HAPPY PLANET NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

< RETURN TO NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE LISTINGS

OCTOBER NEWSLETTER 30/10/2007 ( 2007-10-30 06:57:46 )

Thank you for being a member of Happy Planet. For the past three years, Happy Planet has been encouraging and nurturing the growth of the hemp industry in Australia, with family support, friendship, soul and ethics. Happy Planet thank our customers for their loyal support and the belief in industrial hemp, that has been grown and harvested for thousands of years. This journey has been tough, there has been the misrepresentation of hemp by large corporations, who see hemp as a threat to their profits; lack of support from government departments (due to ignorance of hemp); and inconsistent supply of hemp. And there are still hurdles to overcome. At Happy Planet we are not deterred, but spurred on to ensure hemp is recognized for its many benefits, as it is overseas. Global warming is causing individuals and businesses to make changes to lessen their impact on the earth, and Happy Planet are passionate about doing that by aiming to build our next warehouse from hemp concrete. The warehouse shall be an environmentally-friendly model for others to follow. Hemp built buildings are self-insulating, lighter and stronger, damp and insect repellant and hemp oil can also be used to produce paint and varnish. But, to build a hemp building, we need a lot of hemp fibre, which means more hemp farms. For the farmers to grow hemp, they need to be assured of a market for their crop. When hempseed food is legalized for human consumption in Australia, it will increase the market demand. Happy Planet need only the seed for food and the fibre can be sold for building material and other products. With the consistent supply of fibre, hemp product manufacturers will follow. At the moment, quality and supply of hemp cannot be guaranteed in Australia from the few hemp farmers, so Happy Planet is investing in our own hemp farm. We will have available New Zealand and Canadian hempseed oil until our own hemp farm is harvested next year and from our own farming experience, can offer advice to farmers on where and how to grow industrial hemp. Hemp is the best carbon sequestering crop on the planet. It absorbs about 1.7 times its dry weight of co2. Hemps stems are made from approximately 50% carbon. Hemp concrete is made up of about 50% hemp stems, so a hemp house consists of roughly 25% carbon, all of which will have been sequestered from the atmosphere. In contrast, concrete has a high carbon footprint due to the nature of cement production from limestone, which generates extra co2 in addition to emissions from its substantial fossil fuel appetite. By using hemp instead of mainstream products with a high environmental impact, it may be possible to reverse the harmful climate effects of industrial production by harnessing the manufacturing process as a means of actively reversing climate change. Happy Planet and customers all know the benefits of hemp, but we need to convince the government of the benefits so that they will legalize hempseed food for human consumption in Australia. Once this legislation is changed, it creates a bigger market for hemp food and farmers can be guaranteed a buyer for their crop. You can help us by writing a letter to the Queensland Health Minister. The below draft letter can be sent as is, or you may like to add your thoughts as well. You help is much appreciated in this endeavor. INDUSTRIAL HEMPSEED FOR FOOD - 23/10/07 To the Hon. Mr. Stephen Robertson, Member for Stretton, Queensland Minister for Health health@ministerial.qld.gov.au I want to buy industrial hempseed food, but I am told that it is not legal for human consumption in Australia and I am told that Australia and New Zealand are the last two western countries in the world to legalize hempseed food. Naturopaths, sports trainers, body builders and many health books and websites now recommend hempseed food for many ailments. Overseas, hempseed food is in a variety of foods and sold in shops and hemp restaurants. Many people recognize the nutritional benefits of hempseed food and know hempseed is easily digested by humans. The seed is cold-pressed for the oil and the remaining seed is called hemp meal. The hemp meal can then be milled into flour and/or protein powder. The flour is approximately 30% protein (omega 3, 6 and 9) and 35% dietary fibre plus minerals. The protein powder is an excellent source of protein, especially for vegetarians. Hempseed oil is especially healing for people with eczema, psoriasis and other dry skin problems and it can be applied directly to the skin. In some cases, people find hempseed oil is the only treatment that improves their skin disease. Industrial hemp can not only be manufactured into food, but textile, building materials, bio-fuel, plastic, skin care, animal bedding and food, and paper. Industrial hemp is the most efficient carbon sequestering crop grown all over the world and absorbs about 1.7 times its dry weight of CO2. Hemp stems are made from approximately 50% carbon. One of hemps many uses is building material. As hemp concrete is made up of about 50% hemp stems, a hemp house consists of roughly 25% carbon, all of which will have been sequestered from the atmosphere. In contrast, concrete has a high carbon footprint due to the nature of cement production from limestone, which generates extra CO2 in addition to emissions from its substantial fossil fuel appetite. Over thousands of year, hemp has become naturally resistant to most pests and does not require herbicides. It can produce everything that trees and cotton produce and everything produced from petrochemical oil can be produced from hemp oil. Hemp yields 4 times that of trees and twice that of cotton. Hemp takes only 120 days to grow, compared to trees that take 5-20 years to grow for harvesting. Hemp must NOT be confused with marijuana. The level of THC (the psychoactive ingredient that gets people high) is so low in industrial hemp (0.03%) that it has no effect if smoked. If marijuana plants are planted in a crop of industrial hemp, they cross-pollinate and reduce the THC in marijuana and give no “high” effect when smoked. Please consider the legislation of hempseed food for human consumption in Australia for earth’s sake. ---------------------------------- to sign out follow the link: http://www.happyplanet.com.au/newsletter/sign_out.php