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AT VOTE: Repeal "Support Hemp Production"

Posted on Sep 20 2006, 09:41 AM

Repeal resolution:

QUOTE

The United Nations,

AGREEING in principle with UN Resolution #85, "Support Hemp Production", that hemp is 'a profitable and environmentally friendly crop',

CAUTIOUS, however, of the resolution's effusive praise of hemp, offering no mention of any of the disadvantages of the hemp crop,

HIGHLIGHTING, for example, that hemp can only be harvested at specific times, whereas many other crops can be harvested throughout the year, thus making the use of hemp in processes requiring large, regular harvests considerably more difficult,

DISAPPOINTED that the resolution introduces no checks or balances in the creation and operational running of hemp advisory boards, thus rendering the process very open to corruption, unfair apportionment of funds, or the dissemination of unsuitable advice,

CRITICISING the system of stipends and subsidies proposed by the resolution, and the poor logic of such a scheme,

OBSERVING that if hemp is indeed as profitable and commercially viable as the resolution claims, such support would be unnecessary, wasteful, and would endanger competition,

FURTHER OBSERVING that if the projects did not prove viable and did in fact require such support, tax-payers would be forced to contribute large sums of money solely to keep unprofitable enterprises afloat,

APPALLED that such a burden would be placed not only upon tax-payers within specific nations, but on all UN member nations, through the mandate for the UN to contribute funds to such projects,

BELIEVING that government-enforced bias towards particular crops to be unfair as well as impractical, as it discourages specialisation and development of resources, and could lead to wasteful excess of certain crops and shortages of other essential varieties, especially those used towards the production of food,

FURTHER NOTING that placing special emphasis on one single crop risks ecological and economic catastrophe in the case of specific crop diseases, climate conditions or pest attacks affecting that crop;

CONSIDERING such flaws too critical to justify retaining the resolution and its bureaucratic, inefficient and wasteful system of finance:

1. REPEALS UN Resolution #85, "Support Hemp Production";

2. AFFIRMS that this repeal will not prohibit any nation from continuing such programs on a national level should they choose to do so, noting that their right to implement such schemes would remain protected by the UN under Resolution #128, "Representation in Taxation".

Co-authored by the members of ACCEL

Original Resolution:

QUOTE

Support Hemp Production

Description: BELIEVING that all nations should support the production and use of industrial hemp. Hemp needs to be recognized as a profitable and environmentally friendly crop.

EMPHASIZING that industrial hemp cannot be used as a drug.

REALIZING that hemp is suitable for industrial paper manufacturing, can be used for clothing and shoes, for use as a renewable energy source, and for use in food products. The increased demand for health food has stimulated the trade in shelled hemp seed while hemp oil is increasingly being used in the manufacturing of bodycare products. Hemp is High in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.

RECOGNIZING that hemp is a sustainable, annual crop that is ready for harvest just 120 days after going to seed, much shorter then trees. Harvesting hemp doesn't destroy the natural habitats of thousands of distinct animal and plant species.

RECOGNIZING that hemp is a hardy plant that can grow easily and abundantly almost anywhere. Hemp can even be cultivated in arid regions with poor soil or in places with a very short growing season. Hemp requires little water or nutrients, and therefore can be grown without chemical fertilizers. Hemp is an ideal rotation crop for farmers worldwide. It puts down a taproot twelve inches long in only thirty days, preventing topsoil erosion.

RECOGNIZING that hemp's cellulose level is three times that of wood, so it makes superior paper products and yields four times as much pulp per acre as trees. The hemp paper process utilizes less energy and chemicals than tree paper processing and doesn't create the harmful dioxins, chloroform, or any of the other 2,000 chlorinated organic compounds that are byproducts of the wood paper process.

RECOMMEND that each nation set up an advisory board to oversee this program and its financial operation. The advisory board will be comprised of 8 officials and one director of the board. The advisory board will also be comprised of other workers to help these 8 officials and to help manage the work of this agency.

FURTHER REQUESTS that the director and these 8 officials be picked by the government of that nation. The director will have discretion in selecting additional employees.

SUGGESTS that these 8 officials be comprised of 2 economists, 2 ecologists, 2 agriculturalists (preferably having knowledge in cultivating hemp), and 2 biologists.

RECOMMENDS the advisory board have the power to provide incentives to farmers that grow or will grow hemp. There are two types of incentives that can be provided to these farmers:

1. Farmers who grow hemp will be given tax breaks. These tax breaks will be based on how much hemp the farmer grows, and the maximum tax break will be 45% for a yearly period.

2. Farmers will recieve monthly stipends, and will also be based on how much hemp they grow. The maximum stipend will be $10,000.

RECOMMENDS that the budget be based on how many farmers are involved in the program, and how much each farmer plans on growing. Farmers in the program will be asked to give a small percentage of their profits to the program. The percentage will be based on economic status of the farmer, and how much profit they are making. This should provide 30 % of the funds for the program, and the other 40% will come from the government, and the remaining 30% shall come from the United Nations.

Bazalonia

Eating A Bazalope Burger

Posts: 774

Posted on Sep 20 2006, 10:32 AM

Repeal away. Damn hippies.

Starblaydia

Also available in purple

Posts: 1877

Posted on Sep 20 2006, 11:22 PM

Well, at least they can't smoke it as a drug. ABSTAIN

Lamoni

Democratic Maniac

Posts: 1952

Posted on Sep 21 2006, 01:08 PM

Normally we really couldn't give two hoots about the original resolution, but as the repeal seems to be saying, why should there be a resolution supporting a single type of crop as opposed to all others?

Time to take out the trash... REPEAL AWAY!