In the late 60’s and early 70’s, when we argued in favour of food security, the Labour Party and PMSD pundits simply pooh-poohed us for sugar had a guaranteed price and market and consequently we should grow cane, produce sugar (and rum, of course), export it and with the foreign exchange buy the food we need. There was no need to change.
But the situation did change. We could not compete with beet sugar.
All mainstream parties, including the MMM, toed the line and worshipped King Sugar.
50 years later, food security is on the agenda and the MSM led government is now exploring possibilities.
It’s about time to define concepts and analyse issues.
• It is fundamental that we grow what we eat and eat what we grow but that is only part of the story.
• Food security also means “Healthy Eating”. The fast-food culture is wreaking havoc: 45% of the population are overweight if not downright obese.
• What are the pathologies associated with obesity? “A total of 89 relevant studies were identified. The review found evidence for 18 co-morbidities which met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis determined statistically significant associations for overweight with the incidence of type II diabetes, all cancers except esophageal (female), pancreatic and prostate cancer, all cardiovascular diseases (except congestive heart failure), asthma, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis and chronic back pain. We noted the strongest association between overweight defined by body mass index (BMI) and the incidence of type II diabetes in females (RR = 3.92 (95% CI: 3.10–4.97)). Statistically significant associations with obesity were found with the incidence of type II diabetes, all cancers except esophageal and prostate cancer, all cardiovascular diseases, asthma, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis and chronic back pain. Obesity defined by BMI was also most strongly associated with the incidence of type II diabetes in females (12.41 (9.03–17.06)).” (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1471-2458-9-88)
FOOD CULTURE MUST CHANGE
1. Reduce the consumption of rice and wheat flour and promote the intake of locally grown staples such as potato, cassava, sweet potato, arrow root, jackfruit, breadfruit etc.
2. Avoid red meat and encourage free-range poultry and fish.
3. Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables.
4. Reduce consumption of alcohol and tobacco.
A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Food security is to be associated with a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercises. We need the political will and leadership but above all we must all understand that culture makes us human but cultural sclerosis makes beasts of us all.
We can only hope that in a not too far distant future, there will be no need to sing this sad refrain:

Dal mo done,
Dourri mo done,
Kifer to finn mor
Tamby?

Date: 18.02.22

We are here concerned with 2 species of the genus ‘cannabis’: that which yields THC and is considered a drug and that which yields CBD, an effective medication to help us face a series of pathologies.
It must be remembered that THC cannabis is illegal although it is less dangerous than tobacco and alcohol which are legal. I am sure that you understand why.
We will call CBD cannabis ‘INDUSTRIAL CANNABIS’. It is also known as hemp.
“Hemp, or industrial hemp, is a botanical class of Cannabis sativa cultivars grown specifically for industrial or medicinal use. It can be used to make a wide range of products. Along with bamboo, hemp is among the fastest growing plants on Earth. It was also one of the first plants to be spun into usable fiber 50,000 years ago. It can be refined into a variety of commercial items, including paper, rope, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, food, and animal feed.” (Wikipedia)
How effective is CBD?
According to a 2018 study (MEDICAL NEWS TODAY), reasons for taking CBD oil include:
• chronic pain
• arthritis or joint pain
• anxiety and depression
• sleep disorder
• migraine
• cluster and other headaches
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• nausea
• cancer
• allergies or asthma
• epilepsy and other seizure disorders
• multiple sclerosis (MS)
• lung conditions
• Parkinson’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
To this list I will also add PPS (post-polio-syndrome)

GO GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE

This very fast-growing plant can be harvested 3-4 times per year and will definitely reduce imports of several commodities including cement, textile fibres, fossil fuels, wood and food.
I understand that big, medium and small planters are keen to invest in that field. Why do we dilly-dally?

CHOMBO, NAPA LES SAPE

Nou gardmanze vid; planet dan dife; klima finn gagn kriz; bizen enterdi lenerzi fosil; nou lagrikiltir bizen sanz vizaz; nou bizen later pou plant kanabis ki donn CBD.
Apart CBD ki pou ed nou tou ki soufer douler PPS, artrit, rematis, kanser, depresion, migrenn, asma, HIV, douler reg ek menopoz … Kanabis endistriyel donn nou materyo pou lenerzi ver, lendistri textil, lendistri lakord, lendistri konstriksion.
Eh Fatra, ki to pe atann?
(We need food-security; fight global burning, climate crisis; use green energy; revamp our agriculture and grow hemp to produce CBD and raw materials for different industries. You fool! What are you waiting for?)

Chombo li la,
Chombo li.
Chombo li,
Napa les li sape!
(Fanfan)

Date: 17.02.22