Are Tobacco And Genetically Modified Crops Leading The World Into Starvation?
There is some evidence to suggest that GMO crops and more likely, nicotine-based insecticides called, neonicotinoid pesticides are causing Colony Collapse Disorder which wipes out wild and commercial honey bees in record numbers.
Already the price to rent hives of honey bees to pollinate crops has doubled as 70% of America's commercial honey bees and over 99% of wild bees are lost. When honey bees become extinct the human race dies with them.
Now I'm no expert and I can't provide any facts but it would seem prudent to me to ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides until the answers can be found. After all, better safe than sorry.
Neonicotinoid pesticides are also found in many household products such as pet flea and tic treatments and for termites. While most bulk use of neonicotinoid pesticides is in rural areas they are often used on parks, golf courses and sometimes on residental properties.
Billy
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Reader Comments (3)
So far you are the only one I can find who thinks we need to ban neonicotinoids. I am amazed at the degree of non-interest in this story and the degree of non-response of Congress. Ask you governor to ban them in your state, OK?. I rather like apples, don't you? I don't want to live without them.
Barb,
I think most Americans are so far removed from the food chain that they have no idea how big this problem will become. Even people like myself who grow their own foods are threatened by this as no bees equals no food everywhere. Even 100% organic growers cannot make do without bees. Rich, poor, President or King, every man, woman and child on earth will die when the bees are all gone.
Thank you for putting this article on neonicotinoids out there. France has made the connection between neonicotinoids and the bee die-offs and banned it. Now Italy is calling for a ban. Now in the Northeast we are experiencing massive bat die-offs and the symptoms are very similar to those of the bees. Many biologists feel it is the same cause, the neonicotinoids. How do we live without bees and bats? Whats next? We need a movement to elevate this issue. Do you know of any organizations working on this effort?