Born Activist: May 2008

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Hemp Set to Solve the Mountain Pine Beetle Crisis

We found this Post at Treehugger.com and thought it was worth a mention.
So what can be done about Canada’s blight of mountain pine beetles who are savaging forests turning them from carbon sinks to emitters? Well, at least from an economic point of view the Government of Canada think hemp might be one of the solutions.
They are investing $235,665 CD to help the District of 100 Mile House launch a hemp production pilot project. This project will “assess the viability of an industrial hemp processing facility, and includes the production of 200 acres of industrial hemp crop demonstrations, product development and test marketing. An alternative source of fibre, industrial hemp can be used in the development of construction products such as particleboard, insulation materials, and countertops.”
We have read elsewhere that hemp consumes about 1.7 times its dry weight in CO2 during its growth cycle, but haven’t yet been able to track down a scientific study confirming this. Though we keep looking. One of the sources quoting such a figure, also suggests that “each hectare of hemp could immediately sequester some 22 tonnes of greenhouse gases. Bast crops are able to sequester more carbon than trees in a short 150 day season cycle and yet leave arable land available for food and other crop production in the remainder of the year.”
In the meantime the Government of Canada are pursuing this project as “one step closer to a more sustainable, diversified local economy." ::Federal Mountain Pine Beetle Funding for Hemp Pilot Project.

Labels: News, Question, Resourcful

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

TAKE ACTION Save Trestles

We wanted to update you on the fight to Save Trestles. Please take time to read the following. Posted at savetrestles.com

Surfrider Foundation Action Network
Deny the Toll Road Appeal

The Transportation Corridor Agency is trying to revive its plan to build the 241 Foothill-South Toll Road through San Onofre State Beach. They have asked the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to override the California Coastal Commission's denial of the road.
Remember, on February 6, 2008 the California Coastal Commission voted to deny the 241 Foothill South Toll Road through San Onofre State Beach. Following thousands of pages of written comments and a 14 hour hearing attended by thousands, the Commission listened to reason and to the law by rejecting the toll road application.
Unfortunately the agency planning this Toll Road has appealed the Coastal Commission’s decision to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. The Secretary is accepting comments from the public on this appeal until May 28th. The people in D.C. need to hear from Californians and people from all over the world who care about San Onofre and Trestles!

Your voice is needed! Don't let the TCA's lobbyists be the only influence on this important decision!

Simply click "http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/tollroadappeal0408" to view a letter template that you can send to the Secretary asking that he DENY the Toll Road appeal.