This week I read David Aaronovitch's Voodoo Histories: The Role of the Conspiracy Theory in shaping our modern world. The first question that comes to mind is why anyone would write such a book, as it does not, as the subtitle asserts, show how these theories have shaped the world; rather, it shows how the author does not like these theories. He points out in the very first pages that they offend his sense of plausibility, and then proceeds to offend all and sundry with his dismissive work.

However, there are large portions of it that are both well written and well researched. As many conspiracy theories are complete and utter rubbish, it does not take a genius to see through them. And even in genuine cases of an existing conspiracy, it is to be expected that investigators will make their share of mistakes. Aaronovitch points these out gleefully, but fails to point out many solid pieces of evidence that make up the corpus delecti. Indeed, he is shadowboxing with one hand and patting his own back with the other.

One trick he employs is to point out absurd theories put forward by the likes of former MI5 agent David Shayler, which he quickly demolishes, but completely ignores the likes of William Rodriguez when discussing 9/11.

And how can he make such an omission? Did he, like so many other journalists, boycott Rodriguez's dozen or more public appearances in England? Certainly not, as Aaronovich and I had a lengthy discussion about his presence at the first 9/11 panel discussion at Friends House, in which Rodriguez held forth. But in the book, there is no mention of this meeting, which took place in Spring of 2004, but rather lengthy mention of one that transpired  in the summer of 2005, at which, at least according to Aaronovitch's book, Rodriguez did not take the stage.

To give some context, William Rodriguez was the last man out alive from the North Tower, after voluntarily spending the morning saving hundreds of lives by unlocking the stairwells with his master key. Rodriguez was able to reveal that there was an explosion before the first plane ever hit, that there was mysterious machinery being moved on the vacant 33rd floor, and many other anamolies. Given his 19-years' good service and overall credibility, why does Aaronovitch ignore him? Is it to tackle a fringe goup of former MI5 agents, Beano the Fruito Man, and the odd anti-Semite? The latter are not, and never were, of any real consequence to the movement, in fact, a well researched book on the subject would note that the first 9/11 sceptics were Jews; we hear no mention of Aaronowitz, Shamir, Chamish, Israel or Goldman in his book.

Aaronovitch goes so far in his polemic as to actually side with the Nazis, who, according to the Nuremberg trial transcripts and other evidence, were the ones who set the Reichstag Fire. I told him once to go do this research before he made a fool of himself, but he was only arrogant and would not take advice on this sensitive issue. One might find this ironic, given his Jewish name, but, as he once told me, he is not really Jewish. This revelation came about when I rebuked him for his attitude backstage at Press TV with Yvonne Ridley, and his excuse was his lack of real Hallachic credentials. Friends of mine, whose relatives suffered at the hands of the Third Reich, may find some consolation in the author's limited claim on their culture.

But what consolation exists to relatives of those killed in the 9/11 attacks, or the hordes of people maimed, burned, wounded or killed in Iraq and Afghsanistan? Relatives of the victims of the attacks have refused million dollar compensation awards as they press for the truth, but these may only be collateral damage to Aaronvitch, as he exonerates all governments from false flag terror attacks on their citizens. Oh how Hitler would have loved his work, but I do not, it is sloppy and crude. However, when asked if I think he is an agent of some shadowy cabal that perpetrated these attacks, I answer no. Sheer arrogance is enough to make people stupid and dangerous, but, sadly, there is a market for this sort of rubbish.

Voodoo Histories is published in London in the spring of 2009 by Jonathan Cape.

The Independent today published my letter in response to a previous letter (which was in response to David Davis' 1May article) in which the author absurdly stated that no one had any better ideas for Afghan agriculture than the cultivation of opium, and that we ought to buy opium products to prop up the economy.
Sadly though, the Independent did not print my letter in its entirety, and omitted the crucial detail about the title of the report by myself and Bobby Pugh - it as Hemp as a Replacement Crop for Heroin in Afghanistan; the subject of which I will now invite them to enter at large upon in an article.

With concerns exponentially growing over the safety of what is applied to the skin, more and more consumers are turning to natural sources of beauty. British-based Hemp Garden offers a divine-smelling range of bath and body care that uses only plant-based ingredients, including the oil of the hemp seed, which seems to have shaken off its hippy image and is well known for its intense skin nourishing properties. Add the bath oils to your next soak to ease stiff muscles, soften the skin and leave the mind clear. From £9.99, available from www.hempgarden.co.uk.

GREEN RUNNING IN BELSIZE PARK

There is a by-election in Belsize Park on 2 April, and one of the candidates has impressed me with her activism. Naomi Aptowitzer, of the Green Party. She is chair of the local residents' association in Chalk Farm and has been active in combatting anti-social behaviour. For 18 years she has worked for the Borough, and is currently director of ZiPee Bikes Ltd. That is what impresses me the most. She campaigns for better bicycle infrastructure, and in 2007 began the 'Elect Electric' campaign to press coucils to install more on-street charge points for electric vehicles. This would be great, and if we could get more people to drive the G-Wiz, which is visible on most streets in the borough, strangely juxtaposed to the oversizw SUVs, we could all have a bit more tranquility. Bikes, by the way, are bucking the financial trend, bike shops were trading 86% higher in '08 than in '07, so she is on to the new growth industry. And speaking of bikes, my friend Chris Sanders is working on importing a fold up electric bike, which is just about the greenest thing around. It can get people to work for much less money and save on parking spaces all over London. So I hope to see Naomi get in on 2 April, in which case, expect to see her on Haverstock Hill riding the latest e-bike.

THE FLYING COLOURS OF HEMP

Image above is painted with hemp oil, which, along with linseed and poppy oils, is one of the most useful painting oils known to man. It depicts a Laggar Falcon chasing sandgrouse, which are cousins to pigeons. The are swift fliers and usually evade the falcon's talons, but one caught unawares, usually at a wadi, or drinking spot, can find itself a meal to this predator. As they are cousins to pigeons, it may well be they are fond of hemp, as are most birds. This image, and other images painted in hemp, and mostly depicting falconry, can be found now at the new blogspot Lure of the Falcon. I have been drawing and painting these now for 20 years, so this is like a retrospective. Presenty I am working on a painting of a Saker hunting a Houbara in the desert. I don't know if houbara eat hemp, but they have been noted for eating poppy seeds as they migrate through Afghanistan. As there has been a sighting of hemp fields in Afghanistan, I am starting to work on a sketch of houbara in the hemp fields of Helmand.

HEMP AS A FEEDSTOCK FOR
BIOMASS-TO-ENERGY CONVERSION

This article, by Bernard Rice, appears (pp. 145-156) in the Journal of Industrial Hemp Vol. 13 #2, 2009. An abstract is as follows:
An increase in the demand for biomass for conversion to heat by combustion is likely. The potential role for hemp in supplying this demand is discussed in this article. For hemp, key characteristics such as net calorific value, ash content, and melting behavior, and the risk of corrosion or polluting emissions, are all favorable. Low bulk density and size reduction difficulties might limit its use for pellet production and in small boilers; its use in electricity generating plants and medium-to-large boilers would have better prospects. To mazimize profitability, an agronomy program to achieve high yields at the lowest cost is required. In the Irish climate, this would entail early sowing (late March/early April), a low seed rate (~30kg/ha), and variety selection for maximum stem yields over 10t/ha is attainable. Cost analysis shows that an energy price of about Euros6/GJ is required to achieve a profit level similar to conventional food enterprises. Arable farmers would welcome a break crop in rotation with cereals. Processors needing a year-round fuel supply might be expected to welcome an autumn-harvested crop as part of a mix with spring-harvested crops such as miscanthus and willows. A mix of energy crop species would improve biodiversity and visual impact. Hemp should be a strong contender to be part of the energy crop mix.

The varieties studied were Kompolti, Ferimon, and Fedrina 74. They had stem yields of 12.6t/ha, 11.7 t/ha and 11.6 t/ha respectively. A comparison of the net calorific value of hemp to other cellolusic biomass showed each as follows:
Hemp 13.4
Wood residues 10.0
Straw 13.0
Peat 8.9

(the gross values, respectively, were: 18.5, 19.7, 18.0, 21.5).

Bernard Rice is Principal Research Officer, Teagasc, Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, Ireland.

SPIES LIES AND CANNABIS

Speaking of spies this month, after having been accused by a reader of being one, see posts below, my memory was jogged about a story in the hemp world. Image left is uber spy Jack Herer, who, working for the CMI, infiltrated Lyndon Larouche, that avid spy seeker who runs the Executive Intelligence Review. CMI went undercover as anti-pot activists, and discovered a bizzare world in which LaRouche was planning to have rock music outlawed and make a hero of Mark Chapman, the guy who shot John Lennon.
Of course, now that I've told that story, there will doubtless be rumours that Jack was really an undercover DIA informant! Maybe Annie Machon, David Shayler or Steven Collier can shed some light on it. Ah how the pot, I mean plot, thickens...

THE HIPPY CIA

In a previous post, I knock Homeland Security for their perusal of my blog. They make Inspector Clouseau look smart. But now the hippy CIA, that is, the anarchic crew of conspirarcy theorists who see a Zionist under every bed, have played dumber to their dumb. After my post about Paul Vigay and his mysterious death in Southsea, I got a personal threatening email from one Steven Collier of Burton upon Trent, who posts on the 9/11 forums as Mason Free Party. I was told I had been sussed and I ought to go back to my Zionist hole. Checking the 9/11 forum, I found that I was accused of being Dr Hemp, a character I met once in Bristol. I am not Dr Hemp. I am a blogger, pure and simple. Just to set the record straight...I'd stay and blog more but I am off to get my cheque from Mossad and change my disguise. I thought I'd outwitted them all, but I guess David Shayler saw through it. Shucks...