Earth Day: US commercial beekeepers call for the ban of neonicotinoids

Last week, UK Environmental Audit Committee called for  a moratorium by next January on neonicotinoids. Following their steps, commercial beekeepers from USA are running a campaign against these pesticides.

They demanded the Environmental Protection Agency ban Bayer’s neonicotinoid pesticide clothianidin which are strongly linked to the Colony Collapse Disorder of honeybees. In 2003, a report published by EPA, confirmed that these pesticides are toxic to bees, but the product snuck it’s way into the market awaiting “more conclusive” field tests from Bayer. In 2007, EPA accepted Bayer’s results which claim that the clothianidin is safe for honey bees. Meanwhile, recent research conducted by independent scientists clearly shows the link between the pesticide and harmful effects on honeybees immune system.

On the special occasion of  Earth Day 2013 tomorrow, a petition will be delivered to the EPA headquarters in Washington DC by a swarm of bee-activists.

If you want to be part of the solution, sign the petition on causes.com

Owen Paterson will NOT support neonicotinoids ban

Today, The European Commission (EC) will vote for a proposal that intends to ban the use of three neonicotinoids. Unfortunately,  Secretary of State for Environment of UK, Owen Paterson , will not be supporting it.

“Owen Paterson is about to put the short-term interests of farmers and the pesticide industry ahead of Britain’s food supply,” said Ian Bassin, campaign director at Avaaz (one of the worlds most influential activist networks). From one side, the spokesman for chemical manufacture giants Bayer claim that a suspension would reduce food production. On the burning question of dwindling honey bee populations the organization weakly deflected  by holding the varroa mite responsible.

At the other end, the UN report released in 2011 listed different factors responsible for the decline in bee populations including pesticide. “The way humanity manages or mismanages its nature-based assets, including pollinators, will in part define our collective future in the 21st century. The fact is that of the 100 crop species that supply 90 percent of the world’s food, bees and other insects pollinate more than 70 percent” said the  UN Environment Programme Executive Director Achim Steiner.

In 2012, research, published by Science, show that a specific group of pesticides called neonicotinoids are responsible for the decline of bees in the UK and France.

Despite the mountain of evidence, Paterson announced: “I have asked the EC to wait for the results of our field trials, rather than rushing to a decision.” Unfortunately, these results will not be available before Friday’s vote.

Despite politicians across Europe and almost three-quarters of the UK public supporting the ban, Bayer and Defra still deny the danger of using neonicotinoids.

If today Paterson does not support the measure at the EC, there will be little chance for the pesticide neonicotinoid to be banned. Leaving no chance for pollinators like bees to have a future, and thereby ensuring a gloomier one for us.

[Photo via Wikimedia Commons]

[Photo credit by tiseb]