In just a few days, the time allotted for commenting to the FDA to urge it suspend use of a bee-killing pesticide will expire, after which, the EPA will likely stick to its decision to delay review of the pesticide and its role in massive bee die-offs until 2018. I implore you to please read this dairy, and take a minute or two to respond to the FDA by using the easy response form provided in a link at the end of the diary.
I grew up with bees. My father and grandfather were commercial beekeepers. I wrote about my personal stake in the well-being of bees here in this DKos diary: The bees are losing, while Atlas merely shrugs. In that diary, you will find additional links to evidence and reasons bees are vital for the ecology and food production.
I'm asking for help. Please read on, and take action. I'll tell you how. Its easy.
A harmful class of pesticide, known as neonicotinoids (which includes clothianiden and others) have been found to contribute to massive bee colony die-offs in recent years. Beekeepers have experienced annual losses of 30% or even much more. Some have lost their entire beekeeping operations due to unsustainable losses. The situation is serious, and causes must be eliminated if we are to have these vital insects available for pollination of food crops which amount to 1 out of every 3 bites of food that we eat everyday.
In short, our bees are in peril. We must act to save them. And help the environment. And you can help to save beekeepers from ruin.
Although the pathogens affecting bees are complex, researchers have determined that clothianiden is a major factor in the massive honeybee die-offs. And the Environmental Protection Agency's own scientists warned of bee toxicity from exposure to the chemical, which is absorbed systemically in plants, and expressed in the nectar and pollen. Even sub-lethal doses have been found to affect bees, affecting the nervous system, behavior, mobility and navigation, foraging, memory and learning, immunity to other pathogens, and ability of the hive to thrive as a colony.
Several European nations have already banned use of the pesticides, such as Germany, France, Italy, and others.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants to wait until 2018 to complete a review the use of these bee-killing pesticides, and whether to renew the registration which allows continued use. And implementation of a decision to ban the chemicals could take years after that.
The bees can't wait that long for help.
A group of citizens (beekeepers, environmentalists) filed a an emergency legal petition on March 21, 2012, asking the EPA to immediately suspend use of the pesticides due to the threat of "imminent hazard" to honeybees. This was followed by submission of massive amounts of new information to support the petition.
U.S. Senators are also urging immediate action.
The EPA wouldn't budge, and announced on July 19 that it had formally refused the request to immediately suspend use of the pesticide, but under public pressure agreed to open a sixty day period for public commentary on the decision.
In just a few days, on September 25, the time allotted for submitting signatures and comments to the EPA about their decision will expire.
Bees can't wait six more years for help. They are in peril, and need help now. Please act to save the bees.
Tell the EPA to suspend use of the bee-killing pesticide.
And sign the petition to Congress.