To: United States Environmental Protection Agency
Tell the EPA: Immediately suspend the pesticide that's killing bees!
In light of new evidence showing that the pesticide clothianidin poses a significant danger to bees, EPA should take immediate action to suspend its use.
Why is this important?
A blockbuster study released last week by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), has for the first time labeled the pesticide clothianidin as an "unacceptable" danger to bees.(1)
Scientists have long thought that clothianidin is at least partially to blame for the alarming rate that bees have been dying off in the U.S. - nearly 30% of our bee population, per year, has been lost to so-called colony collapse since 2006.(2)
But the EPA has repeatedly ignored scientists' warnings and Americans' urgings to ban its use, citing lack of evidence.
Now, the EFSA study could be a major breakthrough to convince the EPA to take emergency action, and suspend the use of clothianidin to stop the precipitous decline in global honeybee populations.
Sign this petition urging the EPA to take action now. Add your name to speak out for the bees.
References
1."Pesticides and Honey Bees: State of the Science," Pesticide Action Network North America (PDF)
http://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/Bees&Pesticides_SOS_FINAL_May2012.pdf
2."Insecticide 'unacceptable' danger to bees, report finds," Guardian, 1/16/13
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/16/insecticide-unacceptable-danger-bees
Scientists have long thought that clothianidin is at least partially to blame for the alarming rate that bees have been dying off in the U.S. - nearly 30% of our bee population, per year, has been lost to so-called colony collapse since 2006.(2)
But the EPA has repeatedly ignored scientists' warnings and Americans' urgings to ban its use, citing lack of evidence.
Now, the EFSA study could be a major breakthrough to convince the EPA to take emergency action, and suspend the use of clothianidin to stop the precipitous decline in global honeybee populations.
Sign this petition urging the EPA to take action now. Add your name to speak out for the bees.
References
1."Pesticides and Honey Bees: State of the Science," Pesticide Action Network North America (PDF)
http://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/Bees&Pesticides_SOS_FINAL_May2012.pdf
2."Insecticide 'unacceptable' danger to bees, report finds," Guardian, 1/16/13
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/16/insecticide-unacceptable-danger-bees