Honey bees dying on both sides of the Atlantic
The BBC’s environmental reporter, Matt McGrath, has reported that some British MPs want to ban pesticides linked to the death of honey bees.
Bees are critical in pollinating crops, and their disappearance poses a threat to food production in many countries.
Members of the British parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee want a “moratorium on the use of sprays containing neonicotinoids”, according to McGrath’s article on the BBC website.
He noted that the Conservative government has resisted supporting a European Union ban on neonicotinoids.
But the committee chair, Labour MP Joan Walley, has argued that peer-reviewed research makes it clear that there’s a serious problem.
McGrath quoted Walley’s claim that the government has been “extraordinarily complacent”.
Earlier this year, SFU bee expert Mark Winston, director of the Centre for Dialogue, told the Straight that he's writing a book that will highlight research into the various factors behind the demise of honey bee populations.
"The problem with bees is culturally and scientifically considerably more fascinating than most of us realize," Winston said in January. "It's a problem that speaks volumes about how agriculture is done. It speaks volumes about some of the hidden costs we have because of the large number of small challenges we have in our environment.”
He revealed at the time that there is a "whole array" of factors underlying the problem, including the rise of monoculture in agriculture, diseases, some beekeeping practices, and the large number of pesticides.
"It's not going to go away until we change the way we keep bees—and to change the way we keep bees, we have to also be simultaneously changing the way we do agriculture,” Winston declared.
Comments
2 Comments
true north strong and free
Apr 8, 2013 at 12:13pm
This is sad. Every species on Earth has it's place and role to play that contributes to making the circle of life continue. This is another sign that Mother Nature's delicate balance is negatively affected by man's greedy existence.
It's time for you to read the signs man...before it's too late. If you wait too long--it will be too late. Man...it's your turn to change. Before it's too late.
John Harding
May 5, 2013 at 4:55am
Hello
Neo-nicotinoids are NOT to blame for the honeybee demise!
How can people be so blinkered to think that pesticides are too blame for the demise of honeybee when `an opinion` of one scientist created an assumption to what is happening in lab conditions.
This is not what is happening in the field. Field test were in-conclusive, strange how this side of the test is not widely distributed through the media or to use common sense or logic.
If it was pesticides then it would be localised to colonies within a 2 mile radius of the pesticides rather than widespread across the country.
This is not widely known, when tests were done on the pollen taken from a beehive, near to pesticides, only a millionth of a millionth was found on a pollen grain, so it is not as serious as the media are making out.
One other consideration;
France banned due to public pressure, neo-nicotinoids in 2008, and yet the honeybee demise continues, not much is heard from France any more, I wonder why.
We do need chemicals to feed the increasing 7 billion population. Neo-nic`s were the safest to be used in many a year as it affected only the pests that affected the plant now due to a ban we can expect aerial sprays that will do more damage to the environment. Well done do-gooder`s!
One person`s opinion that became an assumption is now allegedly fact.
I cannot understand why the honeybee politics do not stand up and be counted in saying `pesticides are not the reason for the honeybee demise`. The media and the public are like sheep, again, it is so frustrating, one article in the Guardian and everyone becomes an expert.
The parasitic mite varroa is the only reason for the honeybee demise across continents.
I have spent over 20 years confirming a natural answer that allows honeybees to control varroa.
By the way Einstein did not say that famous quote however it is still relevant.
If you would like a personal interview please let me know as I have found the real reason why honeybees are dying.
John Harding
harding@clavies.freeserve.co.uk
07974121472