I posted the following video last night after recording a new version of Hemp Anthem to help promote Hemp History Week. (Below are the lyrics) I would be most grateful if you were to give it a listen, pass it along, and help create a sustainable, hempful future. Thanks
Hey now, what are we gonna do, now to create a clean future?
It's time to shake off all the sand, rise on up and take a stand.
We all know that we're facing problems.
Open minds will be what helps us solve them.
We've got to put all our options on the table,
As we try to chart a course to help our planet grow more stable.
Hemp's a crop can heal our water, air, and soil.
The last time we really grew it here was during the Second War.
For too long, Congress hasn't let our farmers grow it,
A course of action that we cannot afford.
Hey now, what are we gonna do, to create a clean future?
It’s time to shake off all the sand, rise on up and take a stand.
You know we’ll have to take it to the streets, so our farmers can once again grow hemp.
Hemp History Week let's take it to the streets, help our farmers can once again grow hemp.
Most anything that we make with cotton, wood or oil,
Can be made greener from this plant that springs up from the soil.
It doesn't require tons of toxic pesticides,
Unlike those cotton crops where they spread them far and wide.
We've got to stop logging so much of our forests,
Let's plant hemp instead and we can reap a yearly harvest.
Hemp's potential is beyond our imagination.
Won't you help in the waking of the Nation?
Hey now, what are we gonna do, to create a clean future?
It’s time to shake off all the sand, rise on up and take a stand.
You know we’ll have to take it to the streets, so our farmers can once again grow hemp.
Hemp History week let's take it to the streets, help our farmers once again grow hemp.
If you take a look at causes Environmental, what you’ll find are lots of scattered causes local.
The way I see it we’ve been like a shotgun shell, trying to hit far-off “Target Sustainable”.
We’ve got to mold ourselves into a bullet, then this target, oh, I know that we can hit it.
Let’s join together and bring hemp into the fore,
Then we’ll really help the Earth’s health to restore.
Hey now, what we’re going to do, to create a clean future,
We’re going to shake off all the sand, rise on up and take a stand.
Hemp History Week we'll take it to the streets, help our farmers can once again grow hemp.
Hemp History Week we'll take it to the streets, help our farmers once again grow hemp.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Hemp Education Research Project
A friend of mine recently put together a survey for a ethnography research methods class on the topic of creating effective hemp education and promoting hemp awareness. Below are a few of my responses. To participate yourself, leave a comment and I'll pass your info along.
What is your educational platform (or pro-hemp argument) that you use when doing hemp outreach? My main “argument” is that if we are truly serious about maximizing the growth of the green economy and creating a sustainable future, industrial hemp must become, once again, one of the United States’ primary crops. I stress how cultivating hemp will do more to help clean our air, soil, and water than any patented technology our scientists can offer. I include hemp nutritional benefits and communicate how making more hemp foods available to our citizens, we can improve the quality of life of many and reduce our long term health care costs.
Do you change this platform for various audiences: when and why?
Yes and no.
I think it is important to make things as simple as possible for people to grasp hemp’s true potential, and I always strive to bring it down to a healthy environment, healthy food, and healthy industries to lay a solid foundation to build a dialogue upon.
With younger people, I’ll maybe emphasize the sustainability and social justice (Alex White Plume and his efforts to grow hemp on sovreigh land) angles. Talk of mass movements in US History and how bringing hemp back requires the same public involvement.
With older people, I’ll maybe include more details about hemp’s place in World and US History, and emphasize the importance that future generations are left with the cleanest possible air, soil, water, and food that we can pass on to them.
It just depends on the situation and the group dynamics. Hemp is such a multi-disciplinary plant, if you know what I mean, and this definitely leads to a wide variety of topics to touch upon as they relate to hemp.
What are the various tools (i.e. brochures, movies etc.) that you use when you provide hemp education?
I’ve used a wide variety of tools which I share with people in my educational efforts, including books, movies, videos, and brochures; links to articles, videos, and web sites; letters to representatives and editors of various newspapers; and the song I wrote, Hemp Anthem which I’ve played at open mics and done as spoken word at poetry slams.
What is your educational platform (or pro-hemp argument) that you use when doing hemp outreach? My main “argument” is that if we are truly serious about maximizing the growth of the green economy and creating a sustainable future, industrial hemp must become, once again, one of the United States’ primary crops. I stress how cultivating hemp will do more to help clean our air, soil, and water than any patented technology our scientists can offer. I include hemp nutritional benefits and communicate how making more hemp foods available to our citizens, we can improve the quality of life of many and reduce our long term health care costs.
Do you change this platform for various audiences: when and why?
Yes and no.
I think it is important to make things as simple as possible for people to grasp hemp’s true potential, and I always strive to bring it down to a healthy environment, healthy food, and healthy industries to lay a solid foundation to build a dialogue upon.
With younger people, I’ll maybe emphasize the sustainability and social justice (Alex White Plume and his efforts to grow hemp on sovreigh land) angles. Talk of mass movements in US History and how bringing hemp back requires the same public involvement.
With older people, I’ll maybe include more details about hemp’s place in World and US History, and emphasize the importance that future generations are left with the cleanest possible air, soil, water, and food that we can pass on to them.
It just depends on the situation and the group dynamics. Hemp is such a multi-disciplinary plant, if you know what I mean, and this definitely leads to a wide variety of topics to touch upon as they relate to hemp.
What are the various tools (i.e. brochures, movies etc.) that you use when you provide hemp education?
I’ve used a wide variety of tools which I share with people in my educational efforts, including books, movies, videos, and brochures; links to articles, videos, and web sites; letters to representatives and editors of various newspapers; and the song I wrote, Hemp Anthem which I’ve played at open mics and done as spoken word at poetry slams.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Lobbying for Hemp
A few weeks ago I had an article published in the Hemp Industries Association Newsletter titled, Lobbying for Hemp. In this article I share some of my experiences in Washington DC along with some insight into why it is still illegal for US farmers to cultivate this beneficial and versatile crop. As we head into Spring-time and a renewed push for hemp farming in America, I hope you will take the time to read it, pass it along to friends, and participate in the writing of an exciting new chapter in US hemp history.
Thanks
Thanks
Monday, March 14, 2011
Minnesota Hemp Development Act
Recently Minnesota started a new chapter in their hemp history with their legislature's introduction of the Minnesota Hemp Development Act. I learned more about this bill this morning when I read an article published by Politics in Minnesota, "Can Hemp Grow Jobs?"
Below is the comment I posted there. I encourage you to read "Can Hemp Grow Jobs" and participate in this discussion by posting your own comments there, and/or sharing this information with your friends, family, and colleagues.
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I applaud Rep. Kahn and her fellow co-authors of the Industrial Hemp Development Act. The more legislatures pass hemp bills, the harder it will be for Congress to deny American farmers the right to grow a crop that can stimulate rural community development and the green economy.
As someone who has educated myself for over 20 years about industrial hemp, I firmly believe that the longer we deny our farmers the right to grow this crop, the deeper we continue to dig the economic and environmental holes from which we are all trying to climb out.
To Rep. Cornish and the members of the Public Safety Committee, I would ask that they set aside their preconceived notions about hemp, and its relationship to marijuana, and give this bill the consideration it deserves. I find it unfortunate, that before even holding a hearing, Rep Cornish’s wants to “take this bill and shred it and let one of our pipe smokers smoke it,” Such an attitude is the antithesis of representative democracy and public debate.
Rather than inviting only US law enforcement officials spouting off the usual list of”threats” hemp poses, I would suggest the committee invite some Canadian law enforcement officials to their hearing and listen to what they have to say on the subject. Prior to 1998, Canadian law enforcement voiced the same fears. Twelve years later, they can assure you that hemp cultivation has had no impact of their ability to uphold their marijuana laws.
When the people lead, the leaders will follow, and I encourage all Minnesotans to help lead this country to a sustainable future by voicing your support to your Representatives for passage of the Industrial Hemp Development Act.
Sincerely,
David Piller
Flagstaff, AZ
Below is the comment I posted there. I encourage you to read "Can Hemp Grow Jobs" and participate in this discussion by posting your own comments there, and/or sharing this information with your friends, family, and colleagues.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I applaud Rep. Kahn and her fellow co-authors of the Industrial Hemp Development Act. The more legislatures pass hemp bills, the harder it will be for Congress to deny American farmers the right to grow a crop that can stimulate rural community development and the green economy.
As someone who has educated myself for over 20 years about industrial hemp, I firmly believe that the longer we deny our farmers the right to grow this crop, the deeper we continue to dig the economic and environmental holes from which we are all trying to climb out.
To Rep. Cornish and the members of the Public Safety Committee, I would ask that they set aside their preconceived notions about hemp, and its relationship to marijuana, and give this bill the consideration it deserves. I find it unfortunate, that before even holding a hearing, Rep Cornish’s wants to “take this bill and shred it and let one of our pipe smokers smoke it,” Such an attitude is the antithesis of representative democracy and public debate.
Rather than inviting only US law enforcement officials spouting off the usual list of”threats” hemp poses, I would suggest the committee invite some Canadian law enforcement officials to their hearing and listen to what they have to say on the subject. Prior to 1998, Canadian law enforcement voiced the same fears. Twelve years later, they can assure you that hemp cultivation has had no impact of their ability to uphold their marijuana laws.
When the people lead, the leaders will follow, and I encourage all Minnesotans to help lead this country to a sustainable future by voicing your support to your Representatives for passage of the Industrial Hemp Development Act.
Sincerely,
David Piller
Flagstaff, AZ
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