Funny thing was, I was writing a journal entry about being aware of signs and signals from the world around us.
I've been highly concerned about toxic pesticides for sometime now, but for me, today was the day to act.
I hope you'll check out this message from Avaaz.org, an organization that seeks to bring people-power to politics and policy making in a new way, and sign their petition to the US Environmental Protection Agency. There are some great articles linked below if you want to read and find out more from great sources like The Guardian in the UK and Business Insider.
With love, Signe
Dear friends across the U.S.,
Silently, billions of bees are dying off all over the country and our entire food chain is in danger. Bees don't just make honey, they are a giant, humble workforce, pollinating 90% of the crops we grow.
Multiple scientific studies blame one group of toxic pesticides for their rapid demise, and some bee populations are recovering in countries where these products have been banned. But powerful chemical companies are lobbying the Environment Protection Agency hard to keep selling these poisons. It’s up to us to defend the bees and our food supply by calling for a US ban now.
We have no time to lose -- a recent study shows 96% of our four main bee species have been wiped out. Let’s build a buzz across the nation calling on the EPA to outlaw these killer chemicals and save our bees and our food. Sign the emergency petition now and send it on to everyone and we’ll deliver it to the top decision makers:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_
Bees are vital to life on earth -- every year pollinating plants and crops with an estimated $40bn value, 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 and scientists have been scrambling for answers. Some studies claim the decline may be due to a combination of factors including disease, habitat loss and toxic chemicals. But increasingly, independent research has produced strong evidence blaming neonicotinoid pesticides. France, Italy, Slovenia and even Germany, where the main manufacturer Bayer is based, have banned one of these bee killers. But, Bayer continues to export its poison across the world, and the US is one of its biggest markets.
This lethal issue is now coming to a boil as major new studies have confirmed the shocking scale of this problem. It is urgent that we get the government to act, but it won’t be easy. A leaked document shows that the EPA already knew about the pesticide’s dangers, and ignored them. The document says Bayer’s "highly toxic" product is a "major risk concern to non target insects [honey bees]".
We need to make our voices heard to counter Bayer’s very strong influence on US policy makers and scientists -- they fund the studies and sit on policy bodies. The real experts -- the beekeepers and farmers -- want these deadly pesticides prohibited until and unless we have solid, independent studies that show they are safe. Let's support them now. Sign the petition below, then forward this email:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_
We can no longer leave our delicate food chain in the hands of research run by the chemical companies and the regulators that are in their pockets. Banning this pesticide will move us closer to a world safe for ourselves and the other species we care about and depend on.
With hope,
Alex, Alice, Iain, David and all at Avaaz
MORE INFORMATION
Bee decline could be down to chemical cocktail interfering with brains
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Bee briefing
http://www.soilassociation.
$15 Billion Bee Murder Mystery Deepens
http://www.businessinsider.
“Nicotine Bees" Population Restored With Neonicotinoids Ban
http://www.treehugger.com/
EPA memo reveals concern that pesticide causes bee deaths
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/
Beekeepers want government to pull pesticide
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/
Bees in freefall as study shows sharp US decline
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Pesticide industry involvement in EU risk assessment puts survival of bees at stake
http://www.corporateeurope.
Your book is great! I wanted to thank you for including the statement in chapter one, "When you have a gift and stifle it, it will consume you." That sentence spoke volumes to me. On another note... the bees are disappearing! The latest sensational culprit is the cell phone. Too bad the truth does not receive as much news as the sensationalism. You are right. The EPA is not doing their job as well as they should be and chemicals are killing our biodiversity. Bayer, Monsanto and other chemical and food giants seem to have it out for the Earth and all inhabitants. Thanks for getting the word out. You are on the right path!
ReplyDeleteI don't want to detract from the seriousness of your Bee post, but I had to share this fairy video clip with you. It's from the TV Show Psychic Kids, not some Joe-Schmo with a video camera. I hope the link comes through for you. Check it out! (Loved your book and follow your blog - wished I could have gone to UK with you all!)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aetv.com/psychic-kids/video/?bcpid=761814881001&bclid=1586429772&bctid=672339562001&baseURL=%2Fbcconfig%2FPlayer%2F3Tier%2FPsychic_Kids_3Tws%2Fconfig-xml%2F&baseDIR=%2Fbcplayers%2FPlayer%2F3Tier_ws%2FbaseDIR%2F
~Lisa
Lisa, that's fantastic, thanks so much for the link. What's your vote? I've gotta say, my vote is grasshopper on this one. But it just goes to show, you never really do know, do you?
ReplyDeleteThanks again for sending, and for the post.
All best, Signe