Tell Bayer: Stop Killing Our Honey Bees

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

It's been a while since I've posted anything about the poor honey bees. But I've just created a new petition targeting Bayer Crop Science, one of the key corporations responsible for the chemicals contributing to colony collapse disorder.

Can you please sign today and then share the petition to help reach 10,000 signatures by the end of this week? That ought to make Bayer sit up and take notice!

Honey bees continue to die en masse and several studies point to neonicotinoid pesticides as the root of the problem (there are other factors that are believed to contribute, including mites, viruses, and the simple fact that there are far fewer flowers out there as a result of development.)

In an effort to protect its own dwindling honey bee populations, Europe has slapped a two-year ban on neonicotinoids, the class of pesticides that appears to be at fault for much of the bee deaths.

But instead of following suit, the good 'ole U.S. of A. thumbed its nose at all that prudent, intelligent decision-making across the pond by (drumroll, please...) approving another new neonicotinoid pesticide for use! Blech...

In addition to asking the EPA and the FDA to step up (please add your name if you haven't signed yet), I'd like to approach the problem from another angle --  targeting the source of the pesticides killing our bees. Headquartered in Germany (where neonicotinoids are now banned...), Bayer Crop Science is responsible for two of the three pesticides (clothianidin and imidacloprid) known to contribute to colony collapse disorder.

It's bad enough that Bayer's products hurt our honey bees and contaminate our soil. But their surface attempts to make it look like they care about the environment are both futile and offensive.

For example, Bayer Crop Science proclaims itself the "Protector of Crops" and likes to tout its commitment to sustainability (see the screenshot from their site below) and to the health of bees.

Since they seem to care so much about their image, let's ask Bayer to prove its commitment to sustainability and to the health of bees by removing clothianidin and imidacloprid from the market voluntarily for the next two years to see what impact it may have on honey bees. After all, it's in Bayer's best interest to keep farmers in business. And without honey bees, their customer base is gonna be a lot thinner...

Please sign the petition and then share to build the buzz for honey bees. 

Thank you!

-Eve

2 comments:

Ahmedabad said...

You are right every one need to stop killing Our Honey Bees...

All PPl. need to understand this..

Regards

Anonymous said...

I recommend you read Randy Oliver's website, scientificbeekeeping.com, especially his articles on synthetic pesticides. He's one of the best researchers on CCD and other bee pests around, and well respected among low/no treatment beekeepers. He's convinced me that, while stopping neonicotinoids might feel good, there is no clarity at all that it will help the bees. And it may hurt them, if farmers turn to other, more harmful pesticides to replace them. thanks, your friendly local beekeeper

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Tell Bayer: Stop Killing Our Honey Bees

It's been a while since I've posted anything about the poor honey bees. But I've just created a new petition targeting Bayer Crop Science, one of the key corporations responsible for the chemicals contributing to colony collapse disorder.

Can you please sign today and then share the petition to help reach 10,000 signatures by the end of this week? That ought to make Bayer sit up and take notice!

Honey bees continue to die en masse and several studies point to neonicotinoid pesticides as the root of the problem (there are other factors that are believed to contribute, including mites, viruses, and the simple fact that there are far fewer flowers out there as a result of development.)

In an effort to protect its own dwindling honey bee populations, Europe has slapped a two-year ban on neonicotinoids, the class of pesticides that appears to be at fault for much of the bee deaths.

But instead of following suit, the good 'ole U.S. of A. thumbed its nose at all that prudent, intelligent decision-making across the pond by (drumroll, please...) approving another new neonicotinoid pesticide for use! Blech...

In addition to asking the EPA and the FDA to step up (please add your name if you haven't signed yet), I'd like to approach the problem from another angle --  targeting the source of the pesticides killing our bees. Headquartered in Germany (where neonicotinoids are now banned...), Bayer Crop Science is responsible for two of the three pesticides (clothianidin and imidacloprid) known to contribute to colony collapse disorder.

It's bad enough that Bayer's products hurt our honey bees and contaminate our soil. But their surface attempts to make it look like they care about the environment are both futile and offensive.

For example, Bayer Crop Science proclaims itself the "Protector of Crops" and likes to tout its commitment to sustainability (see the screenshot from their site below) and to the health of bees.

Since they seem to care so much about their image, let's ask Bayer to prove its commitment to sustainability and to the health of bees by removing clothianidin and imidacloprid from the market voluntarily for the next two years to see what impact it may have on honey bees. After all, it's in Bayer's best interest to keep farmers in business. And without honey bees, their customer base is gonna be a lot thinner...

Please sign the petition and then share to build the buzz for honey bees. 

Thank you!

-Eve

2 comments:

Ahmedabad said...

You are right every one need to stop killing Our Honey Bees...

All PPl. need to understand this..

Regards

Anonymous said...

I recommend you read Randy Oliver's website, scientificbeekeeping.com, especially his articles on synthetic pesticides. He's one of the best researchers on CCD and other bee pests around, and well respected among low/no treatment beekeepers. He's convinced me that, while stopping neonicotinoids might feel good, there is no clarity at all that it will help the bees. And it may hurt them, if farmers turn to other, more harmful pesticides to replace them. thanks, your friendly local beekeeper