrea Peyser, love to mock 9/11 truthers...one goes so far as to write a book on it - David Aaronovitch - a review was posted on this site in spring of 2009.

Murdoch seems to be clearly trying to marginalize independent researchers who use facts to challenge the government’s flawed explanation of what occurred on 9/11. Why?

DID RUPERT MURDOCH
HAVE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF 9/11?

More than a year before 9/11, media mogul Rupert Murdoch produced a television program that depicted a passenger aircraft being hijacked by remote control and flown into the World Trade Center. Murdoch has close and long-standing relations with the individuals who gained control of the twin towers shortly before they were destroyed.

Murdoch is said to be television’s “most powerful man in the world with the capacity to reach more than 110 million viewers across four continents.” Murdoch sits at the helm of News Corp., the parent company of Fox News network, and controls a large part of the mass media in the United States, including The New York Post and the Fox cinema and television network.

Murdoch’s international media network owns more than 175 newspapers and magazines on three continents, publishes 40 million papers a week and dominates the newspaper markets in Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

Less well known, however, is the fact that Murdoch produced a television program in 2000, which predicted with uncanny accuracy the attacks of 9/11.

Murdoch also has long-standing relationships with the key individuals who gained possession of the World Trade Center shortly before 9/11 – and who profited from its destruction.

In 2000, Murdoch produced a television program about a terror attack on the World Trade Center, which predicted precisely the kind of attack that occurred on 9/11. He is also closely connected to the two individuals who leased, and then insured the WTC property – and their future earnings – against precisely such an attack.

These connections and circumstances suggest that Murdoch had a considerable degree of prior knowledge of the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Repeated calls to Murdoch’s office by American Free Press to inquire about what he may have known or suspected about the possibility of such an attack were not returned.

THE LONE GUNMAN

On March 4, 2001, Fox TV, a branch of Murdoch’s media empire, broadcast the pilot episode of a “spin-off” series based on characters from the popular Fox program “X-Files”. The short-lived series was called “The Lone Gunman.”

A Murdoch-owned company called Canadian Millennium Productions, Ltd. (News Corp. owns 83 percent), produced the pilot episode for “The Lone Gunman” in Vancouver, Canada, and New York City from March 20 to April 7, 2000.

The title “The Lone Gunman” refers to a Washington-based government watchdog news weekly, not unlike the court-killed SPOTLIGHT and the American Free Press. The show’s main characters are the investigative reporters who produce the paper.

The pilot episode of “The Lone Gunman” depicted the hijacking of a passenger aircraft by a hostile computer hacker who takes control of the plane computer flight system and directs it to fly into one of the towers of the World Trade Center.

The climactic sequence shows the plane heading straight for one of the twin towers, but thanks to the efforts of the crew of “The Lone Gunman” and the powerful “Octium” computer chip, the pilots are able to regain control of the plane at the last second and avoid the building by inches.

The pilots do not swerve away from the tower but pull the plane up in a steep climb. In a memorable scene full of suspense the plane narrowly missed the tower.

The background footage for the plane’s approach to the WTC was actually filmed during the spring of 2000 by a special aerial crew that used a helicopter flying low over Manhattan on a night flight toward the twin towers.

Despite the uncanny similarities between the Murdoch-produced film and the horrific reality of 9/11, rather than being discussed in the media as a prescient warning of the possibility of such an attack, the pilot episode of “The Lone Gunman” series seemed to have been quietly forgotten.

While an estimated 13.2 million Fox TV viewers are reported to have watched the pilot episode of “The Lone Gunman”, broadcast on March 4, 2001, when life imitated art just six months later on 9/11, no one in the media seemed to recall the program.

NO ONE NOTICED

“I woke up on September 11 and saw it on TV and the first thing I thought of was The Lone Gunmen,” Frank Spotnitz, one of the program’s four executive producers said. “But then in the weeks and months that followed, almost no one noticed the connection.”

Frank Spotnitz, John Shiban, Vince Gilligan, and Chris Carter are listed as executive producers of the program. Shiban is also listed as a writer and creator of the pilot episode.

“What’s disturbing about it to me is, you think as a fiction writer that if you can imagine this scenario, then the people in power in the government who are there to imagine disaster scenarios can imagine it, too,” Spotnitz said.

Robert McLachlan, director of photography, received an award from the Canadian Society of Cinematographers on March 31, 2001 for his camera work on the pilot episode.

“It was odd that nobody referenced it,” McLachlan told American Free Press about the uncanny similarities between “The Lone Gunman” pilot episode he filmed and the horrific reality of 9/11. “You’re the first person who mentioned it,” he said. “In the ensuing press nobody mentioned that [9/11] echoed something that had been seen before.”

AFP asked McLachlan about who supervised the production of the pilot program. “John Shiban was primarily the creator,” McLachlan said, adding, “Chris Carter was not there.” Carter is well known for his production of the “X-Files.”

“It’s their baby,” Carter said earlier about “The Lone Gunmen.” Carter reportedly had “a minor part” in the production. Neither Carter nor Shiban could be reached for comment.

The young Keith Rupert was educated at Australia’s fashionable Geelong private school, and went on to the elitist and aristocratic Oxford University in England, according to Candour (UK) magazine.

It is through a network of organisations, in which Murdoch plays a central role, that Murdoch is connected to the individuals who arranged the privatization – and obtained control of the World Trade Center – shortly before its destruction.

These key individuals are: Larry Silverstein and Frank Lowy, the lease holders of dubious repute who gained control of the WTC property six weeks before 9/11, and Port Authority Chairman Lewis M. Eisenberg, who authorised the transfer of the leases.

Murdoch belongs to, and has been honored by, a number of l organisations in which Silverstein, Lowy, and Eisenberg all hold senior positions. 50 days before 9/11, Silverstein Properties and Lowy’s Westfield America secured 99-year leases on the WTC. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey turned control of the World Trade Center over to the private hands of Silverstein and Lowy on July 24, 2001.

Silverstein and Lowy then took control of the 10.6 million-square-foot complex, which included the twin towers office buildings and two nine-story office buildings. Silvestein and Lowy then controlled all access to the World Trade Center. Lowy leased the shopping concourse called the Mall at the World Trade Center, which comprised about 427,000 square feet of retail space.

“Six weeks before the WTC towers were destroyed, the Port Authority completed the process of leasing them for 99 years to Larry Silverstein, the developer who had built 7 World Trade Center [which mysteriously self-demolished at 5:25 p.m. on 9/11].

“Simultaneously, the retail space underneath the complex was leased to Westfield America, the US division of an Australian company that is one of the world’s largest operators of shopping malls.” Paul Goldberger wrote in New Yorker, May 20, 2002.

“Silverstein and Westfield were given the right to rebuild the structures if they were destroyed, and Westfield has the right to expand the retail space by 30 percent,” Goldberger wrote.

Silverstein sued for some $7.2 billion in insurance money for the loss of the destroyed World Trade Center – and his expected earnings – for property he had leased with a down payment of $100 million – of borrowed funds.

Eisenberg in his role with the Port Authority was the key person who negotiated the 99-year leases for Silverstein and Frank Lowy’s Westfield America, who were in fact the low-bidders for the lease on the 110-story towers and the retail mall.

Murdoch and the Czechoslovakian-born Frank Lowy, who emigrated to Australia in the 1950s, have had a long friendship, which Murdoch recounted during an American Australian Association fund-raising dinner in honor of Frank’s son, Peter S. Lowy, in New York on November 20, 2002. Larry Silverstein and his wife also attended the American Australian event.

Some reporters refer to the American Australian Association, whose membership includes James Wolfensohn, the president of the World Bank, who raised cash for Rupert Murdoch when he first expanded into the United States, as “the kangaroo mafia.”

That's not to make any connection to Australia, or any other country or group to which Murdoch belongs (or belonged, he lost his Australian citizenship when he opportustically took US citizenship). Interestingly, I was once a member - for the reason that they threw wonderful parties at Rock Center here in NY last Friday of every month...

But to bet back to the man in question, we have a real problem on our hands. And is his ship sinks, it will be more than just one dead journalists in Herts who turns up dead. The real perps of 9/11 are not about to let themselves get found out. Stay tuned for more, there is lots to this...

2011-07-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

MURDOCH AND HIS LIARS

Now that Murdoch is being subpoenaed to Parliament, his cronies people cannot seem to distance themselves fast enough. Citizen Kane never had it so bad. This makes Hearst look like an angel.

Rachel Brooks, his right had person, has finally managed to resign. The News of the World staff commented that it was for her they were sacrificed, hundreds jobs lost as she initially stayed on. But she must sense the ship is sinking. And she may go to jail. Along with Murdoch.

Here in the US the GOP is distancing itself, after they heard that he was trying to hack 9/11 victims. Now fancy that. The very press that tells us there is no conspiracy is out to commit conspiracy to spy on victims. Oh, that is not all they did - mark my words, Murdoch is a prime suspect in 9/11 along with his pressman Sun Myung Moon, whose weird 10 of September article on the front page of the Washington Times ought to have been a red flag to any Congressman - especially Peter King, who is on the Homeland Security Committee.

Nowadays, King is trying to get the FBI to look into Murdoch for his alleged or attempted hacking into 9/11 victims. Good try King, but don't stop there - continue to investigate who really did 9/11...

Which certain Murdoch pions do not want anyone doing, especially David Aaronovitch and Rachel North. The twain were paid lots of blood money to shout down the truthers, and now they seem to be hiding. Rachel, whose blog used to knock anyone bold enough to ask for the truth about 7/7 - whose victims Murdoch's people was also keen to hack - is not blogging anymore. The Murdoch-North relationship was close enough at one point for the FT to report the following:

'The tantalising prospect of an election battle between Rupert Murdoch and David Cameron mesmerised Westminster yesterday, before the media tycoon moved last night to kill off the idea.
The genesis of a "Sun versus the Tories" by-election was a 40th birthday party thrown for Rebekah Wade, the tabloid's editor, on Thursday night. The Sun, the principal media cheerleader for Gordon Brown's contentious 42-days detention proposals, was outraged by David Davis's resignation. A characteristically unrestrained leader in the tabloid yesterday, headlined "Crazy Davis", fulminated against the former shadow home secretary's "shabby act of treachery" and "petty grandstanding".
Ms Wade and her team had on Thursday afternoon already been discussing a cunning plan to convert this print attack into a full-blown campaign battle, by approaching Rachel North, one of the survivors of the July 7 bombings, to stand against Mr Davis.
As journalists and politicians - including senior Tories but not Mr Cameron - mingled and gossiped at Ms Wade's party, the idea gathered momentum. Mr Murdoch was among those captivated by the concept of a Sun campaign...'

And Aaronovitch is a favourite son in his opinion columns, after deserting the Guardian - which is the paper that blew the whistle on Murdoch. He has been debunked on the Jewish Chronicle blog site for his willingness to believe the official story but forth by the Third Reich about the Reichstag Fire.

It seems the press operates to hide the truth. And people like Aaronovitch and North like to get the easy money, along with thousands of scumbags who write lies. Hearst, Murdoch, Blair, Moon, just a few of the utter liars out there wasting out trees to write lies - but where are the journalists willing to speak up for the truth and write about issues such as hemp?

Few and far between.

That is why the public is so uninformed, and we have SUVs on the roads, high priced petrol, unemployment, war, etc. For Murdoch and Rachel North to make money. Both of them ought to be done for treason and imprisoned for life.

2011-07-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT

What candidate is behind both hemp and legal marijuana? Certainly not Obama...and certainly not most of the GOP line up - but Dr Ron Paul, who is a GOP Congressman, is the best man for the job...hard to believe, but then again, he did run as a libertarian (1988).
So I thought I'd post his record on such issues as hemp, marijuana and the drug wars along with his ratings from NORML and VOTEHEMP...

Dr Ron Paul believes in the legalization of industrial hemp. Paul supported HR 3037 to amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana. This bill would have given the states the power to regulate farming of hemp. The measure would be a first since the national prohibition of industrial hemp farming in the United States. He favors the legalization of marijuana.
Source: SourceWatch.org Jan 22, 2007

Drug War fosters violence at home & breeds resentment abroad For the first 140 years of our history, we had essentially no federal war on drugs, and far fewer problems with drug addiction and related crimes as a consequence. In the past 30 years, even with the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the drug war, little good has come of it. We have vacillated from efforts to stop the drugs at the source to severely punishing the users, yet nothing has improved.
The drug war encourages violence. Government violence against nonviolent users is notorious and has led to the unnecessary prison overpopulation. Innocent taxpayers are forced to pay for all this so-called justice. Our drug eradication project (using spraying) around the world, from Colombia to Afghanistan, breeds resentment because normal crops and good land can be severely damaged. Local populations perceive that the efforts and the profiteering remain somehow beneficial to our own agenda in these various countries.
Source: House speech, in Foreign Policy of Freedom, p.159-160 Oct 25, 2001

Voted NO on subjecting federal employees to random drug tests. Drug Demand Reduction Act: Vote on an amendment to require that anyone hired by the Federal Government is subject to random, unannounced drug testing.
Reference: Amendment by Taylor, D-MS; bill by Portman, R-OH.; Bill HR 4550 ; vote number 1998-443 on Sep 16, 1998

War on Drugs has abused Bill of Rights .Paul adopted the Republican Liberty Caucus Position Statement:
As adopted by the General Membership of the Republican Liberty Caucus at its Biannual Meeting held December 8, 2000.
WHEREAS libertarian Republicans believe in limited government, individual freedom and personal responsibility;
WHEREAS we believe that government has no money nor power not derived from the consent of the people;
WHEREAS we believe that people have the right to keep the fruits of their labor; and
WHEREAS we believe in upholding the US Constitution as the supreme law of the land;
BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Liberty Caucus endorses the following [among its] principles:
While recognizing the harm that drug abuse causes society, we also recognize that government drug policy has been ineffective and has led to frightening abuses of the Bill of Rights which could affect the personal freedom of any American. We, therefore, support alternatives to the War on Drugs.
Per the tenth amendment to the US Constitution, matters such as drugs should be handled at the state or personal level.
All laws which give license to violate the Bill of Rights should be repealed.
Source: Republican Liberty Caucus Position Statement 00-RLC13 on Dec 8, 2000

Legalize medical marijuana. Paul co-sponsored the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana
Title: To provide for the medical use of marijuana in accordance with the laws of the various States. Summary: Transfers marijuana from schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act to schedule II of such Act. Declares that, in a State in which marijuana may be prescribed or recommended by a physician for medical use under applicable State law, no provision of the Controlled Substances Act shall prohibit or otherwise restrict:
the prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use;
an individual from obtaining and using marijuana from a physician's prescription or recommendation of marijuana for medical use; or
a pharmacy from obtaining and holding marijuana for the prescription or recommendation of marijuana by a physician for medical use under applicable State law.
Prohibits any provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act from prohibiting or restricting a State entity from producing or distributing marijuana for the purpose of its distribution for prescription or recommendation by a physician in a State in which marijuana may be prescribed by a physician for medical use.
Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR2592 on Jul 23, 2001

Rated A by VOTE-HEMP, indicating a pro-hemp voting record.Paul scores A by VOTE-HEMP on pro-hemp legalization policies
VOTE HEMP is a non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and free market for Industrial Hemp. Industrial Hemp is non-psychoactive low THC varieties of the cannabis sativa plant. Currently, it is illegal for U.S. farmers to grow Industrial Hemp because it is improperly classified as a "drug" under the Controlled Substances Act. Since changes in law require shifts in thinking and this requires education in the facts, our primary goal is the education of legislators and regulators, farmers and businesses, students and other concerned citizens.
Source: VOTE-HEMP website 02n-HEMP on Dec 31, 2003

Rated +30 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.Paul scores +30 by the NORML on drug reform
OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2006 NORML scores as follows:
-30 to -10: "hard-on-drugs" stance (approx. 228 members)
-9 to +9: mixed record on drug reform (approx. 37 members)
+10 to +30: pro-drug-reform stance (approx. 109 members)About NORML (from their website, www.norml.org):
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law's mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty.
NORML is a nonprofit, public-interest lobby that for more than 30 years has provided a voice for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition. We represent the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly and believe the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana should no longer be a crime.
NORML supports the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession & responsible use of marijuana by adults, including the cultivation for personal use, and the casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts. This model is called "decriminalization."
NORML additionally supports the development of a legally controlled market for marijuana, where consumers could purchase it from a safe, legal and regulated source. This model is referred to as "legalization."
NORML believes that marijuana smoking is not for kids and should only be used responsibly by adults. As with alcohol consumption, it must never be an excuse for misconduct or other bad behavior. Driving or operating heavy equipment while impaired from marijuana should be prohibited.
NORML strongly supports the right of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when their physician recommends it to relieve pain and suffering.
Lastly, NORML supports the right of farmers to commercially cultivate hemp for industrial purposes, such as food and fiber production.
Source: NORML website 06n-NORML on Dec 31, 2006

2011-07-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

CITIZEN KANE

In the last two weeks, the world is realising what Murdoch really is. Sure, he denies knowing about hacking the Royal Family, hacking celebs, hacking into the phone of a missing-later-found-murdered 13-year-old, hacking the phones of 7/7 victims' families, hacking UK soldiers, trying to hack 9/11 victims' family members' phones, and lastly, following a detective around to help the two suspects in a murder case, one of whom is in jail for sexual crimes against a child - the list surely goes on - but do we believe him?

Do we believe he closed the News of the World for any other reason than to get his satellite deal through Parliament? Or that he did not just plan to open as the Sun on Sunday?

I have told people that he is a spy working for other intel agencies, that he got so big he is now basically working for himself, that he benefited from the strikes at the Times, which he bought cheap and cheapened - that he had a hand in the death of the Labour leader before Tony Blair, that he paid Tony Blair to sell Quinetic to Bush, that he ordered a stand-down on the publishing of any news about Ian Norris or US extradition, etc., etc., etc.

Now people are waking up. He was privy to deals at Downing Street and was not a UK citizen. He was a SPY and a THIEF, as I have called him on this site. Let him sue me. I have information on his org that I am not disclosing yet, and some I have but have been rudely sidelined.

So now I am seeing some vindication, but he is moving to control the damage, and there is hell of a lot going on that may occasion the deaths of some MPs etc. Remember who a pal of David Cameron mysteriously died just before this scandal broke? More to come...

And as to why he wanted 7/7 and 9/11 families' phones hacked, you have to realise those were inside jobs done in part by his allies. They wanted to see if anyone close to the attacks had any clues.

But the Murdoch press is not alone in that regard, let us not forget Jane Standley of the BBC who told us at 5pm EST that Building 7 had fallen...it had not. It fell 20 minutes later. The BBC girl was then whisked out of sight, I personally called them in London and was told they were not putting her forward...it was not wise they said. Not wise.

Then there is the Guardian. The what? The Guardian, which broke the story about Murdoch and his crew? Yes. Remember good old George Monbiot and his attacks on the 9/11 truthers? Well, he was almost one of us - he wondered out loud if the FBI did not do the anthrax attacks...too loud he was, and he suddenly reversed himself. Did he get close to the truth and get told to shut up, or did he use it as blackmail?

And when it came to the Ian Norris case, which is one of the most embarrassing cases in UK history - an innocent Brit sent to jail in the US for committing LEGAL acts - and the UK Parliament and police, their strings pulled by Murdoch, do nothing...

I will not shut up. These newspaper barons need to end their lives in jail. They are criminal jerks. They are the cause of many wars, and the reasons facts about things like hemp are suppressed.

Here in NY we have a Murdoch paper, the New York Post. I am going to call advertisers to tell them to withdraw advertising. Join me. It will put a dent in the Murdoch Beast. It will teach a lesson to journalists like Andrea Peyser who support DDT but do not tell you the truth about hemp, or much of anything for that matter. Just like Hearst. And Sun Myung Moon. And, yes, the Guardian and others nipping at Murdoch's heels for the wrong reasons - to get their own piece of the pie. I noted that Murdoch suppressed the story about Ian Norris being whisked away illegally to the US - but the Independent did the same, with the story taken out at the last minute after Genevieve Roberts had written it up. This is their shame too, lest they try to look good calling the kettle black at this time.

2011-07-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

ETHANOL FROM STOVER

Finally! An article about making ethanol not from corn kernels, which we eat, but from stover, which is the parts we don't eat. In the New York Times yesterday, 7 July 2011, p. B10, Matthew L. Wald writes about the US Energy Department planning to provide a $105million loan to guarantee the expansion of an ethanol factory in Emmetsburg, Iowa, that intends to make motor fuel from stover. Not yet from hemp, which could be sourced from Canadian growers, but I hope that will follow - along, of course, with hemp in the US - thus providing jobs here.
POET is the company building the new plant, which will produce process 700 tons of biomass daily; currently it only handles one ton. Volume is necessary to make ethanol competitive. POET is not the only company to get a loan, the DoA is lending Coskata, a company backed in part by GM, $250million for a plant in Boligee, Ala., that will also convert household waste. Enerkem, based in Montreal, got a loan of $80million for a plant in Pontotoc, Miss., and Ineos Bio got a loan for $75million for a biorefinery in Vero Beach, Fla.
The increase in such ethanol production will give Americans jobs, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and drive the price of a gallon.
POET's pilot plant in Scotland, S.D., has been operating since 2008 and converts a ton of corn stover a day into 75-80 gallons of ethanol, which costs today $2.50-3.00 a gallon, about 50cents higher than that produced from edible corn.
The stover is steamed and treated with acid, and then broken down by enzymes into ordinary sugar and a second sugar with one less carbon atom.
POET operates 27 corn based ethanol plants, and hopes to expand. Other companies in the US include Abengoa, from Spain, and Fulcrum Bioenergy from California.
So finally...some really good news. This means that American farmers will have a market for the corn waste parts, and that the energy they use to power their tractors will not come from oil fields across the globe. Of course, the next step is to make hemp legal and use hemp waste for this after growing it for seed.

2011-07-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK TIMES LETTERS ON ETHANOL

Of much debate on this blog has been the subject of ethanol, especially following NYT articles. Yesterday, the Fourth of July, a number of people wrote in letters to defend ethanol, among them Bob Dinneen, president and chief executive of the Renewable Fuels Association, the trade association of the US ethanol industry. He rebuts a Steven Rattner who repeats the claim that using corn for ethanol is to blame for the rise in food prices, noting that while 13 billion gallons of ethanol were produced last year (it is not clear from the letter whether this is just for the US, but it would seem to be), 32.5 million metric tons of feed for cattle, pigs and poultry were produced by the US biofuels industry. He remarks on Rattner's comment that ethanol production increases smog and consumes vast amounts of water - Dinneen notes that ethanol gasoline has reduced smog forming emissions by 25% since 1990, and that a gallon of ethanol uses about the same water as it takes to produce a gallon of gasoline.

Presently, the US ethanol industry employs some 400,00 and contributes $53.6 billion to the GDP, paying $15 in taxes.

Another missive, sent in from Robert Zubrin, author of Energy Victory: Winning the War on Terror by Breaking Free of Oil notes that the argument about ethanol driving up food prices is a red herring - he pegs the price fluctuations to the the changes in the price of a barrel! How right on, and I was happy to see that in print, instead of the thousands of column inches of erroneous figures trying to blame the alternative energy producers for food prices. I hope that more in the press read the letters their readers send in and get their facts right.

And when they do, they just might mention the ethanol producing capabilities of hemp, which is one of, if not the best sources of ethanol.

2011-07-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

Just a note on the dove: it is eating the hemp, it had an all hemp diet for a day or so, now the hemp is mixed with other seeds. He is chirping and quite content. Or cooing. And content until I change his bedding, then he has a fit. But otherwise he likes just sitting there with his bowl of hemp, and his tail feathers are now fully grown in, though some other areas are still bald.

The hemp I am feeding it BTW is Go Hemp!, a 7 oz package of which costs $7.99 at Wholefoods - a price that only reflects the fact that it is illegal to grow in the US - not that it is hard to grow - or it would cost much less...The nutritional info given is as follows, based on a serving of 30gm (2 tbs):

Total Fats: 9.8gm

Saturated Fat: 0.7gm

Trans Fat: 0gm

Cholesterol: 0gm

Sodium: 0gm

Total Carb: 7gm

Dietary Fibre: 1gm

Sugar: 1gm

It is also high in iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium, of which the Daily Values per serving are

20%, 20%, 15% and 43% respectively.

So I guess the little dove is getting enough trace minerals and protein.

For more info one can go to www.GoHunza.com

Protein: 11gm

2011-06-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

These days I am painting hawks, Red tailed Hawks to be specific, and a particular individual named Pale Male to be even more specific. Whilst I paint away, a dove is in the room, convalescing from a run in with some glue that left him missing a tail and many feathers. A Mourning Dove to be specific, as pictured above: Zenaida macroura to give its Latin binomial.

It is good company. It bates when it sees me and seethes with rage at its dilemna, pining for the freedom I would be wrong to grant it at this stage. He knows not my reasons; I am in his mind only a warden, changing his food and water daily and cleaning his mess. His tail, after two weeks of this, has started to grow in well, but I see no sign yet of his breast feathers, and his primaries, which I had to clip on one wing, did not fall out hence they body does not know to renew them. He is no match for predators. Cats, or hawks, will find him a tasty morsel.

And I hope he finds my latest offering a tasty morsel as well: hemp. Hulled seeds which I got at Wholefoods here in Chelsea, and which I will share with friends and with birds on the Highline feeders. I am not yet sure if he is taking to the hemp, he goes for bread, which is cheap and abundant - but on which a dove cannot live alone.

Given his feather condition, I knew he needed some butter with it, at least this is an old falconer's tale - so he got that, along with powdered milk in his water. Not sure even if he drinks. He does not like to be watched. Our companionship is a solitary affair, limited to feeding and cleaning. He had bread, + millet, flax, sesame and bran in his bowl. Soon I will limit his rations to hemp so I can observe whether he takes to it or not. It has all the essential amino acids, so I know he will be getting the necessary nutrition at this time, and a high percentage of oil, 30%, which will give his feathers a shine.

When he has his plumage in good condition again I will release him to the Highline, which is near to where I found him, and where I spotted a juvenile Mourning Dove the other day. It is also not far from a spot in the city, the French Apartments, where these doves breed, so this makes sense. And just maybe, if feeling mischievous, I will add hemp to the 300 species of plants they have lavished on this structure so he will have a fresh supply.

2011-06-18T08:25:00.000-07:00

SUN AND WIND

Thursday the New York Times had an article on rooftops in New York being potential spots for solar energy - my last post was on a NYT article about how wind energy in Oregon is making everyone rich in Sherman County.
So why is New York not making this work? With all the geniuses here and there money...trouble is, most of them just talk and talk and that's it.
If this is to be done, we must write the Congressmen and get them the case - if they are not too busy sexting...yesterday New York lost Anthony Weiner, so there's one rep who is not available. I reside in Jerrold Nadler's consittuency, so he will be getting a letter from me about this and about hemp - which has been supported by Congressman Ron Paul, in whose Texas district I also spend some time - years ago I joined the navy there. And what with his support of hemp and other issues - I am supporting his bid to the White House - so check out my other blog at
http://www.rp45.blogspot.com/
Let's hope he gets in and hemp is legal again...and of course, we expect him to put up solar panels on the White House - which Jimmy Carter put up years ago. So why are we just reading about all this now as if it were a new idea?

2011-06-01T08:16:00.001-07:00

REAPING THE WIND

An article in yesterday's New York Times by Lee Van der Voo tells us a rare success story - about how windmills are making people rich in Sherman Co in Oregon. A local judge, Gary Thompson, remarks: "Wind is the only thing that is going to save rural Oregon, especially since all the timber is gone and the sawmills and all that are closing down. I think what it is is a breath of fresh air."

The county started with it in 2002, when it took in $315,000 in taxes from the first wind farm, and now makes

$3million. Nine years of tribute on these mills have raked in $17.5 million, to be divided between 1,735 residents.

In other parts of the state, and country, much is being lost; but in Sherman County, people are getting paid $5,500 - $7,800 per mill on their land. They now have a new library, two new city halls, new sewers and a bridge.

One local restarauteur, Kathy Neilhart, was about to close up shop some yeras ago, but now has a thriving business: "It's been wonderful...It's just a fabulous, happy pile of money," she told the NYT.

So why is the rest of the country reaping only the whirlwind and not the profits? Because too many stupid pols have sat back and let the petroleum companies sell you stuff you don't need. This is proof of how well it works. And in areas that do not have much wind, there is solar, tidal turbine, and of course hemp stalks to provide ethanol, methane and charcoal.

2011-05-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Rep. Ron Paul Introduces H.R. 1831, The Industrial Hemp Farming Act, on Heels of Successful Second Annual Hemp History Week

By Vote Hemp

Published: Thursday, May. 12, 2011 - 7:21 am

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2011 -- Senate Bill In Support of Industrial Hemp Farming Expected to Follow

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the fourth time since the federal government outlawed hemp farming in the United States over 50 years ago, a federal bill was introduced on May 11, which if passed, will remove restrictions on the cultivation of industrial hemp, the non-drug oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis. The chief sponsor, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter last week seeking support for H.R. 1831, The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2011. H.R. 1831 is almost identical to H.R. 1866, which was introduced in the 111th Congress in 2009.

"We are pleased to see the re-introduction of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act in Congress. Vote Hemp is currently working with a Democratic Senator who is preparing to introduce companion legislation in the Senate in support of industrial hemp farming," says Vote Hemp President, Eric Steenstra. "It is due time for the Senate as well as President Obama and the Attorney General to prioritize the crop's benefits to farmers and to take action like Rep. Paul and the cosponsors of H.R. 1831 have done. With the U.S. hemp industry valued at over $400 million in annual retail sales and growing, a change in federal policy to allow hemp farming would mean instant job creation, among many other economic and environmental benefits," adds Steenstra.

U.S. companies that manufacture or sell products made with hemp include Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, a California company that manufactures the number-one-selling natural soap in the U.S. as well as best-selling hemp food manufacturers, such as French Meadow Bakery, Living Harvest, Manitoba Harvest, Nature's Path, Nutiva and Sequel Naturals who make their products from hemp grown in Canada. Sustainable hemp seed, fiber and oil are also used by major companies such as Ford Motors, Patagonia and The Body Shop.

"Public support for industrial hemp farming is growing in leaps and bounds in the U.S.," explains Steenstra. "The second annual Hemp History Week, celebrated from May 2-8, 2011 featured over 550 events in all 50 states. The campaign mobilized the support of tens of thousands of consumers, grass-roots activists and many high-profile celebrities from health and wellness experts to TV and entertainment personalities, professional athletes and renowned musicians."

H.R. 1831 was introduced by chief sponsor Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) with 21 original cosponsors, including Rep. Baldwin (D-WI), Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Clay (D-MO), Rep. Cohen (D-TN), Rep. DeFazio (D-OR), Rep. Ellison (D-MN), Rep. Farr (D-CA), Rep. Frank (D-MA), Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ), Rep. Hinchey (D-NY), Rep. McClintock (R-CA), Rep. McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Miller (D-CA), Rep. Moran (D-VA), Rep. Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Pingree (D-ME), Rep. Polis (D-CO), Rep. Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rep. Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Stark (D-CA) and Rep. Woolsey (D-CA).

To date, seventeen states have passed pro-hemp legislation, and six states (Maine, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Vermont and West Virginia) have already authorized the licensing of farmers to grow the crop. However, despite state authorization to grow hemp, farmers in these states risk raids by federal agents, prison time and land forfeiture if they plant the crop, due to the failure of federal policy to distinguish oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis (i.e., industrial hemp) from psychoactive varieties.

More information about industrial hemp legislation and the crop's many uses can be found at

www.VoteHemp.com

2011-05-06T15:19:00.000-07:00

ORGANISED BY BPKAPA, THE BALTIC BAST FIBRE

GROWERS AND PROCESSORS ASSOCIATION, LITHUANIA.

The first International Conference
'Bast Crops: Growing, Harvesting, Processing, Applications'
13 of May 2011, Kaunas, Lithuania.
IHBA director, STEVE ALLIN will be demonstrating during the day and speaking at 15:00 on 'The Use of Hemp in Building'
For more information go to BPKAPA's website http://www.hemp.lt/en
International Hemp Building Association,
news@internationalhempbuilding.org
http://www.internationalhempbuilding.org/

2011-04-18T08:21:00.000-07:00

AN APPEAL FOR SUPPORT FOR BIOFUELS

Policy paper on Bio-based Economy in the EU: Level Playing Field for Bio-based Chemistry and Materials

by Michael Carus, Dirk Carrez, Harald Kaeb, Jan Ravenstijn and Joachim Venus

Over the last ten years numerous studies have demonstrated the impressive potential of bio-based products: The production of bio-based chemicals and materials can create ten thousands of new green jobs, increase resource efficiency and make a considerable contribution to climate protection and innovation. Despite these benefits the investment in industrial biotechnology and biorefineries in Europe remains low. The political and economic framework in the EU does not support the industrial material use of biomass - this is in contrast to bioenergy and especially biofuels, which has expanded rapidly in the EU over the last ten years. The European "Innovation Union" needs to establish a level playing field for bio-based chemistry and materials in order for the EU to realize the potential of greening its process industries. Already 30 Public Authorities, Associations & Agencies, Bio-Industries (Start-Ups, SME and Non-SME), Universities/Institutes and Consultants are supporting the policy paper. If you would like to support this policy paper too, please just send a support email by April 26th to: michael.carus@nova-institut.de

We will send the policy paper with a list of supporters end of April to Brussels, as the consultation on a new EU bio-based economy strategy will close on May 2nd. Best regards and many thanks in advance Michael Carus

P.S.: Please circulate this email in your bio-based networks

P.P.S.: More information on bio-based policy: www.bio-based.eu/policy/index_en.php

Dipl.-Phys. Michael Carus, Managing Director Bio-based economy nova-Institut GmbH - Chemiepark KnapsackIndustriestraße50354 HürthGermany Tel +49-(0)2233-48 14 40 (office)Fax +49-(0)2233-48 14 50email: michael.carus@nova-institut.de

Internet: http://www.nova-institut.euwww.bio-based.eu/ Geschäftsführer: Michael Carus, Dirk SchubertSitz der Gesellschaft: Hürth, Amtsgericht Köln - HRB Nr. 44144Umsatzsteuer-Nr. 224 / 5731 / 0281

2011-04-11T07:45:00.000-07:00

NEW SOUTH WALES HEMP CROP 2011 Summary: On Wednesday 16/3/2011 Hemp stems were gathered from the Commins Farm near Griffith in NSW, stored in plastic, and brought to the engineers, Agware, in Ballarat on Friday 18/3/2011. The green fresh hemp stems were processed through the TCI decortication technology. The hurd was removed from the fibrous bark by the TCI decortication technology. The Bark (or Bast) was taken immediately to Deakin University where it was degummed in another TCI technology and prepared to the stage of being opened and carded and spun in standard cotton systems. The time of actual processing activity of this sample from Field standing green stems to fibre ready for Cotton systems was only approximately 3 hours. Acknowledgements The TCI Team would like to express its gratitude and appreciation to all those who assisting in making this demonstration possible. Those people include: Patrick Callabria, plant breeder, for making a variety of hemp which is still viable in the very late part of , and well beyond, the normal hemp growing season. Roger and Tim Commins for their generosity in giving us virtually free access to their hemp crop. Peter Myer and Greg Williams of Agware Pty. Ltd. Agricultural Engineers for their unstinting support in the development and commercialisation of the technology and especially for preparing the machines for this demonstration project. Chris Hurren of Deakin University in Geelong for his unflagging support, expertise, advice and demonstration of the degumming of the fresh green skin decorticated earlier in the day at Ballarat. Cesare Corgatelli, textile industry consultant, for being a witness to credit that we have the technology we have claimed to have which can take hemp from the field and prepare it for cotton processing in a few hours. David Giles-Kaye for witnessing the process and proof of concept on behalf of his company, Logistic Unicorp of Canada, and his CEO Louise Bibeau. Dominik Vogt, European Industrial Hemp Association – EIHA, who provided the TCI document “The Terrible Truth About Hemp” to Louise Bibeau in order to effect an introduction between Louise and TCI The TCI team included: Adrian Francis Clarke, Frank Urban, Jeordy Clarke, Tony Clarke, and Oliver Hooks. Diary and Timeline of the day Friday 18/3/2011: During late February and early March 2011 the small prototype decortication machine known as the D7 was taken to Agware Agricultural Engineers in Ballarat to be repaired and to have a new conveyor system installed. It was made ready for work. Also an earlier decorticator prototype known as the D6 was prepared at Ballan. Wednesday 16/3/2011. Frank Urban drove to the Commins Farm in NSW and collected the stems. He collected approximately 10 Kg of green unretted stems, from the growing crop, drove back to his home in Chadstone and secured the car load ready for its next trip to Ballarat for processing. The crop is a late season self sewn crop which grew in 6 foot wide beds and which had been irrigated by flood irrigation. It is very subject to edge effect with branching etc. It is also an ‘out of season’ crop which therefore did not reach the height it would have had it been planted in the normal hemp planting time of between September and December for harvesting between 70 and 100 days of growth. Being such a late crop, an edge effected crop and a mature crop it also developed a very hard hurd. On Friday 18/3/2011 Frank Urban collected Adrian Francis Clarke, Tony Clarke, Jeordy Clarke and Oliver Hooks. In two cars the team proceeded to Agware’s factory in Wendouree, Ballarat where they arrived at about 8.30 am. Frank Urban also towed the trailer mounted D6 machine from Ballan to Agware so that there would be two decorticators at the site if needed. Note: the D6 was designed and built to produce hemp fibre skins from end to end of the stem so that the skin could be gathered for processing in the old long-line systems for tradition flax and hemp linen spinning. The D7 was designed and made when degumming systems had been developed which rendered the fibre able to be spun in standard cotton systems. The D6 system will be retained for making long ribbons of hemp for the vast handcraft industries, which weave hats and screens etc., as well as those who have asked for it to replace fibreglass for binding bamboo bikes. The two decorticators were started and checked for safety and performance by Adrian Clarke and Agware engineers and briefly run to ensure they were ready for the demonstration project. Cesare Corgitelli, an internationally recognised textile marketing personality and former consultant to Sandong Rhui of China, arrived at around 9.30 a.m. to witness the demonstration project. David Giles – Kaye, the Australian Representative for the Canadian Company, Logistic Unicorp, which is internationally renowned for uniform production, arrived at around 10.00 a.m. to witness and record the demonstration of the TCI technology on video for his CEO. Note that Louise Bibeau was to attend in person but urgent business matters required his presence in France. At approximately 10.30 am the 10 Kg of stem was fed into the D7 decorticator and the process filmed by David Giles-Kaye and also separately videoed by our own team. The approximately 10 Kg took only a few minutes to be fed into the D7 mini decorticator by Adrian Clarke. The speed of processing was limited by the speed at which the stems could be fed into the small aperture of the machine. Approximately 2.5 Kg of Green Fibrous Skin was recovered. Approximately 7.5 Kg of green Hurd was recovered. The 25% yield of green skin output to green stem input is consistent with many European hemp varieties. It should be noted that the commercial sized D8 version of the D7 machine is a metre wide and is designed to be inserted into a harvester and to process a hectare of green fresh standing hemp per hour. That would mean an output rate of approximately 6.5 to 7 tonnes of hurd and 2.5 to 3 tonnes of fibre in an average hemp filed. The D8 has been field tested and designs for a harvesting decorticator prepared. Static versions of the D8 have been proven to be able to process hemp from Role Bales and from straight stooks in high volume. The green sap-wet fibrous hemp skins were gathered and the separated hurd chips were also gathered in a separate bag. The participants then went to their cars for the journey from Agware at Ballarat to Deakin University at Geelong; approximately 100 Km to the south. The team then assembled at Deakin University a little before 1.00 pm and were met by Dr. Chris Hurren of the Institute for Technology Research & Innovation, Deakin University. A little after 1.00 pm Dr. Chris Hurren took the observers into the laboratory where he placed the decorticated green fresh fibrous hemp skin into the Kier Dye works basket/receptacle, filled it with water, added chemicals and set the system going. After approximately 2 hours of Kier processing the observer team re-assembled to see the end of the Kier step in degumming. The fibrous skin material was removed from the Kier basket and Dr. Chris Hurren took it to a pad roller where it was squeezed and (in another room) rinsed. This squeezing and rinsing was done three times and the fibre was then dried. At this stage the vivid green colour was greatly reduced and the individual fibres began to separate. The plan had been to immediately take this fibre to the cotton system opener and cotton system card, however, due to circumstances beyond our control those machines were in storage and not powered for this final step using standard cotton machines to complete the transformation from Field to open carded fibre. That step will be completed next Thursday 24/3/11 when power will have been supplied to the machines. Dr. Chris Hurren then took the team to his office where he showed material that had been processed in the same manner in earlier projects to develop the system based upon the TCI decortication technology. Future Action for finalising Demonstration Project: Thursday 24/3/11, Dr. Chris Hurren will open and card the fibre processed from field, through decorticator, through Kier degumming, to dry stage on Friday 18/3/11. This will be witnessed by Cesare Corgatelli and David Giles-Kaye and filmed by both David Giles-Kaye and Tony Clarke. COMPLETED As planned on Thursday 24/3/11, Dr. Chris Hurren completed the Demonstration Project. The decorticated, degummed dry fibre was processed through the Fearnaught Opener and a Card. The fibre went from its existence as part of a 10 Kg approx. bunch of green growing stems the field, through the separation process of TCI’s decortication technology where is became approximately 2.5 Kg of fibre and 7.7 kg of hurd to a ready to spin condition with approximately 3 hours of total processing. It is clear that a commercial sized process could follow the same steps with commercial quantities of input hemp stem. It is clear that this system is the basis for a viable modern hemp textile industry which can provide an extra fibre source for the massive world-wide cotton spinning industry and thus fill the fibre raw material gap with a fibre that can be used either on its own or as blends. Dr. Chris Hurren also showed samples made earlier from crops which were grown and harvested under ideal densely-planted conditions correctly “in season” and which were more representative of the usual quality of output from the system when the variables are more favourable. Samples from earlier work supplied to David. Present that this final demonstration and proof of concept stage were: David Giles – Kaye Cesare Corgatelli Tony Clarke Both David and Tony videotaped the event.

2011-04-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

BURNING OUR FOOD AS THE WORLD STARVES

The New York Times yesterday, in an article by Elisabeth Rosenthal, uncovered more about the use of food crops as biofuel. In each and every article there is conspicuous by its absence any discussion of using the cellulose based waste parts of the plants - which are of little use in returning to the soil - as ethanol; for some reason, industry is taking the food right out of our mouths and producing bioethanol from the edible parts of plants - which is backwards, and ought to be addressed. The perception is that by lack of any discussion of this, articles can be used to scare the public away from ethanol and other biofuels - and steer us towards two and only two alternatives: nuclear power and fossil fuels. A recent letter in the NYT recently argued for the former, worded as if these two were the only choices. What both have in common is very rich investors who would like to keep ethanol out of reach.

But why are journalists not working to educate their readers? Are they stupid, do they not care, are they lazy, or are they bought off?

It can become more of a complex issue than one article can address, as Rosenthal does note by quoting Olivier Dubois, a bioenergy expert at the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome; Dubois notes that is hard to quantify the extent to which the diversions to biofuels have driven up the food prices: "The problem is so complex, so it is hard to come up with sweeping statements like biofuels are good or bad," he informs; yet sweeping statements are what the press likes to make of this issue, along with hype. Biofuel use of grain for non-food uses has risen from 1% to 6% recently, so it hardly equates to the 20 to 40% rises in food prices; which may well be due more to a rise in transport prices and plain old greed, along with some major crop failures in the world recently.

One wonders if the production of bioethanol would not in fact decrease the price of food, as the waste parts of edible plants could be sold thus increasing the yield for the farmer, who could afford to sell the edible parts for less...but this simple fact is conveniently not raised.

And if biofuels were widely produced, the resultant decrease in transport costs would also help decrease food costs...so why are we using so much of the edible parts for this? Thailand recently exported 98% of its cassava crop to China for biofuel development. And the US uses 40% of its maize (corn) for fuel, occasioning a 73% rise in its price on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange from June t0 December 2010. As far away as Rwanda, the price of this food rose 19%.

The whole thing seems one mess; but why? Look at our leaders and ask: Are they stupid, do they not care, are they lazy, or are they bought off?

If they were at all serious about biofuels and feeding people, they would legalise hemp in the US - growing if first for the edible seed, and then using the stalks for ethanol.

2011-04-02T11:53:00.000-07:00

THE LAND OF LINCOLN SAYS NO TO HEMP

The GOP's first president came from a hemp growing state: Illinois. His father-in-law was a Southern plantation owner who grew hemp. The same party today is against hemp; it is not new information to most of you that the Founding Fathers grew hemp. The former president, what would he think? But more importantly, the present president, also from Illinois, what is he doing about it? Nothing. Both parties (the present POTUS is a Democrat) have little to offer the US, which is sowing more and more cotton which dries up the water supply.

And while they filibuster, we lose. Illinois last week voted against the legalisation of hemp, joining the ranks of South Dakota, California and Vermont. In contrast to this, Canada, China and all of the EU countries can grow it.

This week I got email from two people in Uganda about growing it, and they are now in touch. Hopefully they will be able to get the seeds they need, and line up a buyer - there are hemp shops in South Africa, where the legality of growing hemp is a grey area. It would be ironic if the next jar of hemp seed oil sold in Illinois is grown in Uganda...just now what they buy is mostly Canadian. But, if US legislators would act more like Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln, whose faces are on the currency that is actually made with hemp - Illinois could be raising a cash crop. It's sad...what can we do?

2011-03-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

KING COTTON

The New York Times yesterday ran a story on the front page of the Business section about how US farmers, seeing the higher cotton prices, are now dedicating their land to cotton. This means that land that used to grow wheat and other foodstuffs will be used for cotton; and it may or may not mean that cotton prices will go down, punishing the greedy farmers for their rush to cash in.

The article by William Neuman quotes one farmer, Ramon Vela, of the Texas panhandle, as saying he will plant 1,100 acres of cotton this year, up from 210 last year. The panhandle has not been a traditional cotton belt, but recently new strains of cotton that work well there have made cotton very popular there; too popular, and it is now a monocrop in some areas of North Texas; the state grows over one million acres; the US grew 10.8 last year, and this year is expected to grow 12.8 acres of this crop.

Cotton prices are the highest they have ever been, and this affects not just crude bolls, but all cotton based products. One textile researcher, Carol Webb in the UK, noted "Crochet cotton has risen in price out of all proportion to scarcity of raw cotton." It is called exponential increases. And we can expect more and more - but they may appear in the food prices now that cotton is set to flood the market.

As it floods the market, it empties the reservoirs; it is a thirsty crop, though it takes less water than corn. Texas growers will have to tap into the Ogallala Aquifer, which is already getting depleted.

So there is one crisis on top of another. Had we grown hemp, this would not be - and hemp is both a food and a textile crop, which uses less water than either corn or cotton.

But no one listened. So there. I hope you can afford to buy a shirt and something to eat. If so, you're lucky. More and more people can't , and it is due to those who push nuclear power, fossil fuels, and cotton whilst keeping hemp illegal.

2011-03-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

CONNECTICUT THINKING OF LEGALISING MARIJUANA

In yesterday's El Diario, there was an article about lawmakers in Connecticut considering reducing the possession of less than an ounce from a misdemeanour to an infraction. This law has change has been proposed to the governor, Daniel P. Malloy, who has been open to testimony about medical cannabis. So far, we have 15 states that have legalised medical cannabis, Arizona being the latest.

2011-03-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

UPCOMING EIHA MEET IN GERMANY

Dear Experts on Hemp and Natural Fibres,
we would like to invite you to the 8th Conference of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), on May 18th-19th, 2011 at Wesseling near Cologne, Germany: www.eiha.org/8
Bio-Composites - like bio-based plastics - show a two digit growth each year. The conference will present the newest technology developments and market penetration of hemp and other natural fibres reinforced plastics.
The EIHA Conference is now established as the largest meeting of experts on industrial hemp in Europe and indeed world - wide. Specialists from all over the world will meet in order to exchange information regarding the latest developments in hemp and in other natural fibres and moreover on the applications for fibres, shivs, seeds and oil. Participants will range from cultivation consultants, primary and further processors, traders, mechanical engineers and investors to numerous small and medium-sized enterprises and to international automotive companies and suppliers. The conference language will be English. We expect 150 international participants from 30 countries.
Exhibition
You are welcome to present your latest products, technologies or developments, book a stand and a bulletin board now for only 200 EUR (plus 19% VAT). Please contact: Mr. Dominik Vogt, phone: +49(0)2233-4814-49, email: dominik.vogt@nova-institut.de
Preliminary programme
Overview talks
Mark Reinders (HempFlax BV, The Netherlands):HempFlax from pioneer to professional
Ilze Baltina (Riga Technical University, Institute of Textile Material Technologies and Design, Latvia):Hemp fiber properties and production in Latvia
Patrick de Ceuster (wervel, Belgium):Hemp production and transformation in Belgium
Michael Carus (nova-Institut GmbH, Germany):Hemp fibres for green products - an assessment of life cycle studies on hemp fibre applications
Breeding, Cultivation and Harvesting
Fei-Hu Liu (Yunnan University, China): Nondestructive forecasting of fiber content in hemp bast
Prof. Ming Yang (Hemp Research Center, Institute of Industrial Crops, YAAS, China): Breeding and cultivation of Industrial Hemp in China
Gianpolo Grassi (Industrial crop research center (CIN), Italy): Dew retting of hemp in Italy using a new variety and an improved harvesting technique
Construction
Marc Beutnagel (MEHA Dämmstoff und Handels GmbH, Germany): Meha hemp insulation - the natural way to insulate!
Bio-Composites
Michael Carus (nova-Institut GmbH, Germany): Bio-Composites
Bernd Frank (Badische Naturfaseraufbereitung GmbH, Germany) & Lena Scholz (nova-Institut GmbH, Germany): Hemp pelletes for injection moulding
Terry Barman (Tokn Hemp Products, Ireland): Hemp Fibre Composites
Dr. Johanne Denault (IMI/CNRC, Canada): Fiber treatment, formulation and processing technologies for optimum performance of hemp fibre thermoplastic composites
Gordon Scheifele (Ontario Hemp Alliance, Canada): Fast, inexpensive field test for THC evaluation in the field and field evaluation for fatty acids (OMEGA 3 & 6) in Canadian Hemp Varieties
Pierre Amadieu (Start hemp, France): Long fiber extraction for composite reinforcement and textile yarn
Martin Snijder (Green Gran B.V., The Netherlands): ULTRAFIBRE
Richard Hurding (Zelfo Technology, Germany): "Remixed and binderless" Zelfo - Natural and Recycled fibre products
Prof. Dr. Jörg Müssig (Hochschule Bremen, Germany):Hemp fibres reinforced PLA from cultivation to final product
Kai Nebel (Reutlingen University, Germany): Micro and nano? - Bastfibres for industrial use? Challenges, production techniques and applications
Textiles and Food
Daniel Kruse (Hempro International GmbH & Co. KG, Germany): Hemp textiles and food
Further information
For non-members the fee for participation is 400 EUR plus 19% VAT (including lunches, snacks and dinner buffet).EIHA members are also required to pay this fee but they will get a credit voucher of 100 EUR which will be deducted from the EIHA Membership fee for 2012. We are most grateful for the support of our sponsor Hempro GmbH & Co. KG (www.hempro.com)
Don't miss the world's largest event on Industrial Hemp in 2011!
We look forward to seeing you in Wesseling!
With Best Regards,Michael Carus and Dominik Vogt, nova-Institut GmbH

2011-03-08T07:29:00.000-08:00

HEMP SHOW IN SPAIN

Just in, an invitation to a hemp show in Spain. Tried to attach the images but they are not loading, so there is just this text...

Hi everyone.
Come to Granada to hear presentations from the worlds leading Hemp experts about how to use this extraordinary material for construction.
Book Now to attend the 2nd International Hemp Building Symposium 2011 - Granada, Spain!
International Hemp Building Association
news@internationalhempbuilding.org
www.internationalhempbuilding.org

2011-03-04T08:22:00.000-08:00

GOVERNMENT SMASHES THE STASH IN OAKLAND

The New York Times ran an article yesterday (p. A16: "Oakland's Bid to Cash in on Medical Marijauna Hits Federal Roadblock" by Malia Wollan). The hopes of growing their own have been dimmed considerably in recent weeks, with an exchange of letters between the city attorney and federal law enforcement officials making it clear that Washington will not tolerate plans for the large-scale marijuana farms the City Council approved last July. City officials had hoped to use the massive indoor growing facilities to raise some $38 million annually in fees and taxes at a time when the city is struggling with a $31 million deficit and 17 percent unemployment.

Hundreds of well-heeled investors and would-be farmers poured in from across the country to vie for four cultivation permits. Then, in December, just weeks before the city was set to issue the permits, the Council voted to stall the plan after the city’s attorney, John Russo, and a county district attorney warned the Council that the marijuana cultivation ordinance thwarted state law and that city officials could be held criminally liable.

Wollan quotes Allen St. Pierre, executive director for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws as saying that Oakland is the centre of medical marijuana in the US, and that the Department of Justice is paying closer attention in Oakland because they’re mindful of the fact that there is enough political and commercial chutzpah to actually get this done. The only thing stopping these entrepreneurs from breaking ground tomorrow is this letter from the feds.

Thearticle notes that dozens of groups spent months and hundreds of thousands of dollars on business plans, including Ben Bronfman, an heir to the Seagram liquor fortune and fiancé of the rapper M.I.A., who leased 11 acres of land by the airport where he and partners had hoped to install enormous greenhouses that would produce environmentally friendly marijuana using a massive, experimental carbon-capturing device. “Cannabis is a more constructive thing to have in our society than alcohol,” he said.
Jeff Wilcox, a former commercial real estate developer turned medical marijuana advocate, was one of the first in line for a cultivation permit. He spent $120,000 and two years developing a $20 million plan to transform a 172,000-square-foot office park he owns into a high-tech facility capable of growing 23 pounds of medical marijuana a day, an annual crop worth up to $58 million. In accordance with city rules, much of that money would have been turned back into city coffers and into nonprofit organizations.
Many of the investors who flocked to Oakland are now taking their money and their marijuana know-how elsewhere.
“I applaud the city for pushing the envelope, but it’s frustrating for those of us who spent a lot of time and money on this process,” said Derek Peterson, a former Wall Street banker turned marijuana entrepreneur who spent $80,000 on his permit application.
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia now have medical marijuana laws on the books; Peterson is applying for a permit to do just that in Arizona.
“Right now Oakland is far too visible for this kind of investment,” said Scott Hawkins, who worked as a consultant on a permit application on behalf of Richard Lee, the founder of Oaksterdam University, a medical marijuana trade school here. “Investors don’t want to risk their capital in this situation unless things can get worked out between the City Council and the Department of Justice and the city attorney’s office.”

So that is a setback for the city, I guess they'll just have to keep on paying high fees to dealers and stay in the red with the city budget. This will help keep the Mexican cartels in business shooting each other up and any civilians who get in the way of their drug runs to Gringoland.

2011-03-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

HOT TUNA AND MERCURY

Hemp, which is high in Omega 3, along with Omega 6 and 9, is the best source on the planet for it. Since it is a plant, and all hemp sourced for food is currently GMO free, and most grown without pesticides, it is ideal. However, the fishing industry has millions of tons of livers it needs to get rid of, so it goes on campaigns and gets nasty journalists to push this stuff down our throats. In October last year, there were two articles in the paper about people trying to be healthy and getting hooked on fish. One was in the New York Post, 19 October 2010, about a businessman, Lee Porazzo of White Plains, who is suing Bumble Bee after eating their tuna every day, which he thought was the "cleanest source of protein." Wrong.

He might have read the story in El Especialito that week by Dr Hector Rodriguez, who notes the value of Omega 3 and then goes on to tell the reader that large companies have polluted our rivers and seas, so the great majority of fish are contaminated. The info sidebar at the end of the article does mention hemp, but does not go into detail.

Porazzo's blood test in 2008 revealed a "dangerously high" level of mercury - 23 gm/lt in his blood. He got a call from the Health Department, which told him they normally do not contact him, but his level was so high they were making an exception. They told him to stop eating tuna. He did, and is now in court with Bumble Bee and Stop & Shop, the latter being the market that sold him his source of mercury.

After laying off the fish, he said his mercury level went back to normal.

He also stopped working out and lost weight.

My advice is get on the hemp, which has all the essential amino acids, actually it has ALL the amino acids, and get back in the gym.

2011-02-26T08:22:00.000-08:00

A WEED GROWS IN BROOKLYN

Though I spent time in North Carolina, I never saw a tobacco plant up close up till I went to London, where my neighbours on Devonshire Road had one. It was about 4 feet high and rather pretty, it took pride of place in their front yard facing east. Nicotia is not usually grown along with nasturtiums and pansies...but this one featured nicely.

Yesterday I read about a woman in NYC who has dozens of them growing in her backyard, which she calls the Bloomberg Garden, in honour of the mayor who wants to take away the right to smoke just about anywhere in NYC...which may be dangerous, as then the only place left to smoke is in the flat, and that is where fires start...such as the one started yesterday by some voodoo priest getting into a sex act among the candles; somehow the clothes he had shed and left on the floor got hot. From what, we don't know. It may have been the candles.

Anyway, I am supporting the rights of smokers to smoke in parks etc. if for no other reason the safety issue. The Nicotia grower also supports smokers' rights, and she is using her green thumb to highlight the issue. Audrey Silk is a former NYC cop who grows her own; and dries, cuts and rolls it too. 25 plants made about 9 cartons for her last year, this year she has 100 plants and a house full of leaves hanging from the ceiling. The seeds cost her about $2, so she is one of the few smokers who is not giving her money to the tobacco industry, one which I truly loathe - note that Thomas Jefferson wrote against tobacco in favour of hemp. The former won out, and millions of Americans now pay through the nose for it, while they are not allowed to grow hemp.

And Americans may not be allowed to grow their own tobacco either, Silk fears; she told the New York Times: "We fear that the anti-smokers are so hysterical that if they start finding that people are doing this, they would craft a law to make it illegal. I'm waiting for the black helicopters to start flying over my yard." (Manny Fernandez. "Now in Brooklyn, Homegrown Tobacco: Local, Rebellious and Tax Free. 25 February, 2011, pp. A19/A25.)

Seeds can be purchased from Seedman.com, a company in Mississippi. The president, Jim Johnson, says tobacco grows anywhere there were about 100 frost free nights, and that he even had customers in Alaska, summing up that it was a "very tough, resilient plant."

Silk plants the seeds in trays indoors; weeks later, she transplants them to buckets outside. She waters daily until they are about five feet tall, with big leaves that droop from the stem. After harvesting she washes them, dries them, take out the middle vein, and then makes bricks of 15 leaves which she feeds to a shredder.

Selling them, however, would be illegal; she claims she does not. There must be a market for them, especially as they do not contain all the additives and pesticide residue that most cigarettes contain. Which are probably a main cause of pollution here in NYC - along with pesticides sprays, mercury used in Santerria rituals, lead and asbestos. This is one toxic city.

But speaking of tobacco, there is an event going on this week in Cuba, the XIII Festival del Habano which features tobacco, including that from the Pinar del Rio area, considered to produce the finest leaves in the world. But who knows, maybe the Brooklyn become the next Cuba.

2011-02-25T08:25:00.001-08:00

NEWS OF THE WEED

In El Diario/La Prensa a story ran on 23 February about coupons for marijuana; California company General Cannabis has launched a Daily Deals campaign giving up to 60% discounts on medical cannabis. WeedMaps.com is the site to check it out, it works on colmputers, iPhones and Droid, and the website can be joined on Twitter.

Just now the federal government makes it illegal, though it is legal in 15 states, Arizona being the latest to join the medical cannabis brigade.

2011-02-23T07:47:00.000-08:00

BIG BUSINESS DOES GOOD

While it may seem that the hemp movement is anti-big business, this has never been a reality, save for a few fringe members. Certainly though a number of large firms have benefitted from selling damaging products and ripping off their workers, and that thread runs through any discussion of hemp, especially the fact that it is illegal to grow in the US. However, big does not mean evil, and I am happy to note the positive side of big business as well. In yesterday's New York Times [Melanie Strom, pp. B1 and B8 of the Science Section] there is a story about PepsiCo working with Mexican farmers to cut out the middlemen and increase their profits. Martin Ramos Torres, of San Gabriel, notes: "In just three years, everything has changed."

It all began as a pilot programme with the company's Sabritas snacks food division, and has now expanded to include 850 farmers. Most of them grow corn and sunflowers.
Another company to do good to its farmers is Danone, which makes a yoghurt product in Bangladesh. And Philips Electronics is helping Africans with little access to the grid by selling low cost solar powered lighting.

So we are happy to promote these companies and support this movement. This is good news for a change!

Now if we could just get major clothing manufactureres to grow hemp...

2011-02-22T08:22:00.000-08:00

BIG GREEN EVENT

Big Green Competition! What you'll find at this year's show! BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!

New dates!
Fri 25th & Sat 26th of MarchOlympia TwoLondon
CONTACT US :Office: 0207 7091 7214
Email: info@ukaware.com
UK AWARE: Key Highlight -

BIG GREEN COMPETITION WIN!!! 1st prize £50.00, 2nd prize £25.00 and 3rd prize £15.00 of gift vouchers to spend on our massive range of eco-friendly and organic products at www.togetherwikan.co.uk To enter, please answer the following 3 questions:

1. How many plastic bags go into UK landfills every year? a) 1 million b) 13 million c) 13 billion
2. Our skin absorbs what percentage of everything we put on it? a) 50 b) 60 c) 70
3. Togetherwikan will help me to save money while becoming greener? a) True b) Absolutely

Winners will be drawn at random from all correct entries received. Please submit your entry by email to togetherwikan@wikaniko.co.uk with ‘UK AWARE’ in the subject line. Closing date 25th February. Your details will not be sold or passed on to any third party.

Share the UK AWARE love and forward to a friend
UK AWARE is the place for you to get inspiration, ideas and information - and to shop for great value green & ethical products. If you do want to take advantage of UK AWARE as your opportunity to buy great green gadgets, please keep in mind that most exhibitors can only accept cash payments at the show.
What you’ll be able to find at UK AWARE this year Yet again, UK AWARE has an eclectic range of products and services that can help you to live a greener, more sustainable lifestyle.
Business: You might be interested in the financial services available such as Cash ISAs which ensure your deposits will only be lent to support charities, social enterprises and community organisations across the UK.
Office: How about looking at the procurement of your stationery to ensure sustainability in all aspects of your work and play?
Parents: Check out some of the environmentally friendlier options to nappies, baby wipes, toys, water bottles, natural chemical free cleaning agents - even tree free, biodegradable loo paper! And our KIDS AREA will have lots of activities to keep your little’uns happy and occupied while you check out the exhibition.
Fashion: Our fashion show will demonstrate that green is the new black and eco-chic is the latest trend on the catwalk!
Clothes: Want to re-vamp your wardrobe? Then clear out your closet and trade your unwanted items for a brand new look simply by “swapping” the old for the new. We have two clothes swapping sessions each day.
Green Machines: If you are enthusiast or just curious, we will have an amazing indoor test drive area on the first floor, so you can experience first hand some of the low-carbon and electric two-wheelers and cars on the market
Book your tickets HERE, The Penguin offers is finished but you can still get discounted tickets for £5, use the code "RUAWAKE"

2011-02-12T08:33:00.000-08:00

CORNY STORY IN THE PRESS: FOOD PRICES SET TO ROCKET

The New York Times and other US papers printed a story about the coming food price rise. As it is expressed on the AP newswire, which many churnalists chose to cut and paste, the problem is due to the ethanol trade. The article implies that to make ethanol one uses the kernels, the edible part of the corn (maize). That would not be practical, as ethanol is best produced from the abundant cellulose which is in the leaves, stalk and hobs. Our bodies do not digest this; other animals do.

The articles then go on to point out that corn is used in high fructose corn syrup and corn chips...but does not blame these manufacturers, whose products, unlike ethanol, are not essential. Ethanol is an energy product and is used in cars from Canada to Brazil; Henry Ford proposed using it in cars, using farm wastes and hemp. The powers to be promoted petroleum instead, forcing America to suck on the gaspipe. And suck, and suck and suck. So no wonder that ethanol is being put in a bad light by bad journalists. We can write a letter to the NYT and the NY Daily News but they often ignore anything they do not want to hear....

So corn prices double, and the price of a gallon may do so also. If the papers got behind solid science then we could solve the economic crisis, but that is not what they exist for.

So expect higher food prices and sluggish response to sensible energy development. But at least blame Doritos and Cap'n Crunch for the rise in the corn prices, not ethanol producers, who can use the waste parts of corn we don't use.

2011-01-29T13:11:00.000-08:00

COCA LEAVES PICKED ON BY WESTERN BULLIES

Hemp is not the only plant demonised for profit and political games; stevia and coca are also in that league. Bolivia is fighting back against this injustice. Rrom the Bolivian Information Forum comes this report:

Banning coca chewing a 'no-brainer'
Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca made a flying visit to London on January 20 as part of a diplomatic tour of Europe to garner support for Bolivia’s proposed amendment to the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The amendment would decriminalise the practice of chewing coca leaves. During the visit to London - which followed stops in Spain, France and Belgium - Choquehuanca met with UK Government officials in the Home Office and was interviewed by the BBC and CNN. Speaking about misconceptions regarding traditional uses of the coca leaf, he said: “We have been practicing the chewing of coca leaves for thousands of years… this means that it is a fundamental part of our culture. What we are asking the countries of the international community is that they let us, Bolivians, exercise, practice and strengthen our culture. We don’t understand why some countries would want to attack our culture.”

The chewing of coca is a practice that goes back to time immemorial in Bolivia. Not only is it a way of countering physical fatigue and staving off hunger, but it has deep religious significance among indigenous peoples in the Andean region. Its use is widespread in Ecuador, Peru, northern Argentina and northern Chile, as well as in Bolivia. Coca tea (mate) is widely used by visitors to the highlands as the best remedy for dealing with the symptoms of altitude sickness.

Although coca is one of the ingredients in the manufacture of cocaine, it is in itself a completely benign substance. As well as being used for chewing, it is also used to make a number of products, including toothpaste, flour and soft drinks. The Bolivian authorities have sought to develop these products as alternative uses for coca. It takes huge amounts of coca leaves to produce only small quantities of refined cocaine. The Bolivian authorities have stressed their total opposition to the production of cocaine and are fighting to reduce trafficking of the drug.

Bolivian governments have long argued the need to reform the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs so as to enable a distinction to be drawn between the harmless consumption of coca and the use of coca for cocaine. Reform has always met with fierce opposition, particularly from the United States. The United States was one of the main architects of the 1961 Convention. The Convention specifically mandated the phasing out of coca chewing over a 25 year period, a period which elapsed in 1986. The ban on coca chewing was based on a 1950 report. According to the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and the Transnational Institute, the evidence on which this was based was unscientific and “blatantly racist”.

The Morales government, which took office in 2006, approached UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in 2009, requesting that the ban on coca chewing should be removed from the Convention. President Evo Morales has argued strongly that coca consumption is a key aspect of indigenous identity in Bolivia, and that the 1961 Convention is an affront to Bolivian sovereignty in this matter. Under UN rules, states have 18 months in which to register their observations to such a proposed change. This 18 month period ends on January 31, 2011.

Predictably, the United States has sought to organise resistance to such a change. It wishes the unreformed 1961 Convention to remain the basis for international law on the issue of coca. For its part, the Bolivian government has sought to lobby other Latin American countries to support it in its stand. It has had considerable success, winning the backing of UNASUR, the grouping of South American states, as well as ALBA, the alliance that also includes a number of Caribbean states, including Cuba, as well as Ecuador, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia.

However it only takes one country to block a change in the rules, which the United States can therefore do. But the Bolivian government is keen to ensure that European governments do not simply cave in to US pressure on this point and that they provide support to Bolivia on an issue which has been aptly described as a ‘no-brainer’. A leader article in the Economist magazine this week draws a stark comparison between US responses to the brutally violent drug wars raging in Mexico and the “storm in an Andean teacup” over Bolivia’s modest proposal.

The Bolivia Information Forum would therefore urge the British government not to acquiesce on this issue, and to make clear its support for a change in international rules which are clearly at variance with – amongst other things – the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

2011-01-29T12:28:00.000-08:00

VICTORIA'S SECRET'S SECRET

Today a Tamil handed me a flier about the mistreatment of his colleagues in Sri Lanka. It urges we boycott Sri Lankan clothing, much of which is sold at Victoria's Secret and GAP. It points out that the govnernment there has 300,000 civilians interned, and that 40% of its foreign exchange comes from textile exports - 50% of which go to the US. At Victoria's Secret that percentage is the standard.

Why are they not made in the US - as were Minawear Hemp clothes? And why are they not hemp? The issue of low wages and the overuse of cotton might well have also been addressed.

For all of these reasons it might be best to 'mind the GAP' and expose Victoria's 'secret'.

They gave me the following URL for more info: www.notosrilanka.com

2011-01-27T10:32:00.000-08:00

Dear colleague

Human rights campaigner, Bianca Jagger joins Professor Brian Cox, Tim Smit of the Eden Project, Baroness Susan Greenfield and others, in delivering Ecobuild’s lecture series this year.

Click here for your free ticket

Taking a look at the built environment from a different perspective, Ecobuild’s lectures are inspiring, provocative and entertaining and consider The age of unreason: the psychology of climate change, Socially Big, the role of social enterprise in the regeneration of civil society, Can science save us? and more.

Also at Ecobuild

• the renowned Ecobuild conference, free to attend and expanded to three streams – Making sustainable
construction happen, Beyond Construction and Design, architecture and sustainability
• more than 1,300 exhibitors – the biggest showcase of sustainable construction products in the world
• over 130 free seminars including live demonstrations on Cityscape and Practical installer
• dozens of attractions – Cool workspace, NaturalZED, Solar hub and more

All free to attend – register now for your free ticket

We’re looking forward to seeing you at Ecobuild!

Yours sincerely

Moira Edwards
Event Director

2011-01-19T08:03:00.000-08:00

HEMP CAN HELP THE US COMPETE WITH CHINA

Just in from an email chainletter, I cut and pasted this bit below:

"The United States is losing more jobs to China. In fact, the United States is losing more high technology "green jobs" to China. Evergreen Solar, a company that manufactures solar panels, is closingtheir factory in Devon, Massachusetts and they are moving theirproduction facilities to China. This is going to result in the lossof 800 good American jobs. The following is what the company had to say in a statement about the move.... "Solar manufacturers in China have received considerable government and financial support and, together with their low manufacturing costs, have become price leaders within the industry." Is it any wonder that a recent survey found that 47 percent ofAmericans now believe that China is the world's leading economic powerwhile only 31 percent still believe that the United States is theworld's leading economic power?"

So what can we do about this? And the coming food shortage? We can grow hemp, as the Founding Fathers did. This could be a foundation for a textile industry, along with homegrown energy and hemp seed food products - high in protein and Omega oils. Right now, China grows most of the hemp in the world. Is the Chinese Communist Party secretly paying US politicians to keep it illegal so the US will not compete economically? Just a thought...

2011-01-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACTIVIST BUSTED FOR PIPE

MS sufferer, medical-cannabis advocate and former TV talk-show host Montel Williams was cited for possessing a wood marijuana pipe on Tuesday, 4 January. TSA at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee found the pipe in the Williams' carry-on bag. He paid a $484 fine and then departed for New York.
Williams explains on his Facebook page: "I was in Wisconsin for a follow up appointment on a groundbreaking study that I've been involved in through the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This study could have tremendous impact on the lives of people with MS, as well as people with other neurological disorders such as traumatic brain injuries.
I only hope that the news of my experience encourages people to continue to push for legislation that will allow Americans who need help to have the safe access they deserve: medication without criminalization."

2011-01-05T12:46:00.000-08:00

Dearest All!!

Happy New Year!! Minawear is back in action at a "grassroots" level! Haha! It was sold and then magically VOILA! Given back to me. Can you believe it? Just my luck. Things are looking pretty good here in TEXAS! WHOA!! Yep. That's the home base now. Livin' the slow life in the friendly state.

If you want me to keep in touch with updates on new outfits, new developments, and the Minawear where abouts, I will! If not, let me know and I will pluck you off this list forever!

As well as acquiring back all the original inventory, I have started doing one of a kind tie dyes on 100% hemp! Amazingly delicious material that looks and feels like knit silk. The best part is that you feel naked, which is fantastic in a humid place like this, which by the way, makes for the best work out shirt in the world. Don't forget hemp is also anti-microbial, and UV ray protective, making it ideal for sensitive skin, including chemotherapy patients.

Have a look at the photos attached, and also view more of the old styles I still have available at: www.tinyurl.com/minawear

Do call or email for prices, and availablity! I am ready to make deals!! (My office is exploding!)

May this be the best year ever!!!

--
Mina Hegaard

310 487 3396

2010-12-31T11:53:00.000-08:00

THIS YEAR'S INFLATION

The New York Post yesterday carried the prices of commodities, metals, bonds, etc. and reviewed their performance for 2010. Gold, for instance, closed at $1413.10 an oz.; up 29% for the year. A sign that people are afraid of other investments...not good news unless you are holding gold.

Three commodities that have some bearing on hemp, as they could be replaced by or sourced from hemp, are soybeans, cotton and ethanol. Soy is up to $13.66 a bushel, a 31.4% change from last year; cotton, however, is up much more dramatically - closing at $1.40 a lb., up 85.8%. This is making for runaway inflation and more expensive clothes, not to mention, a lot of water wasted on this thirsty monocrop.

Ethanol is at $2.36 a gallon, just under the price of petrol here in the US - and would be even cheaper if it were made en masse from hemp and other farm wastes.

John Crudele in his article about the US economy notes that consumer spending is up 5.5% -which is being toted as a good sign, but he notes that some of this spending is merely money spent on higher prices at the pump - and, he might have added, on clothing now that cotton spot prices are almost double those of last year.

So again, it is time for America to grow hemp. Ease the demand on water and create a commodity that can be produced on US soil for a change. But I doubt the Post will ever tell us such a truth.

2010-12-20T14:31:00.001-08:00

(Just in from EcoBuild...)

A pair of Passivhaus compliant dwellings will be constructed at Ecobuild next March.

Register now for your free ticket.

The two-storey dwellings will include room in the roof space and will each provide an internal floor area of 135sqm. The design of the units, by Miller Hughes Associates, will be taken from a live Passivhaus scheme of 38 units being built for Saxon Weald Housing Association in Horsham in January 2011, and use an advanced SIP system provided by members of the UK SIPS Association.

Passivhaus experts will be on hand throughout the three days of Ecobuild to provide practical advice on achieving a highly insulated air tight building envelope, whilst demonstrating the other complementary technologies such as window systems, MVHR and low energy lighting solutions that are needed to achieve Passivhaus standards.

And continuing the Passivhaus theme at next year’s Ecobuild, the Passivhaus pavilion, will give visitors the opportunity to meet some of Ecobuild’s 1,300 exhibitors and learn about the detailing and performance requirements involved in delivering Passivhaus dwellings in the UK.

View all exhibitors

In a series of dedicated seminars – two of over 130 free seminars at Ecobuild - Passivhaus principles in refurbishment and Aligning Passivhaus principles with codes and regulations , visitors can learn from a series of case studies what applying Passivhaus standards to refurbishment projects really involves, and how Passivhaus principles connect with existing regulations, codes and standards.

View all seminars

All free when you register for Ecobuild.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there.

Yours sincerely

Moira Edwards
Event Director

2010-12-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

Just in from the Hemp Shop:

New Products

Scarf

Always a firm favourite under the Christmas tree, this super soft scarf will keep you wonderfully warm this winter. Made from 55% hemp and 45% yak wool.

New Products

The Hemp Solution

Searching for a pair of real quality denim jeans? So were we and we've finally found them! These are soft, supple and hard-wearing. Try them. We are convinced you won't look back .

Leggings

An essential addition to any wardrobe, these truly versatile and wonderfully natural leggings will come in handy whatever the weather.

Hand Warmers

AnThese super cute hand warmer gloves are a great Winter accessory. They'll keep your hands warm while leaving your fingers free. Made from soft hemp and organic cotton.

Organ ic Nepali Bags

These stunning bags from Nepal are handmade from handwoven wild organic hemp, recycled wool and recycled silk and come in a gorgeous mix of vibrant colours. They would make the perfect present - if you can bear to give them away!

Featured Product

HoodLamb Furry Hoody

Yet another outstanding addition from the Hoodlamb Hemp stable. Is it a Hoody or is it a jacket? A perfect garment for this wintery season. Vegan fur lined eco genius.

Latest Hemp News from around the world

Hemp house wins construction prize

Premiere of the revised "The Hemp Solution"

A biological solution to animal pandemics

2010-11-16T17:23:00.000-08:00

BAN THE BAGS!

Earlier posts on this blog talked about the bag mania that came in around 2007 when the Anya Hindmarch bags, made of cotton, were outed as being made in Chinese sweatshops...we then made a plain grey hemp bag which was the real thing, and held them up in protest outside the Hindmarch shop in London. Cotton, being a worldwide destructive monocrop, was used in those and other ecologically deastructiv bags worldwide. Here in New York these trendy bags are being recalled, as such bags, usually made in China, have been found to contain lead. Michael M. Grynbaum writes in yesterday's New York Times that consumers, such as Jen Bluestein, are finding out that it is fraud. Bluestein notes: "Green is a trend and people go with trends...People get them as fashion statements and they have, like, 50 of them. I don't think people know the real facts."

Duh. People don't, and the cotton industry is not letting on. So we now have these dangerous and idiotic bags when we could have had the real thing: Hemp. Plain hemp bags. Grynbaum notes, ironically, that "climate-change-conscious shoppers at one of Manhattan's culinary meccas on Sunday said they were chagrined that yet another good intention had gone awry." Shelley Kempner says "Bummer! We're still not doing the right thing", and asks if we might have to start using string bags. Actually, this is a good idea, less is more; we used these in Istanbul in the 1960s, and they were great. They were also biodegradable. But the problem with them is that no trendy lefty idiot shops get to print their name on them, so they are overlooked. Wholier-than-thou-Foods for instance has a big bag of its own, with its logo on it. But it is not hemp. Oh no, it is ecologically destructive cotton. Bluestein and Kempner were right. So when are we going to get it right?

2010-11-04T17:13:00.000-07:00

INVITATION TO LIGNIN CONFERENCE

Just in from Michael Carus and Lena Scholz, an invite to a conference on lignin, tons of which are to be harvested from every acre of hemp. It is in the stalks, in both the bast and the hurds, but mostly in the latter. Other posts on lignin are found on this blog and will give context, including studies by the US gov on using lignin in paper and companies that research lignin use. Presently, it is a waste or by-product of cellulose production. Click on the tag for lignin to be taken to them.

(Lignin, by the way, is a macromolecule characterised by monolignols, the starting material being phenylalinine. It is common in trees and herbaceous plants, where is part of the cell walls, including the xylem fibres. After cellulose it is the most abundant organic compound, accounting for up to 33% of the dry mass of wood. It fills space between cellulose and pectin, giving rigidity, conducting water and providing defence against pathogens).

Dear scientists and experts,
we would like to invite you to the first worldwide event on sourcing and material use of Lignin, taking place in Toronto, Canada on the 17th and 18th of November. Nova-Institut is the European partner of the Conference.At the event, the relevant bio-based chemistry along with Lignin-based Products will be presented and discussed by leading experts in this field. Don't miss the most important Lignin-event of the year! Please find the attached agenda.For further information also visit http://www.bioautocouncil.com/conferences/international-lignin-biochemicals.aspxor contact directly: Ms. Vicki Leith (vleith@bioautocouncil.com) +1 519 827 1118. We look forward to seeing you in Toronto! With best regards,Michael Carus and Lena Scholz

2010-11-01T07:34:00.000-07:00

PROPOSITION 19

A story in the Sacramento Bee caught my attention this week. Hopefully, this bill will pass. California has a history of hemp bills being vetoed by the Governator, Schwarzenegger.

"Hemp may piggyback to legality on Prop. 19"

By Peter Hecht mailto:Hechtphecht@sacbee.com

Published: Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010 - 12:00 am Page 1A

David Bronner's third-generation family business – Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps – imports 20 tons of hemp oil a year from Canada to make soaps, shampoos and skin lotions near San Diego.
Now Bronner hopes California's Proposition 19 to legalize marijuana for recreational use can give impetus to legalizing cultivation of hemp – pot's cannabis cousin.
Proposition 19 proponents say the initiative's language allowing local governments to permit cannabis cultivation – by definition – includes both marijuana and hemp.
But the measure variously inspires or infuriates hemp advocates, who are waging arguments over whether it will help or hinder efforts to lift a U.S. ban on hemp cultivation.
Some say Proposition 19 could invigorate a national hemp industry that already produces more than $350 million in annual sales of clothing, food, paper, carpet and other items – all from hemp grown in other countries.
Others contend the measure will further link hemp – a cannabis plant that can't get you high – with marijuana and deal a public relations setback to the hemp movement. While it looks like marijuana, hemp contains only minute traces of pot's psychoactive elements.
Hemp fibers, foods and oils are imported from more than 30 other countries, but the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration treats hemp cultivation as an illegal activity akin to narcotics production.
Erwin A. "Bud" Sholts, chairman of the North American Industrial Hemp Council, a Wisconsin group hoping to open up American farmland to hemp cultivation, wants nothing to do with California's pot initiative.
"I don't think we're interested in legalizing the drug at all," he said.
Sholts, a former economist for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, said his hemp trade organization is working with major U.S. companies he won't name to "develop a strategy" for legalizing U.S. production.
The last thing his partners need, Sholts said, is California's Proposition 19. "They don't want to appear to be pro-marijuana," he said.
In its only direct reference to hemp, Proposition 19 says the Legislature may "authorize the production of hemp or non-active cannabis."
That is pure political melody to Bronner, president of another pro-hemp group, the Hemp Industries Association.
"I think the initiative would be very helpful," said Bronner, who said his business costs would drop by 25 percent if he could cultivate hemp in California.
Several states have passed legislation urging the federal government to legalize hemp and setting guidelines for a potential resurgence of cultivation.
In 2006, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1147 by San Francisco Democrat Mark Leno and Irvine Republican Chuck DeVore to endorse hemp cultivation in California. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Leno, now a state senator, said he will introduce new hemp legislation if Proposition 19 passes.
His earlier bill argued that hemp should be defined differently than marijuana because it is a not a mind-altering substance. While marijuana may contain 5 percent to 20 percent of psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), hemp has 0.3 percent or less.
"They are distant biological cousins," Leno said. "The analogy is that hemp has as much THC as the poppy seeds on your bagel have opium."
Nationally, growing hemp has essentially been illegal since marijuana was outlawed in 1937 – except for one notable period. In World War II, the U.S. Department of Agriculture produced a film – "Hemp for Victory" – that called on "patriotic farmers" to produce hemp for rope, fabrics and other "needs of our Army and Navy."
U.S. drug agents have since regarded the plant as an unwanted relative of pot. Authorities contend its similar appearance can shield illegal marijuana cultivation – though pot growers say hemp can cross-pollinate marijuana, killing its potency.
Last year, Republican Rep. Ron Paul and Democratic Rep. Barney Frank introduced the Industrial Hemp Farming Act in Congress, seeking to give states the right to permit hemp growing.
In a joint letter, Paul and Frank argued that hemp's inclusion with marijuana in the Federal Controlled Substances Act has prohibited American farmers from "competing in the booming industrial hemp market."
That market is already booming for John Roulak. His Oxnard-based Nutiva food company – listed in Inc. magazine as one of America's 5,000 fastest growing businesses – expects to earn $12 million this year on imports of hemp foods from "Hemp Ginger Salad Dressing" to hemp protein shakes and munchable hemp seeds.
Sales of hemp foods – said to be high in fiber, protein and Omega-3 and Omega-6 – took off after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2004 that the Drug Enforcement Administration couldn't ban foods containing the plant products.
Roulak is torn over whether Proposition 19 and greater marijuana legalization will help with hemp.
"I've been in the middle of that debate for too long," he said. "I'm a voice of stay away from the dope (pot), stay focused on the rope (hemp)."
Roulak said few people in California are willing to invest in growing acres of hemp – whose market value is far closer to corn than marijuana – for fear authorities will "have their fields cut down."
But he said passage of Proposition 19 would give political cover for the next governor to sign a bill legalizing cultivation.
"We feel optimistic," he said, "that a bill signed by the governor of California will give us more options legally than we have now."
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved. Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/10/30/3144637/hemp-may-piggyback-to-legality.html#ixzz142b2XRM5

2010-10-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

A WELCOME TO TWO NEW HEMP ASSOCIATIONS

The Industrial Hemp Association of Victoria and the Industrial Hemp Association of Tasmania have just been formed, so I thought I'd cut and paste their letter to pass on their information here, and extend a welcome from the British Isles Hemp & Natural Fibres Industries Association.

Dear Kenyon,

For your information.

We have recently formed the Industrial Hemp Association of Victoria and the Industrial Hemp Association of Tasmania.

The president of the Victorian association is Lyn Stevenson and Peter Simmul is president of the Tasmanian association.

Lyn has sent me these links.

Please note, our revolutionary, low cost, and efficient system produces strong UNDAMAGED hemp fibre for composites and for textiles.

Best Regards,

Ade

Adrian Francis K. Clarke

Managing Director,

Textile and Composite Industries Pty. Ltd.

+61 (0) 413 721 633

adrianc1@optusnet.com.au

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgHKkvE94uo

2010-10-02T11:24:00.000-07:00

OBITUARY FOR KENT KNUDSON OF THE 9/11 TRUTH MOVEMENT

This just came in to my emails - the passing of this great activist will be felt by many...

It is with great sadness that I must report to you the news of the passing of my great friend and hero, Kent Knudson. Kent had been suffering from depression over yet another traumatic legal difficulty and facing two felony charges, on top of his "Cowcrap" conviction. The pressures of this latest legal action taken against him, the possibility of 3 years of jail time, and other factors lead him into a depression from which Kent had decided to take matters into his own control, ending his life.

This has been a very difficult time for me and Sarah, and others who were close to Kent. I ask you to come together at Kent's memorial service to reflect and celebrate with us Kent's life, pursuits and achievements.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, October 6th at 7pm, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.

Thank You,

Sham Rao

OBITUARY

Kent Randolph Knudson

November 11, 1949 - September 25, 2010

Although schooled in Engineering Mathematics, Kent's greatest contributions are the result of his life long career as an photographer. Having licensed his works to commercial stock agencies, advertisers, and marketing companies, Kent's art has dominated and influenced all of his life's pursuits.

Kent's later life was radically altered as a result of an unfortunate cascading injustice at the hands of the government. During the years that Kent spent caring for his beloved mother who was developing Alzheimer's disease, Kent fell into legal trouble as a result of attempting to safeguard his mother against an invading herd of cattle on their 40 acre ranch near Snowflake, AZ.

Compelled into a new life of social justice and activism, Kent sought to fight the injustices he has suffered as a consequence of his "Cowcrap" ordeal, devoting his activist efforts towards:

1. Repealing Open Range Laws

2. Ending Malicious Prosecution

3. Facilitating Prison Reform, and Inmate Human Rights

4. Promoting Jury Nullification and Court Reform

Among other activist pursuits, Kent is well known for leading the 9/11Truth movement in Phoenix, AZ and hosting a 9/11 Truth and Accountability conference. He also supported various other Peace and Justice causes including: Ending the US military occupations, defending human rights, environmentalism and sustainability.

Kent is survived by his sister Cathy Leavitt, nephews Brent Leavitt & Thomas Leavitt, niece Paula Thompson, companion Sarah Fox, longtime friend Sham Rao, his cat Ewok, and the Social Justice Activist Community.

Kent will be missed mostly for the passion and drive with which he lived and demonstrated throughout his life and art.

SERVICES:

A memorial service will be held at the

Arizona Biltmore Resort

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

Visitation: 7-8pm

Memorial: 8-10pm

Burial:

Snowflake Cemetery

Snowflake, AZ

Saturday, October 9th, 2010 @3pm

For more information:

Sham Rao

623-229-4754

harlequin516@styk.net

2010-09-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

FLAX FOR VICTORY?

Just in on my email alerts was this one on flax getting ready to make a comeback in the US - using an enzyme they use on hemp, which is not legal in the US. This is good - flax is better than cotton - but not as good as allowing hemp to grow and starting an industry, which the US economy needs so badly. Flax is less useful than hemp as a plant, but is much better than cotton, both in its seed and its growing habit. Cotton needs lots of water and pesticides, which keeps chemical companies prosperous. So I welcome flax, as I welcome so many other useful plants on this site, many of which share hemp's legacy of being maligned or underestimated.

What I question about the article below is why it is titled "Super Seed Bumps Hemp" - this is really a piece about existing techonology used on hemp that is applied to flax - historically, the plants shared so many similarities that a treatise on one was a treatise on the other. They are not related however. They should both be accorded a place in our fields, as they once were.

Super Seed Bumps Hemp
Jenara Nerenberg
Tue Sep 21, 2010

Naturally Advanced Technologies wants the sustainable fashion industry to get loaded on flax.
Flax, the uber-fiber-packed grain, is now being touted by Naturally Advanced Technologies (NAT) as their super sustainable, commercially-viable alternative to cotton. NAT promises a cost-effective, soft fiber that will revolutionize the sustainability industry and the price points for sustainable fashion designs. The patented process called CRAiLAR was previously used on hemp, but its primary benefits are now being seen with flax. NAT bathes the flax in an enzyme that makes the fiber soft, yet keeps it strong and durable.
Flax is readily available in the United States (unlike hemp, which has to be imported). Portions of the seed often thrown out in food processing can now be salvaged and used, according to NAT. What's more, they've managed to make the fiber output soft, unlike the typically-stiff textures of hemp.
NAT says it is currently in talks with large consumer brands. "Our ability to commercialize flax fibers in partnership with brands who have such broad consumer bases means, for the first time, sustainability can be affordable to everyone," says NAT CEO Ken Barker. "With cotton prices currently at 90 to 93 cents per pound, flax is a cost-effective raw material for fiber production. The productivity of our process using flax is twice as efficient as it is with hemp, yielding nearly twice as much usable fiber." Get ready for the flax revolution.
[Images courtesy Howard F. Schwartz, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org]

2010-09-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

SHINING A LIGHT ON 9/11 TRUTH ON 9/11

Last night was 9/11, and I spent the day with the truthers downtown. We all stayed away from the crazies who want to burn Korans or hate other groups. We got attacked a couple times, the police restrained a young man with a flag who turned on us and also a Fire Department crazy who actually jumped the metal barricades to scuffle with us and the police.

One crazy took a more intellectual approach and had a flier typed up saying that William Rodriguez was in Harlem smoking crack rather than saving lives in the North Tower. Revisionist history appears all the time. People believe what they want to believe...

Met up with DJ Greenarrow and his mate Jazz and from there it went rather well. It was hot, but cool breezes set in and the evening was perfect weather with clear skies; which was perfect for the plan to illuminate the sky with a third beam of light, in recognition of WTC7, which fell at 5:20pm EST on the day....funny, but at 5:00pm on the day, Jane Standley of the BBC stood outside it and read the script too early, telling the world that it had fallen due to weak supports! Foolish woman - it actually had very strong supports as it was built to be changed to accamodate clients who wanted tall ceiling or atriums.

Architect Richard Gage, who heads up a group of over 1,000 architects and engineers, held a press conference at 2pm outside the new Building 7...as usual, the press in NY wants to hear the lies, and certainly does not want to be reminded that the press had inside information about what was going on that day.

The city shines two beams of light into the sky to commemorate the attacks on this day, but conveniently omits the third...maybe because the general public would start asking questions about why the press knew that this building, which was not hit by a plane, fell, and at freefall speed (7 seconds for 47 stories) at that...

Barbara Honegger and Gage decided to set the record straight and rigged up a truck with light at the corner of Worth and W B'way. It went on at 9:11 pm EST, just at the others did...passersby stopped and questioned, and were surprised to even hear there had been a third building to fall...except for one astute child, who answered the gaping adults with the facts about Building 7.

A few blocks north on Walker Street there was a conference with the likes of Wayne Madsen in attendance; Cynthia McKinney was to speak, and I had a nice chat with her before she went on...also saw, walking just outside MI5 bar of all places, Annie Machon, the former desk clerk at MI5 who joined forces with David Shayler and Belinda McKenzie...Shayler is going around now wearing a diaper, calling himself Dolores and claiming to be the Messiah. Nice stunt, quite likely an idea proposed by the intel agencies bent on destroying the movement; it is now on record that White House propaganda minister Cass Sunstein had them infiltrated with Obama's permission...

But the truth shines on...whether as a beam in the sky in NY, or just as the truth. Government agencies, lazy journalists and crazies like Shayler and his crew will not make it go away. 9/11 was an inside job, as was the anthrax, 3/11, and 7/7.

BELOW IS THE PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE THIRD LIGHT:

1,280 Architects and Engineers Launch

Third Light Beam into NYC Night Skyline

on 9th Anniversary of September 11th

Represents WTC Bldg 7’s still-officially-unexplained

free fall collapse and explosive implications

NEW YORK CITY, Sept. 11 – At 9:11 p.m. on the 9th anniversary of the September attacks, the members of the 1,280-strong Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth (AE911Truth) lit up the skies over Manhattan with a towering 2-billion-candlepower beam of light to raise public awareness that three, not just two, World Trade Center high-rise buildings collapsed symmetrically at near free-fall acceleration on 9/11, though only two were hit by planes. Three Beams image at www.ae911truth.org, main page upper left.

‘Why is there a Third Beam in my skyline?” New Yorkers are asking themselves tonight.

AE911Truth founder Richard Gage, AIA, answered that question earlier in the day at a 2:00 press conference in front of the entrance to the now-rebuilt WTC 7 where he was joined by 9/11 victims’ family members, members of NYC CAN (New York City Coalition for Accountability Now) and an audience of hundreds of concerned citizens from NYC and across the country.

“The people of New York need to see the light that a third WTC skyscraper not hit by any plane was destroyed on Sept. 11th and that they have been deceived about what happened on that

terrible day,” he said. “Tonight we are shining the spotlight, literally, on the fact that the official story of what happened at Ground Zero simply cannot be true and that a new, truly independent investigation is needed. This new investigation is needed both as a matter of national security and as the key to real justice for the victims of the Twin Towers.”

“So look into the NYC evening skyline tonight at 9:11 and ask yourself this question: “What can I do to shine a light of truth and justice for the family members and first responders?”

Gage is in NYC Sept. 11 and 12 to speak at a live-streamed symposium on “How the World Changed After 9/11.” This event at INN World Report, 56 Walker Street, Lower Manhattan, features national and international leaders of the 9/11 Truth and accountability movement.

“Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth are here to give any and all press and media all the technical support you need in order to break this story of the crime of the century,” Gage said. “The real story is not about the Islamic Cultural Center, which is a red herring fed to the media to keep New Yorkers emotionally occupied while the crime of the century -- the explosive demolition of three World Trade Center skyscrapers on 9/11 -- goes almost completely unquestioned.”

“Building 7 is a smoking gun of the WTC crime scene. We hope that after tonight, New Yorkers will realize this and see what happened here on September 11th in a whole new light.”

Contact Richard Gage, AIA, AE 410 499-5403 rgage@ae911truth.org Formatted: Font: (Default)Georgia, 18 pt, Complex ScriptFont: ArialFormatted: Font: (Default)Georgia, 18 pt, Complex ScriptFont: ArialManny Badillo, NYCCAN 917 805-8080 mrbadillo@yahoo.com INN Symposium (206) 338-0319 www.liveonlocation.tv/

2010-09-04T08:29:00.000-07:00

HE DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH

The nutty tree-hugger who was shot dead at the Discovery Channel offices is another example of the crazies in the eco-movement. After dealing with Plane Stupid in London, the gang who wanted to stop planes but cried at a court order keeping them off of planes - it turns out a common denominator to many of these 'activists', including Osama bin Laden, is they were rich kids. The hostage taking terrorist in DC was also one, and he literally had money to throw away, tossing bills in the air was one of his stunts at the Discovery Channel offices last year.
Lee, the gunman, said he was inspired by another rich kid, Al Gore...who, like so many in the holier-than-thou brigade, talks a lot but wears no hemp.

Speaking of hemp, I was in Wholier-than-thou foods the other day to find their shelves stocked with a brand of Hemp Oil that has been noted on this blog as unsafe, as it defoliant is used in its production...and it involved a rich, SUV driving character who does not listen to the rest of the hemp movement. If Al Gore, and Lee, and others would listen to those who have the experience and do research, they would find real solutions.

As to the Whole Foods hemp oil, I will post more on this soon. It is not the only negative thing about Whole Foods, which is overpriced, and run by, you got it, rich kids. Whether they sell guns, oil, or hemp oil, they tend to screw things up, and the lefty rich kids are just as greedy as those on the right.

2010-08-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

SALE OF BOOKS

Hemp for Victory will be on sale now through August in the US with Mina Hegaard. For copies, contact her at www.minawear@gmail.com

Price is $20 till 31 August.

2010-08-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

FOR SALE: DDT

The last post on this site mentioned New York Post columnist Andrea Peyser's pitch to sell DDT to America; it got taken off the market because it was dangerous, and was killing the Bald Eagle.

So no surprise that a guest columnist in the same paper is pitching the same product.

He too does it on the back of bedbugs - saying that yes bedbugs are a problem, and the city may not be doing enough about it, but there are many more people suffering from malaria.

Oh how philanthropic it all seems! How the devil appears as an angel of light.

Years ago, when I lived in London, I was a member of ALMA - the Angola-London-Mozambique-Association. We would hear the likes of WHO worker Louis da Gama who spent lots of time in these countries, and unlike Paul Driessen, who writes of bedbugs and malaria today, da Gama did not want to sell billions of people tons of DDT.

If the pesticide companies were so in earnest to treat malaria, they would put money into production of other products. Selling DDT to people sucks. But there are people who well nukes, explosives, child pornography, and, yes, DDT.

The US has a law against it for good reasons. As it has laws against selling nukes, explosives and child pornography.

But getting back to bedbugs. Driessen asserts that they do not kill. Maybe not. After all, they travel from person to person sucking blood. And they are prone to mutate, mainly against pesticides. DDT might only make them stronger.

On bugoutter.com there has been complaint that the Post does not take note of people calling and emailing about a problem building in New York that has up to 2 million bedbugs - with one person collecting 3600 in three months. So let's not think the Post gives a damn about New Yorkers - it is now basically telling them to stop complaining there are worse things.

But what about the livelihood of millions of New Yorkers? If bedbugs don't kill, having no income does. Bedbugs kill the tourism industry, but Driessen does not seem intelligent enough to mention that. He does not have bedbugs, and I bet he does not use DDT either.

I invite him and the Post to look at the problem realistically, and go to the buildings New Yorkers are now calling the Ground Zero of bedbugs.

And of course, I invite them to do an article on hemp too, but that would take a miracle. The paper likes to sell other things that are harmful.

By the way, no surprise that the article under Driessen's was titled "The Building Case for Bombing Iran."

Someone's got to sell those nukes, explosives and child pornography, even if they are illegal many places....

And of course, a few tons of DDT.

2010-07-10T08:39:00.001-07:00

DOES ANDREA PEYSER WANT TO

DESTROY AMERICA AND ITS SYMBOLS?

This last week was spent reading about red-headed Reds caught red-handed and then sent back to Russia...it was like a 007 novel written by Mad Magazine; the spies were so hapless the US government could not even charge them with spying, and one of them, Vicky Pelaez, claimed she had no idea she was a spy or that her husband was even born in Russia. Who knows and who cares. What I would do was compare the English languge reporting with the Spanish language reporting, as Pelaez was a long-standing columnist with El Diario/La Prensa, the largest Spanish language paper in the US. They tried at first to stick up for her...but the bags of cash and trips to Peru to meet KGB officials with letters printed in invisible ink did not do much for her image. She chose to leave the country, her house, and her kids for a nice state pension in Russia.

So we have spies in the media...what else is new. In the UK a former KGB colonel now owns the Independent and the Evening Standard. The late Robert Maxwell, who owns papers in the UK, was a bit of a spy and ripped off pension funds there - perhaps as an act of sabotage for his real paymasters.

Who else might be an agent of sabotage? Well, it just may be Andrea Peyser of the New York Post. For those of you unfamiliar with this soap box preacher, she it is who tells us that a man ought not to kill his parents, eat his grandparents, rape his children and behave rudely in public, if and when such things occur; for those of us who need such exhortations she must be a genius. But for many she is an annoyance, an overpaid opinion peddler who has no connect with reality.

Yesterday, 9 July, she chose to wax poetic and ironic over Cimex - or bedbugs as most of us who are not Latin speaking entomologists know them.

Now for years these bloodsuckers have been picking on New Yorkers, driving away many tourists and closing down shops. For poor families, they are too much to bear; children cry at night in the ghetto as their slumlords do nothing to get rid of them. But wait till one of these parasites attacks a rich friend of Andrea Peyser - one who can splash out $18,000 for a summer rental in the Hamptons, and then Peyser picks up her mighty pen and attacks. Forget about the rest of us, it is her model friend who needs justice; where was Peyser for the last decade? I can tell you: living it up at her pest free 5th Avenue pad - enjoying the Golden Mile and all the rich friends she can show off to; some of whom may just be enemy agents who hate America.

What Peyser urged on her fellow Americans yesterday was that they bring back DDT. It is a nasty chemical that was banned in the '60 and '70s - due in part to the fact that it was attacking the Bald Eagle. It goes up the food chain while insects simply develop immunity. But for a foreign agent bent on destroying America and its symbols, DDT is what they want. Is she working for Russia - or for a sick chemical company that presently sells DDT to Third World countries and would like to sell it to America too? To hell with the US, their directors must be saying, we want MONEY!

So they may well be the paymasters of this vile journalist. Whoever is behind her, tell the New York Post to shut up. If they really care about New Yorkers, who are about to lose more of their tourist industry to bedbugs, let them push for stricter inspections. Hotels like the Vigilant on Eighth Avenue breed an estimated 2 millions of these bugs a year, while the owner will not even put tops on garbage cans, despite a court order to do so; mice run free, giving rides to these and other insects. It is digusting. But it is owned by rich people. So don't expect Andrea Peyser to say a word. Poor people stay there. They don't seem to count to her. Maybe she'd be happy to see them drown in some DDT.

Then she and her rich friends could get richer, buying stock in some noxious chemical company which other journalits, in on the job, could promote in the columns. These are the real spies in the press. What chemical or treatment is there to rid us of such pests? Can we sent them over to Putin?

2010-06-12T09:58:00.000-07:00

HALLIBURTON TRIES TO

ESCAPE JUSTICE BY BLAMING BRITS

We are now into the seventh week of the Gulf Oil Spill. It looms like a Biblical plague, threatening livelihoods and the environment. It took 11 lives with it when it started. It is not yet satisfied. It devours. Half the share price of BP; millions of birds and fish and crustaceans; thousands of jobs; and countless hours of our attention span. It is a hungry spill.

As was a previous spill in the Timor Sea; which had in common with this one a certain company named Halliburton. Which was the company whose employees raped a co-worker in Iraq and then tried to get out of culpability by dint of jurisdiction. So no one is guilty. They know a thing or two about getting out of things, as Dick Cheney, the previous US VP, got no less than five deferrments when he was supposed to go to Vietnam. He never did. Instead he got rich with his ties to the Pentagon and the White House. Former Defense Intelligence Agent Mark Phillips, and his co-author Cathy O'Brien, write about how he raped a very young child and liked to whip sex slaves at the Pentagon.

And now Halliburton is whipping America. What happened in the Gulf of Mexico is much their fault. But somehow they managed to slip out of the picture, and let BP take the blame - after all, BP is a foreign company. So blame the foreigners; it's an old game, go after the English, go after the Jews, go after anyone but yourself. And let Halliburton with their rapist employees go scot free.

Who, by the way, is behind all the anti-BP protests and press? It leaked out in New York that some of these so-called protestors were nothing but thugs for hire; anti-semites and anglophobes among them, always ready to start trouble in the name of peace, hired by mysterious agent provocateurs working for Halliburton. Haven't we seen enough of these type of activists? Ask any of these wanna-be environmentalists if they are wearing hemp, and the answer is no; they prefer water depleting, pesticide consuming cotton; they write on tree pulp paper. So no surprise that it has been found out that Halliburton is behind them, using them as a shield to protect it's own basckside, whilst they try to hang BP.

And who else is to blame? At least two letters in the press in New York suggest it was all of us who are so addicted to oil. And they are correct. Casey Klein, opining yesterday in the New York Daily News, states: "Before we vent our rage at BP and the federal government over the gulf disaster, understand that the insatiable worldwide demand for fossil fuel is what drove this crisis. America is the greatest consumer of crude oil on the Earth. It is the life blood of our economy." And a few days before, in NY Metro, Richard Kenton wrote: "Who's really to blame? Try every idiot who HAS to drive a car. Time for intervention, America. Our addiction to oil caused this disaster. We're to blame. We could have seriously searched for alternatives to crude a long time ago and avoided this latest disaster, but no. We have to have out little toys."

Also writing in to the paper, was plumber Steven Pristina, who sent in a diagram of an inflatable bag being put into the hole, then inflated once in place. It just may be the answer, at least for the short term.

But for the long term, as I have said many times on this blog, we have to use more sensible forms of energy. Sun, wind, tidal, ethanol and methanol (these last two can both be sourced from hemp). So what is stopping us? Perhaps the folks at Halliburton.

As to BP, it does happen to be one of the most ethical of oil companies, and I hope they sue Halliburton and recover. Their stock price, beaten down as it is, may well just be the best buy in the market. And I hope the pensioners who hold this stock will continue to get their dividend, in fact, I hope they increase their dividend as BP increases its energy sources and takes us into the future with the above-mentioned energy sources.

2010-06-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

On page A17 of the NYT on 29 May, there appeared the following:

MEDICAL MARIJUANA WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA JOIN LOCAL UNION

By Jesse McKinley

Oakland, Calif. - Jimmy Hoffa would be stoked.

In what cannabis fans were calling a high water-mark for their movement to legitimize the drug, about 100 employees of medical marijuana-related businesses in Oakland were welcomed to the ranks of unionized workers on Friday after voting to join the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 5.

The move - which union officials said was the first time medical marijuana employees had been so represented - was hailed by the local's leadership, who called their new members 'great workers."

"This is a natural for us," said Ron Lind, the president of Local 5, whose 26,000 other members work primarily in groceries and the meat industry. "Our union's primary jurisdiction is retail."

The move was also welcomed by Richard Lee, the founder of Oaksterdam University, the medical marijuana trade school whose Oakland campus employs some 60 newly unionized members in its dispensary, gift shop and nursery. (For plants, not children.) Mr. Lee that said [sic] his employees were already offered health benefits and paid vacation, but that the union imprimatur was an important milestone in the battle to bring marijuana more into the mainstream.

"It's one more step towards ending federal restrictions," said Mr. Lee, a leading proponent of a November ballot measure which would legalize, regulate and tax the drug in California. Marijuana, legal for medical use in California and more than a dozen other states, is still prohibited by federal law.

Officials in Oakland, which has an unemployment rate of more than 17 percent, also cheered the move - and the movement - as a potential boon for the city.

For the workers themselves, however, their new status as union members was somewhat of a personal triumph.

"Now I can go home to my parents and they can see it's a good thing and a normal thing," said Cassie Leone, a tattooed 24-year-old who works at a local marijuana dispensary. It made her feel like a "hardworking human being," she said. "Which is what I am."

2010-05-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

FRIENDLY STANGER HAS NEW SITE WITH CASH PRIZES

Friendly Stranger Webshop Grand Opening.
We did it!
Friendly Stranger has been working long and hard to build a full service online experience for it's clientele. At long last we are opening our virtual doors! It's our 16th year in business serving Canada's Cannabis Culture and we are celebrating with the launch of our new webshop.

Visit our webshop and win $$$ !!
To celebrate the launch of the webshop, we are running a contest.
Second prize $200, Third prize $100 and Fourth prize $50.*
No purchase necessary. Open to Canadian residents Only.
Full Contest Details
To enter the contest simply create a webshop account. It's fast, easy and free! You can create an account here: My Account.
* All prizes will be emailed to the winners in the form of an electronicFriendly Stranger Webshop Gift Card for the value of the prize won, redeemable for future purchases in our Webshop.
Shop from Home!
Same great service, quality products and professionalism you expect from us. Now it doesn't matter where you live in Canada, you can still have that familiar Friendly Stranger experience. We take great pride in offering our service and wares across the country, and hope that you will visit often. If you like our service, please tell your friends about us. We welcome your feedback, and look forward to serving you.
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To simplify our webshop experience, we utilize Paypal as our payment processor. You do not have to have a Paypal account to use your credit card through Paypal. When checking out of our webshop, you will be redirected to Paypal's secure servers to process your payment. Once you have provided your payment information you will be redirected back to our webshop to confirm your order. It's fast, easy and secure.
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We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. The past 16 years has been interesting to say the least. Lots of hard work, lots of fun and so many amazing people along the way, all of you Friendly Strangers. Thank you for your support over the years.
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Please be assured, that we never sell, trade or provide your personal information to anyone. This email is a one time event to announce the launch of our new webshop. Your email address is on file from a previous contact made to Friendly Stranger. We will not include your email in our regular mailings, unless you subscribe to our newsletter through an account with our webshop. If you choose to enter our contest and create an account, you will have the option to subscribe to our newsletter. See here for our webshop privacy statement.

2010-04-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

POT DEBATE HEATING UP

The New York Times gave space on Saturyday (24 April) to the debate on legalising cannabis; funny, not a word about legalising industrial hemp, and it seems ironic that the drug could be legal yet American farmers could go to jail for growing hemp...

California is about to vote in November on an initiative for legalisation...which, for hemp, has been done, but the governor vetoed it, twice.

There is more lobbying for pot than for hemp, with companies like CannaBe hoping to be "the McDonald's of marijuana", according to the NYT piece. The company is made up of four owners and their lawyer, and it is run for profit. Don't want any communists getting their hands on our drugs, now, do we? The team of would-be cannabis merchants lobbied the San Jose City Council to pass ordinances regulating dispensaries, which they saw as a step towards legitimising marijuana.

Lobbying against their efforts is John Lovell, representing state police and narcotics officers. He points to existing dispeneries as centres of crime, what with the dosh and the dope. Not only does all this attract criminals, but it attracts ad execs and lawyers; there is now a magazine devoted to it, West Coast Cannabis, and the state bar has certified a group called Cannabis Law Institute.

California is not alone; Colorado has seen a great increase in dispensaries as well. Both states would profit greatly from either pot or hemp. Presently 14 states allow medicinal cannabis, but none allow the growing of hemp as George Washington not only allowed but practiced. And Obama, the president with the hopey changey thing as Palin describes him, has disappointed great numbers of his voters with his inaction on this front.

Nationwide, AP and CNBC polls are showing that a majority of Americans approve of legalisation.

Whatever the level of support, however, there is a plethora of cases such as Stewart Hauptman's, who sells medical pot ouf of his motor home in Norco, California. The locals want to put an end to his quasi-legal clinic, and he is in the same boat as so many other 'clinics'; truth is, they are not technically legal unless they are a collectives, and many are sole proprieterships. This not only puts them in jeopardy with the local sherriff, but it makes the whole issue seem a bit, well, of a capitalist venture. In New York once, having lunch at Galxy Global Eatery, Mina (of Minwear) introduced me to a hemp activist who had just started Hemp Times, and he told us that a dealer came to his meeting and cursed him out because they did not want pot to be legal. No surprise. And it is just that kind of dealer that is a strong argument for it to be legal, to take the greed out of it all and get it regulated (so those kind do not water down the pot with gas and chemicals and send people to the hospital, as they did recently in the UK).

But, whatever the outcome of this battle for pot, what about hemp? That seems to be forgotten in a cloud of smoke. Truth is, you can get it legally or otherwise, and you can not get much hemp these days. Any debate about one ought to be about the other.

2010-04-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

OBITUARY FOR JACK HERER

Sad news: Jack Herer, author of The Emperor Wears no Clothes, passed away on Thursday at his home in California. He was an avid advocate of legalising marijuana and hemp. It was he who found the missing film Hemp for Victory in the National Archives in DC.

Jack Herer will be remembered for his work, and hopefully we will in this lifetime achieve what he set out to do. I am personally grateful to him for his help on the production of Hemp for Victory.

The following is an obituary from his home town paper:

The Hemperor, Jack Herer has Died

Bonnie King Salem-News.com
The global cannabis community mourns the loss of the great Jack Herer.
The one and only Jack Herer will be missed forever.
(SALEM, Ore.) - The sad news has been confirmed. Jack Herer, 70-year old author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes and renowned around the world for hemp activism, has died at 11:17 a.m. today, in Eugene, Oregon.
Jack Herer suffered a heart attack last September just after speaking on stage at the Portland HempStalk festival. The last seven months have proven to be a huge challenge to the man, with several health issues making his recovery complicated.
Jack Herer's health has been poor lately, this last week there have been reports of the severity, and an outpouring of prayers on his behalf.
"It's shocking news, even after these last seven, trying months," said Paul Stanford, THCF Executive Director.
"Jack Herer has been a good friend and associate of mine for over 30 years. I was there when he had the heart attack at our Hempstalk festival and I know he wouldn’t appreciate the quality of life he's endured these last months. Still he will be greatly missed. I honor his memory."
"No other single person has done more to educate people all across the world about industrial hemp and marijuana as Jack Herer. His book is translated into a dozen different languages, it's a bestseller in Germany," added Stanford.
"The Hempstalk stage will forever be the Jack Herer Memorial stage. And, a Memorial is planned to be built where he fell that day," Stanford said.
"His legacy will continue to inspire and encourage for generations to come."

Jack Herer

June 18, 1939 – April 15, 2010

Rest in Peace

2010-04-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

RED FLAGS ON THE GREEN LAWN

In yesterday's New York Post there is an article about a green jobs training programme to be run by hucksters. Not so much new news any of this, take a look at all the 'greenie meanies' out there and you will find a bunch of people talking lots of idealism and doing lots of nothing. Cross a hippy with a democracy and you get a hypocrisy. It's why so few of them are using hemp paper or wearing hemp clothes or even eating hemp. They just want to make some money and look good, it's a tool for politicians and con artists; like Jason Safford, who is holding out his greedy hand for $1million from the taxpayer. An insider at his company, Safflyn, said he shouldn't be entrusted with taxpayers dollars: "I see too many red flags, too many things they've mismanaged...'Integrity' is one of the words they like to throw around - but they don't have integrity."

Few of these eco warriors do. They like to run non-profit orgs so they can then make their money writing stupid books and giving talks, often flying around in a jet using lots of fuel and polluting everywhere they go like Al Gore - who, like so many of these pseudo environmentalists, does not wear hemp.

2010-04-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

HEMP HOE DOWN

Rapid City event promoter Jeremy Briggs announced the scheduling of “Hemp Hoe Down 10” today.
The event will be held, as it has for eight of its past nine years, at the Elkview Campground, north at I-90, Exit 37, east of Sturgis. Its dates are Thursday through Saturday, May 13-15.
Briggs says, “For the tenth straight year the Hemp Hoe Down has been the only hemp advocacy gathering in South Dakota. I think that’s an odd thing to be able to say in a state that could profit enormously from the addition of hemp to the choices farmers have in choosing marketable crops.”
According to Briggs, the Hemp Hoe Down typically features workshops or seminars in “sustainable” or “green” lifestyle and product choices. “But of course,” he says, “we also have offered, and will continue to offer a lineup of musical performers unchallenged for quality in South Dakota by anything aside from some Sturgis Rally venues.”
The schedule for the concerts is:
Thursday, May 15
Dylan James (Folk Grass, Spearfish SD) 6-7pm
Dylan will also cover band changeovers at at 9pm and Midnite
Mad Hats (Bumping' Hard Rock, Rapid City SD) 7-9pm
Von Veeder Veld (Hard Rocking' Fusion, Rapid City SD) 9-Midnite Solution (Jam Jazz, Sioux Falls SD) Midnite-2am
Friday, May 14
Crazy Mountain Billies (Blue Grass, Rapid City SD) 5-6:30pm
Carolyn Nicely (Mellifluous Singer, Los Angeles CA) 6:30-7:30pm
Carolyn will also cover band changeovers at 9:30pm and 11:30pm
Letta People (Bluesy Funk-Hop Rock, Rapid City SD) 7:30-9:30pm
Elephant Revival (Olde Time Blue Grass Harmony, Nederland CO) 9:30-11:30pm
Solution, 11:30pm-2am

Saturday, May 15
Jolly Llamas (Grass Folk, Rapid City SD) 4-6pm
Dan Sherrill (Wyoming Reggae, Wheatland WY) 6-7pm
Dan will also cover band changeovers at 9pm and 11pm
Violent Hippie (Soulful Punk Rock, Spearfish SD) 7-9pm
Elephant Revival, 9-11pm
Lunar Funk Theory (Rocking Reggae Funk, Sioux Falls SD)
11pm-2am
Thur-Sat
DJ Manatea (Ragga Jungle Electronic, Casper WY)
2nd Stage ~ All Weekend Long
OTHER EVENTS TO BE ANNOUNCED
at www.HempHoeDown.com

2010-03-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

CHEF TONY ON HEMP

This is from Boston.com, where Chef Tony Polito is a guest columnist.

Eat Well-Be Well: Fiber

Posted March 24, 2010 09:30 AM
By Tony Polito, Guest Columnist
Welcome back! If you missed the Olympics you have better been watching the kids, working out, or studying because you cannot be an American if you didn’t watch our Athletes. Didn’t they do a fantastic job! Can you imagine the training they endured? More important beyond the training, what about their diet? I mean did McDonald's sponsor them years ago? Did the double quarter pounder get them across the finish line? Or did Lindsey Vonn and Apolo Ohno have parents and coaches that taught them to consume golden nuggets to secure victory with a gold metal?
Today we are shown nothing but fast foods everywhere and most of those foods are depleted of essential nutrients. If our athletes lived on fast food, they would die of starvation, even though they’d be fat as a house. Most of these “junk” foods have 0% Fiber and yet the commercials make you think it’s considered the Athletes choice of food. Can you imagine?! Let’s look at a typical burger from a fast food chain: 48g of fat, 20g of which is saturated, and 1450mg of salt. The RDA is 2000mg salt per day, yah think that’s just a little too much just for lunch? That’s what you already know. Let’s take a peek at the Fiber, a whopping 2g. Lunch is pure fat and salt, and no fiber at all.
Do you know why we are finding less fiber in our foods? Looking at the example above we see more and more folks consuming less and less fiber. There are a number of reasons why and here are just a few: it takes too long to eat, it takes too long to cook, and keeping it fresh is a complete pain. The key word is “fresh” as you’ll see. If we pretend to be a huge food manufacturer, you can see why fresh and fiber don’t go well together. Once you remove fiber, you can now freeze a food item, ship it to every continent, and you can cook food much faster giving you fast food. So, the next time you enter any of these chains you’ll certainly find more fiber in the table than you do in your burger. The only choice you have for real food is the green leafy variety, aka salad, and chances are that will be the only fiber on the burger you ordered. Still, consider this a challenge. Go ahead and try and find something that’s edible that has more than 3g of fiber in your fast food joint of choice.
Many moons ago we consumed about 100g to 300g of fiber per day and today we consume less than 12g. So, it’s not “where’s the beef,” it’s where’s the fiber? Let’s break this out into a few questions to better clarify this issue: What foods have the most amount of fiber? How do I get fiber into my diet? What is the difference between insoluble and soluble fiber? Is dietary fiber the same as dietary fat? It’s so confusing to anyone that has workable intestines or not, so let’s do this one by one.
What foods have the most amount of fiber soluble and insoluble? Some of you may know this but it’s worth repeating.
Soluble fiber (dissolves in water) is found in dried beans, peas, oats and oat bran, flaxseed, psyllium husks (Yerba Prima is the best), brown rice, barley, quinoa, yams, mushrooms, avocados, apple (applesauce), rooted vegetables, squash, and oatmeal just to name a few. These help regulate blood sugar and slows things down a little so that insoluble fiber can pull it all together, if you know what I mean. It removes the excess, toxins, cholesterol, estrogen and old red blood cells out of the body.
Insoluble fiber (does not dissolves in water) is like a bulking agent (ruffage) to the colon. Insoluble fiber is found in whole grains, whole wheat, wheat bran, vegetables such as kale, swiss chard, carrots, celery, sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, legumes (beans lentils), and the skins of fruits and root vegetables. Insoluble fiber helps remove toxins from your colon and balance intestine acidity. It also helps move waste through your intestines and bowel. Essentially, it get’s things movin baby! We don’t want that stuff hanging around, talk about bad breathe, O boy!
We do need both types, but you want more soluble fiber overall. A quick snack list like this can get you on the right path: seeds (quinoa), whole grains, (Ezekiel bread and cereal) nuts, vegetables, fruits, and healthy snack, like dates or figs, seeds, sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Take a peek at the new raw candy bars. Just read the nutritional facts people, it will tell you everything you need to know.
Foods like that are not man made by people white lab coasts. These are made by the earth and were made exactly the way Mother Nature intended us to eat them. I promise you more than half of you health problems will simply disappear if you improve on your eating behaviors not to mention the attitude change that comes from eating healthily.
Dietary Fat is not the same as Dietary Fiber. Everyone knows this once I bring it up. Dietary fat is equal to butter, lard, dairy products, fried foods, shortenings, salad dressing (not mine, that’s for sure!), mayonnaise, cheese, eggs, sauces, gravies, dead flesh (i.e. animal products), and margarine which is just one ingredient away from being plastic. These are all the most common sources of dietary fat. Try your best to eat less of these types food and when you do eat them, eat them in small quantities. However, dietary fat has a very important role in your body. It’s huge in that it’s like a vehicle for carrying vitamins throughout your body, forming strong cell function and membranes. Dietary Fat helps with regulating body temperature, lends a hand in hormones function, and gives you energy. A few weeks ago I talked about hemp oil, so folks, what are you waiting for? Go get yourself some of that. Hemp has essential acids such as Linoleic Acid (LA) and Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). These are the dietary fats your body needs for human functions, and your body will fall in love with you for feeding it real food. By consuming small amounts of monounsaturated fats like avocados, olive oil (try California Olive Oil, Ranch Olive Oil), nut oils, and seed oils (i.e. sunflower and safflower), nuts (almonds, hazel, and cashews are great in salads), frozen yogurt (try Stonyfield Farm), almond butter, and peanut butter. When was the last time you had almond butter on a celery stick? Those were the good old days when people were able to think of healthy snacks with out the help of High Fructose Corn Syrup. Do me a favor and remove this completely from your shopping carts and protect our/your children. While your at it delete or remove Splenda or any other proceeded/modified foods/sugars. Rid of these from your consumption and you’ll start felling better today and I hope someone is reading this that actually needs to! The main rule of thumb is to avoid anything that's “processed” I mean if it’s fake, why would you want it in the first place? There are alternatives to everything and you don’t need to be a chef to start taking care of yourself. You have to educate yourself and fail a few times to get this process right. I love failing, it proves I’m learning! Try to stick with oils and fats that are as close to their natural state as possible. Ask me, friends, family members, or anyone that your trust and admire what they’re eating. Every good person loves to help another! So before you even think and worry about getting more fiber why not start eating more fruits and vegetables, and you won’t have to worry as much. If you ever see an Olympic Athlete eating fast food, I’m sure you’ll be able to ...

2010-03-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

THE KIDNAP OF AN INNOCENT MAN

On occasion I diverge from the main theme of this blog, and this is one of them. An urgent situation has arisen whereby a man who committed legal acts in the UK is under threat of imminent extradition to the US for them - Ian Norris who is 67 years old, in poor health, and will be leaving behind a wife who is also in poor health. The UK politicians have abandoned him, and so has the UK press. But it is not impossible that the decent people of the land will not let this atrocity proceed - they will step in. If you are one of these, call your MP and the Home Office Secretary at 020 7219 3000 and demand they stop this. You ought to also call the press - especially the Independent, which, at the request of some US operative, did not print the interview they did with him in 2006. Their # is 020 7005 2000; Susan Arnott is the journalist on this case, not that she is doing much.

2010-03-03T11:38:00.000-08:00

Capital Times editorial | Posted: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 5:00 am |

At a time when Wisconsin farm families are constantly looking for new sources of revenue, hemp would be a good one.

The states of North Dakota, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Montana, West Virginia, Vermont and Oregon already have legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp, recognizing that these crops can be used to produce fibers that are useful in the making of rope and other products.

At a time when Wisconsin farm families are constantly looking for new sources of revenue, this is a good one. And it has a history in the state; until 1957, notes Bill Tracy, who chairs the Agronomy Department at the University of Wisconsin, industrial hemp was a significant crop for Wisconsin farmers.

With that combination of current need and relatively recent history in mind, legislators should not hesitate to back a bill, introduced by state Rep. Louis Molepske Jr., D-Stevens Point, which would address the state prohibition on the production of hemp.

The controversy regarding this bill, to the extent that there is any, will have to do with the fact that hemp is cultivated from the same plant that is used to grow marijuana.

Molepske’s bill would require the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to permit farmers to grow and process the Cannabis sativa plant, so long as it contains only a minimal amount of the active ingredient in marijuana. In other words: He is not proposing to make Wisconsin the nation’s prime pot producer.

Under the Stevens Point Democrat’s proposal, farmers would be required to provide a legal description of the land where the hemp would be grown or processed and to report all sales. There would, as well, be restrictions on access to permits for those convicted of drug crimes.

This is sound legislation.

Of course, Molepske’s bill is really only a step in the process of lifting the ban on hemp production. The federal Drug Enforcement Agency still restricts production. But, noting recent legislation introduced by Congressman Ron Paul, R-Texas, and Barney Frank, D-Mass., which would ease federal restrictions, Molepske correctly suggests that Wisconsin should be prepared to capitalize on any change in federal regulations.

2010-02-16T16:27:00.000-08:00

JUST IN FROM RUTH'S HEMP

SAVE on proteinpowders!
Today's Hump Day Special... Ruth's Protein Powder
Greetings!
We're sweetening up your Wednesdays again with an amazing special every week.This week, we're offering our very popular Protein Powders - Hemp Protein, Hemp Protein with Sprouted Flax and Maca, and Hemp Protein with Maca & E3Live.
No other natural plant source contains the healthy blend of 21 amino acids, fibers and essential fatty acids than the seed of Cannabis sativa. It offers a perfect nutritious diet which is easy for digestion as well as free from side effects. Other than offering high energy and nutrients for the body, hemp proteins contain 65 % of globulin that offers natural strength for the body to fight immune deficiency diseases. It offers natural antibodies that can safeguard your body from infection and related health disorders.To read more about which variety is best for you, click hereThis Wednesday, February 17th, we're offering two specials:1: Get 40% off all 16 oz. containers of protein powder when you enter - Save40 2: Get 35% off all the 5 lb. bulk containers of protein powder - ProteinPower Just enter one of the codes at checkout and you'll get the discount. (Miss it? Don't worry, just come back next Wednesday for another fabulous special.)We finally introduced the long awaited new flavour of Chia Goodness, Chocolate!Organic fair trade cocoa and raw organic cacao nibs make Chocolate Chia Goodness® perfect for breakfast, mid-morning snack, mid-afternoon snack, dessert, late-night snack and in-between all of the above!It's so delicious and there are many ways to enjoy it; Ruth shows you 3 ways on YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8JxxCMPsB4February's Bar Special - VOTE HEMPVote Hemp, or the Blueberry bar in Canada, tastes great! Red, white & blue, this bar is loaded with cranberries, blueberries, and hemp seeds. We donate 20% of the profit to VoteHemp, an organization out to legalize commercial hemp in the US. Have a snack and change the world!All of February get a box for only $12.00 a box, that's $1 a bar! And remember if you spend over $100 after the discount you'll even get free shipping on your order!
Health and Happiness
Ruth
Ruth's Hemp Foods
Online Promo Code: Save40 and ProteinPower
Offer only valid on February 17th, 2009

2010-02-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

Peoples' World Conference

on Climate Change and the
Rights of the Mother Earth

(This was sent to me by the Bolivian Mission to the UN, it details their upcoming programme in La Paz. Contact information can be found at the end, I strongly urge anyone to pass this information around and attend if you can)

NEWSLETTER NO.1, 25 January 2010
www.cmpcc.org
Registration opens for Peoples' World Conference on Climate Change and
the Rights of the Mother Earth
Just over a month after President Evo Morales of Bolivia issued his call at
Copenhagen for “the people to decide,” registration has opened for the Peoples'
World Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of the Mother Earth. You
can register for the conference at: http://200.105.147.98/indexe.php
Join a Working Group
The work of organizing the conference begins in February, when more than 16 working groups will begin the preparation via email on key climate issues. These working groups include Structural Causes, Harmony with Nature to “Live Well,” Rights of the Mother Earth, Referendum on Climate Change, Climate Justice Tribunal, Climate Refugees, Indigenous Peoples, Climate Debt, Shared Vision, Kyoto Protocol and Emission Reduction Commitments, Adaptation, Financing, Technology Transfer, Forests and Climate Change, Dangers of Carbon Markets, Action Strategies, and others based on the suggestions of participants.
The working groups will discuss these issues in advance of the conference and prepare draft documents for discussion in Cochabamba.
The Conference Program
In addition to the working groups, there will also be a series of main plenary events and self organized events put together by participants. The conference will end with a dialogue among peoples and governments and a mass event in Cochabamba's football stadium on April 22nd, 2010. More information on the program of the conference can be seen at: http://cmpcc.org/2010/01/05/call/ More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the summit, to be held in Cochabamba, Bolivia, from April 19th to 22nd, 2010. Many more will also participate via the Internet, and in campaign actions on the final day of the conference, April 22nd, which marks UN International Mother Earth Day. Groups mobilize to make conference a success.
From the moment the conference was announced, Bolivia has received countless requests for information from a wide range of civil society organizations. For what Copenhagen showed was that while the leaders of the world's richest nations failed to deliver a just and binding accord, peoples' movements were hugely successful in putting climate change on the international agenda. Many of those groups are now engaging with the Peoples' World Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of the Mother Earth to put forward a constructive and effective agenda and platform for tackling climate change.
Many initiatives are in the early stages, but there are already proposals from Britain for a working group on labor and green jobs, youth activists in Bolivia are talking of putting on a parallel youth climate event, activists in the US are exploring bringing delegations of people affected by environmental contamination in industrialized countries. Other groups are already announcing platforms that they would like to be adopted globally. The hosts of the conference are open to all ideas for making this unprecedented event a success. The key to this will be for social organizations to push forward these initiatives and put the resources into them to make them succeed.
What you can do to support the conference?
If you represent a social organization, academic institution, youth, women, labor
or religious organization committed to tackling the root causes of climate change.. .
! Register and come to the conference http://200.105.147.98/indexe.php
! If you can't come, put it on your calendar. We hope to set up virtual participation if we can find the resources
! Publicize it to your networks
! Blog, write, twitter, and talk about it
! Get involved in one of the working groups
If you represent the media...
! Sign up to attend or receive press releases by emailing media@cmpcc.org
! Cover the event
If you represent a funding body...
! Look to fund the participation of delegates from other Southern countries and from low-income communities who wouldn't otherwise be able to participate
CONTACTS
General inquiries and registration – info@cmpcc.org
Working Groups - workingroup@cmpcc.org
Self-Organized events - selforganized@cmpcc.org
Press inquiries – media@cmpcc.org
www.cmpcc.org