Go, solar power, go

The nuclear power plant issues that Japan's dealing with right now are in the news everywhere so I just leave it with that. But there's obviously a movement towards solar power now. Solar power shines amid Japan's nuclear woes. Investors are chickening out from the threats associated with nuclear power in naturally unstable parts of the world (there are not many places on this planet though that can't be hit by a natural disasters). This is not the way I would have hoped for solar power to gain popularity but it's great any way. The stocks are still a different story though to the intentions and the actions (two very different things!) of governments. I love the following article: Germany becomes a real clean energy leader   

Here a few facts stated in the article:   
- 17% of all electricity used in German homes comes from a renewable source
- in Germany solar installations doubled in 2010 alone
- Germany is the largest photovoltaic solar market in the world, with new systems producing over 7 GWp, or approximately half of the global market
- Germany produces 16% of all wind power in the world and is Europe’s biggest user of this form of clean energy

From current to future: 
- Germany aims for 35% renewable energy by 2020, and 80% by 2050
- In 2006 Sweden pledged to become an oil-free nation within fifteen years
- The United States is hoping to have 10% renewable energy by 2012, and 25% by 2050, in addition to reducing greenhouse gases by 80% in the same year (how??)
- the US's goal to become a climate change leader seems thin considering Congress is loaded down with fossil fuel loving, budget cutting happy politicians

What's wrong with hemp?

I have been wanting to write about hemp because very often when you read about it (Go, google it) there's lots of pros to the plant, as food and material. It's very versatile in its uses and one of the earliest domesticated plants known. Hemp is a proven alternative to wood and other plants and can be used in the production of over 25,000 different consumer goods (I also found numbers as high as 50,000). Hemp is naturally resistant to most insect pests and can be grown with few (if any) pesticides and fertilizers. Hemp is used in cosmetics, composite car parts, building material (hempcrete), bio-fuel, animal bedding, jewellery, paper, plastics, ropes, just to name a few things ..., as well as fabric. Fabrics woven with hemp are stronger, more insulating, more absorbent, and last longer than cotton. Hemp in food is actually quite healthy, especially hemp seeds. Hemp seeds contain essential fatty acids, amino acids, Omega-6s, Omega-3s and protein that is more easily digestible than in soy.  They are a source of calcium, iron, antioxidants, chlorophyll and other micro-nutrients. There are no known allergies to hemp foods. Our local organic store of course has hemp cereal mixes which is yummy. 

If a lot of products can be produced from renewable sources why are we not making more use of this, I was wondering?   
With regards to fabric the qualities of hemp above sound good to me. I think these qualities are the reasons though why we don't have much hemp clothing today - it's too good! Clothing manufacturers only make money if we regularly, as in frequently/ often, buy clothing. If everybody was like Dave and I they'd go bankrupt. We were our clothes until big holes appear but others might consider the clothes worn-out much earlier or simply want to follow the latest fashion trends. Cotton is renewable too but requires large amounts of fertilizers, pesticides and water - it's the most pesticide-intensive crop in the world. Once it's turns into clothing and other cotton products (such as for our hygiene) lots of toxic bleach is used polluting our air and water. Really not that good.        
Other than that, I found the following: Because of its height, dense foliage and high planting density as a crop, hemp is a very effective method of killing tough weeds in farming by minimizing the pool of weed seeds of the soil. This can help farmers avoid the use of herbicides and support organic production. Now comes the big BUT: Due to its rapid, dense growth characteristics, hemp is in some places considered a prohibited noxious weed. Ah!
With cannabis prohibited in most countries the worry about a hemp field being industrial or for drug use is also an issue. The production of industrial hemp is therefore licensed in many countries. Industrial hemp contains next to no amount of the psychoactive agent that is needed for the cannabis drug.     
Well, although these are good arguments against hemp I am still not entirely convinced hemp would not be at least sometimes the better alternative to what's being used right now.

       
I leave it here for today. Last but not least, here's a website I like on the subject: http://www.hemp.co.uk/index.php