Tuesday, April 7, 2009

S.384, the Global Food Security Act

I just took action on this issue and thought you might find it interesting too.

The UN recently released a report saying that Africa's best hope for the future is organic agriculture. Yet the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has passed S.384, the Global Food Security Act, that would require "research on biotechnological advances appropriate to local ecological conditions, including genetically modified technology" as a condition of US aid.

Instead of cynically cloaking corporate welfare for chemical companies like Monsanto in agriculture aid packages, why not support the United Nations Environment Program's Green Economy Initiative? How bad do things have to get before all proven solutions are implemented?

Biodynamic agriculture is not even mentioned here. If you don't know about biodynamic agriculture, then Shame on you for pretending to lead. Rudolph Steiner's methods work -- and have worked for more than eighty years. Read "Secrets of the Soil" to find out about the living forces of Earth that go largely unappreciated.

A new survey by the UN Conference on Trade and the Environment and UNEP in East Africa found that over 90 per cent of studies show that organic or near organic agriculture had benefits for soil fertility; water quality and flood management; improved water tables, carbon sequestration, oxygen production, health and biodiversity.

Production of biogenic pesticides, atmospheric aerosols, and pioneer species selection are also a part of the equation not being considered. How can you be serious if these elements are left out of the equation?

At some point you're going to have to ask yourself if you are trying to solve problems or just protect inertial toxic profit - ? The criminal negligence that is being committed in the prohibition of the world's most nutritious and useful crop is outrageous. If souls are judged after death, then anyone who impedes the progress of organic agriculture will certainly be in hot water for the hereafter.

Cannabis agriculture is critical to global and regional security. Identified as a "strategic food resource" in Executive Order 12919, "hemp" is too valuable to be truly illegal. You must realize that Cannabis is unique and essential, and therefore beyond the rightful jurisdiction of any court. Production of biogenic atmospheric monoterpenes is a priority hardly being discussed. Cannabis is the most productive and most agronomically benefical crop on Earth.

Cannabis agriculture, manufacture and trade are god-given rights, protected by laws assuring spiritual freedom and pursuit of happiness.

Cannabis is a pioneer crop, which allows for the expansion of the arable base. This allows farmers to extend the growing season in marginal areas. The research in East Africa was among 1.6 million organic or near organic farmers from seven countries working on 1.4 million hectares.

Other findings include an increase in crop yields of 128 per cent since switching. If biodynamic Cannabis is introduced into crop rotations, this figure will increase dramatically.

Higher incomes result from not having to buy fertilizers and pesticides, better food availability, and higher prices paid -- through certification schemes for both export and domestic markets -- addresses poverty in an environmentally friendly way.

Close to 90 per cent of cases showed increase in farm and household incomes and because organic agriculture is more knowledge intensive it has lead to improvements in education; community bonds and cooperation on market access.

The report concludes: "Organic and near-organic agricultural methods and technologies are ideally suited for many poor, marginalized smallholder farmers in Africa, as they require minimal or no external inputs, use locally and naturally available materials to produce high-quality products, and encourage a whole systemic approach to farming that is more diverse and resistant to stress."

Ending the drug war will allow for peace to spread with agricultural abundance and regional economic stability. End the drug war NOW, LET ORGANIC AGRICULTURE WORK!


Paul J. von Hartmann
California Cannabis Ministry

Project P.E.A.C.E.
Planet Ecology Advancing Conscious Economics
http://www.webspawner.com/users/projectpeace