Pages

A universe of beauty, mystery and wonder

A universe of beauty, mystery and wonder
©http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/ UNAUTHORIZED USE AND/OR DUPLICATION OF THIS BLOG'S MATERIAL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. EXCERPTS AND LINKS MAY BE USED, PROVIDED THAT FULL AND CLEAR CREDIT IS GIVEN TO OTTERS AND SCIENCE NEWS BLOGSPOT WITH APPROPRIATE AND SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO THE ORIGINAL CONTENT. --- THE FACTS AND OPINIONS POSTED ON THIS BLOG ARE HERE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSE AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS OF THIS BLOG'S ADMINISTRATOR.

Monday, June 10, 2013

BEES ISSUES -
 

PESTICIDES AND GOVERNMENT INACTION BEHIND BEES DISAPPEARANCE

 

 FOOD SCARCITY AHEAD

 
The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, acknowledges that “pesticide poisoning” may be one factor leading to colony collapse disorder, yet they have been slow to act to protect bees from this threat.
 
Almonds are the main agricultural product of California, and they depend on bee pollination for the success of their crops. 
 
This year, however, the unthinkable happened. Many of the 6,000 orchard owners simply could not find enough bees to pollinate their almond trees, at any price.  Many of the bees delivered to California almond growers turned out to be dead when the packages were opened up.

FACTS:

-  Bees contribute $15 billion in annual agriculture revenue to the US economy alone.
 
-  One-third of the American food supply depends on bees pollinating crops.  Just about every fruit and vegetable you can imagine is dependent on the pollinating services of bees.
 
-   Bee colonies across the world are disappearing - a phenomenon dubbed colony collapse disorder (CCD).
 
One main cause of bee die-off is poisoning by pesticides.

The toxicity connection
Forager bees bring pesticide-laden pollen back to the hive, where it's consumed by all of the bees. Six months later, their immune systems fail, and they fall prey to secondary, seemingly "natural" bee infections, such as parasites, mites, viruses, fungi and bacteria.

CONNECT THE DOTS - The disappearance of bee colonies began accelerating in the United States shortly after the EPA allowed these new insecticides on the market in the mid-2000s.
 
Last month, beekeepers and environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the EPA over its failure to protect bees from these toxic pesticides.

Meanwhile, France has banned Imidacloprid for use on corn and sunflowers after reporting large losses of bees after exposure to it. They also rejected Bayer´s application for Clothianidin, and other countries, such as Italy, have banned certain neonicotinoids as well. 
 
A general consensus among beekeepers is that the bee die-offs are most definitely related to toxic chemicals. Neonicotinoids, present in pesticides, is being blamed for bee die-offs. 
 
Pesticides containing Neonicotinoids are applied to seeds before planting, allowing it to be taken up through the plant’s vascular system as it grows. As a result, the chemical contaminates the pollen and nectar of the plant.
 
These insecticides are highly toxic to bees because they are systemic, water-soluble, and pervasive. They get into the soil and groundwater where they can accumulate and remain for many years and present long-term toxicity to the hive.
 
Neonicotinoids affect insects' central nervous systems in ways that are cumulative and irreversible. Even minute amounts can have profound effects over time. They weaken the bee's immune system.
 
Read more: 
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/08/bees-dying-off.aspx?e_cid=20130608_DNL_art_1&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20130608


RELATED:

GOVERNMENT ILEGALLY SEIZES MONSANTO-RESISTANT BEES FROM OREGON FARMER AND BEE RESEARCHER TERRENCE INGRAM.
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2013/05/government-control-news-monsanto.html

COLONY COLLAPSE SYNDROME A FRAUD -- PESTICIDES CAUSE BEE DIE OFFS
http://www.activistpost.com/2013/05/colony-collapse-disorder-is-fraud.html


STUDY LINKS BEE DIE OFFS TO PESTICIDES, BUT GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO BAN SUCH PESTICIDES.
A major study by the U.S. government’s environment and agriculture agencies has suggested a strong link between the use of certain pesticides and the widespread deaths that have afflicted honey bee populations around the world in recent years.  Still, the joint report does not suggest limiting the use of these pesticides, nor does it recommend immediate action to impose a temporary ban, as was announced this week in a landmark decision by the European Union. Rather, the report offers technical tweaks while urging additional research on the issue.
https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/05/03-0

EUROPE BANS SOME PESTICIDES - US KEEPS SPRAYING
http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2013/05/eu-ban-bee-harming-pesticides-puts-pressure-us-epa

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for visiting my blog. Your comments are always appreciated, but please do not include links.