Hemp: N.B.'s crop of the 21st century

Published Friday August 8th, 2008

New Brunswick can become a model for the 21st century, create a vast array of jobs in many sectors, and retain westward fleeing job-seekers by fully embracing hemp farming. Not only could hemp production keep workers in the province, it could also attract new industry and immigrants into the province.

Hemp is truly one of nature's gifts to mankind, but no member of the plant kingdom has ever been so willfully and stubbornly misunderstood. It is generally assumed that hemp became collateral damage in the United States' so-called "war on drugs."

There is compelling evidence, however, that hemp was actually the primary target of the whole "Reefer Madness" hysteria. A number of major U.S. corporations, lumber and pulp barons, and chemical companies stood to lose lucrative market shares because the hemp plant is so useful and versatile. Hemp provides the raw material for bio-fuel, paper, and plastic alternatives, among its many uses. It is time to understand what we have lost, and will continue to lose, if we don't realize the infinite benefits of hemp production.

Since the mid-1930s, about half the world's forests have been cut to make paper. If hemp had not been outlawed, most forests would likely still be standing, providing oxygen for the planet.

Hemp plants provide four times the paper fibre per acre per year than trees do, and can be re-planted yearly. Hemp is naturally resistant to insects and weeds and thrives in New Brunswick. Nearly half of the agricultural chemicals used by the U.S. are applied to cotton crops.

As people continue to become more ecologically aware and responsible, the demand for all types of organic products will increase. Hemp fibre is a naturally organic alternative to cotton. It is much more durable, wears longer, and is resistant to salt - which is why it has been traditionally used to make ropes and sails for ships for thousands of years. In fact, the word "canvas" comes from an Arabic word for hemp.

Henry Ford experimented with utilizing hemp as a bio-fuel source and as an ingredient in a composite material for automobile bodies. In 1941, the Ford Motor Company rolled out an experimental car that was made from hemp. Ford demonstrated this vehicle's durability by beating on the fender with an axe. It bounced off and did not leave even a scratch. Imagine the benefits of a rust-proof, bio-degradable car that runs on hemp bio-fuel.... and where the planet would be today if this had become a reality 70 years ago! Also imagine that petro-chemical companies and many other major U.S. corporations still have a stake in preserving the status quo while they fill their coffers with money spent on over-priced gas, oil, chemicals, fertilizer and consumer goods that are petroleum based. The United States is the only industrialized nation that prohibits the growing of hemp.

In 1937, Popular Science magazine listed more than 25,000 potential uses for the hemp plant, and modern technology has increased this number. The market for organic food and personal care products has exploded. In addition to its many industrial uses, hemp also provides one of nature's most perfect foods in its seed. It contains the essential fatty acids omega 3 and 6 in the proper 3:1 ratio for human health, and provides superior anti-oxidant qualities. Hemp nuts are also one of the world's richest sources of protein, second only to the soybean, and they taste great. Chefs all over the world are using hemp butter, nuts and oil in their kitchens.

Right now, in many N.B. stores, you can buy hemp foods and goods that were produced in other Canadian provinces. The Manitoba Harvest Company is a co-operative that is co-owned by more than 20 farming families. In Ontario, the Cool Hemp Company is producing ice cream and cookies made from hemp seed - desserts that are both good and good for you!

When you add up all of the environmental benefits, jobs, products and industry that would be created by hemp production, you have only a win/win situation for the province of New Brunswick.

There is a lingering reluctance to embrace hemp farming because of the current U.S. laws and attitude. But people should control their institutions rather than continue to be dominated by these human creations. At the Kyoto Summit, Al Gore used an apt hockey analogy when he appealed to Canada for environmental support. He suggested that we not look to where the United States has the puck now - but where the puck will ultimately be in the future.

Stephanie Kelley is a resident of Perth-Andover.
--------------------
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/article/378219

FDA Allows Skin Care Manufacturers to Poison You

How The US and Australian FDA Bodies Allow Untested Chemicals To Enter Your Bloodstream

---

" How The US, British and Australian FDA Agencies
Allow Your Body To Be A Live Testing Ground
For Untested Toxins In Skin Care Products "

• Is It True The FDA Allows Skin Care and Cosmetic Makers To Illegally Hijack Your Bloodstream Through Penetration Enhancers?
  
• What Are The Official FDA Regulations Regarding Pre-Market Testing Of Cosmetic Ingredients?

---

Today's issue of the Natural Skin Care Secrets will shock you to the core! Through my thousands of hours of investigation you are about to uncover a shocking web of deception, fraud and cover-ups.

This tangled web includes the US FDA (Food & Drug Administration), Australian FDA (Therapeutic Goods Association), "British FDA", "Canadian FDA" (in fact, almost all country specific FDA equivalents) chemical corporations, skin care and cosmetic manufacturers.The most shocking thing is that this goes right to the top.

Would you believe that the US, Canadian, British and Australian FDA agencies actually allow your skin and body to be a live testing ground for unassessed chemicals? It's true.

Did you also know that the US and Australian FDA both allow skin care makers to illegally hijack your bloodstream through the use of "penetration enhancer" chemicals like Propylene Glycol and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?

These toxins have one only purpose, that is to drive down deep through 5 layers of your skin and open a highway for other even more hazardous chemicals to enter your bloodstream.

Can you just imagine the "pandora's box" of disease this can cause your healthy body? So, just how did it come to this? Well first let's take a step back and have a look at the actual US FDA regulations regarding prescription drugs.

Here is a direct quote from the US "FDA Bible":

"Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act defines drugs
as those products that cure, treat, mitigate
or prevent disease or that affect the structure
or function of the human body.

While drugs are subject to an intensive review
and approval process by FDA, cosmetics are not
approved by FDA prior to sale. If a product has
drug properties, it must be approved as a drug,
only approved drugs are allowed to enter your
bloodstream."

Source: FDA, http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qa-cos5.html

From this statement you can clearly see that ONLY prescription dugs pre-approved by the FDA are allowed to enter your bloodstream and change the structure or function of the human body.

Now let's take a closer look at exactly what "penetration enhancers" are. As I mentioned above these toxins infiltrate the skin membrane and open the door for many other chemicals to enter.

These include a laundry list of common chemicals like Propylene Glycol, Ammonium Glycolate, Lauryl Lactate and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. I urge to check your products right now to see if they contain these chemicals. Skin care and cosmetic products containing these chemicals are all approved for use by the US, British and Australian FDA bodies, as strange as it may seem.

So just how common are these chemicals used in personal care products? A lot, in fact 57% of all skin care products use "penetration enhancers" according to my site's 60 plus skin care reviews along with EWG's 2005 research covering more than 14,000 products.

A lot of people may ask, "But don't the US, Canadian, British and Australian FDA bodies regulate ingredients used in skin care and cosmetics?" The answer is a resounding NO.

In fact the FDA even says this themselves on the official website. Here are two quotes straight from the "horse's mouth":

"The [Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act] contains
no provision that requires demonstration to
FDA of the safety of ingredients of cosmetic
products...prior to marketing the product."

— FDA , September 29 2005

"With the exception of color additives and a few
prohibited ingredients, a cosmetic manufacturer
may on his own responsibility, use essentially
any raw material and market the product
without approval."

So, in a nutshell, the reason why "penetration enhancer" chemicals are illegal for use in personal care products is because this directly violates the US FDA's own regulations regarding the use of cosmetic chemicals that affect the structure or function of the human body.

The upshot of this revelation is that we can once and for all put to bed the well worn myth that and "regional FDA" - or for that matter, any other other government body around the world - regulate the skin care and cosmetic industry.

So just what are US, British and Australian FDA bodies doing about this massive loophole in the system. In a word, nothing.

Yes, in spite of the massive documented evidence of dangerous chemicals in 99% of personal care products the US FDA has not shown any signs of fixing the problem.

Here is what you need to know about the US FDA and their current power.

1) The US FDA cannot require a recall of harmful products.

2) The US FDA has not even defined what safe means or how to achieve it.

3) The Agency consistently declines to develop guidance for the cosmetic industry on what must be done to guarantee safety and what standards must be met to ensure a product is safe.

In a nutshell, the US FDA basically gives the cosmetic industry a blank check to market whatever they want even though it contradicts the FDA's own laws on drug classification.

Funny thing is that the US, British and Australian FDA and other government agencies have no problem regulating just about every other area of our lives but when it comes to the cosmetic industry all of a sudden they choose not to intervene.

Some would say that the FDA has been bought and paid for by the pharma/chemical/cosmetic cartel. I'll let you be the judge of that, but I think you know where I stand.

Whether or not it is the case really doesn't matter, the fact is you have to take decisive action if you are to protect yourself from these
chemicals.

What's the bottom line? Well, when it comes to your skin and general health in relation to personal care products you have 3 options.

Firstly, you can do what most people do, nothing.

Secondly, you can take indirect action by trying to change the system. If this is you I wish you good luck with getting even with government
and corporations who have unlimited resources and the corporate media in their back pocket.

Now, since you are a member of this community the chances are you will take the smartest option like the rest of us here. Take direct action. That's right. Educate yourself and be personally responsible for whatever it is you want to achieve whether it be skin care or general health.

This is rather simple when you become an IOC of skin care and cosmetics as you control what products or herbal remedies you use.

If this is you I have great news for you. In tomorrow's issue you will leapfrog 99% of the general public almost instantly. You will discover the "hidden" online chemical database that will shortcut your research time by thousands of hours.

Tomorrow's issue is called:


"How To Take Control Back From The
Cosmetic Cartel By Becoming An Expert
Ingredient Detective Almost Instantly, By
Accessing A "Hidden" Online Database"

Yours for Natural Skin Care,
Adam Waters

-----------------
http://www.natural-skincare-authority.com/australian-fda.html

Make Your Own Homemade Natural Deodorant

from: Baltimore Street Team

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Without doubt, anything that is natural is going to better for you and your skin when compared to something that is packed with chemicals and fillers.

Many commercial deodorants brands contain skin irritants (e.g. SLS, DEA), aluminum, synthetic fragrance, or other chemicals and can make your skin sore. Antiperspirants are even worse! Thankfully, there are natural alternatives to kill odor causing bacterias! Herbal deodorants are super effective since many of them have strong anti-bacterial properties.

Here a recipe for you to make your own natural deodorant that you can try if you have sensitive skin or if you would just prefer a natural method of deodorant. This natural deodorant will allow the release of perspiration, but will prevent odor by combating it with antiseptic essential oils, which kill odor-causing bacteria. You should be able to find these items in any health store or reputable supplies online.

You'll need:

1/2 cup cocoa butter

9 oz. beeswax

1 cup coconut oil

2 tbsp thyme essential oil

2 tbsp rosemary essential oil

1 Tbsp tea tree essential oil

2 tbsp lavender essential oil

2 tbsp castor oil

1 cup baking soda (Sift the baking soda to avoid lumps that are really hard to get out.)

Melt the coconut oil, cocoa butter and the beeswax in double boiler pan on top of stove, directly on stove top on very low heat setting or microwave it in a safe glass. Remove from heat and add the castor and essential oils and stir with a skewer stick. Pour into a new or used deodorant container and allow to solidify. This recipe will make about 12 tubes of deodorants. You may adjust the recipe to make less.

Other Oils for Deodorant Blends

Patchouli – sweet and musky, moisturizing to the skin, attracts abundance

Peppermint and Spearmint – cooling and purifying, clean-smelling

Eucalyptus – tonic to the skin, gentle and soothing, refreshing

Melaleuca – fight bacteria, astringent

Reputable Essential Oils vendor: http://www.edenbotanicals.com/

If you don’t feel like messing around with essential oils, waxes and butters, you can find natural and vegan handmade deodorants at Spa Therapy Works

Posted by Spa Therapy Works at 12:47 PM