Hemp can heal the world

Marijuanaby Doug Yurchey

- author of the 'Marijuana Conspiracy'

On 7/7/07, a worldwide (satellite-broadcast) musical event was transmitted onto our television screens and upon our cable networks called 'Live Earth.' The global simulcast was a 24-hour show from seven continents (including Antarctica) that included over 100 bands, musicians and singers.

‘By doing a big rock event, I was able to attract all the media networks, and get time slots for 24 hours all over the globe,’ said promoter Kevin Wall. ‘…Watched by almost one third of the world’s population, Live Earth will be the biggest musical event ever staged, dwarfing in scale even Live Aid and Live 8.’ London, Sydney, New York, Hamburg, Tokyo, Rio De Janeiro, Johannesburg and other cities hosted the event.

There were fantastic performances by reformed bands like the Smashing Pumpkins, Crowded House and the Police. Madonna shined; we heard Pink Floyd from Roger Waters Band; Chris Cornell played Soundgarden tunes; UB40, Alicia Keys, Duran Duran, Macy Gray, Metallica, Chili Peppers, Fall Out Boy and Keane entertained large crowds in stadiums around the planet. The list of performers goes on such as Snoop Dogg, Foo Fighters, Joss Stone, Genesis, Kanye West, Beastie Boys, John Mayer, Bon Jovi, Lenny Kravitz, Spinal Tap and the Dave Matthews Band, to only mention some of the musical stars. The evening’s concerts were concluded by a beautiful instrumental by Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Yellow Magic Orchestra.

The theme was global warming and the show presented a myriad of environmentally friendly lessons to help save the Earth. Slogans of a ‘Climate is Crisis’ were used to raise awareness of global warming. Al Gore appeared in various forms to tackle the problem of global warming, ‘demanding more renewable energy and helping to preserve forests.’

Computer animations told stories of globalization, a dying planet, dying fish with lessons that something must be done; we are on the brink of destruction. One fellow spent hours making his own gasoline from oils thrown out from Chinese restaurants.

Cameron Diaz and Spiderman told us how to pick the right shopping bags, drive hybrid cars and use ‘recycled’ paper towels. The idea here (unlike Live Aid) was making small changes such as turning the thermostat down or putting plastic bottles in the proper trash bin could make a difference. Chris Rock did a clip urging the audience to eat ‘vegan.’

Everything under the sun was considered in the daylong music festival to have us save the planet. Every little thing, no matter how small and trivial…was explored in a noble cause to help heal Mother Earth. Hollywood and the so-called environmentalists around the world proposed endless helpful hints; they considered everything but THE ANSWER! Where was HEMP as a renewable energy source and the solution to the planet’s dire problems? The big answer is safe, natural HEMP for all of our energy needs. Every oil product, everything that Dupont has ever produced could be made from HEMP SEED OIL. Natural, BIODEGRADABLE plastics can be manufactured via hemp seeds that will not harm the environment.

How can we save the trees and rainforests? DO NOT CUT THEM DOWN! We no longer need to cut down air-giving forestlands. Grow this fast-growing cannabis plant with incredible, durable fibers…and industrialize hemp! No one here is speaking of smoking the plant, but utilization IN BUSINESS, mass-producing cannabis products.

The finest, cleanest, non-toxic, non-yellowing PAPER is made from hemp. Strong, durable fabrics can be produced. Holes may never form in such natural clothing. Safe paints and varnishes can be manufactured from the holy hemp plant. Where was the H-Word mentioned in the worldwide, musical event geared to aid Mother Nature?

HEMP, with all of its industrial benefits as well as medicinal benefits, could be the big answer to environmental problems. We may not be hurtling toward melted polar caps. If only we were permitted to USE THE NATURAL RESOURCE OF THIS WONDER PLANT!

I believe Live Earth’s repeated mention of GREEN, as in ‘It’s Easy Being Green,’ a new rendition of Kermit the Frog’s song…Al Gore, the Green Party…everything ‘green’ was covered except for the most versatile, useful, renewable resource on the planet. I was waiting for the H-Word to maybe, possibly appear…

Then, I realized…this was TELEVISION. This was the Bizarro-World! It is verboten to mention even the smallest shred of the positive side of hemp industrialization…even if it WAS the answer for a safe, cleaner future. This was television. Millions of dollars are spent each year in witch-burning MARIJUANA on television. (It’s in their unspoken, unwritten blue laws…or blatantly in their contracts?). WE CANNOT HAVE THAT ON TELEVISION!

Me, like a naïve/innocent child still maintained some hope that one of the few hundred-infomercial spots might contain a bold move to really…lay it on the table; sanction one spot along the lines of Jack Herer’s (and other’s) concept that hemp, used properly, could save the planet. I must be dreaming; I must still be back in the 1950s; there was not a hint of the H-Word. This was rock ‘n roll, this was Hollywood. Were the celebrities TOLD not to mention hemp? Were ‘hemp’ references edited out in post-production?

I do not for one minute assume that real environmentalists, nature-conscious people from many continents omitted hemp and looked the other way. Naturalists know better than ignore miraculous hemp. Cannabis hemp probably WAS a part of the festivities, especially in Europe and certainly Holland, on 7/7/07 Live Earth day. But, we Americans were not permitted to view a trace of the natural benefits from hemp. This is television and it would never be allowed…not even to save the Earth.

It was strange that Bob Geldof of ‘Live Aid’ was not a part of this affair. Where were planet-conscious/politically concerned bands such as U2, Radiohead and Coldplay? Live Earth has been quickly criticized for not really doing any good. Will the warnings and lessons be heeded? Was the music festival one large promotion for Al Gore? It is odd that decades ago, Gore’s wife (Tipper) was a strong proponent of censorship of album lyrics. This once enemy of bands around the world, now stands by her husband and is cheered by the musical community.

I do not blame Live Earth sponsors or promoters for omitting hemp as a natural solution. They probably had no choice. I BLAME TELEVISION! There are many LEGAL companies that manufacture HEMP PRODUCTS, from shampoo to candy bars, but…

Where do you see ads on television for hemp products? Quality jeans made from hemp should be on the air and much more. Nope, it is not going to happen. It has to be a Prime Directive…we cannot promote, in any way-shape or form, the hemp plant as having a positive use whatsoever. (My God, did you know that it was marijuana?)

How about natural hemp FOOD PRODUCTS? Hemp used as various food products could assist a hungry world. The result would be a healthier planet adding needed nutrition to the diet.

How about natural hemp remedies and MEDICINES? Aren’t you tired of seeing pharmaceutical pills for every reason on television and then, near the end, hearing the long list of warnings and bad side effects? What do you expect from CHEMICALS?

Television will not educate us on how to industrialize hemp as the USDA ‘Hemp For Victory’ short film did in 1942 because of the war. Then, it was NECESSARY to industrialize the hemp plant for our Navy’s rope, strong parachutes and oil lubrication for machines. Our world is again in desperate need just like 65 years ago during WWII.