Fighting Climate Change and Creating "Green Jobs": Is Hemp the Silver Bullet?

[midnight]

From New Vehicles to Masonry to Textiles and Petrochemicals

If such claims regarding hemp’s transformative properties were not enough, advocates also envision nothing less than the end of the petrochemical industry as we know it. From shoes to sofas to cars and even planes, many of the common materials that we use today are derived from petrochemicals. Hemp on the other hand is a versatile fiber and could be employed in everything from the construction of tractor hoods to shields to cabs.

At one time, none other than Henry Ford produced a car whose frame was partially made of hemp and whose engine could be powered with hemp fuel. Some manufacturers claim that vehicles made out of hemp are lighter and as a result display greater fuel efficiency. In addition, agricultural fibers can be cheaper to produce than fiberglass. What is more, scientists are conducting research on how to derive biodegradable plastic products from hemp. Already, such research has borne fruit as auto companies introduce hemp into major manufacturing.

Perhaps most interestingly, hemp can also be made into most any building material including roofing, flooring, paint and even bricks. Hemp plaster is known for its high insulation qualities and can reduce the need for heating in winter and air conditioning in summer. Curiously, by simply adding water and lime to hemp one winds up with efficient and lightweight “hempcrete” which can help to construct houses. Experts say that hemp masonry exhibits exceptional fire resistant qualities and is easily recycled.

Advocates also believe that hemp can help to bring about a revolution in the textile industry. In the not-too-distant future, “eco-textiles” could become a popular buzzword as hemp replaces environmentally wasteful cotton production. Entrepreneurs say that hemp necessitates far less water to grow than cotton. Additionally, hemp rarely requires pesticides to grow and scientists are developing an innovative technique designed to turn tough hemp fiber into yarn. Early independent tests indicate that the process yields clothes which are durable and comparable to cotton in both softness and brightness.


http://truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/17898-fighting-climate-change-and-creating-green-jobs-is-hemp-the-silver-bullet

[Bennyboy]

1. Almost every problem facing the US can be solved with HEMP!

Jobs? the farm workers, the manufacturers will all keep jobs here. the lumber mills, long shuttered, will be able to retool and start producing hemp fiber products. things that are no made overseas and of plastic will now be made here in the US.

Water: here in CA we are supporting the cotton farmers. Cotton is the most water intensive crop possible. Hemp has ten times the yield and requires 1/3 the water. and that isn't even counting the manufacturing of cotton products which use an incredible amount of water to get white and soft.

Plastic pollution? Well Hemp is biodegradable so the problem with plastic will actually reverse itself over time. And the packaging will e made int he US not in China.

Pollution, chemicals? Cotton requires the most of any non food crop. also the most fungicides as well. but hemp requires none of that, in fact HEMP is reported to be pest free. And because hemp grows so close together it shuts out unwanted weeds.

[pipoman]

2. Silver bullet? No

but it couldn't hurt anything..

[Uncle Joe]

3. Altering the destructive trajectory of human induced global warming climate change

will take many silver bullets, hemp being just one of them, but legalizing and utilizing this beneficial plant would be most logical.

Thanks for the thread, midnight.

[AverageJoe90]

4. It probably isn't THE silver bullet, but it will definitely be quite helpful in the long run. n/t