Honeybee Blog

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Under pressure, Monsanto has withdrawn its GMO corn MON810 from France, as beekeepers, activists and farmers protested and repeatedly sued - and won - in court.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

Bee-Killing Pesticide Imidacloprid Voluntarily Withdrawn for Almonds

Kevin Hansen — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:33:02 +0000

Bee-Killing Pesticide Imidacloprid Voluntarily Withdrawn for Almonds

How to Beat Wall Street? Stop Needing It.

Kevin Hansen — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:05:39 +0000

Starve Wall Street: Bring Your Money Home

Where does Wall Street get its power?

If you are concerned that Wall Street has too much influence in America and the world, there is something you can do.

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Prosecutor Charges Bayer+Syngenta Over Honey Bee Die-Off

Kevin Hansen — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 08:45:57 +0000

Three related events have recently heightened the honeybee issue:

First: Prosecutors in Italy have charged Bayer CropScience and Syngenta - both manufacturers of clothianidin - in honeybee deaths: