HEMP AS A RESOURCE FOR AUSTRALIA
THE PROJECT
THE PRESS RELEASE
EXPLAINATIONS ON THE CHANGES
Throughout this project I wish to examine the uses of hemp and the benefits they can bring to Australia. I am going to try and focus on Australia, as over the internet there are multiple hemp sites but relatively few Australian ones. Also as it it a very large topic, I have decided to concentrate on two specfic aspects- hemp as substitute for wood/paper mills and as a textile. I have decided to include a little bit of information about the other main areas it can be used in, but when I have gathered all my information, hopefully, the majority will be related to the paper and textile issues. As yet I dont have any images, but these will be coming. With this proposal I have tried to either give an indication or a small example of what sort of information I am intending to give.
Introduction
I intend this section to just to be an introduction stating the basic facts about hemp
Hemp, cannabis, marijuana etc are all the same plant. This plant is a weed and belongs to the family Moraceae, classification Cannabis sativa. There are various areas this versitile plant can be applied.
how the fibres are retrived from the plants and a little bit on weaving
The weaving of hemp fibres is believed to have began around 8000 BC. This makes it as old as pottery and older than metalworking. Up to the nineteenth century it was used to make clothes, tents, sails, sheets and so on. Prior to 1850 most of a ships' sails, ropes, nets and flags were made of hemp.
It was the invention of the cotton gin (engine) in the 1820s which led to the replacement of hemp with cotton. It was not until the 1930s that machinery for processing hemp was invented.
Fibre is made from the plants stalks. This part of the plant does not contain THC (Tetra Hydrocannabinol), which is the active ingredient of the drug. It is the flowering part which is the active ingredient. In Australia there are companies which are marketing clothing made entirely from hemp. An american company's range:- hats jeans shoes
Hemp fabrics are softer, warmer, more absorbent and stronger than cotton, as well as being much more durable. Can be recycled into paper
how to make hemp derived paper
From the first century, the Chinese were using hemp paper. It lasted longer than papyrus and was easier to make. Up till 1883 most paper was made of hemp, and mainly from recycled hemp sails ropes and clothes.
In this section I want to look at the tree versus hemp debate within Australia, so perhaps I will change the subtitle! However here is a link to an American site which discusses the use of hemp instead of trees.
stronger, can be recycled more times, stops the need of cutting trees and thus can be of great benefit to the environment.
In the nineteenth century cannabis was the third most-used ingredient of paptent medicines, after alcohol and opium. It is not addictive like opiates and does not cause violence like alcohol.
It is believed that cannabis is very beneficial for the treatment of the serious eye complaint, glaucoma- perhaps even two to three times more effective than any current medicines used for reducing ocular pressure. Asthma suffers claim cannabis has bought relief, even stopping a full-blown attack. Cannabis has also been found to relieve nausea in people receiving chemotherapy
this is going to be a small section (if I decide I need it!) which will look at Henry Ford's hemp fueled and fabricated car.
"Fuel is not synonymous with petroleum. Biomass energy systems can supply a sustainable source of fuel... Hemp biomass derived fuels can replace every type of fossil fuel energy product." -Jack Herer (I intend to put a chart in here)
Information about the nutritional value of hemp seeds as well as information about the "soy debate"
Generally show the advantages hemp seed can bring to the world as a staple crop
Summary of how hemp can help Australia, economically and environmentally
This will be like my bibliography. Eith