Plant Warfare

[the_last_straw]

I was wondering what you all had to think about using plants (that use lots of water, kill other species, etc.) in a war (especially the application to fight capitalism). I don't know how it could be used since most capitalist countries don't have state-funded farms. I was thinking about the possibility of "overgrowing" prisons. Prisoners could use plant fibers to make weapons and escape tools. Perhaps we could also plant nasty weeds and ivys on military bases or the white house lawn. I think it's an option that most people don't even consider but it's cheap and nearly risk free. In addition, good weeds are low-maintainance. Just looking for some opinions on consequences of using them, possible applications, and any past history of it.

[apathy maybe]

Some form of biological warfare...

Depending on the plant this has possibilities. It might be more used as a way to divert resources by introducing a major weed rather then specifically targeting things like prisons or the military.

Weed killer is always an option for the scum.

Though it would be funny to have hemp or marijuana popping up everywhere. You could get seeds and liquid fertiliser and go around one night spraying it everywhere. This is what they do to stabilise the sides of roads (except they use grass and plants with deep roots, not hemp).


Another option is an insect or other animal, or fungus or bacteria that targeted the food crops (wheat for example). The only troubles with introducing species are that it can fuck up the eco-system and even after you have won, they hang around.

[ahab]

haha that would be some funny shit seeing weed poppin up everywhere lol I'm all for it though.

As for the whole planting things at the white house and prisons and shit I'm pretty sure they have gardners to go around and keep the grounds looking nice and at the prisons they probably just make the inmates do it and we dont want to make any more work for our comrades in the can.

[the_last_straw]

I think that lots of research needs to be done before launching a biological weapon. As for "overgrowing" the state with marijuana, it is a reality. While most of the US isn't suited for natural hemp, it can grow. I do know that I spread my seeds on public property after smoking and I have seen some of them grow. It's great to occupy police force time so they can stop chasing after drug users and start gettin' on their hands and knees to do some weeding. I think that if plants for drugs proliferate and start to become commmon the war on them will seem ludacris and could end up repealing drug laws.

[Connolly]

Im just wondering where you got that idea from?

Its interesting.

How would the weeds be spread? where do you get the seeds?

Its interesting because certain types of weeds can really damage fruit trees causing them to not produce fruit and even kill the tree itself. Im not sure exactly why or what situation someone would want to do that though.

Tell us more about the uses of weeds against capitalism.

[the_last_straw]

I got the idea from the thread in this forum about invasive species like the Australian frogs.

How would the weeds be spread?
By people throwing seeds everywhere

Where would you get the seeds?
I think that revolutionaries could make their own seeds at home and give them to other revolutionaries. It isn't hard to grow weeds, I've heard it's especially easy if you have a lawn.

In terms of using weeds against capitalism, I'm kind of lost. I guess it could be used to poison farms (since a LARGE production of cashflow for the us is food sales). Then, the federal government would have to cash out billions to stop the weed growth (on the other hand, it causes collateral damage to farmers). Perhaps targeting people like con agra is better. I think a great application would be to infest military bases with invasive species.

I found some plants that could be used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strangler_fig - Grows in a tree and leeches off it until it kills the tree. Natively found in Florida and other tropical climates.

Japanese Knotweed - This shrub-like herb grows up to 10 feet tall. Stems are smooth and the pointed leaves vary from broadly oval to almost triangular. Flowers are greenish-white and very small. The seeds are dispersed by wind. Once established, the plants spread by a system of underground stems reaching 60 feet.

Alligator Weed - Alligatorweed is an emergent or rooted floating invasive that invades aquatic areas throughout the southern portions of the United States. The opposite leaves are non-succulent. The white flowers occur in short, headlike spikes. Alligatorweed roots in wet soils or shallow water and grows out into waterways. The floating mats expand along the surface. Alligatorweed can also grow terrestrially, forming smaller, tougher leaves. The thick mats can displace native vegetation, clog waterways, restricts oxygen levels of water, increases sedimentation, interferes with irrigation, and prevents drainage. Alligatorweed is native to South America and was first introduced into the United States around 1900. <-- GREAT FOR FEDERAL DAMS&#33;



common water hyacinth - Waterhyacinth is a free floating aquatic plant that has invaded aquatic areas throughout the eastern and southern portions of the United States. The leaves are oval to elliptical, thick and waxy with spongy petioles. The very showy blue-purple flowers are born on upright spikes. Each flower has six petals with the uppermost having a yellow patch. Waterhyacinth invades lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, and other types of wetland habitats. It reproduces chiefly by vegetative means and can form dense floating mats of vegetation. These dense mats restrict light to the underwater environment, reduce the light availability for submersed plants and aquatic invertebrates, and deplete the oxygen levels. Waterhyacinth is native to South America and was first introduced as an ornamental into the United States in 1884 at the Cotton States Exposition in New Orleans. <-- Good for attacking commercial fish farms?







Here&#39;s a nice site for finding some:
http://www.invasive.org/weeds.cfm?sort=5&=&goButton=+go+

[the_last_straw]

I got the idea from the thread in this forum about invasive species like the Australian frogs.

How would the weeds be spread?
By people throwing seeds everywhere

Where would you get the seeds?
I think that revolutionaries could make their own seeds at home and give them to other revolutionaries. It isn&#39;t hard to grow weeds, I&#39;ve heard it&#39;s especially easy if you have a lawn.

In terms of using weeds against capitalism, I&#39;m kind of lost. I guess it could be used to poison farms (since a LARGE production of cashflow for the us is food sales). Then, the federal government would have to cash out billions to stop the weed growth (on the other hand, it causes collateral damage to farmers). Perhaps targeting people like con agra is better. I think a great application would be to infest military bases with invasive species.

I found some plants that could be used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strangler_fig - Grows in a tree and leeches off it until it kills the tree. Natively found in Florida and other tropical climates.

Japanese Knotweed - This shrub-like herb grows up to 10 feet tall. Stems are smooth and the pointed leaves vary from broadly oval to almost triangular. Flowers are greenish-white and very small. The seeds are dispersed by wind. Once established, the plants spread by a system of underground stems reaching 60 feet.

Alligator Weed - Alligatorweed is an emergent or rooted floating invasive that invades aquatic areas throughout the southern portions of the United States. The opposite leaves are non-succulent. The white flowers occur in short, headlike spikes. Alligatorweed roots in wet soils or shallow water and grows out into waterways. The floating mats expand along the surface. Alligatorweed can also grow terrestrially, forming smaller, tougher leaves. The thick mats can displace native vegetation, clog waterways, restricts oxygen levels of water, increases sedimentation, interferes with irrigation, and prevents drainage. Alligatorweed is native to South America and was first introduced into the United States around 1900. <-- GREAT FOR FEDERAL DAMS&#33;



common water hyacinth - Waterhyacinth is a free floating aquatic plant that has invaded aquatic areas throughout the eastern and southern portions of the United States. The leaves are oval to elliptical, thick and waxy with spongy petioles. The very showy blue-purple flowers are born on upright spikes. Each flower has six petals with the uppermost having a yellow patch. Waterhyacinth invades lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, and other types of wetland habitats. It reproduces chiefly by vegetative means and can form dense floating mats of vegetation. These dense mats restrict light to the underwater environment, reduce the light availability for submersed plants and aquatic invertebrates, and deplete the oxygen levels. Waterhyacinth is native to South America and was first introduced as an ornamental into the United States in 1884 at the Cotton States Exposition in New Orleans. <-- Good for attacking commercial fish farms?







Here&#39;s a nice site for finding some:
http://www.invasive.org/weeds.cfm?sort=5&=&goButton=+go+

[the_last_straw]

I got the idea from the thread in this forum about invasive species like the Australian frogs.

How would the weeds be spread?
By people throwing seeds everywhere

Where would you get the seeds?
I think that revolutionaries could make their own seeds at home and give them to other revolutionaries. It isn&#39;t hard to grow weeds, I&#39;ve heard it&#39;s especially easy if you have a lawn.

In terms of using weeds against capitalism, I&#39;m kind of lost. I guess it could be used to poison farms (since a LARGE production of cashflow for the us is food sales). Then, the federal government would have to cash out billions to stop the weed growth (on the other hand, it causes collateral damage to farmers). Perhaps targeting people like con agra is better. I think a great application would be to infest military bases with invasive species.

I found some plants that could be used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strangler_fig - Grows in a tree and leeches off it until it kills the tree. Natively found in Florida and other tropical climates.

Japanese Knotweed - This shrub-like herb grows up to 10 feet tall. Stems are smooth and the pointed leaves vary from broadly oval to almost triangular. Flowers are greenish-white and very small. The seeds are dispersed by wind. Once established, the plants spread by a system of underground stems reaching 60 feet.

Alligator Weed - Alligatorweed is an emergent or rooted floating invasive that invades aquatic areas throughout the southern portions of the United States. The opposite leaves are non-succulent. The white flowers occur in short, headlike spikes. Alligatorweed roots in wet soils or shallow water and grows out into waterways. The floating mats expand along the surface. Alligatorweed can also grow terrestrially, forming smaller, tougher leaves. The thick mats can displace native vegetation, clog waterways, restricts oxygen levels of water, increases sedimentation, interferes with irrigation, and prevents drainage. Alligatorweed is native to South America and was first introduced into the United States around 1900. <-- GREAT FOR FEDERAL DAMS&#33;



common water hyacinth - Waterhyacinth is a free floating aquatic plant that has invaded aquatic areas throughout the eastern and southern portions of the United States. The leaves are oval to elliptical, thick and waxy with spongy petioles. The very showy blue-purple flowers are born on upright spikes. Each flower has six petals with the uppermost having a yellow patch. Waterhyacinth invades lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes, and other types of wetland habitats. It reproduces chiefly by vegetative means and can form dense floating mats of vegetation. These dense mats restrict light to the underwater environment, reduce the light availability for submersed plants and aquatic invertebrates, and deplete the oxygen levels. Waterhyacinth is native to South America and was first introduced as an ornamental into the United States in 1884 at the Cotton States Exposition in New Orleans. <-- Good for attacking commercial fish farms?







Here&#39;s a nice site for finding some:
http://www.invasive.org/weeds.cfm?sort=5&=&goButton=+go+

[VermontLeft]

i dont know...this seems a bit far fetched, you know?

i mean maybe some day after genetic engineering becomes cheeper and more accessible. but in the immediate future this kind of sophisiticated warfare will only be available to the bourgeois.

i think that we have more to fear from "plant warfare" than the capitalists do. since they own all the tools, monyes and whatever that would be used to make this kind of shit.

"WMDS" like chemical or biological or nucelar or whatever arent really available to the proletariat. were probably gonn ahve to rely on numbers and position. i dont think it will ever be possible to "defeat" the capitalists, but we can probably make it so that theres no way for them to get us without destroying themselves.

cappies arent really like terrorists, afrterall, they wont die for their "beliefs". ;) :lol:

[VermontLeft]

i dont know...this seems a bit far fetched, you know?

i mean maybe some day after genetic engineering becomes cheeper and more accessible. but in the immediate future this kind of sophisiticated warfare will only be available to the bourgeois.

i think that we have more to fear from "plant warfare" than the capitalists do. since they own all the tools, monyes and whatever that would be used to make this kind of shit.

"WMDS" like chemical or biological or nucelar or whatever arent really available to the proletariat. were probably gonn ahve to rely on numbers and position. i dont think it will ever be possible to "defeat" the capitalists, but we can probably make it so that theres no way for them to get us without destroying themselves.

cappies arent really like terrorists, afrterall, they wont die for their "beliefs". ;) :lol:

[VermontLeft]

i dont know...this seems a bit far fetched, you know?

i mean maybe some day after genetic engineering becomes cheeper and more accessible. but in the immediate future this kind of sophisiticated warfare will only be available to the bourgeois.

i think that we have more to fear from "plant warfare" than the capitalists do. since they own all the tools, monyes and whatever that would be used to make this kind of shit.

"WMDS" like chemical or biological or nucelar or whatever arent really available to the proletariat. were probably gonn ahve to rely on numbers and position. i dont think it will ever be possible to "defeat" the capitalists, but we can probably make it so that theres no way for them to get us without destroying themselves.

cappies arent really like terrorists, afrterall, they wont die for their "beliefs". ;) :lol:

[Delirium]

I got the idea from the thread in this forum about invasive species like the Australian frogs.

Did you pick up on how invasive species are bad there?

The last thing we need is to help the spread of these plants. :angry:

BTW I&#39;m sure the military and the white house would just have somone pick the weeds, you idiot.

[Delirium]

I got the idea from the thread in this forum about invasive species like the Australian frogs.

Did you pick up on how invasive species are bad there?

The last thing we need is to help the spread of these plants. :angry:

BTW I&#39;m sure the military and the white house would just have somone pick the weeds, you idiot.

[Delirium]

I got the idea from the thread in this forum about invasive species like the Australian frogs.

Did you pick up on how invasive species are bad there?

The last thing we need is to help the spread of these plants. :angry:

BTW I&#39;m sure the military and the white house would just have somone pick the weeds, you idiot.

[the_last_straw]

You obviously don&#39;t understand what I&#39;m getting at blackflag. I&#39;m talking about using weeds and other invasive species to attack government bases and farms. What if a military base had so much of plant x or animal x that they had to evacuate?

[the_last_straw]

You obviously don&#39;t understand what I&#39;m getting at blackflag. I&#39;m talking about using weeds and other invasive species to attack government bases and farms. What if a military base had so much of plant x or animal x that they had to evacuate?

[the_last_straw]

You obviously don&#39;t understand what I&#39;m getting at blackflag. I&#39;m talking about using weeds and other invasive species to attack government bases and farms. What if a military base had so much of plant x or animal x that they had to evacuate?

[Janus]

Certain research facilities are already experimenting on this type of biological warfare. I heard of it from a guy who was working in an agricultural research department. Evidently, they are trying to create more powerful pesticides or agents that would utterly destroy another nation&#39;s agricultural potential and supplies.

Also, that may be counterproductive as that would only affect the proletariat more rather than the bourgeois.

[Janus]

Certain research facilities are already experimenting on this type of biological warfare. I heard of it from a guy who was working in an agricultural research department. Evidently, they are trying to create more powerful pesticides or agents that would utterly destroy another nation&#39;s agricultural potential and supplies.

Also, that may be counterproductive as that would only affect the proletariat more rather than the bourgeois.

[Janus]

Certain research facilities are already experimenting on this type of biological warfare. I heard of it from a guy who was working in an agricultural research department. Evidently, they are trying to create more powerful pesticides or agents that would utterly destroy another nation&#39;s agricultural potential and supplies.

Also, that may be counterproductive as that would only affect the proletariat more rather than the bourgeois.

[Ian]

You&#39;re a fucking idiot.

[Ian]

You&#39;re a fucking idiot.

[Ian]

You&#39;re a fucking idiot.

[apathy maybe]

VermontLeft: We&#39;ll just being using everyday run of the mill plants available already. Nothing fancy.

Did you pick up on how invasive species are bad there?

The last thing we need is to help the spread of these plants. mad.gif

BTW I&#39;m sure the military and the white house would just have somone pick the weeds, you idiot.[/quote]Now now. No need to get insulting. The point that the_last_straw initially made was that the plants could be used to disrupt prisons etc. But the point I (and others) made is that (if these plants are already in the area) some plants could cause the authorities to waste time and money. Sure they can "just have someone pick the weeds", but it means that one less person is hunting dope smokers (or alternatively has a job).


Originally posted by Ian
[b] You&#39;re a fucking idiot. Who are you saying this too? And why did you bother posting if this is all you had to say?

[apathy maybe]

VermontLeft: We&#39;ll just being using everyday run of the mill plants available already. Nothing fancy.

Did you pick up on how invasive species are bad there?

The last thing we need is to help the spread of these plants. mad.gif

BTW I&#39;m sure the military and the white house would just have somone pick the weeds, you idiot.[/quote]Now now. No need to get insulting. The point that the_last_straw initially made was that the plants could be used to disrupt prisons etc. But the point I (and others) made is that (if these plants are already in the area) some plants could cause the authorities to waste time and money. Sure they can "just have someone pick the weeds", but it means that one less person is hunting dope smokers (or alternatively has a job).


Originally posted by Ian
[b] You&#39;re a fucking idiot. Who are you saying this too? And why did you bother posting if this is all you had to say?

[apathy maybe]

VermontLeft: We&#39;ll just being using everyday run of the mill plants available already. Nothing fancy.

Did you pick up on how invasive species are bad there?

The last thing we need is to help the spread of these plants. mad.gif

BTW I&#39;m sure the military and the white house would just have somone pick the weeds, you idiot.[/quote]Now now. No need to get insulting. The point that the_last_straw initially made was that the plants could be used to disrupt prisons etc. But the point I (and others) made is that (if these plants are already in the area) some plants could cause the authorities to waste time and money. Sure they can "just have someone pick the weeds", but it means that one less person is hunting dope smokers (or alternatively has a job).


Originally posted by Ian
[b] You&#39;re a fucking idiot. Who are you saying this too? And why did you bother posting if this is all you had to say?

[Connolly]

I have to say, I like the idea.

But, I mean, it wouldnt really be worth while. My reasons:

1. It would be very time consuming to gather and produce large amounts of weed seeds - if not impossible.
2. Weed killer can just be used to get rid of them.
3. There just arnt any real applications that I can think of.
4. I think you overestimate the uses of weeds :lol:
5. It could possibly do more harm than good.
6. Military bases, over here anyway, dont grow their own food and raise their own cattle but just use regular sources for their food. An attack on those sources is an attack on sources of the proletariat.

Although, and on the other hand - the general idea is good.

Mybe it could be adapted for more useful purposes.

Take the idea of spreading fruit and vegetable seeds.

They could be spread throughout urban centres, parks, playgrounds, gardens and throughout the country side.

Plant fruit trees on your road, in your estate - everywhere.

Watch the destruction of a bourgeois monopoly :lol:

Fruit and vegetable seeds are very expensive, but, a good green handed person could grow one apple tree, "take a snippet" off a branch and grow another, do the same again and again until they multiply and multiply.

Then again, chance your luck by planting apples.

Plants like tomato, blackberry, gooseberry, loganberry, blueberry, potato, rasberry, mushrooms, apple trees, cherry trees and pear trees are all very tough and can grow wild without attention or pruning.

This all depend on the climate of course. Some countries iv been in have lemons and oranges growing along the street - without the "dash for the freeby".

Dont it make you angry that people plant useless, unproductive plants and trees in gardens and streets ? :angry:

[Connolly]

I have to say, I like the idea.

But, I mean, it wouldnt really be worth while. My reasons:

1. It would be very time consuming to gather and produce large amounts of weed seeds - if not impossible.
2. Weed killer can just be used to get rid of them.
3. There just arnt any real applications that I can think of.
4. I think you overestimate the uses of weeds :lol:
5. It could possibly do more harm than good.
6. Military bases, over here anyway, dont grow their own food and raise their own cattle but just use regular sources for their food. An attack on those sources is an attack on sources of the proletariat.

Although, and on the other hand - the general idea is good.

Mybe it could be adapted for more useful purposes.

Take the idea of spreading fruit and vegetable seeds.

They could be spread throughout urban centres, parks, playgrounds, gardens and throughout the country side.

Plant fruit trees on your road, in your estate - everywhere.

Watch the destruction of a bourgeois monopoly :lol:

Fruit and vegetable seeds are very expensive, but, a good green handed person could grow one apple tree, "take a snippet" off a branch and grow another, do the same again and again until they multiply and multiply.

Then again, chance your luck by planting apples.

Plants like tomato, blackberry, gooseberry, loganberry, blueberry, potato, rasberry, mushrooms, apple trees, cherry trees and pear trees are all very tough and can grow wild without attention or pruning.

This all depend on the climate of course. Some countries iv been in have lemons and oranges growing along the street - without the "dash for the freeby".

Dont it make you angry that people plant useless, unproductive plants and trees in gardens and streets ? :angry:

[Connolly]

I have to say, I like the idea.

But, I mean, it wouldnt really be worth while. My reasons:

1. It would be very time consuming to gather and produce large amounts of weed seeds - if not impossible.
2. Weed killer can just be used to get rid of them.
3. There just arnt any real applications that I can think of.
4. I think you overestimate the uses of weeds :lol:
5. It could possibly do more harm than good.
6. Military bases, over here anyway, dont grow their own food and raise their own cattle but just use regular sources for their food. An attack on those sources is an attack on sources of the proletariat.

Although, and on the other hand - the general idea is good.

Mybe it could be adapted for more useful purposes.

Take the idea of spreading fruit and vegetable seeds.

They could be spread throughout urban centres, parks, playgrounds, gardens and throughout the country side.

Plant fruit trees on your road, in your estate - everywhere.

Watch the destruction of a bourgeois monopoly :lol:

Fruit and vegetable seeds are very expensive, but, a good green handed person could grow one apple tree, "take a snippet" off a branch and grow another, do the same again and again until they multiply and multiply.

Then again, chance your luck by planting apples.

Plants like tomato, blackberry, gooseberry, loganberry, blueberry, potato, rasberry, mushrooms, apple trees, cherry trees and pear trees are all very tough and can grow wild without attention or pruning.

This all depend on the climate of course. Some countries iv been in have lemons and oranges growing along the street - without the "dash for the freeby".

Dont it make you angry that people plant useless, unproductive plants and trees in gardens and streets ? :angry:

[Delirium]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2006, 08:22 PM
You obviously don&#39;t understand what I&#39;m getting at blackflag. I&#39;m talking about using weeds and other invasive species to attack government bases and farms. What if a military base had so much of plant x or animal x that they had to evacuate?
It just simply wouldn&#39;t work, it would take long enough for somthing to get established that if it was a serious threat (which it wouldn&#39;t be) it would be recognized.

Invasive species cause serious ecological problems but hardly ever cause any danger to humans. The idea that some base would evacuate is ludicrious. It would be a minor inconvience at most.

[Delirium]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2006, 08:22 PM
You obviously don&#39;t understand what I&#39;m getting at blackflag. I&#39;m talking about using weeds and other invasive species to attack government bases and farms. What if a military base had so much of plant x or animal x that they had to evacuate?
It just simply wouldn&#39;t work, it would take long enough for somthing to get established that if it was a serious threat (which it wouldn&#39;t be) it would be recognized.

Invasive species cause serious ecological problems but hardly ever cause any danger to humans. The idea that some base would evacuate is ludicrious. It would be a minor inconvience at most.

[Delirium]

Originally posted by [email protected] 21 2006, 08:22 PM
You obviously don&#39;t understand what I&#39;m getting at blackflag. I&#39;m talking about using weeds and other invasive species to attack government bases and farms. What if a military base had so much of plant x or animal x that they had to evacuate?
It just simply wouldn&#39;t work, it would take long enough for somthing to get established that if it was a serious threat (which it wouldn&#39;t be) it would be recognized.

Invasive species cause serious ecological problems but hardly ever cause any danger to humans. The idea that some base would evacuate is ludicrious. It would be a minor inconvience at most.

[the_last_straw]

I like your idea of providing free food by planting it. I know several people who have cloning facilties for "other purposes" but I think it&#39;s absolutely possible. Making seeds for fruits is very time consuming because you have to wait a long time for the tree to grow but vegetables are easy to clone and produce. I&#39;d like to get some comments on that idea.

[the_last_straw]

I like your idea of providing free food by planting it. I know several people who have cloning facilties for "other purposes" but I think it&#39;s absolutely possible. Making seeds for fruits is very time consuming because you have to wait a long time for the tree to grow but vegetables are easy to clone and produce. I&#39;d like to get some comments on that idea.

[the_last_straw]

I like your idea of providing free food by planting it. I know several people who have cloning facilties for "other purposes" but I think it&#39;s absolutely possible. Making seeds for fruits is very time consuming because you have to wait a long time for the tree to grow but vegetables are easy to clone and produce. I&#39;d like to get some comments on that idea.

[Janus]

I&#39;m talking about using weeds and other invasive species to attack government bases and farms. What if a military base had so much of plant x or animal x that they had to evacuate?
That&#39;s impractical. Using weeds or creating new weeds when other weapons could work better. Or you could simply starve them out as most military bases aren&#39;t self-sufficient.

[Janus]

I&#39;m talking about using weeds and other invasive species to attack government bases and farms. What if a military base had so much of plant x or animal x that they had to evacuate?
That&#39;s impractical. Using weeds or creating new weeds when other weapons could work better. Or you could simply starve them out as most military bases aren&#39;t self-sufficient.

[Janus]

I&#39;m talking about using weeds and other invasive species to attack government bases and farms. What if a military base had so much of plant x or animal x that they had to evacuate?
That&#39;s impractical. Using weeds or creating new weeds when other weapons could work better. Or you could simply starve them out as most military bases aren&#39;t self-sufficient.

[the_last_straw]

Does anybody know of any ivys or anything that eat cement or asphalt? We could cause millions in repairs and delays to military bases with those.

[the_last_straw]

Does anybody know of any ivys or anything that eat cement or asphalt? We could cause millions in repairs and delays to military bases with those.

[the_last_straw]

Does anybody know of any ivys or anything that eat cement or asphalt? We could cause millions in repairs and delays to military bases with those.

[Janus]

We could cause millions in repairs and delays to military bases with those.
Why not just use explosives rather than try to develop some type of superweed that may be counter-productive?

[Janus]

We could cause millions in repairs and delays to military bases with those.
Why not just use explosives rather than try to develop some type of superweed that may be counter-productive?

[Janus]

We could cause millions in repairs and delays to military bases with those.
Why not just use explosives rather than try to develop some type of superweed that may be counter-productive?

[the_last_straw]

There are several reasons why plant warfare would be better than actual warfare. For one, if a plant/species invasion occurs they certainly aren&#39;t going to suspect foul play like they would when a bomb went off. Plant seeds travel on humans and in animals making them almost impossible to track. In addition, spreading seeds is something everybody can do and they can do it very covertly. Plant warfare is also cheap and easy. Furthermore, we&#39;re using something that is available all around us.

[the_last_straw]

There are several reasons why plant warfare would be better than actual warfare. For one, if a plant/species invasion occurs they certainly aren&#39;t going to suspect foul play like they would when a bomb went off. Plant seeds travel on humans and in animals making them almost impossible to track. In addition, spreading seeds is something everybody can do and they can do it very covertly. Plant warfare is also cheap and easy. Furthermore, we&#39;re using something that is available all around us.

[the_last_straw]

There are several reasons why plant warfare would be better than actual warfare. For one, if a plant/species invasion occurs they certainly aren&#39;t going to suspect foul play like they would when a bomb went off. Plant seeds travel on humans and in animals making them almost impossible to track. In addition, spreading seeds is something everybody can do and they can do it very covertly. Plant warfare is also cheap and easy. Furthermore, we&#39;re using something that is available all around us.

[Janus]

Plant warfare is also cheap and easy. Furthermore, we&#39;re using something that is available all around us.
An invasive species would have to be brought in from a different area of the world and it could create ecological havoc if allowed to spread. That is why it may prove to be counterproductive. Why would that be cheaper and easier than explosives?

[Janus]

Plant warfare is also cheap and easy. Furthermore, we&#39;re using something that is available all around us.
An invasive species would have to be brought in from a different area of the world and it could create ecological havoc if allowed to spread. That is why it may prove to be counterproductive. Why would that be cheaper and easier than explosives?

[Janus]

Plant warfare is also cheap and easy. Furthermore, we&#39;re using something that is available all around us.
An invasive species would have to be brought in from a different area of the world and it could create ecological havoc if allowed to spread. That is why it may prove to be counterproductive. Why would that be cheaper and easier than explosives?

[the_last_straw]

Explosives take a long time to make, are illegal, attract attention, and are expensive. Even with the cost of importing seeds it&#39;s still a very cheap option.

[the_last_straw]

Explosives take a long time to make, are illegal, attract attention, and are expensive. Even with the cost of importing seeds it&#39;s still a very cheap option.

[the_last_straw]

Explosives take a long time to make, are illegal, attract attention, and are expensive. Even with the cost of importing seeds it&#39;s still a very cheap option.

[encephalon]

While a nice idea--maybe a good start for a sci-fi story, actually--in reality it would prove difficult, if not impossible, to put into practice. If there&#39;s one thing that mankind has proven good at, no matter if it&#39;s under capitalism, feudalism or beyond, it&#39;s the ability to destroy plants and animals that they don&#39;t want in their own territory.

If you think about it, most of our lives consist of stopping the "natural world" from entering our homes. It would take something amazingly prolific and amazingly strong to have the effect you&#39;re suggesting. You could use fungus and such, I suppose, but then there&#39;s the problem of killing people off far more than you imagined. Besides, fungal spores and the genetic material of plants are almost everywhere already--we inhale more in a single day than we could even count--and I sincerely doubt any efforts of such a nature as you describe would have much affect. And if it did, then you&#39;re messing with something that&#39;s uncontrollable--in the process of fighting capitalism (if you could call it that..), you may end up destroying any chance of a future for any system for a very long time. If you&#39;re a primitivist, then you might be fine with that; but most of us here have a distaste for it.

A better policy is to use the products of plants: fruits, chemicals, fibers, etc.

[Janus]

Even with the cost of importing seeds it&#39;s still a very cheap option.
So you want to scatter some weeds around? You would have to engineer a weed strong enough to do some major damage and introducing exotic species could have major consequences beyonds what you may imagine.

[subcal]

Yeh the national parks are already overgrown, don&#39;t try and enjoy the scenery or a walk incase you stumble onto someone elses crop. They have a name for planting in national parks ect and it was used alot in the 1980&#39;s crowd when everyone was teary in the US because of cropping and blokes with guns.

[RevSouth]

As TheRedBanner stated, just do a little guerilla gardening, instead of this &#39;weed warfare&#39;. Plant tomatoes, potatoes, corn, cucumbers, and squash wherever you can. Not too mention fruit trees. I like to wander around especially bourgeois neighborhoods and spread seeds :D Also outside state owned buildings, etc. And at school. Even if they don&#39;t live some gardener, rich housewife is going "What the fuck, cucumber in my flower garden?" And if they do grow, your hopefully giving some kind soul a bite to eat, or something to take home and cook.

[Janus]

I like to wander around especially bourgeois neighborhoods and spread seeds
When you do that, they&#39;re only going to buy more herbicides which is not good. :(

[postindustrial]

First off, in case you haven’t noticed, the bourgeois has already declared war on invasive species. Otherwise responsible environmental groups have embraced this “anti-exotics” movement so whole-heartedly that they are partnering up in droves with herbicide manufacturers like Monsanto, attacking our bio-reserves and national forests herbicide and chainsaws. Meanwhile, invasion biology has been debunked as pseudoscience, and government and environmental groups are preparing a “clean list” that would outlaw 99% of the planet’s biota from commercial dissemination. Some industrial countries, including Australia, already have such laws. While it would be nice to think that they see the potential for these plants to be used against them, in reality, the herbicide industry just needs uses for their products as public opinion against transgenic crops is stacked against them. Industrial farmers are now trained to be vigilant for these species, in order to head them off before they can become problematic.

HOWEVER, having said this, there is a use for highly invasive species. Read on…

Kudzu: the wonder plant&#33;
Those of you who are familiar with this plant know that it is perhaps the most rampant species on earth aside from humans. It can grow in concrete, and its vines will grow 100 feet in a single season, leaving woody branches from which new vines will sprout the next year. It is said that the plant can cover a car in a week, a house in a month. It is a legume, which means that it fertilizes the soil&#33; But best of all, the plant is entirely edible. Animals relish it, which is the reason the USDA introduced it originally (and now they want to ban it). In Japan, they make the highest grade of tofu from its small seeds, and valuable medicine is made from its roots. I see two principle uses for the plant:
1. Land devaluation—planted in developed or developing areas, the plant will drastically devalue the real estate. Even if the area were excavated and sprayed down with herbicide, the disturbance will encourage its seeds, lying dormant in the ground for years, to sprout and grow. This can be a valuable tool for overpriced real estate and overdevelopment. I was about to go plant some in a proposed Wal-Mart site, but they decided not to build one…there.
2. Land revaluation—planted in abandoned industrial areas, parking lots, etc., the vines will quickly cover the blighted area, growing into cracks and ripping up concrete/blacktop, climbing buildings and walls, further demolishing it. In a few years, this plant can turn a concrete jungle into an organic, edible one.

It should be noted that the best way to eliminate this weed is grazing. So if people want to reclaim the area in the following decades, all they have to do is let the livestock in for about a year.

Also, this should only be planted in areas that won’t be noticed until it is well established. Otherwise, they will just use more herbicides (whether it does any long-term good or not). However, from my experience, if it is well established, no one will go to the expense of eradicating it unless they have big plans for revaluing it. While everyone complains about a barren concrete landscape, who would mind a greenscape&#33;

Finally, kudzu seeds are cheap and fairly easy to get, for now. In the future, the only places to find them may be live plants and the black market, so act quickly, and help stop the “white list”—check it out at http://www.geocities.com/nowhitelist/

[Janus]

Meanwhile, invasion biology has been debunked as pseudoscience
When did this happen?

Invasive species can have a major impact on an environment.