portraits of rural jamaica €¦ · ganja law reform in jamaica-musically speaking hemp-ocrisy+ the...
TRANSCRIPT
Ganja Law Reform in Jamaica
-Musically Speaking
HEMP-ocrisy+The Crabs and the 500 Acre
Bucket -Patrick Howell
Portraits of Rural Jamaica wwwisland-stagecom
Table of Contents
Cover Photo copy Roxanne Haynes
Table of Contents photo copy Reggae Reflection
Ziggy Marley
FLY RASTA
+ 5 Musically Speaking - Lloyd Stanbury
lsquoGanja Law Reform in Jamaicarsquo
31 The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket -
Patrick Howell
38 HEMP-ocrisy - Sista Irie
46 Rural Jamaican - photos by Lee Abel
50 Forgotten Faces - Germantown
Jamaica
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3
FreeFree like the day I was born
Free like the wind on that Wednesday
Free like the souls be dancing through the fields
Free like blowing Breeze Free like the swaying Trees
Free like the morning dew
Free to do what I do
Free like the Herb Smoke I exhale
I just got to be free
Free to switch gears and go in double time
and Irsquom free not to rhyme
Free just to be
Free like the well spring of life thatrsquos in me
Free like my Mama she taught me to be
Free like the mind of the smallest of child
Free to stay on the playground for a while
Free like I feel when I step out on stage
and the Spirit of JAH Captivates me
Free like synaptic reactions thats happening
spawning creation of pure energy
Free like vibrations we hold in the cycle
Quite frequently mixed in with strong THC
Free to see through and free
to discern
all my wild fantasies from my
true realities
Free to be pushed from the
ledge when
Irsquom standing on the edge
Still standing firm on my feet
-Stevie Lightening
ldquoReturn of the Righteous Vol1rdquo
wwwrootzundergroundcomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Sista Irie Photography- Old Pinnacle Well
Musically Speakingby Lloyd Stanbury
Ganja Law Reform in Jamaica and the Pinnacle Debacle
The Jamaican Government has clearly signaled its intention to pursue a strategy
towards Ganja law reform aimed at facilitating decriminalization legalization and the
commercialization Marijuana Many are asking what took them so long
Over 15 years ago I attended an international training seminar in The Hague
Netherlands which dealt with the use of information and communications technologies
for development I recall that one of my fellow participants from Jamaica remained in The Netherlands after
the seminar to conduct a study on the legalization of Marijuana which according to him was commissioned by
the Jamaican government My understanding is that his report was submitted soon after his return to Jamaica
After all this time I cannot help but conclude that the apparent haste with which the Jamaican government
now seeks to address Ganja law reform is being driven by economic desperation and greed I am also
absolutely amazed that the Jamaican government and their ldquoexpert advisorsrdquo appear to be oblivious to their
blatant hypocrisy and lack of credibility as they seek to pursue Ganja law reform with vigour while dragging
their feet on the issue of Pinnacle restoration and other burning concerns affecting the RasTafari community
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
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7
RasTafari culture is revered globally yet successive
Jamaican governments have failed to protect
respect and preserve Pinnacle the birthplace of
the RasTafari movement Pinnacle is reported to be
the first commercial Ganja farm in Jamaica and
was also a self sustaining RasTafari community
For the past 70 years however members of the
RasTafari community in Jamaica have been abused
persecuted and discriminated against by the
government and security forces primarily because
of their use of Ganja
It is my view that the proposed new Jamaican
government policy on Ganja MUST include
atonement and reparations for the abuse inflicted
on members of the RasTafari community for their
use of Ganja In particular the destruction of the
Pinnacle community and the incarceration and
committal to a mental institution of its leader
Leonard Percival Howell must be addressed Any
government supported initiative on Ganja law
reform (be it legalization decriminalization and
or commercialization) is hypocritical and lacking
in credibility if pursued without an equal resolve
to address the destruction of the first commercial
Ganja farm in Jamaica and the RasTafari
community that was Pinnacle
copySista Irie Photography
Music Shall Teach Them A Lesson
R
E
B
E
L
M
U
S
I
C
M a r i j u a n aProgress
by Susan Underwood
According to the ACLUrsquos original analysis marijuana arrests now
account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States Of the
82 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010 88 were
for simply having marijuana Nationwide the arrest data revealed
one consistent trend significant racial bias httpswwwacluorg
criminal-law-reformmarijuana-arrests-numbers
When you look at marijuana arrest data in the US every 37
seconds someone gets handcuffed and booked for weed-related
crime and black people are 37 times more likely to be the ones
arrested (communities of color have felt this to be true for a long
time and now we have the stats to back us up)
Nine out of ten in the US donrsquot think a person should face jail
time for a small amount weed In 2010 alone states spent $361
BILLION enforcing marijuana laws in the US
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11
Quoting Karl lsquoDice Rawrsquo Jenkins in a Huffington
Post article published on 3182014
ldquoI can think of so many different ways the money
can be better spent and Irsquom sure Irsquom not the only
one Start off with the most obvious areas in need
of improvement -- quality education More MUSIC
and sports programs for children and older youth
The money being spent on marijuana arrests and
convictions is a complete waste of taxpayersrsquo
money I mean with the dough thatrsquos being
wasted on arresting people up for smoking and
selling minuscule amounts of weed we could feed
starving children set up Internet-equipped rooms
in inner-city community centers for starters and
not just for inner-city youth but for all childrenrdquo
Here Here Karl We Agree Read Karlrsquos full article
httpwwwhuffingtonpostcomkarl-dice-raw-
jenkinswe-shouldnt-arrest-one-mo_b_4987544
html
In 1994 Dale Gieringer PhD wrote a detailed
analysis of the benefits of ending cannabis
prohibition In pointing out specifically the
revenue potential from legalization the numbers
were staggering and this was twenty years ago
Imagine the numbers now in 2014
Economic Benefits of Cannabis Legalization
Excise Taxes
$22 - $64 Billion
Sales Taxes
$02 - $13 Billion
Enforcement Savings
$6 - $9 Billion
Hemp Industry
$6 - $10 Billion
Spinoff industries Reduced hard-drug and alcohol abuse
So what does our progress look like today In
the US states of Washington and Colorado at the
state level (on 28 May 2013 Colorado became the
worldrsquos first fully regulated recreational cannabis
market for adults) A larger number of countries
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
12
jails with marijuana-related cases In 2003 a
government commission recommended legalizing
marijuana in small amounts for personal use
But lawmakers never acted saying legalization
might entail loss of their countryrsquos US anti-drug
certification Countries that lose it face economic
sanctions A US State Department report reports
that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana
in the Caribbean Talks have resumed Letrsquos see
what progress can be made
Letrsquos look again at the economic impact as it
relates to the US state of Colorado specifically
According to our sources On New Yearrsquos Day
2014 24 dispensaries opened up in the state
to sell recreational marijuana and sales totaled
more than $1 million Over a week sales totaled
$5 million What do all these numbers mean for
Colorado and for the rest of the states in the
country Tax revenue
With state taxes at 35 percent and the ability for
have decriminalized or legalized cannabis On 10
December 2013Uruguay became the first country
in the world to fully legalize the sale production
and distribution of marijuana You can also view 20
Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC Laws Fees
and Possession Limits here
httpmedicalmarijuanaproconorgviewresource
phpresourceID=000881
Here is where things stand by country
httpenwikipediaorgwikiLegality_of_cannabis_
by_country
It will suprise alot of you to know that Cannabis
is illegal in Jamaica You can be arrested for
simply possessing a spliff According to our
sources Jamaica is considering the legalization
of marijuana A seven-member government
commission has been researching possible changes
to the Caribbean nationrsquos anti-drug laws which
some police complain are clogging courts and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
13
cities to add their own sales tax the legalization
and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado
will bring in about $70 million in revenue this year
according to the Colorado Department of Revenue-
division of taxation The first $40 million in income
will be spent on education and schools while the
remaining will be spent on marijuana regulation
Alaska Arizona California Delaware Hawaii
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Montana
Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island
Washington DC and Vermont are next in line
to legalize recreational marijuana with current
initiatives and talks taking place in the states
Washington State is set to sell recreational
marijuana in the same fashion as Colorado later
this year
Although a bit slow we are making progress
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
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Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
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19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
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20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
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Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
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Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Table of Contents
Cover Photo copy Roxanne Haynes
Table of Contents photo copy Reggae Reflection
Ziggy Marley
FLY RASTA
+ 5 Musically Speaking - Lloyd Stanbury
lsquoGanja Law Reform in Jamaicarsquo
31 The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket -
Patrick Howell
38 HEMP-ocrisy - Sista Irie
46 Rural Jamaican - photos by Lee Abel
50 Forgotten Faces - Germantown
Jamaica
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
3
FreeFree like the day I was born
Free like the wind on that Wednesday
Free like the souls be dancing through the fields
Free like blowing Breeze Free like the swaying Trees
Free like the morning dew
Free to do what I do
Free like the Herb Smoke I exhale
I just got to be free
Free to switch gears and go in double time
and Irsquom free not to rhyme
Free just to be
Free like the well spring of life thatrsquos in me
Free like my Mama she taught me to be
Free like the mind of the smallest of child
Free to stay on the playground for a while
Free like I feel when I step out on stage
and the Spirit of JAH Captivates me
Free like synaptic reactions thats happening
spawning creation of pure energy
Free like vibrations we hold in the cycle
Quite frequently mixed in with strong THC
Free to see through and free
to discern
all my wild fantasies from my
true realities
Free to be pushed from the
ledge when
Irsquom standing on the edge
Still standing firm on my feet
-Stevie Lightening
ldquoReturn of the Righteous Vol1rdquo
wwwrootzundergroundcomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Sista Irie Photography- Old Pinnacle Well
Musically Speakingby Lloyd Stanbury
Ganja Law Reform in Jamaica and the Pinnacle Debacle
The Jamaican Government has clearly signaled its intention to pursue a strategy
towards Ganja law reform aimed at facilitating decriminalization legalization and the
commercialization Marijuana Many are asking what took them so long
Over 15 years ago I attended an international training seminar in The Hague
Netherlands which dealt with the use of information and communications technologies
for development I recall that one of my fellow participants from Jamaica remained in The Netherlands after
the seminar to conduct a study on the legalization of Marijuana which according to him was commissioned by
the Jamaican government My understanding is that his report was submitted soon after his return to Jamaica
After all this time I cannot help but conclude that the apparent haste with which the Jamaican government
now seeks to address Ganja law reform is being driven by economic desperation and greed I am also
absolutely amazed that the Jamaican government and their ldquoexpert advisorsrdquo appear to be oblivious to their
blatant hypocrisy and lack of credibility as they seek to pursue Ganja law reform with vigour while dragging
their feet on the issue of Pinnacle restoration and other burning concerns affecting the RasTafari community
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
7
RasTafari culture is revered globally yet successive
Jamaican governments have failed to protect
respect and preserve Pinnacle the birthplace of
the RasTafari movement Pinnacle is reported to be
the first commercial Ganja farm in Jamaica and
was also a self sustaining RasTafari community
For the past 70 years however members of the
RasTafari community in Jamaica have been abused
persecuted and discriminated against by the
government and security forces primarily because
of their use of Ganja
It is my view that the proposed new Jamaican
government policy on Ganja MUST include
atonement and reparations for the abuse inflicted
on members of the RasTafari community for their
use of Ganja In particular the destruction of the
Pinnacle community and the incarceration and
committal to a mental institution of its leader
Leonard Percival Howell must be addressed Any
government supported initiative on Ganja law
reform (be it legalization decriminalization and
or commercialization) is hypocritical and lacking
in credibility if pursued without an equal resolve
to address the destruction of the first commercial
Ganja farm in Jamaica and the RasTafari
community that was Pinnacle
copySista Irie Photography
Music Shall Teach Them A Lesson
R
E
B
E
L
M
U
S
I
C
M a r i j u a n aProgress
by Susan Underwood
According to the ACLUrsquos original analysis marijuana arrests now
account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States Of the
82 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010 88 were
for simply having marijuana Nationwide the arrest data revealed
one consistent trend significant racial bias httpswwwacluorg
criminal-law-reformmarijuana-arrests-numbers
When you look at marijuana arrest data in the US every 37
seconds someone gets handcuffed and booked for weed-related
crime and black people are 37 times more likely to be the ones
arrested (communities of color have felt this to be true for a long
time and now we have the stats to back us up)
Nine out of ten in the US donrsquot think a person should face jail
time for a small amount weed In 2010 alone states spent $361
BILLION enforcing marijuana laws in the US
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
11
Quoting Karl lsquoDice Rawrsquo Jenkins in a Huffington
Post article published on 3182014
ldquoI can think of so many different ways the money
can be better spent and Irsquom sure Irsquom not the only
one Start off with the most obvious areas in need
of improvement -- quality education More MUSIC
and sports programs for children and older youth
The money being spent on marijuana arrests and
convictions is a complete waste of taxpayersrsquo
money I mean with the dough thatrsquos being
wasted on arresting people up for smoking and
selling minuscule amounts of weed we could feed
starving children set up Internet-equipped rooms
in inner-city community centers for starters and
not just for inner-city youth but for all childrenrdquo
Here Here Karl We Agree Read Karlrsquos full article
httpwwwhuffingtonpostcomkarl-dice-raw-
jenkinswe-shouldnt-arrest-one-mo_b_4987544
html
In 1994 Dale Gieringer PhD wrote a detailed
analysis of the benefits of ending cannabis
prohibition In pointing out specifically the
revenue potential from legalization the numbers
were staggering and this was twenty years ago
Imagine the numbers now in 2014
Economic Benefits of Cannabis Legalization
Excise Taxes
$22 - $64 Billion
Sales Taxes
$02 - $13 Billion
Enforcement Savings
$6 - $9 Billion
Hemp Industry
$6 - $10 Billion
Spinoff industries Reduced hard-drug and alcohol abuse
So what does our progress look like today In
the US states of Washington and Colorado at the
state level (on 28 May 2013 Colorado became the
worldrsquos first fully regulated recreational cannabis
market for adults) A larger number of countries
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
12
jails with marijuana-related cases In 2003 a
government commission recommended legalizing
marijuana in small amounts for personal use
But lawmakers never acted saying legalization
might entail loss of their countryrsquos US anti-drug
certification Countries that lose it face economic
sanctions A US State Department report reports
that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana
in the Caribbean Talks have resumed Letrsquos see
what progress can be made
Letrsquos look again at the economic impact as it
relates to the US state of Colorado specifically
According to our sources On New Yearrsquos Day
2014 24 dispensaries opened up in the state
to sell recreational marijuana and sales totaled
more than $1 million Over a week sales totaled
$5 million What do all these numbers mean for
Colorado and for the rest of the states in the
country Tax revenue
With state taxes at 35 percent and the ability for
have decriminalized or legalized cannabis On 10
December 2013Uruguay became the first country
in the world to fully legalize the sale production
and distribution of marijuana You can also view 20
Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC Laws Fees
and Possession Limits here
httpmedicalmarijuanaproconorgviewresource
phpresourceID=000881
Here is where things stand by country
httpenwikipediaorgwikiLegality_of_cannabis_
by_country
It will suprise alot of you to know that Cannabis
is illegal in Jamaica You can be arrested for
simply possessing a spliff According to our
sources Jamaica is considering the legalization
of marijuana A seven-member government
commission has been researching possible changes
to the Caribbean nationrsquos anti-drug laws which
some police complain are clogging courts and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
13
cities to add their own sales tax the legalization
and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado
will bring in about $70 million in revenue this year
according to the Colorado Department of Revenue-
division of taxation The first $40 million in income
will be spent on education and schools while the
remaining will be spent on marijuana regulation
Alaska Arizona California Delaware Hawaii
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Montana
Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island
Washington DC and Vermont are next in line
to legalize recreational marijuana with current
initiatives and talks taking place in the states
Washington State is set to sell recreational
marijuana in the same fashion as Colorado later
this year
Although a bit slow we are making progress
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
3
FreeFree like the day I was born
Free like the wind on that Wednesday
Free like the souls be dancing through the fields
Free like blowing Breeze Free like the swaying Trees
Free like the morning dew
Free to do what I do
Free like the Herb Smoke I exhale
I just got to be free
Free to switch gears and go in double time
and Irsquom free not to rhyme
Free just to be
Free like the well spring of life thatrsquos in me
Free like my Mama she taught me to be
Free like the mind of the smallest of child
Free to stay on the playground for a while
Free like I feel when I step out on stage
and the Spirit of JAH Captivates me
Free like synaptic reactions thats happening
spawning creation of pure energy
Free like vibrations we hold in the cycle
Quite frequently mixed in with strong THC
Free to see through and free
to discern
all my wild fantasies from my
true realities
Free to be pushed from the
ledge when
Irsquom standing on the edge
Still standing firm on my feet
-Stevie Lightening
ldquoReturn of the Righteous Vol1rdquo
wwwrootzundergroundcomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Sista Irie Photography- Old Pinnacle Well
Musically Speakingby Lloyd Stanbury
Ganja Law Reform in Jamaica and the Pinnacle Debacle
The Jamaican Government has clearly signaled its intention to pursue a strategy
towards Ganja law reform aimed at facilitating decriminalization legalization and the
commercialization Marijuana Many are asking what took them so long
Over 15 years ago I attended an international training seminar in The Hague
Netherlands which dealt with the use of information and communications technologies
for development I recall that one of my fellow participants from Jamaica remained in The Netherlands after
the seminar to conduct a study on the legalization of Marijuana which according to him was commissioned by
the Jamaican government My understanding is that his report was submitted soon after his return to Jamaica
After all this time I cannot help but conclude that the apparent haste with which the Jamaican government
now seeks to address Ganja law reform is being driven by economic desperation and greed I am also
absolutely amazed that the Jamaican government and their ldquoexpert advisorsrdquo appear to be oblivious to their
blatant hypocrisy and lack of credibility as they seek to pursue Ganja law reform with vigour while dragging
their feet on the issue of Pinnacle restoration and other burning concerns affecting the RasTafari community
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
7
RasTafari culture is revered globally yet successive
Jamaican governments have failed to protect
respect and preserve Pinnacle the birthplace of
the RasTafari movement Pinnacle is reported to be
the first commercial Ganja farm in Jamaica and
was also a self sustaining RasTafari community
For the past 70 years however members of the
RasTafari community in Jamaica have been abused
persecuted and discriminated against by the
government and security forces primarily because
of their use of Ganja
It is my view that the proposed new Jamaican
government policy on Ganja MUST include
atonement and reparations for the abuse inflicted
on members of the RasTafari community for their
use of Ganja In particular the destruction of the
Pinnacle community and the incarceration and
committal to a mental institution of its leader
Leonard Percival Howell must be addressed Any
government supported initiative on Ganja law
reform (be it legalization decriminalization and
or commercialization) is hypocritical and lacking
in credibility if pursued without an equal resolve
to address the destruction of the first commercial
Ganja farm in Jamaica and the RasTafari
community that was Pinnacle
copySista Irie Photography
Music Shall Teach Them A Lesson
R
E
B
E
L
M
U
S
I
C
M a r i j u a n aProgress
by Susan Underwood
According to the ACLUrsquos original analysis marijuana arrests now
account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States Of the
82 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010 88 were
for simply having marijuana Nationwide the arrest data revealed
one consistent trend significant racial bias httpswwwacluorg
criminal-law-reformmarijuana-arrests-numbers
When you look at marijuana arrest data in the US every 37
seconds someone gets handcuffed and booked for weed-related
crime and black people are 37 times more likely to be the ones
arrested (communities of color have felt this to be true for a long
time and now we have the stats to back us up)
Nine out of ten in the US donrsquot think a person should face jail
time for a small amount weed In 2010 alone states spent $361
BILLION enforcing marijuana laws in the US
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
11
Quoting Karl lsquoDice Rawrsquo Jenkins in a Huffington
Post article published on 3182014
ldquoI can think of so many different ways the money
can be better spent and Irsquom sure Irsquom not the only
one Start off with the most obvious areas in need
of improvement -- quality education More MUSIC
and sports programs for children and older youth
The money being spent on marijuana arrests and
convictions is a complete waste of taxpayersrsquo
money I mean with the dough thatrsquos being
wasted on arresting people up for smoking and
selling minuscule amounts of weed we could feed
starving children set up Internet-equipped rooms
in inner-city community centers for starters and
not just for inner-city youth but for all childrenrdquo
Here Here Karl We Agree Read Karlrsquos full article
httpwwwhuffingtonpostcomkarl-dice-raw-
jenkinswe-shouldnt-arrest-one-mo_b_4987544
html
In 1994 Dale Gieringer PhD wrote a detailed
analysis of the benefits of ending cannabis
prohibition In pointing out specifically the
revenue potential from legalization the numbers
were staggering and this was twenty years ago
Imagine the numbers now in 2014
Economic Benefits of Cannabis Legalization
Excise Taxes
$22 - $64 Billion
Sales Taxes
$02 - $13 Billion
Enforcement Savings
$6 - $9 Billion
Hemp Industry
$6 - $10 Billion
Spinoff industries Reduced hard-drug and alcohol abuse
So what does our progress look like today In
the US states of Washington and Colorado at the
state level (on 28 May 2013 Colorado became the
worldrsquos first fully regulated recreational cannabis
market for adults) A larger number of countries
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
12
jails with marijuana-related cases In 2003 a
government commission recommended legalizing
marijuana in small amounts for personal use
But lawmakers never acted saying legalization
might entail loss of their countryrsquos US anti-drug
certification Countries that lose it face economic
sanctions A US State Department report reports
that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana
in the Caribbean Talks have resumed Letrsquos see
what progress can be made
Letrsquos look again at the economic impact as it
relates to the US state of Colorado specifically
According to our sources On New Yearrsquos Day
2014 24 dispensaries opened up in the state
to sell recreational marijuana and sales totaled
more than $1 million Over a week sales totaled
$5 million What do all these numbers mean for
Colorado and for the rest of the states in the
country Tax revenue
With state taxes at 35 percent and the ability for
have decriminalized or legalized cannabis On 10
December 2013Uruguay became the first country
in the world to fully legalize the sale production
and distribution of marijuana You can also view 20
Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC Laws Fees
and Possession Limits here
httpmedicalmarijuanaproconorgviewresource
phpresourceID=000881
Here is where things stand by country
httpenwikipediaorgwikiLegality_of_cannabis_
by_country
It will suprise alot of you to know that Cannabis
is illegal in Jamaica You can be arrested for
simply possessing a spliff According to our
sources Jamaica is considering the legalization
of marijuana A seven-member government
commission has been researching possible changes
to the Caribbean nationrsquos anti-drug laws which
some police complain are clogging courts and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
13
cities to add their own sales tax the legalization
and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado
will bring in about $70 million in revenue this year
according to the Colorado Department of Revenue-
division of taxation The first $40 million in income
will be spent on education and schools while the
remaining will be spent on marijuana regulation
Alaska Arizona California Delaware Hawaii
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Montana
Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island
Washington DC and Vermont are next in line
to legalize recreational marijuana with current
initiatives and talks taking place in the states
Washington State is set to sell recreational
marijuana in the same fashion as Colorado later
this year
Although a bit slow we are making progress
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
copy Sista Irie Photography- Old Pinnacle Well
Musically Speakingby Lloyd Stanbury
Ganja Law Reform in Jamaica and the Pinnacle Debacle
The Jamaican Government has clearly signaled its intention to pursue a strategy
towards Ganja law reform aimed at facilitating decriminalization legalization and the
commercialization Marijuana Many are asking what took them so long
Over 15 years ago I attended an international training seminar in The Hague
Netherlands which dealt with the use of information and communications technologies
for development I recall that one of my fellow participants from Jamaica remained in The Netherlands after
the seminar to conduct a study on the legalization of Marijuana which according to him was commissioned by
the Jamaican government My understanding is that his report was submitted soon after his return to Jamaica
After all this time I cannot help but conclude that the apparent haste with which the Jamaican government
now seeks to address Ganja law reform is being driven by economic desperation and greed I am also
absolutely amazed that the Jamaican government and their ldquoexpert advisorsrdquo appear to be oblivious to their
blatant hypocrisy and lack of credibility as they seek to pursue Ganja law reform with vigour while dragging
their feet on the issue of Pinnacle restoration and other burning concerns affecting the RasTafari community
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
7
RasTafari culture is revered globally yet successive
Jamaican governments have failed to protect
respect and preserve Pinnacle the birthplace of
the RasTafari movement Pinnacle is reported to be
the first commercial Ganja farm in Jamaica and
was also a self sustaining RasTafari community
For the past 70 years however members of the
RasTafari community in Jamaica have been abused
persecuted and discriminated against by the
government and security forces primarily because
of their use of Ganja
It is my view that the proposed new Jamaican
government policy on Ganja MUST include
atonement and reparations for the abuse inflicted
on members of the RasTafari community for their
use of Ganja In particular the destruction of the
Pinnacle community and the incarceration and
committal to a mental institution of its leader
Leonard Percival Howell must be addressed Any
government supported initiative on Ganja law
reform (be it legalization decriminalization and
or commercialization) is hypocritical and lacking
in credibility if pursued without an equal resolve
to address the destruction of the first commercial
Ganja farm in Jamaica and the RasTafari
community that was Pinnacle
copySista Irie Photography
Music Shall Teach Them A Lesson
R
E
B
E
L
M
U
S
I
C
M a r i j u a n aProgress
by Susan Underwood
According to the ACLUrsquos original analysis marijuana arrests now
account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States Of the
82 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010 88 were
for simply having marijuana Nationwide the arrest data revealed
one consistent trend significant racial bias httpswwwacluorg
criminal-law-reformmarijuana-arrests-numbers
When you look at marijuana arrest data in the US every 37
seconds someone gets handcuffed and booked for weed-related
crime and black people are 37 times more likely to be the ones
arrested (communities of color have felt this to be true for a long
time and now we have the stats to back us up)
Nine out of ten in the US donrsquot think a person should face jail
time for a small amount weed In 2010 alone states spent $361
BILLION enforcing marijuana laws in the US
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
11
Quoting Karl lsquoDice Rawrsquo Jenkins in a Huffington
Post article published on 3182014
ldquoI can think of so many different ways the money
can be better spent and Irsquom sure Irsquom not the only
one Start off with the most obvious areas in need
of improvement -- quality education More MUSIC
and sports programs for children and older youth
The money being spent on marijuana arrests and
convictions is a complete waste of taxpayersrsquo
money I mean with the dough thatrsquos being
wasted on arresting people up for smoking and
selling minuscule amounts of weed we could feed
starving children set up Internet-equipped rooms
in inner-city community centers for starters and
not just for inner-city youth but for all childrenrdquo
Here Here Karl We Agree Read Karlrsquos full article
httpwwwhuffingtonpostcomkarl-dice-raw-
jenkinswe-shouldnt-arrest-one-mo_b_4987544
html
In 1994 Dale Gieringer PhD wrote a detailed
analysis of the benefits of ending cannabis
prohibition In pointing out specifically the
revenue potential from legalization the numbers
were staggering and this was twenty years ago
Imagine the numbers now in 2014
Economic Benefits of Cannabis Legalization
Excise Taxes
$22 - $64 Billion
Sales Taxes
$02 - $13 Billion
Enforcement Savings
$6 - $9 Billion
Hemp Industry
$6 - $10 Billion
Spinoff industries Reduced hard-drug and alcohol abuse
So what does our progress look like today In
the US states of Washington and Colorado at the
state level (on 28 May 2013 Colorado became the
worldrsquos first fully regulated recreational cannabis
market for adults) A larger number of countries
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
12
jails with marijuana-related cases In 2003 a
government commission recommended legalizing
marijuana in small amounts for personal use
But lawmakers never acted saying legalization
might entail loss of their countryrsquos US anti-drug
certification Countries that lose it face economic
sanctions A US State Department report reports
that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana
in the Caribbean Talks have resumed Letrsquos see
what progress can be made
Letrsquos look again at the economic impact as it
relates to the US state of Colorado specifically
According to our sources On New Yearrsquos Day
2014 24 dispensaries opened up in the state
to sell recreational marijuana and sales totaled
more than $1 million Over a week sales totaled
$5 million What do all these numbers mean for
Colorado and for the rest of the states in the
country Tax revenue
With state taxes at 35 percent and the ability for
have decriminalized or legalized cannabis On 10
December 2013Uruguay became the first country
in the world to fully legalize the sale production
and distribution of marijuana You can also view 20
Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC Laws Fees
and Possession Limits here
httpmedicalmarijuanaproconorgviewresource
phpresourceID=000881
Here is where things stand by country
httpenwikipediaorgwikiLegality_of_cannabis_
by_country
It will suprise alot of you to know that Cannabis
is illegal in Jamaica You can be arrested for
simply possessing a spliff According to our
sources Jamaica is considering the legalization
of marijuana A seven-member government
commission has been researching possible changes
to the Caribbean nationrsquos anti-drug laws which
some police complain are clogging courts and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
13
cities to add their own sales tax the legalization
and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado
will bring in about $70 million in revenue this year
according to the Colorado Department of Revenue-
division of taxation The first $40 million in income
will be spent on education and schools while the
remaining will be spent on marijuana regulation
Alaska Arizona California Delaware Hawaii
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Montana
Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island
Washington DC and Vermont are next in line
to legalize recreational marijuana with current
initiatives and talks taking place in the states
Washington State is set to sell recreational
marijuana in the same fashion as Colorado later
this year
Although a bit slow we are making progress
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Musically Speakingby Lloyd Stanbury
Ganja Law Reform in Jamaica and the Pinnacle Debacle
The Jamaican Government has clearly signaled its intention to pursue a strategy
towards Ganja law reform aimed at facilitating decriminalization legalization and the
commercialization Marijuana Many are asking what took them so long
Over 15 years ago I attended an international training seminar in The Hague
Netherlands which dealt with the use of information and communications technologies
for development I recall that one of my fellow participants from Jamaica remained in The Netherlands after
the seminar to conduct a study on the legalization of Marijuana which according to him was commissioned by
the Jamaican government My understanding is that his report was submitted soon after his return to Jamaica
After all this time I cannot help but conclude that the apparent haste with which the Jamaican government
now seeks to address Ganja law reform is being driven by economic desperation and greed I am also
absolutely amazed that the Jamaican government and their ldquoexpert advisorsrdquo appear to be oblivious to their
blatant hypocrisy and lack of credibility as they seek to pursue Ganja law reform with vigour while dragging
their feet on the issue of Pinnacle restoration and other burning concerns affecting the RasTafari community
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
7
RasTafari culture is revered globally yet successive
Jamaican governments have failed to protect
respect and preserve Pinnacle the birthplace of
the RasTafari movement Pinnacle is reported to be
the first commercial Ganja farm in Jamaica and
was also a self sustaining RasTafari community
For the past 70 years however members of the
RasTafari community in Jamaica have been abused
persecuted and discriminated against by the
government and security forces primarily because
of their use of Ganja
It is my view that the proposed new Jamaican
government policy on Ganja MUST include
atonement and reparations for the abuse inflicted
on members of the RasTafari community for their
use of Ganja In particular the destruction of the
Pinnacle community and the incarceration and
committal to a mental institution of its leader
Leonard Percival Howell must be addressed Any
government supported initiative on Ganja law
reform (be it legalization decriminalization and
or commercialization) is hypocritical and lacking
in credibility if pursued without an equal resolve
to address the destruction of the first commercial
Ganja farm in Jamaica and the RasTafari
community that was Pinnacle
copySista Irie Photography
Music Shall Teach Them A Lesson
R
E
B
E
L
M
U
S
I
C
M a r i j u a n aProgress
by Susan Underwood
According to the ACLUrsquos original analysis marijuana arrests now
account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States Of the
82 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010 88 were
for simply having marijuana Nationwide the arrest data revealed
one consistent trend significant racial bias httpswwwacluorg
criminal-law-reformmarijuana-arrests-numbers
When you look at marijuana arrest data in the US every 37
seconds someone gets handcuffed and booked for weed-related
crime and black people are 37 times more likely to be the ones
arrested (communities of color have felt this to be true for a long
time and now we have the stats to back us up)
Nine out of ten in the US donrsquot think a person should face jail
time for a small amount weed In 2010 alone states spent $361
BILLION enforcing marijuana laws in the US
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
11
Quoting Karl lsquoDice Rawrsquo Jenkins in a Huffington
Post article published on 3182014
ldquoI can think of so many different ways the money
can be better spent and Irsquom sure Irsquom not the only
one Start off with the most obvious areas in need
of improvement -- quality education More MUSIC
and sports programs for children and older youth
The money being spent on marijuana arrests and
convictions is a complete waste of taxpayersrsquo
money I mean with the dough thatrsquos being
wasted on arresting people up for smoking and
selling minuscule amounts of weed we could feed
starving children set up Internet-equipped rooms
in inner-city community centers for starters and
not just for inner-city youth but for all childrenrdquo
Here Here Karl We Agree Read Karlrsquos full article
httpwwwhuffingtonpostcomkarl-dice-raw-
jenkinswe-shouldnt-arrest-one-mo_b_4987544
html
In 1994 Dale Gieringer PhD wrote a detailed
analysis of the benefits of ending cannabis
prohibition In pointing out specifically the
revenue potential from legalization the numbers
were staggering and this was twenty years ago
Imagine the numbers now in 2014
Economic Benefits of Cannabis Legalization
Excise Taxes
$22 - $64 Billion
Sales Taxes
$02 - $13 Billion
Enforcement Savings
$6 - $9 Billion
Hemp Industry
$6 - $10 Billion
Spinoff industries Reduced hard-drug and alcohol abuse
So what does our progress look like today In
the US states of Washington and Colorado at the
state level (on 28 May 2013 Colorado became the
worldrsquos first fully regulated recreational cannabis
market for adults) A larger number of countries
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
12
jails with marijuana-related cases In 2003 a
government commission recommended legalizing
marijuana in small amounts for personal use
But lawmakers never acted saying legalization
might entail loss of their countryrsquos US anti-drug
certification Countries that lose it face economic
sanctions A US State Department report reports
that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana
in the Caribbean Talks have resumed Letrsquos see
what progress can be made
Letrsquos look again at the economic impact as it
relates to the US state of Colorado specifically
According to our sources On New Yearrsquos Day
2014 24 dispensaries opened up in the state
to sell recreational marijuana and sales totaled
more than $1 million Over a week sales totaled
$5 million What do all these numbers mean for
Colorado and for the rest of the states in the
country Tax revenue
With state taxes at 35 percent and the ability for
have decriminalized or legalized cannabis On 10
December 2013Uruguay became the first country
in the world to fully legalize the sale production
and distribution of marijuana You can also view 20
Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC Laws Fees
and Possession Limits here
httpmedicalmarijuanaproconorgviewresource
phpresourceID=000881
Here is where things stand by country
httpenwikipediaorgwikiLegality_of_cannabis_
by_country
It will suprise alot of you to know that Cannabis
is illegal in Jamaica You can be arrested for
simply possessing a spliff According to our
sources Jamaica is considering the legalization
of marijuana A seven-member government
commission has been researching possible changes
to the Caribbean nationrsquos anti-drug laws which
some police complain are clogging courts and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
13
cities to add their own sales tax the legalization
and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado
will bring in about $70 million in revenue this year
according to the Colorado Department of Revenue-
division of taxation The first $40 million in income
will be spent on education and schools while the
remaining will be spent on marijuana regulation
Alaska Arizona California Delaware Hawaii
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Montana
Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island
Washington DC and Vermont are next in line
to legalize recreational marijuana with current
initiatives and talks taking place in the states
Washington State is set to sell recreational
marijuana in the same fashion as Colorado later
this year
Although a bit slow we are making progress
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
7
RasTafari culture is revered globally yet successive
Jamaican governments have failed to protect
respect and preserve Pinnacle the birthplace of
the RasTafari movement Pinnacle is reported to be
the first commercial Ganja farm in Jamaica and
was also a self sustaining RasTafari community
For the past 70 years however members of the
RasTafari community in Jamaica have been abused
persecuted and discriminated against by the
government and security forces primarily because
of their use of Ganja
It is my view that the proposed new Jamaican
government policy on Ganja MUST include
atonement and reparations for the abuse inflicted
on members of the RasTafari community for their
use of Ganja In particular the destruction of the
Pinnacle community and the incarceration and
committal to a mental institution of its leader
Leonard Percival Howell must be addressed Any
government supported initiative on Ganja law
reform (be it legalization decriminalization and
or commercialization) is hypocritical and lacking
in credibility if pursued without an equal resolve
to address the destruction of the first commercial
Ganja farm in Jamaica and the RasTafari
community that was Pinnacle
copySista Irie Photography
Music Shall Teach Them A Lesson
R
E
B
E
L
M
U
S
I
C
M a r i j u a n aProgress
by Susan Underwood
According to the ACLUrsquos original analysis marijuana arrests now
account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States Of the
82 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010 88 were
for simply having marijuana Nationwide the arrest data revealed
one consistent trend significant racial bias httpswwwacluorg
criminal-law-reformmarijuana-arrests-numbers
When you look at marijuana arrest data in the US every 37
seconds someone gets handcuffed and booked for weed-related
crime and black people are 37 times more likely to be the ones
arrested (communities of color have felt this to be true for a long
time and now we have the stats to back us up)
Nine out of ten in the US donrsquot think a person should face jail
time for a small amount weed In 2010 alone states spent $361
BILLION enforcing marijuana laws in the US
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
11
Quoting Karl lsquoDice Rawrsquo Jenkins in a Huffington
Post article published on 3182014
ldquoI can think of so many different ways the money
can be better spent and Irsquom sure Irsquom not the only
one Start off with the most obvious areas in need
of improvement -- quality education More MUSIC
and sports programs for children and older youth
The money being spent on marijuana arrests and
convictions is a complete waste of taxpayersrsquo
money I mean with the dough thatrsquos being
wasted on arresting people up for smoking and
selling minuscule amounts of weed we could feed
starving children set up Internet-equipped rooms
in inner-city community centers for starters and
not just for inner-city youth but for all childrenrdquo
Here Here Karl We Agree Read Karlrsquos full article
httpwwwhuffingtonpostcomkarl-dice-raw-
jenkinswe-shouldnt-arrest-one-mo_b_4987544
html
In 1994 Dale Gieringer PhD wrote a detailed
analysis of the benefits of ending cannabis
prohibition In pointing out specifically the
revenue potential from legalization the numbers
were staggering and this was twenty years ago
Imagine the numbers now in 2014
Economic Benefits of Cannabis Legalization
Excise Taxes
$22 - $64 Billion
Sales Taxes
$02 - $13 Billion
Enforcement Savings
$6 - $9 Billion
Hemp Industry
$6 - $10 Billion
Spinoff industries Reduced hard-drug and alcohol abuse
So what does our progress look like today In
the US states of Washington and Colorado at the
state level (on 28 May 2013 Colorado became the
worldrsquos first fully regulated recreational cannabis
market for adults) A larger number of countries
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
12
jails with marijuana-related cases In 2003 a
government commission recommended legalizing
marijuana in small amounts for personal use
But lawmakers never acted saying legalization
might entail loss of their countryrsquos US anti-drug
certification Countries that lose it face economic
sanctions A US State Department report reports
that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana
in the Caribbean Talks have resumed Letrsquos see
what progress can be made
Letrsquos look again at the economic impact as it
relates to the US state of Colorado specifically
According to our sources On New Yearrsquos Day
2014 24 dispensaries opened up in the state
to sell recreational marijuana and sales totaled
more than $1 million Over a week sales totaled
$5 million What do all these numbers mean for
Colorado and for the rest of the states in the
country Tax revenue
With state taxes at 35 percent and the ability for
have decriminalized or legalized cannabis On 10
December 2013Uruguay became the first country
in the world to fully legalize the sale production
and distribution of marijuana You can also view 20
Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC Laws Fees
and Possession Limits here
httpmedicalmarijuanaproconorgviewresource
phpresourceID=000881
Here is where things stand by country
httpenwikipediaorgwikiLegality_of_cannabis_
by_country
It will suprise alot of you to know that Cannabis
is illegal in Jamaica You can be arrested for
simply possessing a spliff According to our
sources Jamaica is considering the legalization
of marijuana A seven-member government
commission has been researching possible changes
to the Caribbean nationrsquos anti-drug laws which
some police complain are clogging courts and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
13
cities to add their own sales tax the legalization
and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado
will bring in about $70 million in revenue this year
according to the Colorado Department of Revenue-
division of taxation The first $40 million in income
will be spent on education and schools while the
remaining will be spent on marijuana regulation
Alaska Arizona California Delaware Hawaii
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Montana
Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island
Washington DC and Vermont are next in line
to legalize recreational marijuana with current
initiatives and talks taking place in the states
Washington State is set to sell recreational
marijuana in the same fashion as Colorado later
this year
Although a bit slow we are making progress
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
copySista Irie Photography
Music Shall Teach Them A Lesson
R
E
B
E
L
M
U
S
I
C
M a r i j u a n aProgress
by Susan Underwood
According to the ACLUrsquos original analysis marijuana arrests now
account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States Of the
82 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010 88 were
for simply having marijuana Nationwide the arrest data revealed
one consistent trend significant racial bias httpswwwacluorg
criminal-law-reformmarijuana-arrests-numbers
When you look at marijuana arrest data in the US every 37
seconds someone gets handcuffed and booked for weed-related
crime and black people are 37 times more likely to be the ones
arrested (communities of color have felt this to be true for a long
time and now we have the stats to back us up)
Nine out of ten in the US donrsquot think a person should face jail
time for a small amount weed In 2010 alone states spent $361
BILLION enforcing marijuana laws in the US
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
11
Quoting Karl lsquoDice Rawrsquo Jenkins in a Huffington
Post article published on 3182014
ldquoI can think of so many different ways the money
can be better spent and Irsquom sure Irsquom not the only
one Start off with the most obvious areas in need
of improvement -- quality education More MUSIC
and sports programs for children and older youth
The money being spent on marijuana arrests and
convictions is a complete waste of taxpayersrsquo
money I mean with the dough thatrsquos being
wasted on arresting people up for smoking and
selling minuscule amounts of weed we could feed
starving children set up Internet-equipped rooms
in inner-city community centers for starters and
not just for inner-city youth but for all childrenrdquo
Here Here Karl We Agree Read Karlrsquos full article
httpwwwhuffingtonpostcomkarl-dice-raw-
jenkinswe-shouldnt-arrest-one-mo_b_4987544
html
In 1994 Dale Gieringer PhD wrote a detailed
analysis of the benefits of ending cannabis
prohibition In pointing out specifically the
revenue potential from legalization the numbers
were staggering and this was twenty years ago
Imagine the numbers now in 2014
Economic Benefits of Cannabis Legalization
Excise Taxes
$22 - $64 Billion
Sales Taxes
$02 - $13 Billion
Enforcement Savings
$6 - $9 Billion
Hemp Industry
$6 - $10 Billion
Spinoff industries Reduced hard-drug and alcohol abuse
So what does our progress look like today In
the US states of Washington and Colorado at the
state level (on 28 May 2013 Colorado became the
worldrsquos first fully regulated recreational cannabis
market for adults) A larger number of countries
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
12
jails with marijuana-related cases In 2003 a
government commission recommended legalizing
marijuana in small amounts for personal use
But lawmakers never acted saying legalization
might entail loss of their countryrsquos US anti-drug
certification Countries that lose it face economic
sanctions A US State Department report reports
that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana
in the Caribbean Talks have resumed Letrsquos see
what progress can be made
Letrsquos look again at the economic impact as it
relates to the US state of Colorado specifically
According to our sources On New Yearrsquos Day
2014 24 dispensaries opened up in the state
to sell recreational marijuana and sales totaled
more than $1 million Over a week sales totaled
$5 million What do all these numbers mean for
Colorado and for the rest of the states in the
country Tax revenue
With state taxes at 35 percent and the ability for
have decriminalized or legalized cannabis On 10
December 2013Uruguay became the first country
in the world to fully legalize the sale production
and distribution of marijuana You can also view 20
Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC Laws Fees
and Possession Limits here
httpmedicalmarijuanaproconorgviewresource
phpresourceID=000881
Here is where things stand by country
httpenwikipediaorgwikiLegality_of_cannabis_
by_country
It will suprise alot of you to know that Cannabis
is illegal in Jamaica You can be arrested for
simply possessing a spliff According to our
sources Jamaica is considering the legalization
of marijuana A seven-member government
commission has been researching possible changes
to the Caribbean nationrsquos anti-drug laws which
some police complain are clogging courts and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
13
cities to add their own sales tax the legalization
and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado
will bring in about $70 million in revenue this year
according to the Colorado Department of Revenue-
division of taxation The first $40 million in income
will be spent on education and schools while the
remaining will be spent on marijuana regulation
Alaska Arizona California Delaware Hawaii
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Montana
Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island
Washington DC and Vermont are next in line
to legalize recreational marijuana with current
initiatives and talks taking place in the states
Washington State is set to sell recreational
marijuana in the same fashion as Colorado later
this year
Although a bit slow we are making progress
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
M a r i j u a n aProgress
by Susan Underwood
According to the ACLUrsquos original analysis marijuana arrests now
account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States Of the
82 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010 88 were
for simply having marijuana Nationwide the arrest data revealed
one consistent trend significant racial bias httpswwwacluorg
criminal-law-reformmarijuana-arrests-numbers
When you look at marijuana arrest data in the US every 37
seconds someone gets handcuffed and booked for weed-related
crime and black people are 37 times more likely to be the ones
arrested (communities of color have felt this to be true for a long
time and now we have the stats to back us up)
Nine out of ten in the US donrsquot think a person should face jail
time for a small amount weed In 2010 alone states spent $361
BILLION enforcing marijuana laws in the US
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
11
Quoting Karl lsquoDice Rawrsquo Jenkins in a Huffington
Post article published on 3182014
ldquoI can think of so many different ways the money
can be better spent and Irsquom sure Irsquom not the only
one Start off with the most obvious areas in need
of improvement -- quality education More MUSIC
and sports programs for children and older youth
The money being spent on marijuana arrests and
convictions is a complete waste of taxpayersrsquo
money I mean with the dough thatrsquos being
wasted on arresting people up for smoking and
selling minuscule amounts of weed we could feed
starving children set up Internet-equipped rooms
in inner-city community centers for starters and
not just for inner-city youth but for all childrenrdquo
Here Here Karl We Agree Read Karlrsquos full article
httpwwwhuffingtonpostcomkarl-dice-raw-
jenkinswe-shouldnt-arrest-one-mo_b_4987544
html
In 1994 Dale Gieringer PhD wrote a detailed
analysis of the benefits of ending cannabis
prohibition In pointing out specifically the
revenue potential from legalization the numbers
were staggering and this was twenty years ago
Imagine the numbers now in 2014
Economic Benefits of Cannabis Legalization
Excise Taxes
$22 - $64 Billion
Sales Taxes
$02 - $13 Billion
Enforcement Savings
$6 - $9 Billion
Hemp Industry
$6 - $10 Billion
Spinoff industries Reduced hard-drug and alcohol abuse
So what does our progress look like today In
the US states of Washington and Colorado at the
state level (on 28 May 2013 Colorado became the
worldrsquos first fully regulated recreational cannabis
market for adults) A larger number of countries
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
12
jails with marijuana-related cases In 2003 a
government commission recommended legalizing
marijuana in small amounts for personal use
But lawmakers never acted saying legalization
might entail loss of their countryrsquos US anti-drug
certification Countries that lose it face economic
sanctions A US State Department report reports
that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana
in the Caribbean Talks have resumed Letrsquos see
what progress can be made
Letrsquos look again at the economic impact as it
relates to the US state of Colorado specifically
According to our sources On New Yearrsquos Day
2014 24 dispensaries opened up in the state
to sell recreational marijuana and sales totaled
more than $1 million Over a week sales totaled
$5 million What do all these numbers mean for
Colorado and for the rest of the states in the
country Tax revenue
With state taxes at 35 percent and the ability for
have decriminalized or legalized cannabis On 10
December 2013Uruguay became the first country
in the world to fully legalize the sale production
and distribution of marijuana You can also view 20
Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC Laws Fees
and Possession Limits here
httpmedicalmarijuanaproconorgviewresource
phpresourceID=000881
Here is where things stand by country
httpenwikipediaorgwikiLegality_of_cannabis_
by_country
It will suprise alot of you to know that Cannabis
is illegal in Jamaica You can be arrested for
simply possessing a spliff According to our
sources Jamaica is considering the legalization
of marijuana A seven-member government
commission has been researching possible changes
to the Caribbean nationrsquos anti-drug laws which
some police complain are clogging courts and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
13
cities to add their own sales tax the legalization
and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado
will bring in about $70 million in revenue this year
according to the Colorado Department of Revenue-
division of taxation The first $40 million in income
will be spent on education and schools while the
remaining will be spent on marijuana regulation
Alaska Arizona California Delaware Hawaii
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Montana
Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island
Washington DC and Vermont are next in line
to legalize recreational marijuana with current
initiatives and talks taking place in the states
Washington State is set to sell recreational
marijuana in the same fashion as Colorado later
this year
Although a bit slow we are making progress
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
11
Quoting Karl lsquoDice Rawrsquo Jenkins in a Huffington
Post article published on 3182014
ldquoI can think of so many different ways the money
can be better spent and Irsquom sure Irsquom not the only
one Start off with the most obvious areas in need
of improvement -- quality education More MUSIC
and sports programs for children and older youth
The money being spent on marijuana arrests and
convictions is a complete waste of taxpayersrsquo
money I mean with the dough thatrsquos being
wasted on arresting people up for smoking and
selling minuscule amounts of weed we could feed
starving children set up Internet-equipped rooms
in inner-city community centers for starters and
not just for inner-city youth but for all childrenrdquo
Here Here Karl We Agree Read Karlrsquos full article
httpwwwhuffingtonpostcomkarl-dice-raw-
jenkinswe-shouldnt-arrest-one-mo_b_4987544
html
In 1994 Dale Gieringer PhD wrote a detailed
analysis of the benefits of ending cannabis
prohibition In pointing out specifically the
revenue potential from legalization the numbers
were staggering and this was twenty years ago
Imagine the numbers now in 2014
Economic Benefits of Cannabis Legalization
Excise Taxes
$22 - $64 Billion
Sales Taxes
$02 - $13 Billion
Enforcement Savings
$6 - $9 Billion
Hemp Industry
$6 - $10 Billion
Spinoff industries Reduced hard-drug and alcohol abuse
So what does our progress look like today In
the US states of Washington and Colorado at the
state level (on 28 May 2013 Colorado became the
worldrsquos first fully regulated recreational cannabis
market for adults) A larger number of countries
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
12
jails with marijuana-related cases In 2003 a
government commission recommended legalizing
marijuana in small amounts for personal use
But lawmakers never acted saying legalization
might entail loss of their countryrsquos US anti-drug
certification Countries that lose it face economic
sanctions A US State Department report reports
that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana
in the Caribbean Talks have resumed Letrsquos see
what progress can be made
Letrsquos look again at the economic impact as it
relates to the US state of Colorado specifically
According to our sources On New Yearrsquos Day
2014 24 dispensaries opened up in the state
to sell recreational marijuana and sales totaled
more than $1 million Over a week sales totaled
$5 million What do all these numbers mean for
Colorado and for the rest of the states in the
country Tax revenue
With state taxes at 35 percent and the ability for
have decriminalized or legalized cannabis On 10
December 2013Uruguay became the first country
in the world to fully legalize the sale production
and distribution of marijuana You can also view 20
Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC Laws Fees
and Possession Limits here
httpmedicalmarijuanaproconorgviewresource
phpresourceID=000881
Here is where things stand by country
httpenwikipediaorgwikiLegality_of_cannabis_
by_country
It will suprise alot of you to know that Cannabis
is illegal in Jamaica You can be arrested for
simply possessing a spliff According to our
sources Jamaica is considering the legalization
of marijuana A seven-member government
commission has been researching possible changes
to the Caribbean nationrsquos anti-drug laws which
some police complain are clogging courts and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
13
cities to add their own sales tax the legalization
and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado
will bring in about $70 million in revenue this year
according to the Colorado Department of Revenue-
division of taxation The first $40 million in income
will be spent on education and schools while the
remaining will be spent on marijuana regulation
Alaska Arizona California Delaware Hawaii
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Montana
Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island
Washington DC and Vermont are next in line
to legalize recreational marijuana with current
initiatives and talks taking place in the states
Washington State is set to sell recreational
marijuana in the same fashion as Colorado later
this year
Although a bit slow we are making progress
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
12
jails with marijuana-related cases In 2003 a
government commission recommended legalizing
marijuana in small amounts for personal use
But lawmakers never acted saying legalization
might entail loss of their countryrsquos US anti-drug
certification Countries that lose it face economic
sanctions A US State Department report reports
that Jamaica is the largest producer of marijuana
in the Caribbean Talks have resumed Letrsquos see
what progress can be made
Letrsquos look again at the economic impact as it
relates to the US state of Colorado specifically
According to our sources On New Yearrsquos Day
2014 24 dispensaries opened up in the state
to sell recreational marijuana and sales totaled
more than $1 million Over a week sales totaled
$5 million What do all these numbers mean for
Colorado and for the rest of the states in the
country Tax revenue
With state taxes at 35 percent and the ability for
have decriminalized or legalized cannabis On 10
December 2013Uruguay became the first country
in the world to fully legalize the sale production
and distribution of marijuana You can also view 20
Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC Laws Fees
and Possession Limits here
httpmedicalmarijuanaproconorgviewresource
phpresourceID=000881
Here is where things stand by country
httpenwikipediaorgwikiLegality_of_cannabis_
by_country
It will suprise alot of you to know that Cannabis
is illegal in Jamaica You can be arrested for
simply possessing a spliff According to our
sources Jamaica is considering the legalization
of marijuana A seven-member government
commission has been researching possible changes
to the Caribbean nationrsquos anti-drug laws which
some police complain are clogging courts and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
13
cities to add their own sales tax the legalization
and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado
will bring in about $70 million in revenue this year
according to the Colorado Department of Revenue-
division of taxation The first $40 million in income
will be spent on education and schools while the
remaining will be spent on marijuana regulation
Alaska Arizona California Delaware Hawaii
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Montana
Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island
Washington DC and Vermont are next in line
to legalize recreational marijuana with current
initiatives and talks taking place in the states
Washington State is set to sell recreational
marijuana in the same fashion as Colorado later
this year
Although a bit slow we are making progress
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
13
cities to add their own sales tax the legalization
and taxation of recreational marijuana in Colorado
will bring in about $70 million in revenue this year
according to the Colorado Department of Revenue-
division of taxation The first $40 million in income
will be spent on education and schools while the
remaining will be spent on marijuana regulation
Alaska Arizona California Delaware Hawaii
Maine Maryland Massachusetts Montana
Nevada New York Oregon Rhode Island
Washington DC and Vermont are next in line
to legalize recreational marijuana with current
initiatives and talks taking place in the states
Washington State is set to sell recreational
marijuana in the same fashion as Colorado later
this year
Although a bit slow we are making progress
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
copy Roxanne Haynes
ldquoAll religion should be wiped out so
that people may just live What divides us is an illusion made up by men in their
confusionrdquo -Ziggy Marley
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Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
16
Ziggy Marley ~ Fly Rasta by Maliika Walker
I believe music has the power to influence people
Spiritual music was used during slavery to heal
souls Billie Holiday used to sing her classic song
Strange Fruit which was about the lynching of
two black men in 1930 to her audiences in 1939
Gospel music has been sung in church every
day for centuries The 1960rsquos brought music of
empowerment and pride The late 60rsquos and 70rsquos
also brought a special gift to the world from
Jamaica Reggae
Bob Marley used reggae music to bring the
message of Rastafari to the world as part of his
evangelical campaign in the 1970rsquos Bob Marley
toured the world including Japan Australia
Africa Europe United States and others Rita
Marley joined her husband Bob and the Wailers in
delivering his message to the people
David ldquoZiggyrdquo Marley was born in October of 1968
on the Island of Jamaica and is the oldest son born
out of this blessed union of messengers Ziggy was
born the same month as the Rodney Riots which
took place in Kingston Jamaica The Rodney Riots
were influenced by the Jamaican governmentrsquos
decision to not allow a Guyanese professorWalter
Rodney to return to his teaching position at the
University of the West Indies Mr Rodney fought
for the rights of the disenfranchised in Caribbean
countries and was critical of those who did not
reach back and help the poor The riots started on
the UWI campus but eventually made it the streets
of Kingston Several people lost their lives due
to this protest 1968 saw an emergence of Black
Power protests in the Caribbean It is no mere
coincidence that Ziggy was born amidst a period
of political struggle in his country Ziggy has spent
his career using his music to deliver his message of
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
17
African pride truth love justice and positivity to
audiences everywhere
Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers were formed
while Bob Marley was was still with us in physical
form Bob Marley wrote their first song lsquoChildren
Playing in the Streetsrsquo which hit number one
in Jamaica in 1979 Ziggy was 11 years old at the
time The group released their first official album
in 1985 and they were off and flying from there
The group released music with profound lyrics that
influenced the minds of their generation Letrsquos look
at some of there songs
Lee amp Molly touched on interracial relationships
The group declared that love should be free They
were telling all of us that people should be able to
love who they choose if this is truly a free world
They asked us Have We Ever Been To Hell We
were informed that souls are bought and sold
so we should arm our souls They were having
copy Roxanne Haynes
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
18
Dreams of Home and knew they werenrsquot alone
Their audiences were introduced to a more African
style of music through the release of this beautiful
song On Justice they told us the innocent cry and
the innocent die The song told us we need justice
for the innocent now On Wrong Right Wrong
the group told us the bible was changed to suit
King James African history was brought to us
through the song Black My Story Ziggy Marley
and the Melody Makers just like their parents
used their music to send their message to the
people
Ziggy Marley amp The Melody Makers released 9
studio albums 1 live album 4 compilation albums
and 24 singles They won three grammyrsquos and
were nominated for four others before going their
separate ways
Dragonfly
Ziggy continued to use music as a vehicle to
spread his message to his audience His debut
solo album Dragonfly was released in 2003
The album includes songs
with lyrics so powerful
they challeng the way I
think about myself and
the world around me
On True to Myself Ziggy
tells us to deal with our
problems because it will kill us little by little The
song In the Name of God is a profound song for
me as well The song includes the lyric ldquoAll region
should wiped out save the people stand and liverdquo
I have always struggled with religion even though I
always believed in God I felt like I was committing
a sin by not going to church or following an official
religion This song brings comfort to me and tells
me that I am just fine I am simply living my life
the best way I know how praising Godrsquos name in
the process In the Name of God brought comfort
to my views on faith and God for the first time
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
19
Melancholy Mood told me I was blessed to
see another day To rise each morning with the
morning sun I internalized this to mean to rise
each day even if it was cloudy you are blessed to
see another day
Love Is My Religion
Ziggy declared that love is his religion with the
release of his first independent album through
his own independent label Tuff Gong Worldwide
Bob Marleyrsquos dream was to release his own music
independently through Tuff Gong With the release
of Love Is My Religion Ziggy was able to begin
living his fatherrsquos dream Ziggy has released every
subsequent album album through his own label
Love Is My Religion inspired a movement ldquoI donrsquot
condemn I donrsquot convert This is a calling have
you heardrdquo People all over the world heard the
calling and happily joined the movement This
song told me that love unites us all As long as copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
20
we all believed in love we are united as a people
Instead of letting religion divide us use love to
unite us Sure the album had great message
music but soothing vibes were on the release as
well Just take a listen to Beach in Hawaii your
mind will be swept to a peaceful place as you listen
to Ziggy tell you that he wishes you were there
with him Still the Storms Come told us that we
will never forget the atrocities of the slave trade
from West Africa Eternity will never be enough for
us to forget All generations after us will forever
remember We all got the message even though
it was stated in a calming and soothing way The
album won a Grammy award in 2007
Family Time
This childrenrsquos album was influenced by Ziggyrsquos
then three year old daughter and his infant son
Gideon The video for Family Time displayed Ziggy
having a fun time with his family Whenever I
listen to the Family Time album I reflect on the
fun memories I had with my family while growing
up The album also featured his mother and
sister Cedella I Love You Too was featured in
the film Why Did I Get Married 2 and is one of
my favorites Family Time represents the type of
music I can listen to with my niece music with a
message aimed at children
Family Time won a Grammy for Best Musical Album
for Children in 2010 Proceeds from the album
were donated to Chepstowe Basic School in Port
Antonio Jamaica
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Wild amp Free
Wild amp Free is Ziggyrsquos
return to a more
adult themed sound
The album is pro-
marijuana work that
features well known
actor and marijuana
supporter Woody Harrelson on the title
track Ziggyrsquos son Daniel is featured on
the song titled Changes On Personal
Revolution Ziggy asks who has the power
and who can save me We need a revolution
from todayrsquos democracy and hypocrisy So
much of todayrsquos laws are full of hypocrisy
Letrsquos look at the fact the marijuana is still
illegal in most of the country while the
medical community is aware the plant can
help people with cancer and other diseases
However alcohol and cigarettes are legal
The albumrsquos CD packaging was cleverly
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
22
designed to look like a book of matches I found
the packaging fitting considering the project was a pro-marijuana album
Ziggy Marley In Concert
There is nothing that
can prepare you for the
experience of witnessing
Ziggy live in concert It is
truly an epic experience
to see Ziggy perform
songs from his expansive catalog in front of a
live audience What anecdotes will he share with
the audience that will draw them to look within
themselves The songs included on this live
release include selections from his time with the
Melody Makers through the Wild and Free album
This release was the first live album to win the
Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2014
copy Kii Arens
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
ldquoFLY RASTArdquo
I Donrsquot Wanna Live On Mars
Fly Rasta
Lighthouse
Sunshine
Moving Forward
You
So Many Rising
I Get Up
Yoursquore My Yoko
Give It Away
Purchase Fly Rasta
wwwziggymarleycom
wwwfacebookcomziggymarley
wwwtwittercomziggymarley
youtubecomziggymarley
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Fly Rasta
I made sure not to read any information on the album before listening to Ziggyrsquos new masterpiece Fly Rasta
because I wanted to listen and meditate to it with an open mind The first single Fly Rasta wet my appetite
for the album I was completely intoxicated by the rich production and backing vocals of his fellow Melody
Makers bandmates (Cedella Marley Sharon Prendergast and Rica Newell) The track also treats us to reggae
music legend U-Roy If you have any preconceived expectations based on the first single throw them out the
window An array of musicians from varying backgrounds are featured on the album Musicians that have
played for artists such as Tom Petty Eric Clapton Stevie Nicks Bill Withers Quincy Jones Beck De La Soul
and Michael Jackson
Fly Rasta is composed of ten tracks with not one of them sounding the same I found myself entranced by
the inspirational lyrics from the first track to the last The album sets the tone perfectly by opening to a love
song penned to mother earth titled I Donrsquot Want To Live On Mars The songrsquos heavy guitar sound informs
the audience that they will be hearing an array of sounds to fill your appetite for great music His versatility
is further on display with the folksy sound of Lighthouse If you mashed reggae and pop music you would
get Sunshine The opening lyric stuck to me like glue ldquoLife may have itrsquos cloudy days but it doesnrsquot mean
you have lost your wayrdquo How many times have you endured a day where nothing went the direction you
hoped This song reminds all of us that itrsquos ok it doesnrsquot mean you lost your way in life Ziggy even has an
acoustic sound on the album through So Many Rising The stripped down sound draws the listener to pay
close attention to the message Ziggy is sharing with the audience ldquoMany are confused many refused so
many abused so many risingrdquo On I Get Up Ziggy is essentially telling his audience that the things may get
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
25
down but find a way to see the light of day and get
up anyway The perfect song to end the album
Fly Rasta is another great album in Ziggy Marleyrsquos
repertoire that you will no doubt be listening to for
years to come I am already singing along with
every track and now you will too Ziggy continues
to do what he was born to do deliver a message
filled with positivity and truth to the world
One day in February I was informed that I was
scheduled to interview Ziggy Marley the next
afternoon Here is my conversation with Ziggy
Marley where we discuss his new album his
view on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana
market and Ziggy Marley Organics
copy Reggae Reflection
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
26
First of all congratulations on winning your
6th Grammy One of my dreams is to see
the Reggae Grammy given during the live
broadcast section Do you feel this will be
important to bring more attention to the
Reggae Grammy itself
Yeah it would be good I remember when rap
wasnrsquot televised I think the Reggae Grammy will
be televised eventually That would be very good
because Reggae is an international music and it
should be recognized for that Reggae is not local
music that is just popular in one little place The
whole world knows and loves reggae It deserves
that attention that light
Your new album ldquoFly Rastardquo opens with a
love song to mother earth I felt it was the
perfect introduction to the album What do
you think we need to do to awaken the minds
of people to the importance of taking care of
Mother Earth
Well we do what we can do How do we start the
thought process or the discussion or the action
about the realities of the situation We are
depleting earthrsquos resources and we need not just
try but we need to change the atmosphere that is
beneficial to life What is missing is the urgency
around taking care of Mother Earth There is so
much destruction going on I guess the people
that have the power to put attention on this donrsquot
want to put attention on this They would rather
have this divided issue so nothing ever gets done
and you canrsquot unite people around it
I love the versatility of your music and that
versatility is on full display on the album ldquoFly
Rastardquo What was your vision for this album
What portrait did you want to paint for the
audience
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
27
The vision was to push the boundaries of where
I am from musically widen the net push the
boundaries even more Donrsquot just stay in the
same space take over some landspace with some
vibrations of reggae music I wanted the album to
sound futuristic to have the best sound technically
So that was the main focus The album is only ten
songs because I said there were not going to be
any throwaway songs on this album The ten songs
are the cream of the crop
After listening to your album I was left
wanting more
Yeah we didnrsquot want to put anything on the album
that was not up to the standard we were setting
On the song ldquoSunshinerdquo you sing the
following lyric ldquoLife could have its cloudy days
it doesnrsquot mean you lost your wayrdquo This is the
perfect lyric for all the issues we are facing
today What is the message you would like
would like the audience to receive with this
song I interpreted the song to be Life may
be cloudy but Godrsquos love is always here with
us
Well the message is the message that you get
Everybody is going to get a different message and
some people will get the same message I can tell
you what idea I had in mind with that song but I
wouldnrsquot want to do that because I want it to be
your idea I donrsquot want it to be my idea The music
has a life of itrsquos own right now because I canrsquot
control the message you are getting from it What
the music is saying to you is what itrsquos supposed to
say to you
Music is open to interpretation and the
message you get is the message you were
meant to receive
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Yeah when we did the record I didnrsquot want to tell people what my idea of the song was I want the audience
to have their own idea and let it be that You talked about the first song I Donrsquot Want To Live on Mars and
you went straight to the mother earth thing When another person went straight to a girl or romance kind of
vibe You picked up where I was coming from Thatrsquos cool you know
On ldquoSo Many Risingrdquo you mention
money is mightier than the pen
What did you mean by this
Have you heard the saying the pen
is mightier than the sword So if the
pen is mightier than the sword and the
sword is such a terrible weapon and
money is mightier than the pen then
money is mightier than the pen the
sword everything What I mean by this
is the politics of this world is controlled
by money not by the peoplersquos vote or
the pen The most important thing to politics is the economy It is important but if you are going to give the
economy (banks) support yet ignore the poor people then something is wrong with the politics That is what
politics is pandering to interests that governments get from money while the poor people continue to suffer
So no matter who you vote for the man with the most money has the most influence Not the man with the
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
with the most votes So even if a million people vote the man with the most money will have the influence
over the politics and laws That is what I am trying to get across in that song
What are your thoughts on Jamaica entering the medical marijuana market Reports have surfaced
that Canada is interested in purchasing medical marijuana from Jamaica which could earn the
country billions of dollars
My perspective is why is it taking so long The world is behind time with marijuana and hemp The whole
world is catching up to nature Nature created this plant that has so many uses both medicinal and industrial
It can create great economic opportunity for poor countries because the plant can be planted very easily If
only the world would accept the truth that the potential of the marijuana plant is great It can really help a
country like Jamaica economically We must not just think about marijuana because that is only one element
of it Yes the medicinal qualities are important but we need to also consider Hemp Canada grows a lot of
hemp and uses it industrially Jamaica has to consider this as well Medical marijuana yes that is great but
Jamaica must think about hemp for the industrial side which is the future Letrsquos take a step ahead and not be
behind anymore Thatrsquos my perspective on it
ldquoThey are selling candy we are selling carrots Candy rots your teethrdquo You launched Ziggy
Marley Organics which includes hemp seed snacks and Cocomon All your products are GMO amp
Gluten Free What is your overall vision for the company Any new product launches on the way
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Itrsquos another way to expand the message The music is the music and with the food it further spreads the
message Message always accompanies what I do Yes I have a product and a business to sell the products
If business were purely my motivation then I would be acting more as a spokesman but itrsquos not just the
business itrsquos the message which we try to sneak in with the products The food we put in our bodies is
supposed to be the medicine We are not supposed to be doing so much drugs and taking all these pills Food
is supposed to be the medicine the cure The right food non GMO food the way nature intended it to be
The platform for having food products which business-wise can be alright gives me the platform to openly
discuss the importance of natural food that element of life Also people have the right to know what is in their
food Should be a fundamental right shouldnrsquot be something we even question So if you are going to alter
my food genetically it should be law to let me know as a consumer that the food has been modified There is
no reason why the public shouldnrsquot know
I watched the Marley Africa Roadtrip series and I have to ask this question will you ever release
ldquoAcross the Train Tracksrdquo
Ziggy and I share a laugh
I didnrsquot finish writing it yet It will probably be featured on an album in the future All I have so far is what was
featured on camera during the taping of the show
Well I will be waiting I love what I heard so far so count on me to support it whenever it comes
out
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Profits generated by this album will be used for the construction of a water well for a soup kitchen Shipibo community children in Pucallpa Peru heart of Amazonia where the master Alex Muntildeoz Vazquez (important shaman of this tribe) walks several times a day 2kms with buckets of water to supply the dining room and breakfast and lunch to give the little ones (120 kids) also for the reconstruction of the area of medical care
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
32
HEMPReggae Beatles tribute vol II
HEMP is the sequel to ldquoEl Album Verderdquo an
album released in 2005 to bring together leaders
of the major Latin American reggae bands to play
Beatles in a reggae key
Today is born HEMP In a triple cd format There
is a common place where everything is born and
there is love love for this land this album carrying
a message of ecological awareness and respect
that we have for her providing information on the
use of industrial hemp Here and now is the time
to change things from each place and possibilities
replace the toxic chemical and so organic plant
and give life hemp is a plant that can save the
planet
Love of music it is our weapon to transmit good
vibes and positive message the little ones love
for San Francisco community Pucallpa Peruvian
Amazon to give them a better present helping
them with a percentage of proceeds from this
album to bring clean water to your dining room
The love respect and admiration for The Beatles
who planted this large field with his melodies of
infinite inspiration and motivated to make big
changes in the paradigm of what really has
value in this journey of life and all of us involved
to make this jah work
This album tries to convey the virtues of Hemp an
ancient plant that can contribute to the salvation of
our planet Hemp is the name given to varieties of
Cannabis Sativa L and the name of the fiber that
you get from it this plant accompanied humans
along almost itrsquos entire history With it you can
produce many products from raw materials such
as textile fibers seeds rich in fats and proteins
biofuels plastics plant biobuilding materials paper
pulp medicinal and cosmetic oils to insulation and
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
33
construction materials
The decrease in cultivation in industrialized
countries began following a policy confusing
marijuana prohibition in the 30s of XX century
which directly affected hemp It was a campaign
disguised as health advocacy and ethical behavior
launched by opposing interests of certain US
industries to enhance the new synthetic fibers
(DuPont) as nylon and other polymers for which
hemp was a strong competitor
No culture as multifaceted as biomaacutesico ecological
and many varieties as east a botanical rarity a
gem of the usefulness and efficiency and really
hope for humanity
Has anyone stopped to think what would
happen if the economy collapses because of our
stupidity to continue running all without blackout
unsustainably Well at least we should be
prepared to survive on earth and cooperate with
others in solidarity selfless and without envy
because everyone would be and really are in the
same situation
Adding the energies and transmitting knowledge
together we can create a model of industrial hemp
and so enter the path of wisdom and hard work
and The Voyage constant while there is time
The legacy of the past is the seed that brings forth
the harvest of the future
56 artists from different countries of the world gathered to
spice HEMP From Argentina to New Zealand produced in
Afro studios (AR) and in 35 studios around the world this
album features some of the most legendary bands from
Jamaica England Argentina Brazil Chile New Zealand USA
Uruguay and Puerto Rico
wwwelalbumverdecomar
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
The Tabernacle - Pinnacle Jamaicacopy Sista Irie Photography
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
35
The Crabs and the 500 Acre Bucket
From the forthcoming book by Original Gong Family
copyPatrick Howell 2014
I was thinkinghellip
What if my father had been working his father
Vivianrsquos land (as he often did) on one of those
days when his Uncle The Gong made one of his
frequent visits in order to gather family members
to show them a better way of life at Pinnacle
Knowing my Pops as I do (and according to how
he brought his children up) Irsquom almost certain
that he would have gone with his Uncle and would
have died at Pinnacle Since I know hersquos a man
who has no interest in prison accommodation he
would have given his life (whilst taking as many as
possible with him) in the course of defending his
Uncle on one of those legendary Pinnacle raids
I hereby set the tone of whatrsquos to come next
My musings about my father prompted my thought
process furtherhellipand I would like to invite the Rasta
community and the people of Jamaica at large
(plus any interested parties around the world)
into my reasoningshellip And before I proceed further
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
36
what yoursquore about to read has no bearings on the
LPH Foundation or its Directors as although Irsquom a
member of the foundation and we are related and
bonded by blood I write this entirely as my own
individual thoughts and action
I was thinkinghellip
What if The Gong never existed
What if Leonard never returned to Jamaica
from America (Babylon) in 1932
What would be the state of play in the current
landscape
The answer to these questions would depend
largely on the answer to the following question
which came to my mind whilst analysing the
Observers observing (and bear with me as itrsquos not
as easy an answer as it sounds)
What is Rasta
In one conversation that I heard recently on
a random Mutabaruka radio show Rasta was
described by Mutarsquos guest in three separate
sentences as a movement a community and a
religion It is also commonly referred to as a
doctrine and a philosophy
Well if I could be presumptuous enough to pose an
answer to that enormous question on behalf of my
Great Uncle ldquoThe Gongrdquo isnrsquot Rasta simply a way
of life according to the well-documented accounts
of how Leonard Howell (LPH) and his followers
(The Howellites) lived at Pinnacle Devised by LPH
as the anti-thesis of Colonial rule this simple way
of life then evolved as expected under rapidly
changing circumstances to the albeit globally
recognisable but fragmented unstable and
seemingly conflicted Rasta that exists today
Brand Rasta
Characteristics commonly associated with Rasta
clearly do not define Rasta but have become
stereotypical almost caricature features
emphasised and deliberately entrenched by global
media corporations with financial interest in Rasta
and more recently a long-bankrupt Jamaican
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
government whose very economic existence depends on what has become ldquoBrand Rastardquo So taking each of
those characteristics in turn
JAH RASTAFARITHE BLACK KING
copy Sista Irie Photography
Marcus Garvey prophesised Him (on the eve of his departure for New York in 1916) when he said ldquoLook to
Africa for a Black Kingrdquo But LPH named HIM the newly crowned King of Ethiopia Ras Tafari
And much more than simply naming the future figurehead of
Rastafari LPH was immovable in his determination to free the people of
Jamaica from the dreadful condition in which he found them upon his
return to Jamaica from New York by bringing to an end their continued
physical and mental subservience to the British Empire and the King
that had enslaved them For preaching the existence of this new African
King LPH was charged with and convicted of sedition treason and
lunacy and paid with his blood and his freedom being imprisoned
and institutionalised multiple times Now I consider Marcus Garvey to
be one of the greatest Black men in history and his achievements make me even prouder that he was born
in Jamaica Further evidence of his greatness is the citing of Garvey as an inspiration by many of the master-
teachers whom I love and respect especially John Henrik Clarke Ivan van Sertima Asa Hilliard Frances
Cress-Welsing Elijah Muhammad etc But great as he was Garvey seemingly did not consider Haile Selassie
to be the black king whom he had prophesised telling The Gong to his face that he was ldquonot to ever preach
this Rasta nonsenserdquo at any of the UNIArsquos meetings or assemblies Furthermore Garvey became increasingly
and publicly critical of Selassie after he was overthrown in 1934 by Mussolini
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Certainly Marcus Garvey never acknowledged Rasta as a movement of interest to him with his focus
(rightfully so) on the African continent When asked ldquoAre you an African or a Jamaicanrdquo Garvey replied ldquoI will
not give up a continent for an islandrdquo So if it was up to Marcus Garvey Ras Tafari as a figureheadconcept
would never have existed Therefore the name of Rastafari is attributable to Leonard Howell and only exists
today because he made it his mission to enlighten the people from the drudgery of Colonialism So how is it
that one man of all those you praise and exalt hardly gets a blip of a mention round a campfire of reasoning ndash
Leonard Percival Howell
There is no shame in admitting that the history of Rastafari is in need of a social update and in belatedly
righting that position Justice is owed to a man named Leonard Howell who is being ignored thereby stopping
Rasta from going forward until that acknowledgement is forthcoming
Imagine The Wailers without Bob ndash no disrespect to Bunny and Peter but without Bob the global phenomenon
would not have happened Similarly you donrsquot get Rasta without LPH And mostly certainly of all you donrsquot
get Pinnacle without LPH
DREADLOCKS
Since the black man has been on the planet for trillions of years sporting the locks amp afro then dreadlocks
pre-date and therefore cannot logically define Rasta My guess is that locks had already entered Jamaica long
before Pinnacle came into existence So before proudly taking ownership and trying to enforce that particular
identifying feature of Rasta we must remind ourselves that Selassie never wore locks neither did the Gong
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
39
and it certainly wasnrsquot a consideration for the
great Marcus Garvey ndash does this detract from their
position at the very pinnacle of Rasta teachings
And on the flip side of that argument Rasta cannot
sensibly berate those wearing locks for fashion
They do however have an argument (due to what
we have just established is a mis-branding) in
the case of tourists or for fancy dress parties in
Europe and the US where so-called ldquoRasta wigsrdquo
are purchased and worn for comedy value How
did Rasta allow itself to become a joke Or could
frowning upon this be deemed as Rasta taking
itself too seriously Interesting thought but a
trailer load of cash for the Jamaican economyhellip
REGGAE MUSIC
Would reggae music even have existed without
LPH and Pinnacle Well according to several well-
respected and renowned music aficionados
reggae has its roots firmly planted at Pinnacle
As a music man myself (first and foremost
as a music lover) I know that musical styles
have always evolved due to a combination
of circumstances and influences Without the
symbolic drumming at Pinnacle dispersing into
the ghettos and surrounding areas post Pinnacle
would Jamaican musicians have ever been
influenced to develop the islandrsquos unique sound
of reggae I think not or reggae could just have
easily have been born in Montserrat or
Antigua It wasnrsquot So where would this have left
most of those so-called Rasta reggae stars who
did and still do nothing to keep the fire burning
of their spiritual founder amp father And I make
no apologies but even the late great Bob Marley
is not excluded or excused from this criticism
taking as he did the name Tuff Gong but not really
honouring The Original Gong
GANJA
If you think that the Jamaican government (or
any other government for that matter) are going
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
40
to allow Rasta anything but a tiny fraction of
the proceeds from the sale of medicinal or even
legalised Marijuana then you are simply
certifiable It will be good for Brand Rasta to have
Rasta Ganja farmers (on Government-owned land
of course hence presumably the compulsory
acquisition of the 6 lots at Pinnacle) but that is
the rigidly defined (and will be brutally enforced)
limit of your future role in this multi-billion dollar
industry
Picture this ndash Rastafari are given a small piece of
land at Pinnacle and allowed to grow Marijuana at
their own discretion with an organised labour
force and business strategy Meanwhile the
Government develops their own special brand of
ganja cigarettes called ldquospliffsrdquo for instance The
Government spliffs will be cheaper ready-to-smoke
and with special addictive ingredient to keep
customers returning time and again
Convenience and addiction have a strange way of
taking over the consumer and whilst yoursquod have
an initially faithful clientele this would only last for
a while before hastily introduced new Government
legislation and a one-sided price war force you out
of business once again Agree or Disagree
Read full article wwwisland-stagecom
wwworiginalgongfamilycom
copy Sista Irie Photography
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Hemp-ocrisyby Sista Irie
Todayrsquos love of hemp fiber lends new
meaning to visions of grass skirts and
smoking jackets Although the discovery
and use of hemp is older than the hills
todayrsquos increasing popularity creates a
strange dichotomy between the increasing
demand of a well-loved fiber versus a
stubbornly held belief holding economic
and environmental progress hostage by
the United States government Hemp has
been a world-wide industry since very early
times The use of hemp dates back to the
latter part of the Stone Age as evidenced
by fiber imprints discovered on 5th Century
BC pottery near Taiwan China Although
China currently remains the primary source
for production of hemp other countries
across the globe including Hungary
England Canada Australia France Italy copy Barbetorte
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
42
Spain Holland Germany Poland Romania Russia
Ukraine India and Asia continue to grow this
amazing product for commercial use
It is important to understand that at one time
industrial hemp was the most important non-food
crop in the early history of the United States In
the 1600rsquos the United States government strongly
encouraged and in some states required hemp
to be grown for cordage and canvas The hemp
industry in its hay day rapidly expanded across
multiple states However in the 1700rsquos and 1800rsquos
Kentucky became the key industry center It was
the result of nefarious politics in the early 1900rsquos
involving well established businessmen who were
threatened by the possible success of hemp taking
over large industries such as paper manufacturing
that the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted
imposing challenging taxes on farmers growing
any form of cannabis The hemp industry faded
and king cotton rose in its place The ongoing
stigma that
surrounds hemp
is the major
stumbling block
prohibiting
progress
towards a
more ethical
and financially
evolved
American society The biggest irony is clearly
demonstrated by the fact that although growing
hemp is banned in America the US is still the
worldrsquos leading consumer The amazing benefits of
hemp as a tough and durable utilitarian fiber an
extremely valued nutritional supplement and an
elegant versatile fabric brings into question why
the United States government holds back on an
industry that is so beneficial This is truly a case of
throwing the baby out with the bath water
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Hemp is sadly a misunderstood cousin of marijuana with both originating from the plant cannabis sativa L
Although the two plants are close relatives their properties are quite different Hemp is the longest strongest
and most durable of all natural fibers Cultivation is organic requiring no chemicals pesticides or herbicides
It is easy to grow agriculturally sustainable and good for the soil making it a great rotation crop for corn
and legumes Hemp oil made from seed is high in protein contains essential fatty acids amino acids and
vitamins resulting in an abundantly rich health supplement Hemp produces more pulp per acre than timber
requires less water and produces the high quality paper that does not fade with age In addition hemp paper
manufacturing reduces wastewater contamination The first American flag and many of the early American
flags were made from industrial hemp On the
other hand marijuana has a much lower tensile
strength and shreds easily making it inappropriate
for textile production Many of the utilitarian
uses of hemp could not be achieved with marijuana
In addition because marijuana contains a
certain percentage of the psycho-active ingredient
THC the plant qualifies under law as a drug
And yet at this point in time that very same trait of marijuana may increase the value and critical need to
use marijuana for medical applications Another difference even though the leaves are nearly identical when
hemp is grown as an agricultural crop the stalks grow tall and willowy much like bamboo while marijuana is
grown full and filled out as a bush The stated fear from government officials that hemp farming might allow
marijuana to be planted along and within hemp crops and not be visibly discernable is just ridiculously false
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
44
Even so hemp suffers from being visually
and taxonomically identical to marijuana The
most critical difference in the two plants is the
concentration of delta-9ptetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) the psycho-active property associated with
marijuana And yet the THC content of hemp
is less than one tenth as strong as the weakest
marijuana The reason for low THC in hemp is
because THC forms in the resin glands on buds and
flowers of the female cannabis plant (marijuana)
and not so with hemp plants Currently American
farmers are only allowed to plant and grow hemp
in small patches and with special permits mainly
for research Permits are rarely given and further
guidelines such as fences razor wire security
guards or dogs may be required Hence most
hemp must be imported in order to manufacture
the food and beauty products loved and demanded
by American consumers such as textiles foods
papers body care lotions detergents plastics and
building materials The diversity of hemp product
further adds esteem and validity that should lead
to a major shift in the laws
Apparel
Although hemp has been grown across the world
for thousands of years
it was not revered as
apparel applications
until the 1980rsquos when
researchers discovered
an enzyme process to
soften the bast fiber by
removing lignin a type
of natural glue found in woody plants such as
hemp and flax The softening of the fiber enhances
other fabric characteristics including durability and
shape retention It is because of the long leggy
bast running between three and fifteen feet long
that gives hemp its incredible strength Hemp
is also known for its innate ability to hold dye
Compared to other natural and synthetic fiber
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
45
fabrics hemp is more porous promoting water
absorbency has excellent color retention and
possesses anti -bacterial properties similar to flax
and linen The breathability of the fabric makes it
cool in the summer and warm in the winter When
compared to other popular natural fibers hemp
produces roughly 10 more fiber than cotton or
flax when grown on the same land Hemp is often
combined with other natural fibers such as cotton
flax wool making the final product a beautiful
mix of natural fiber qualities The soft elasticity of
cotton or the smooth texture of silk combined with
the natural strength of hemp has opened the door
for the creation and designing of new innovative
soft and attractive fabrics to be made into a
diverse array of clothing from the very elegant
of designer clothing to use in extreme weather
mountaineering
Nutrition
Fortunately for health enthusiasts hemp is legal
to consume in the United States Hemp seeds are
sold as nutritional
supplements for shakes yogurt toppings salads
wraps snacks casseroles and can add texture and
taste as a
special perk to an already delicious nutritious
sold as nutritionalsupplements for shakes yogurt
toppings salads wraps snacks casseroles and
can add texture and taste as a special perk to
an already delicious nutritious snack or meal
According to Elaine Gordon who holds a master
in public health degree (MPH) and is a master
certified health education specialist (MCHES)
defines the center of the hemp seed as the
most nutritious part It is an excellent source of
vegan protein second only to soybean and more
female hemp plant
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
digestible contains all essential amino acids dietary fiber Omega 3 and 6 and provides antioxidants
vitamins and minerals including manganese magnesium phosphorous thiamin zinc calcium Vitamin B6
folate and riboflavin The hemp heart is naturally gluten free and often used by those who suffer from soy and
dairy allergies Eating hemp seeds could aid if not heal people suffering from immune deficiency diseases
This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed was used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on
by tuberculosis a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away
Research
Hemp is currently unlawful to grow in the United States with the exception of a few state approved research
patches that are carefully controlled The College of Biological Science Professors at the University of
Minnesota is attempting to pass a new bill that would expand crop studies The bill is moving through the
state capitol this session and has growing support by members of academia The bill would authorize higher
education institutions to perform industrial hemp research by allowing the Commission of Agriculture to
administer the growth and cultivation through an expanded pilot program Currently the College of Biological
Sciences is restricted to conducting research in a small growth facility while the statersquos legal restrictions add
even more challenges The University is hoping other states will work towards the same expansion of research
and loosening of the laws There are many other benefits to be considered Eco-friendly hemp can replace
most toxic petrochemical products Research is being done to use hemp in manufacturing biodegradable
plastic products plant-based cellophane recycled plastic mixed with hemp for injection-molded products and
resins made from the oil to name a very few examples Over two million cars on the road today have hemp
composite parts for door panels dashboards luggage racks etc According to the Department of Energy
hemp as a biomass fuel producer requires the least specialized growing and processing procedures of all
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
copy D-Kuru
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
48
hemp products The hydrocarbons in hemp can be
processed into a wide of biomass energy sources
ranging from fuel pellets to liquid fuels and gas
Development of bio-fuels could significantly reduce
our consumption of fossil fuels and nuclear power
This article only scratches the surface of a very
interesting and robust history concerning the
use demand and potential benefits of the hemp
plant and what it can do for America First it is
important to shed the irrational bias due to hemp
coming from the cannabis plant There is no
reasonable explanation to hold on to fears created
by false information and media manipulation
not unlike Reefer Madness did for marijuana
Secondly our legislators should be focused on
scientific based evidence indicating the extreme
opportunities that hemp cultivation could offer
our country in regards to economic development
and increasing agricultural and environmental
ethics It is fascinating to also see the possibilities
of decriminalization of marijuana and the
implementation of cannabis as a medical modality
Is it possible that once again hemp will have
to ride the coat tails of marijuana in order to be
recognized for what it ishellipsomething far different
yet extremely important for the healing of the
nation
1 Hempethicsweeblycomindustrial-hemp-vs-
cannabishtml
2 Slatecomarticleshealth_health_and_
sciencethe_green_lantern201104high_on_
environmentalismhtml
3 Washington Post ndashhttpwwwmapincorg
drugnewsv14n225a05html
4 Hemp History httphemphistoryorg1942
hemp-for-victory
5 Hemp Industries Association wwwHIAorgfacts
html
6 Czechoslovakia Tubercular Nutritional Study
1955
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Smoking a spliff in the
outside kitchen where
the chalk writings on the
walls express faith and
identity
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
50
photo left- Worker picking off leaves in a
maturing field grown for export
There is no special day to celebrate herb in
Jamaica For decades marijuana has been
incredibly important to the people of the
island both as a cash crop and leading export
as well as an integral part of the lifestyle of
many It touches every family Much of the
stigma attached to smoking herb has dissipated
over the years but to date it is still illegal
Big changes may be right around the corner
though In the spirit of 420 these photos
were selected from my long-term documentary
project ldquoPortraits of Rural Jamaicardquo and were
taken between 1979 and 1988 in the parishes of
Westmoreland and Manchester - Lee Abel
wwwreggaeportraitscomcopy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
Youth trying to make a
little money by starting a
crop in the bush
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
Island Stage MagazineReggae Revival Rising Stars
Special Edition 420-2014 wwwisland-stagecomPAGE
52
Smoking chalice a water pipe using a
coconut bowl is often an important part of reasoning with the
brethren
wwwreggaeportraitscom
copy Lee Abel wwwreggaeportraitscom
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
German Town The Lost Story Of Seaford
Town Jamaica
Directed by David Ritter
Produced by David Ritter and Clinton
Wallace for Photomundo International
Music by Project Sound
photo copy Roswitha Wesiak
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
ldquoGerman Town The Lost Story Of Seaford Town Jamaicardquo is a documentary
that explores the history of German heritage and history within
Westmoreland Jamaica
Deep within the isolated undeveloped mountains of Westmoreland lies
a village with a history and people unique to Jamaica It is said that the
inhabitants of this village are descendants of German indentured servants
who were used to work the Jamaican plantations after the emancipation
period to substitute the slave labor that drove the islands economy
Others think they came under different circumstances as runaway prisoners former military battered after the
Napoleonic wars seeking a better life to escape poverty and hardships in their home lands This documentary
project explores the history and contemporary life of Jamaicans of German heritage
Photos by copy Roswitha Wesiak
wwwgermantownjamaicacom
R E L E A S E S
R E L E A S E S