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Bee-Killing Nicotine Pesticide Illegally Registered in US - One Million+ Sign Emergency Petition

Kevin Hansen — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 23:14:32 +0000

A remarkable emergency petition with over one million signatures has been submitted to the USEPA requesting the withdrawal of the pesticide clothianidin - a nicotine-based systemic pesticide widely used on corn/maize. Multiple activist organizations participated, lead by major US beekeepers.

The basis of the petition is that the USEPA's legal requirements for the demonstrated safety of clothianidin were never proven - and subsequent findings have shown its damages - violating the US law FIFRA, which governs the registration process for pesticides.

A coalition of beekeepers and activists gained over one million signatures on this petition, that walks step-by-step through the reasoning behind the proposed determination of the clothianidin registration's illegality - used as the basis for the withdrawal request.

This is fantastic.

http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pollinators/CFS-Clothianidin-Petition-3-...

Please pass this link to whomever you think might benefit.

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Honeybee Dieoff Link to Corn Planting Process - Italy Researchers

Kevin Hansen — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:09:57 +0000

The process of planting can release large amounts of pesticides coated on seeds - as dust. Corn/maize is widely treated with a coating laced with toxins: neonicotinoid pesticides, fungicides and a host of other substances are physically stuck to the grains of corn. This is a brittle substance that breaks off and creates a large dust problem - a toxic dust.

The team of researchers at the University of Padua, Italy, led by Andrea Tapparo has found significant mortality to honeybees as a result of this exposure. This was closely related to the spring-planting die-off blamed in Germany for a honeybee catastrophe several years ago.

This article is accepted - and will be published in the American Chemical Society's (ACS) journal "Environmental Science and Technology."

We have read a pre-print - look for this one to be downloadable soon.

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Top US Bee Experts: Nicotine Pesticides Worsen Bee Diseases

Kevin Hansen — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:34:58 +0000

This is a really big deal:

A team of the top United States honeybee experts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Beltsville, Maryland, laboratory near Washington DC has published a damning report linking tiny sub-lethal concentrations of one nicotine pesticide, imidacloprid, with an increase in another common gut disease, Nosema.

Although many other studies before this suggested similar findings, the US government has been far behind - this is therefore a breakthrough. It also acknowledges some of the major work done by French researchers: until now, the groundbreaking French research was largely ignored by official US government agencies. Look for breakthroughs because of this work.

The original article linked above was released for public/open access (thanks Springer Publishing for making this open access!!). It is a top-downloaded article at this time on Springer's website.

Abstract of Original Article:

Ocean Acidity: Unprecedented, man-made trends: Univ. of Hawai'i Study

Kevin Hansen — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:14:15 +0000

This study reflects a huge shift in ocean chemistry exacerbated by CO2 absorption. Higher acidity and changed chemistry in the oceans affects countless forms of life - including our own. Kevin

Researchers find unprecedented, man-made trends in oceans acidity
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Contact: Gisela E. Speidel, (808) 956-9252
Outreach Specialist, International Pacific Research Center
Tobias Friedrich, (808) 956-7385
Postdoctoral Fellow, International Pacific Research Center
Posted: Jan. 23, 2012

[Image] Simulated surface aragonite saturation (top) and atmospheric CO2 concentration in ppm (bottom)
[Image] Yellow tangs frolicking among corals. Courtesy D. Meadows, NOAA

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Kick-Starting the Bio-Based Economy by by Mackinnon Lawrence

Kevin Hansen — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:13:00 +0000

This is one of the very important shifts occurring now: an entirely new industrial production base not founded on fossil fuels. Cheers, Kevin

ENERGY | JANUARY 30, 2012 | BY MACKINNON LAWRENCE
Kick-Starting the Bio-Based Economy

Original Article in MatterNetwork.com:

http://www.matternetwork.com/2012/1/kick-starting-bio-based-economy.cfm

by Mackinnon Lawrence of PikeResearch.com

Massive, varied, and intricately woven into the fabric of modern industrial society, the global chemical industry was valued at over $4 trillion in 2011, according to Pike Research’s Green Chemistry report. The non-pharmaceutical chemicals industry in the United States is valued at around $700 billion per year.

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Under Pressure, Monsanto withdraws GM Corn (Maize) from France

Kevin Hansen — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:58:01 +0000

Monsanto says won't sell GMO maize in France in 2012

Under pressure, Monsanto has withdrawn its GMO corn MON810 from France, as beekeepers, activists and farmers protested and repeatedly sued - and won - in court.

This comes on the heels of Bayer, Syngenta and other manufacturers of neonicotinoid pesticides withdrawing their products for use on almonds in California. Although at first GMO and pesticides seem different, they are in fact tightly corrrelated: seeds now routinely are GMO, and are simultaneously treated with nicotine-based pesticides and fungicides. The full article is here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/24/us-gmo-france-monsanto-idUSTRE...

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Global Simultaneous Die-Offs of Multiple Species

Kevin Hansen — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:20:11 +0000

This great article in two parts, from Australia, details the mass die-offs around the world, of many species - including the beautiful Ladybird Beetle that is surprisingly important to the web of life: Original Articles at: Part One: http://hydroponics.com.au/free-articles/where-have-all-the-ladybirds-gone and Part Two: http://hydroponics.com.au/free-articles/where-have-all-the-ladybirds-gon...

Where have all the ladybirds gone? Part 1

By Marilyn Steiner and Stephen Goodwin

In this two-part article, the authors shine a spotlight on neonicotinoid pesticides against a backdrop of widespread use of this group and concerning reports of an alarming and increasing loss of biodiversity. While honey bees have been the focus of concern, other pollinators and invertebrates, birds and even the lowly earthworm are at risk.

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Leo Burke Explains the Commons - #Commons Education Series A

Kevin Hansen — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:50:04 +0000

Professor Leo Burke of the University of Notre Dame describes the commons and the benefits of a commons viewpoint in this interview recorded in Berlin, Germany at the commons conference sponsored by the Heinrich Boll Stiftung (Heinrich Boll Foundation) in late 2010.

Students interested in the commons should also read the following article about Professor Burke by another well-know commons expert, Jay Walljasper:

A World that Works for Everyone
By Jay Walljasper

Original article in Notre Dame Magazine:
http://magazine.nd.edu/news/27932-a-world-that-works-for-everyone/
PUBLISHED: WINTER 2011-12 POSTED IN: CAMPUS & COMMUNITY AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

You would expect Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business to focus its teaching on making profits from the world as it is instead of asking students to explore how to fundamentally change it.

Run Time:

22 minutes, 36 seconds

South Florida Climate Change Master Plan

Kevin Hansen — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:20:43 +0000

Wise planning.

Four major counties in Southeast Florida in the US, including the heavily-populated Miami-Dade County area, understand what municipalities across the planet have already learned:

Climate change is already here.

Responsible government officials must take prudent measures to reduce risk and plan for uncertainties.

This is good governance.

Cheers,
Kevin

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A World that Works for Everyone By Jay Walljasper - #Commons

Kevin Hansen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:28:00 +0000

A World that Works for Everyone

By Jay Walljasper

Original article in Notre Dame Magazine:
http://magazine.nd.edu/news/27932-a-world-that-works-for-everyone/
PUBLISHED: WINTER 2011-12 POSTED IN: CAMPUS & COMMUNITY AND CURRENT AFFAIRS

You would expect Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business to focus its teaching on making profits from the world as it is instead of asking students to explore how to fundamentally change it.

But that means you probably haven’t met business Professor Leo Burke — a former entrepreneur, Motorola executive and, in his student days, manager of the Notre Dame football team.

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Major Study: Multiple Routes of Pesticide Exposure for Honeybees Living Near Agricultural Fields

Kevin Hansen — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:13:31 +0000

A major new study from Purdue University researchers highlights that honeybees face a long list of pesticide dangers near agriculture. Multiple toxic agents combined, via several simultaneous routes of exposure mean bees are in peril from many sources.

The complete article is open-access from PLos ONE, attached above (thanks PLos ONE and the authors for making this important article OPEN ACCESS!!!).

Toxic food.

I'm concerned that our food would be toxic in multiple ways simultaneously.

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Global Village Construction Set - #Commons

Kevin Hansen — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:11:16 +0000

There is a very amazing trend towards "Do-It-Yourself-Everything" that is made possible by the economic needs of the present - and offers great hope for individual sustainable living for the planet.

This shift is re-localizing manufacturing - and empowering people to create their own lives in wonderful ways:

Global Village Construction Set: http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/Global_Village_Construction_Set

Good Government Investments in Renewable Energy - By Richard W. Caperton

Kevin Hansen — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:34:54 +0000

A great paper about good energy policy as the key to progress in jobs, economic health, and energy security - Kevin

Good Government Investments in Renewable Energy

Fair, Effective, and Efficient Tax Policy Is Key for Driving Renewable Energy Growth

By Richard W. Caperton
Center for American Progress

Budget deficits drove the conversation in Washington in 2011 with the daily news dominated by government shutdown threats, the “super committee,” continuing resolutions, and arcane budgeting practices. Unfortunately, this left Americans convinced
that government investments in the future are off the table because of large federal
budget deficits that need to be reduced.

Americans were misled.

Pesticide Risk Increases Over Time

Kevin Hansen — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:01:32 +0000

A very important shift may be occurring in our understanding of pesticides: risk may increase over time, rendering even very small amounts of pesticides such as some nicotine-based neonicotinoids much more toxic than previously realized.

Dutch researcher Dr. Henk Tennekes, with Dr. Francisco Sanchez-Bayo of Australia, have shown this in a new article in the Journal of Environmental & Analytical Toxicology: "Time-Dependent Toxicity of Neonicotinoids and Other Toxicants: Implications for a New Approach to Risk Assessment" that is an open-access research article downloadable with the link shown above. I corresponded with Dr. Tennekes, who summarized his deep concerns:

"By Dr. Henk Tennekes

AN ECOLOGICAL DISASTER THAT WILL AFFECT US ALL

US Constitution and Bill of Rights Suspended by New Defense Authorization

Kevin Hansen — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:07:00 +0000

This is truly insane.

The Bill of Rights and the US Constitution would be suspended by the new Defense Authorization Act. Jim Garrison describes it in his new editorial in The Huffington Post - this is a MUST READ:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-garrison/obamas-most-fateful-decis_b_1...

Here is an excerpt - with my emphases in bold:

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Blog

Bee-Killing Nicotine Pesticide Illegally Registered in US - One Million+ Sign Emergency Petition

Honeybee Dieoff Link to Corn Planting Process - Italy Researchers

Top US Bee Experts: Nicotine Pesticides Worsen Bee Diseases

This is a really big deal:

Ocean Acidity: Unprecedented, man-made trends: Univ. of Hawai'i Study

Researchers find unprecedented, man-made trends in oceans acidity University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Kick-Starting the Bio-Based Economy by by Mackinnon Lawrence

ENERGY | JANUARY 30, 2012 | BY MACKINNON LAWRENCE Kick-Starting the Bio-Based Economy

Under Pressure, Monsanto withdraws GM Corn (Maize) from France

Monsanto says won't sell GMO maize in France in 2012

Global Simultaneous Die-Offs of Multiple Species

Where have all the ladybirds gone? Part 1

Leo Burke Explains the Commons - #Commons Education Series A

South Florida Climate Change Master Plan

A World that Works for Everyone By Jay Walljasper - #Commons

A World that Works for Everyone

Major Study: Multiple Routes of Pesticide Exposure for Honeybees Living Near Agricultural Fields

Global Village Construction Set - #Commons

Global Village Construction Set: http://opensourceecology.org/wiki/Global_Village_Construction_Set

Good Government Investments in Renewable Energy - By Richard W. Caperton

Good Government Investments in Renewable Energy

Pesticide Risk Increases Over Time

US Constitution and Bill of Rights Suspended by New Defense Authorization

Researchers find unprecedented, man-made trends in oceans acidity
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

ENERGY | JANUARY 30, 2012 | BY MACKINNON LAWRENCE
Kick-Starting the Bio-Based Economy