I don't know how many reading my blog might already be aware of the impending disaster with honeybee decimation through a phenomena called Colony Collapse Disorder, but I thought I would take this opportunity to speak out about it and enlist the help of those who care about our environment and understand the crucial role of pollinators in keeping our food system going. I'm re-posting a letter you can share (from www.SaveOurEnvironment.org) to help you learn about the current issues (the EPA will be trying to ignore this problem without direct intervention until 2018 -- way too late for the honeybees!). You can also take action by sending an email to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, by clicking a link contained in the letter. This is something quite easy to do and it will really help to put some priorities in line. Considering that honeybees pollinate a full 1/3 of our crops in the US, it's certainly a worthy cause to protect them, and in so doing, protect our food security.
As an inspiration and thank you for taking action, there is a beautiful piece of nature video artistry titled, "The Beauty of Pollinators" by Louie Schwartzberg at the end of the post. It has incredible moments captured on film with bees, butterflies, bats, hummingbirds -- absolutely stunning! Enjoy!
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Life is not all nectar and honey for America's honey bees. Since 2006, billions of our bees have died in a mysterious and disturbing phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder.
This is very bad news for honey bees and equally bad news for the rest of us since the integrity and security of a full 1/3 of our food supply depends on pollination by, you guessed it, honey bees...
Scientists believe that the pesticide clothianidin may be one of the factors that is killing our honey bees off by the billions.
But the EPA has rejected requests to ban the chemical and is refusing to speed up their review of the safety of this hastily approved pesticide (currently slated to conclude in 2018).
Unfortunately, our honey bees can't wait 6 more years. And every bee colony that collapses threatens the future of our food supply and the livelihoods of beekeepers and farmers, too...
I just asked the EPA to quit dragging its feet and ban clothianidin NOW. Will you join me in contacting them (it's really easy)?
France, Italy, Slovenia, and Germany (which is home to Bayer CropScience, the maker of clothianidin) have already banned clothianidin over concerns of its role in Colony Collapse Disorder.
There's really no time to lose. Please join me in contacting the EPA about clothianidin today.
Then spread the word!
Thanks for your help.
As an inspiration and thank you for taking action, there is a beautiful piece of nature video artistry titled, "The Beauty of Pollinators" by Louie Schwartzberg at the end of the post. It has incredible moments captured on film with bees, butterflies, bats, hummingbirds -- absolutely stunning! Enjoy!
***************************************************************************************
Life is not all nectar and honey for America's honey bees. Since 2006, billions of our bees have died in a mysterious and disturbing phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder.
This is very bad news for honey bees and equally bad news for the rest of us since the integrity and security of a full 1/3 of our food supply depends on pollination by, you guessed it, honey bees...
Scientists believe that the pesticide clothianidin may be one of the factors that is killing our honey bees off by the billions.
But the EPA has rejected requests to ban the chemical and is refusing to speed up their review of the safety of this hastily approved pesticide (currently slated to conclude in 2018).
Unfortunately, our honey bees can't wait 6 more years. And every bee colony that collapses threatens the future of our food supply and the livelihoods of beekeepers and farmers, too...
I just asked the EPA to quit dragging its feet and ban clothianidin NOW. Will you join me in contacting them (it's really easy)?
France, Italy, Slovenia, and Germany (which is home to Bayer CropScience, the maker of clothianidin) have already banned clothianidin over concerns of its role in Colony Collapse Disorder.
There's really no time to lose. Please join me in contacting the EPA about clothianidin today.
Then spread the word!
Thanks for your help.
