Bee petition

rhychydwr1

Active member
Slighty off topic, but no bees, no cavers:

Breaking news!! Europe's leaders could move to ban bee killing pesticides in 48 hours. Click to sign and send this to everyone -- let's build a 2-million-strong swarm and make our voices heard before they meet

Dear friends,



Bees around the world are dying off and Europe?s food watchdog just said certain pesticides are part of the problem. We?ve got 48 hours before key meetings -- let?s get a 2-million-person swarm to save the bees. Click to take urgent action now:




Quietly, globally, billions of bees are dying, threatening our crops and food. But in 48 hours the European Union could move to ban the most poisonous pesticides, and pave the way to a global ban that would save bees from extinction.

Four EU countries have begun banning these poisons, and some bee populations are already recovering. Days ago the official European food safety watchdog stated for the first time that certain pesticides are fatally harming bees. Now legal experts and European politicians are calling for an immediate ban. But Bayer and other giant pesticide producers are lobbying hard to keep them on the market. If we build a huge swarm of public outrage now, we can push the European Commission to put our health and our environment before the profit of a few.

We know our voices count! Last year, our 1.2 million strong petition forced US authorities to open a formal consultation on pesticides -- now if we reach 2 million, we can persuade the EU to get rid of these crazy poisons and pave the way for a ban worldwide. Sign the urgent petition and send this to everyone -- Avaaz and leading MEPs will deliver our message ahead of this week's key meeting in Brussels:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/hours_to_save_the_bees/?bJNVvbb&v=21421

Bees don't just make honey, they are vital to life on earth, every year pollinating 90% of plants and crops -- with an estimated $40bn value and over one-third of the food supply in many countries. Without immediate action to save bees, many of our favourite fruits, vegetables, and nuts could vanish from our shelves.

Recent years have seen a steep and disturbing global decline in bee populations -- some bee species are already extinct and some US species are at just 4% of their previous numbers. Scientists have been scrambling for answers and now the European Food Safety Authority is saying that toxic chemicals called neonicotinoid pesticides could be responsible for the bee deaths. France, Italy, Slovenia and even Germany, where the main manufacturer Bayer is based, have banned one of these bee-killing pesticides. But Bayer continues to export its poison across the world.

Now the issue is coming to a boil. EU parliamentarians are stepping up their pressure on the European Commission and key governments to push new legislation to ban the deadly pesticides, and we can offer them the public support they need to counter the powerful pesticide lobby. Sign the urgent petition to Europe?s leaders, then forward this email widely:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/hours_to_save_the_bees/?bJNVvbb&v=21421

Our world is beset with threats to what makes it habitable, and to what fills it with wonder. The Avaaz community comes together to defend both -- large or small. Whether winning a battle to keep the International Whaling Commission from sanctioning the murder of these giants, or saving bees, the tiny creatures upon which so much depends, we will come together and stand up for the world we all want.

With hope,

Luis, Ari, Alice, Iain, Ricken, David, Alaphia, and the Avaaz team

SOURCES

Pesticides pose danger to bees (European Voice)
http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/2013/january/pesticides-pose-danger-to-bees/76158.aspx

Crop pesticides are 'killing our bees' - says MEP (Public Service Europe)
http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/3007/crop-pesticides-are-killing-our-bees-says-mep#ixzz2JGICse6a

Death knell for nerve agent pesticides in move to save bees (Independent)
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/death-knell-for-nerve-agent-pesticides-in-move-to-save-bees-8454443.html

Give Bees a Chance! (The Greens European Free Alliance)
http://www.greens-efa.eu/give-bees-a-chance-9012.html

Studies fault Bayer in bee die-off (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0406/Studies-fault-Bayer-in-bee-die-off


 

grahams

Well-known member
Judi Durber said:
Agree with above  but  this is what happens if they are banned:

see Dimema over crucial chemicals
http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/digitaledition/NWN/#/14/zoomed

"In an unfavourable year such as 2012 winter wheat yields would be reduced by 20% making it uneconomic to grow"

No food either way  :(
No doubt you're aware that many foods are severely de-mineralised - ever wondered, for example, why stupidmarket tomatoes are now so tasteless and insipid. Maybe leaving the fields fallow so that they can recover some of their nutrients rather than pushing growth with nasty destructive chemicals might be a good thing. I live in an arable farming area. The summer hedges contain few birds or insects.
I wouldn't be too hopeful that the EU will do anything about the destruction of the bees. The EU is too useless and corrupt to achieve anything.
 

Pitlamp

Well-known member
It's not useless at coming up with a number if hairbrained laws and soaking up vast amounts of our cash in the process. Don't get me wrong - I'm not against the principle of an EU - but they do seem to be working directly against us at times.
 
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