Threat to bees !

[norseman]

e-mail received today. Please sign this important petition.

Dear Paul,

Our bees are in danger. Three species are already extinct, and others are in rapid decline. Scientists say that certain pesticides are responsible.

Next week environment ministers from across Europe will come together to decide the fate of our bees. They’ll vote on a ban of these pesticides - but Owen Paterson, our environment minister, is currently saying he’ll vote against. [1]

We only have one week to show him that he’s not only going against science, he’s going against public opinion too. Already, over 160,000 38 Degrees members have signed a petition to push Paterson to vote the right way and back a ban.

Please add your name to the petition before next Monday’s crucial vote:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/save-our-bees

Summer skies used to hum furiously with busy bees, pollinating our strawberries, carrots and cucumbers. [2] But bee numbers have been declining for many years and the countryside is suffering. Scientific studies point the finger firmly at certain pesticides but despite all the evidence, our minister is still planning to vote against a ban.

Changing his mind won’t be easy - we’re battling against furious lobbying from big pesticide companies who put their profits first. [3] But the tide is turning. The scientific evidence is on our side, and the weight of public opinion on this is becoming difficult to ignore.

We have stood against those that seek to cash in on our countryside before, and we won. [4] These pesticide companies are desperate to defeat Monday’s vote. They may have the money to make a lot of noise, but we have something their cash can’t buy: people power. When we stand together, we stand for the interests of the many over the few. Let’s make Owen Paterson sit up and take notice.

Can you sign the petition to tell him to vote to protect our bees?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/save-our-bees


Thanks for being involved,

Robin, Megan, Maddy and the 38 Degrees team.


P.S: Please share the petition with your friends on Facebook and Twitter:
Facebook: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/bees-facebook
Twitter: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/bees-twitter

NOTES:
[1] Bee deaths: EU delays a_ction on pesticides ban:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21793365
[2] Crops pollinated by bees:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crop_plants_pollinated_by_bees
[3] Private letters reveal Syngenta and Bayer’s furious lobbying against EU measures to save bees:
http://corporateeurope.org/publications/pesticides-against-pollinators
[4] 38 Degrees blog: Save our forests:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/tag/save-our-forests/
Rethink the badger cull petition handed in:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2011/09/21/rethink-the-badger-cull-petition-handed-in/
Stopping the nuclear dump in the Lake District - Peter's story:
http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2013/02/07/stopping-the-nuclear-dump-in-the-lake-district-peters-story/

[Tobi]

I signed. Thanks for putting this up norseman.
Sad to say, I have a garden full of sweet scented primroses (yes primroses have got a lovely scent) -great bunches of them, flowers that the bees should love. And I sat to watch bees the other day, a lovely warm sunny spring day. I hardly saw any.

[LPC]

I tried to sign, but the site rejected my postcode. It seems it will only accept UK postcodes. Good cause, norseman. Bees are much less in France, too. I have noticed it these past few years.

[norseman]

Originally Posted by LPC

I tried to sign, but the site rejected my postcode. It seems it will only accept UK postcodes. Good cause, norseman. Bees are much less in France, too. I have noticed it these past few years.

Sorry, LPC, I should have said that the petitions are UK. However, I think that France and other EU countries have already banned the questionable chemicals.

[fire]

According to Albert N Stein, "if the bee would disappear off the face of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left".

I think it's time to give these greedy heartless douchebags a punch in the face and correct their mistakes with something new; something better; something brilliant; something love.

[Tobi]

I wandered into a field full of yellow flowers today. They smelled beautiful. I listened and went very still.....no bees. I waited, and found it hard to believe. I then saw one bee, a strong looking honey-bee. I sent it all my love, and wished it good health and strength, and asked it to take my good wishes back to its hive.

[norseman]

YES YES YES ! The EU has banned the nicotinoid substances !

[Tobi]

That is good news indeed.

[LPC]

It is sad that the UK voted against the measure. But it will be forced (thankfully) to comply as it does not have an opt-out on this issue:
http://www.connexionfrance.com/Pesti...w-article.html

I'm not a fan of eurocentralism, but in this case I'm delighted. Looks like Tobi's "prayer" for the bee worked!

I also signed this petition and it is good news for bees yay!!