Some of our best friends are bees. (And worms!) But we’re losing them, faster than many of us realised.
So I signed a petition in the weekend, along with a half million others. Let’s save the bees!
It’s all about chemicals. Getting them out of our food chain and getting the bees back in. If enough voices are raised our governments will hopefully act to ban the chemicals that are doing the damage. Here’s the message from Avaaz, the guys trying to get the movement off the ground. (Read on to the end and there’s a list of links to articles and other info on the situation).
Bees are dying off worldwide and our entire food chain is in peril. Scientists blame toxic pesticides and four European governments have already banned them.
Silently, billions of bees are dying off and our entire food chain is in danger. Bees don’t just make honey, they are a giant, humble workforce, pollinating 90% of the plants 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 hard to keep selling these poisons. Our best chance to save bees now is to push the US and EU to join the ban — their action is critical and will have a ripple effect on the rest of the world.
We have no time to lose — the debate is raging about what to do. This is not just about saving bees, this is about survival. Let’s build a giant global buzz calling for the EU and US 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 key decision makers:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees/?vl
MORE INFORMATION
Bee decline could be down to chemical cocktail interfering with brains
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/22/chemicals-bees-decline-major-study?INTCMP=SRCHBee briefing
http://www.soilassociation.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=RXLEm9WXrHk%3D&tabid=439$15 Billion Bee Murder Mystery Deepens
http://www.businessinsider.com/colony-collapse-disorder-still-unsolved-lead-researcher-had-connections-to-bayer-2010-10“Nicotine Bees” Population Restored With Neonicotinoids Ban
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/05/nicotine-bees-population-restored-with-neonicotinoids-ban.phpEPA memo reveals concern that pesticide causes bee deaths
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=79910Beekeepers want government to pull pesticide
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/beekeepers-want-government-to-pull-pesticide-1107701.htmlBees in freefall as study shows sharp US decline
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/03/bumblebees-study-us-decline?INTCMP=SRCHPesticide industry involvement in EU risk assessment puts survival of bees at stake
http://www.corporateeurope.org/agribusiness/news/2010/11/16/pesticide-industry-future-bees
Bokashiworld 
Great hive of information (sorry for the pun.) But in all seriousness thanks for bringing the plight of honey bees to people’s attention. I just came across an info-graphic that clearly shows how a major honey bee extinction could affect the world: Honey Bees – Extinction Infographic”
Isn’t it also about fpod and habitat? There was an article about this recently concernIng London: people are installing hives in London because it’s been presented that there are good food sources in parks and gardens. But there are now more bees than food and hives that are on rooftops take too much energy from the bees who have to fly up to them. If someone’s going to take on bees then they should also contribute to food and habitat resources otherwise it’s trying to take something for nothing- and it’s the bees who suffer!
Interesting to hear that’s what’s happening. On the plus side at least people are starting to think about bees, hopefully the next step will be just as you say, to contribute to their wellbeing so there will be some kind of natural balance in the end. Feel free to post the article if you can track it down! /Jenny