Wow! Over the weekend half a millionof us have signed to save bees. Let's get to a million for the ban -- sign now,then send this to everyone
Dear friends,
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. If we get the US and the EU to join the ban, other governments across the world could follow, and save bees from extinction. Sign the petition and forward this urgent appeal:
Silently,billions of bees are dying off and our entire food chain is in danger. Bees don't just make honey, theyare a giant, humble workforce, pollinating 90% of the plants we grow.
Multiple scientific studies blame one group of toxic pesticides for theirrapid demise, and some bee populations are recovering in countries wherethese products have been banned. But powerful chemical companies are lobbyinghard to keep selling these poisons. Our best chance to save bees now is to pushthe US and EU to join the ban -- their action is critical and will have aripple effect on the rest of the world.
We have no time to lose -- the debate is raging about what to do. Thisis not just about saving bees, this is about survival. Let’s build a giantglobal buzz calling for the EU and US to outlaw these killer chemicals and saveour bees and our food. Sign the emergency petition now, and send it on toeveryone and we’ll deliver it to key decision makers:
Bees are vital to life on earth -- every year pollinating plants andcrops with an estimated $40bn value, over one third of the food supplyin many countries. Without immediate action to save bees many of ourfavourite fruits, vegetables, and nuts could vanish from our shelves.
Recent years have seen a steep and disturbing global decline in bee populations-- some bee species are already extinct and last week we learned that someUS species are at just 4% of their previous numbers. Scientists have beenscrambling for answers. Some studies claim the decline may be due to acombination of factors including disease, habitat loss and toxic chemicals. Butincreasingly, independent research has produced strong evidence blamingneonicotinoid pesticides. France, Italy, Slovenia and even Germany, wherethe main manufacturer Bayer is based, have banned one of these bee killers.But, Bayer continues to export its poison across the world
This issue is now coming to the boil as major new studies have confirmedthe scale of this problem. If we can get European and US decision-makers totake action, others will follow. It won’t be easy. A leaked document showsthat the US Environmental Protection Agency knew about the pesticide’s dangers,but ignored them. The document says Bayer’s "highly toxic" product isa "major risk concern to non target insects [honey bees]".
We need to make our voices heard to counter Bayer’s very strong influence onpolicy makers and scientists in both the US and the EU where they fund thestudies and sit on policy bodies. The real experts -- the beekeepers andfarmers -- want these deadly pesticides prohibited until and unless we havesolid, independent studies that show they are safe. Let's support them now. Signthe petition below, then forward this email:
We can no longer leave our delicate food chain in the hands of research run bythe chemical companies and the regulators that are in their pockets. Banningthis pesticide will move us closer to a world safe for ourselves and the otherspecies we care about and depend on.
