Hemp and the Rules of Law

Student / Disi Gao

Reaction to in-class film: "Hemp and the Rules of Law"

 I was very impressed by the film Hemp and the Rules of Law. Before I only knew hemp as drug resource and was completely unaware about its industrial use and its many benefits to the nature. Apparently, hemp is great for industrial use, such as bio-fuel, durable car parts, carpet, textile, etc. The THC, one of the active chemicals of Cannabis (aka marijuana), contained in industrial hemp is below 0.3%, which is even below the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) standard. It is also beneficial to the nature. The traditional three crops in the United States are wheat, corn and soybean. The two-year rotation of crop is not good enough to protect the soil. By adding hemp to the crop rotation, it will restore nitrogen, oxygen and other nutrients back to the soil. Hemp also requires almost no pesticide. However, the production of industrial hemp hasn’t been legalized in the United States. It was mainly produced in Canada and Europe, and we have to import it from them. Not to mention, this is a waste of transportation. I think industrial hemp should be legalized, so it can contribute to our ecology.

Reaction to the readings: "Introduction to a System"

 In the article, Dr. Deming introduces how a ecological system of management should be. The aim of a system for any organization is “for everybody to gain – stockholders, employees, suppliers, customers, community, the environment – over the long term.” Dr. Deming gives an example of how this aim was achieved in a meeting by a Japanese corporation in Miami. Dr Ouchi, the keynote speaker explained how they are looking at the long-term gain and winning through working with competitors, which I think is a great idea that is sustainable and also beneficial. Dr. Deming also pointed out that in an ecological system, work should be enjoyable that employees should interact with one another and each of their works should fit in the entire system. However, the systems in most cooperation are more the type of destruction of a system in that employees compete with each other, and the quality of work is evaluated by numeric values. I think this ecological management system should be spread in all the organizations, so that people work for a better purpose and everyone is winning.

Extra Credit:

 In the lecture, Mr. Joel Davidson presented “Solar Electric Power and Sustainability.” He introduced some basic information about the photovoltaic panels (aka PVs) and how it is used in sustainable project. It generates clean electricity from the sun without burdening on the environment. However, what not very great about the traditional solar panels is the high cost of its production itself and the long term (about twenty years) to actually get paid back for what it costs from the electricity it saves. This problem has already been solved now. Thus, I think the technology presented in the lecture probably is a little dated. The new type of solar panel is called dye-sensitized solar cell. It is a product of bio-mimicry. The scientists studied the photosynthesis process of plants and used the similar process to invent the new solar cell. It has already been manufactured. It uses less silicone and works more efficient with indirect light than traditional solar panel. The panel is almost transparent, so it can be used as window instead of installing on the roof or walls. It also comes in different colors that aid aesthetic to it. The price of it is far less than the traditional panels. I think it will soon be used in many sustainable projects.