Following on from MrC's request for help this e-mail has just come from 38 degrees. Our government are to vote against the ban I thought that when they came to power (of sorts) they claimed they would have the most environmentally sound policies and be the greenest government ever??? Cheers Our bees are in danger. Three species are already extinct, and others are in rapid decline. Scientists say that certain pesticides are responsible. Next week environment ministers from across Europe will come together to decide the fate of our bees. They’ll vote on a ban of these pesticides - but Owen Paterson, our environment minister, is currently saying he’ll vote against. [1] We only have one week to show him that he’s not only going against science, he’s going against public opinion too. Already, over 160,000 38 Degrees members have signed a petition to push Paterson to vote the right way and back a ban. Please add your name to the petition before next Monday’s crucial vote: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/save-our-bees Summer skies used to hum furiously with busy bees, pollinating our strawberries, carrots and cucumbers. [2] But bee numbers have been declining for many years and the countryside is suffering. Scientific studies point the finger firmly at certain pesticides but despite all the evidence, our minister is still planning to vote against a ban. Changing his mind won’t be easy - we’re battling against furious lobbying from big pesticide companies who put their profits first. [3] But the tide is turning. The scientific evidence is on our side, and the weight of public opinion on this is becoming difficult to ignore. We have stood against those that seek to cash in on our countryside before, and we won. [4] These pesticide companies are desperate to defeat Monday’s vote. They may have the money to make a lot of noise, but we have something their cash can’t buy: people power. When we stand together, we stand for the interests of the many over the few. Let’s make Owen Paterson sit up and take notice. Can you sign the petition to tell him to vote to protect our bees? https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/save-our-bees Thanks for being involved, Robin, Megan, Maddy and the 38 Degrees team. P.S: Please share the petition with your friends on Facebook and Twitter: Facebook: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/bees-facebook Twitter: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/bees-twitter NOTES: [1] Bee deaths: EU delays action on pesticides ban: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21793365 [2] Crops pollinated by bees: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crop_plants_pollinated_by_bees [3] Private letters reveal Syngenta and Bayer’s furious lobbying against EU measures to save bees: http://corporateeurope.org/publications/pesticides-against-pollinators [4] 38 Degrees blog: Save our forests: http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/tag/save-our-forests/ Rethink the badger cull petition handed in: http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2011/09/21/rethink-the-badger-cull-petition-handed-in/ Stopping the nuclear dump in the Lake District - Peter's story: http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2013/02/07/stopping-the-nuclear-dump-in-the-lake-district-peters-story/
Bees are important to farmers, but they can only use the products available. It is the pesticide manufacturers at fault, who refuse to withdraw bee-killing products and are lobbying European governments to overturn the proposed ban. The main culprit is a firm called Bayer in Germany, they export to the UK where we have already lost 3 species to extinction in a very short space of time. Bayer are refusing to acknowledge responsibility and withdraw current pesticides as they know it will cost them millions of Euros.
Owen Paterson is one of country gentry. He dare not upset Farmers and his Estate holder friends. That's why the want Fox Hunting and Badger Culls . Top class pillocks
38 Degrees are a very effective pressure group, well worth supporting have sent quite a few e-mails for various issues to my MP and to Lords and MEPs via them.
