Nexus - 0102 - New Times Magazine-pages

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PLANETARY PAPER SOLUTION by Adam Pryor Since the papyrus of ancient Egypt, human beings’ appetite for paper has been insatiable. Our reliance on paper now threatens the very environment upon which we all depend for survival. T he global practice of ‘forest culling’ for the production of paper and other purposes has almost reached the pinnacle of noreturn; there really isn't much left at current rates of consumption. If this view had been expressed 150 years ago it would have been laughed at. It Gu Ad was thought there were too many self- 2 regenerating trees for human beings to pos- The First Book Oy Ths sibly destroy them all. Today, however, the é likelihood of a worldwide forest catastrophe T he first‘ modern’ paper was made by T'sai is avery real possibility from the Amazon to Lun in the Hunan province of China in the Scandinavia. All major forests on the planet 1st century AD. It was not until 770AD that have been touched (or annihilated) by forest a Chinese Buddhist prayerbook called the industries - today the paper industry is Dharani_ was printed from copper plates. A Few Facts T he global practice of ‘forest culling’ for the production of paper and other purposes has almost reached the pinnacle of noreturn; there really isn't much left at current rates of consumption. If this view had been expressed 150 years ago it would have been laughed at. It was thought there were too many self- regenerating trees for human beings to pos- sibly destroy them all. Today, however, the likelihood of a worldwide forest catastrophe is avery real possibility from the Amazon to Scandinavia. All major forests on the planet have been touched (or annihilated) by forest industries - today the paper industry is largely responsible. Industry claims of sensible forestry management cannot be related to clearfelling or woodchipping, which are the main methods of paper production. Water- shed changes and erosion damage cat away at clearfelled land; the alluvial (soil) fallout chokes waterways and kills once-abundant river life and the soil's biological activity is altered, often irrevocably - ask any environ- mentalist or sawlogger. People began the mass slaughter of our forests for paper less than 150 years ago when the chemical wood-pulping process was invented. By 1900 we had become dependent upon wood-pulp for the produc- tion of all newspapers and most other printed matter. While the cheap cost of woodpulp paper was a boon for newspaper printers, the grade of the new paper left much to be desired for book publishing. Limited Life ona sibly destroy them all. Today, however, the likelihood of a worldwide forest catastrophe T he first‘ modern’ paper was made by T'sai is avery real possibility from the Amazon to Lun in the Hunan province of China in the Scandinavia. All major forests on the planet 1st century AD. It was not until 770AD that have been touched (or annihilated) by forest a Chinese Buddhist prayerbook called the industries - today the paper industry is Dharani was printed from copper plates. A Few Facts largely responsible. Several copies of this “first book’ are still to * Ww ood-pulp paper canonly be recycled Industry claims of sensible forestry be found in museums today, 1,217 years three, times, whereas hemp paper can be management cannot be related to later. The paper on which the Dharani was recycled eae times duc to its extremely clearfelling or woodchipping, which are the printed consisted of 100% hemp (cannabis long fibre length of 70mm (the fibre length main methods of paper production. Water- Sativa). of wood-pulp is only 4mm). shed changes and erosion damage cat away Cannabis was the most commonly used * One hectare of cannabis produces the same amount of paper as sixteen hectares of Aus- tralian bush forests. at clearfelled land; the alluvial (soil) fallout paper for over 1,800 years, but it was chokes waterways and kills once-abundant thought that chemical wood-pulping would tiver life and the soil's biological activity is be less labour intensive and cheaper to pro- Onc heataroohGnanablstiltespneyean(ar altered, often irrevocably - ask any environ- duce. It was, 150 years ago - but the long- less) to grow and harvest while one hectare mentalist or sawlogger. term environmental costs have tured out to of forest takes forty to eighty years. People began the mass slaughter of our Poaeoo nen, *Australia's annual paper needs could be forests for paper less than 150 years ago In 1938 amachine surfaced inthe pages met by planting cannabis in 20% of last when the chemical wood-pulping process of Popular Science which would have made year's forest clearing for woodpulp. *Despite the recent media campaign regard- ing recycling by paper millers, it is very difficult to actually get hold of any recycled paper - for instance, NEXUS has been told that recycled paper is currently unavailable for this issue - other alternative publications are in the same position. *Bush forest clearing for the wood-paper industry should stop as soon as possible, both for the sake of the environment and for was invented. By 1900 we had become hemp paper production commercially dependent upon wood-pulp for the produc- competitive. tion of all newspapers and most other Unfortunately, the US Marijuana Tax printed matter. While the cheap cost of Actof October Ist 1937 had come into effect woodpulp paper was a boon for newspaper four months before the article was printed, printers, the grade of the new paper left effectively outlawing the growth of canna- much to be desired for book publishing. bis and securing for chemical woodpulping “mi > a monopolistic hold on the paper industry Limited Life which still exists today (im October this year W ood-pulp books have a lifespan of from Marijuana will have been illegal for fifty only 25-80 years; hardly a useful material years). P , the —_ forest-managing sawloggers them- for reference books and items of historic or There is now a huge worldwide market selves, whose jobs are threatened by the legal importance. for a high quality recyclable paper and the wholesale and systematic destruction of first country to produce it stands to reap massive rewards, Ata time when Australian you are reading will break down, the print farmers are in difficulty and our dollar is will become illegible and the paper will besieged the government has many reasons Australia's forests by clearfelling and wood- chipping for the sake of an immediate profit. If you want to be part of a global paper solution, plant a tree and phone or write a Even with no wear from usage the paper Sancti ewan ins fevvenng ipa gorietcemats” pica denny sp room There are books in libraries and pri- eesti Obtdn the tobacco industry Grit ale mental and historical disaster taking place in vate collections which are hundreds of years very illegal to grow tobacco without a li- the native forests of our own backyard.oO old and many are as legible as the day they- cence). It would solve legal, financial and See The Ecologist Vol4 NoS for an authori- were printed. The paper on which those environmental problems arising from the tative account of history and methods of books were printed was not a product of the current relatively senseless hemp legisla- hemp paper production - remember to chemical wood-pulp industry. tion. RECYCLE YOUR PAPER! - Ed. 22 Nexus New Times Two ew ood-pulp paper can only be recycled three times, whereas hemp paper can be recycled seven times duc to its extremely long fibre length of 70mm (the fibre length of wood-pulp is only 4mm). * One hectare of cannabis produces the same amount of paper as sixteen hectares of Aus- tralian bush forests. * One hectare of cannabis takes one year (or less) to grow and harvest while one hectare of forest takes forty to eighty years. *Australia's annual paper needs could be met by planting cannabis in 20% of last year's forest clearing for woodpulp. *Despite the recent media campaign regard- ing recycling by paper millers, it is very difficult to actually get hold of any recycled paper - for instance, NEXUS has been told that recycled paper is currently unavailable for this issue - other alternative publications are in the same position. *Bush forest clearing for the wood-paper industry should stop as soon as possible, both for the sake of the environment and for the forest-managing sawloggers them- selves, whose jobs are threatened by the wholesale and systematic destruction of Australia's forests by clearfelling and wood- chipping for the sake of an immediate profit. If you want to be part of a global paper solution, plant a tree and phone or write a politician demanding a stop to this environ- mental and historical disaster taking place in year's forest clearing for woodpulp. *Despite the recent media campaign regard- ing recycling by paper millers, it is very difficult to actually get hold of any recycled paper - for instance, NEXUS has been told that recycled paper is currently unavailable for this issue - other alternative publications are in the same position. *Bush forest clearing for the wood-paper industry should stop as soon as possible, both for the sake of the environment and for when the chemical wood-pulping process of Popular Science which would have made was invented. By 1900 we had become hemp paper production commercially dependent upon wood-pulp for the produc- competitive. tion of all newspapers and most other Unfortunately, the US Marijuana Tax printed matter. While the cheap cost of Actof October Ist 1937 had come into effect woodpulp paper was a boon for newspaper four months before the article was printed, printers, the grade of the new paper left effectively outlawing the growth of canna- much to be desired for book publishing. bis and securing for chemical woodpulping ° ° ° a monopolistic hold on the paper industry Limited Life which still exists today (im October this year W) ood-pulp books have a lifespan of from Marijuana will have been illegal for fifty only 25-80 years; hardly a useful material years). P , the —_ forest-managing sawloggers them- for reference books and items of historic or There is now a huge worldwide market selves, whose jobs are threatened by the legal importance. for a high quality recyclable paper and the wholesale and systematic destruction of first country to produce it stands to reap massive rewards, Ata time when Australian you are reading will break down, the print farmers are in difficulty and our dollar is will become illegible and the paper will besieged the government has many reasons Australia's forests by clearfelling and wood- chipping for the sake of an immediate profit. If you want to be part of a global paper solution, plant a tree and phone or write a Even with no wear from usage the paper Gteane smeueterdet es eeaang ielegs fowthofcemts- icin demanding op ron There are books in libraries and pri- eesti Obtdn the tobacco industry Grit ale mental and historical disaster taking place in vate collections which are hundreds of years very illegal to grow tobacco without a li- the native forests of our own backyard.o° old and many are as legible as the day they: _ cence). It would solve legal, financial and See The Ecologist Vol4 NoS for an authori- were printed. The paper on which those environmental problems arising from the tative account of history and methods of books were printed was not a product of the current relatively senseless hemp legisla- hemp paper production - remember to chemical wood-pulp industry. tion. RECYCLE YOUR PAPER! - Ed. 22 Nexus New Times Two W o04-pulp books have a lifespan of from only 25-80 years; hardly a useful material for reference books and items of historic or legal importance. See The Ecologist Vol4 NoS for an authori- tative account of history and methods of hemp paper production - remember to RECYCLE YOUR PAPER! - Ed. The First Book Even with no wear from usage the paper the native forests of our own backyard.cO