To: EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy
Tell the EPA to ban bee-killing pesticides
Dear Administrator McCarthy,
Last week Europe imposed a two-year ban on the use of bee-killing pesticides. But our own EPA continues to ignore scientists -- even those it employs -- and says it won’t take action until 2018!
The global bee die-off is reaching critical proportions. U.S. beekeepers have been consistently losing 40-100 percent of their hives. Widespread use of a new class of toxic pesticides, neonicotinoids, is killing bees outright, and even at low levels makes them vulnerable to other threats.
Honey bees, native bees and other pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. Apples, blueberries, strawberries, carrots and broccoli, as well as almonds and coffee, rely on bees.
We request an immediate moratorium on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.
Bees can't wait five more years – and neither can we!
Last week Europe imposed a two-year ban on the use of bee-killing pesticides. But our own EPA continues to ignore scientists -- even those it employs -- and says it won’t take action until 2018!
The global bee die-off is reaching critical proportions. U.S. beekeepers have been consistently losing 40-100 percent of their hives. Widespread use of a new class of toxic pesticides, neonicotinoids, is killing bees outright, and even at low levels makes them vulnerable to other threats.
Honey bees, native bees and other pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. Apples, blueberries, strawberries, carrots and broccoli, as well as almonds and coffee, rely on bees.
We request an immediate moratorium on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.
Bees can't wait five more years – and neither can we!
Why is this important?
Honey bees, native bees and other pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. Bees pollinate 71 of the 100 crops that make up 90 percent of the world’s food supply. Many fruits and vegetables, including apples, blueberries, strawberries, carrots and broccoli, as well as almonds and coffee, rely on bees. These beneficial insects are critical in maintaining our diverse food supply.
Honey bee populations have been in alarming decline since 2006. Widespread use of a new class of toxic pesticides, neonicotinoids, is a significant contributing factor. In addition to killing bees outright, research has shown that even low levels of these dangerous pesticides impair bees' ability to learn, to find their way back to the hive, to collect food, to produce new queens, and to mount an effective immune response.
Despite the mounting evidence, the EPA has delayed action until 2018.
Last week 15 European countries imposed a two-year restriction on the use of several of these chemicals.
Bees in America can't wait five more years – they are dying now. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has the power and responsibility to protect our pollinators and must take action now. Our nation's food system depends on it.
Honey bee populations have been in alarming decline since 2006. Widespread use of a new class of toxic pesticides, neonicotinoids, is a significant contributing factor. In addition to killing bees outright, research has shown that even low levels of these dangerous pesticides impair bees' ability to learn, to find their way back to the hive, to collect food, to produce new queens, and to mount an effective immune response.
Despite the mounting evidence, the EPA has delayed action until 2018.
Last week 15 European countries imposed a two-year restriction on the use of several of these chemicals.
Bees in America can't wait five more years – they are dying now. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has the power and responsibility to protect our pollinators and must take action now. Our nation's food system depends on it.