Nexus - 1706 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Because much of the cannabis and the other plant- based drugs are grown in Third World countries, political intervention under the guise of drug interdiction has been and continues to be manipulated for political purposes by serving as a pretence for military action. The invasion of Panama and the political turmoil in Afghanistan, Mexico and Colombia, to name a few countries, are the results of the militarisation of the War on Drugs. Despite the mass of evidence implicating the American military in massive-scale drug-dealing, including the importation of many tonnes of cocaine from South America to the USA to help fund covert activities, the drug war warriors continue to claim the moral high ground. Modern non-wood paper-making factories operate surrounded by green fields of hemp. The billions of dollars saved on imports are invested into massive reforestation programs, stabilising erosion and facilitating the return of biodiversity. Synthetic fabrics are long gone, replaced by breathable natural textiles of hemp, ramie and bamboo. * Building and construction Hempcrete is a building material manufactured from the chipped inner fibre of the hemp stalk. Mixed with lime, ground slag or other additives, it forms a cellulose cement lighter than conventional materials but with improved thermal and acoustic insulation properties. The material is fireproof and completely resistant to a The Growth of Hemp Industries termites. However, due to the tireless efforts of thousands of Hempcrete revolutionises home building in the future. emp activists around the world, the tide is slowly _ It sets like concrete but can be cut like timber. Any starting to turn. Cannabis unwanted structure can simply emp can now be grown legally be ground up and thrown into in most countries, although the the new mix. A more “organic” United States remains a In addition to its direct style of building can develop, notable exception. Whils . . because it is now a emp industries are still a benefits in construction, straightforward process to minor player on the world q rearrange internal walls and scene, their scale and range o hempcrete functions very make any other changes to a products are steadily rising due efficiently to sequester home to suit changing family needs. In some European countries, nearly half of all dwellings are owner built. Furthermore, hempcrete dramatically reduces the cost of o the increasing acceptance o he concept of industria agriculture. In order to produce rue sustainability, industria agriculture seeks to use annua carbon dioxide. crops as the starting point for factory production, ousing by simplifying construction; for example, a roof replacing mined inputs such as iron ore and coal. Bu cast of hempcrete reinforced with bamboo can replace a can hemp and other select crops really make an impac iled roof, fascia and guttering. This roof will have on the looming environmental catastrophe? better thermal and acoustic insulation than the tiles, Imagine your country one generation into the future, will be resistant to hail and will greatly reduce the risk ollowing the passage of a law requiring all industria rom bushfire. production to be completely non-toxic, biodegradable In addition to its direct benefits in construction, and sustainable. In this world, cars and many other empcrete functions very efficiently to sequester carbon hings are now made of hemp bio-plastic. This materia dioxide. Bio-sequestration is the process by which is not new. It was developed in 1941 by Henry Ford, who _ plants take up carbon dioxide and water and use the made a car body that was one-sixth the weight of stee Sun's light to synthesise glucose and then cellulose. If but had 10 times the impact resistance. Documentary he cellulose is used in long-lasting structures, then the ootage of this remarkable achievement is available on atmospheric carbon dioxide is effectively removed or he Internet. Future generations will never know what a "sequestered", improving the weather health on Earth. panel beater actually did, and the insurance industry The average Australian family generates about 10 will be much downsized. Perhaps, in this future world, onnes of carbon dioxide each year. One hectare of hose responsible for suppressing such valuable green emp can sequester up to 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide echnology will finally be brought to task. annually. The average hempcrete house would sequester about 40 tonnes. When a house is made of ¢ Paper and textiles empcrete, it is not only this direct carbon dioxide Australia earns about $400 million a year by selling — which is saved. chips from old growth forests, but we import finished Using bricks, tiles and other fired ceramics, though, paper products to the value of $1.4 billion. generates a huge amount of carbon dioxide in In the future world, the use of trees and chlorine in manufacture. An average brick house generates up to paper-making is now a receding memory. 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide in its total construction, termites. now hempcrete functions very efficiently to sequester carbon dioxide. ¢ Paper and textiles Australia earns about $400 million a year by selling chips from old growth forests, but we import finished paper products to the value of $1.4 billion. In the future world, the use of trees and chlorine in paper-making is now a receding memory. 18 * NEXUS In addition to its direct benefits in construction, OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2010 www.nexusmagazine.com