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Bees

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spotification Mon 29-Apr-13 11:19:08

The Environment Minister Owen Patterson is going to Brussels today to cast his vote on whether there should be a ban on pesticides which are thought by many highly reputable scientists to be killing bees.

There has been very heavy lobbying by the pesticide industry to stop this. It will be harder for Owen Patterson to follow their lead if he thinks public opinion is completely against him.

Personally, I can't judge whether these pesticides are at fault - but that bees are dying is not in doubt, and if many scientists believe these particular pesticides are to blame, it seems too big a risk to continue to use them.

You can make your feelings known by signing this petition on the campaigning platform 38 degrees.

www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/ban-the-pesticides-that-are-harming-our-bees#petition

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Ariadne Mon 29-Apr-13 11:29:22

Will do! It is very worrying, I agree. Thank you, spotification

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whenim64 Mon 29-Apr-13 11:33:29

Yes, signed and emailed. Thanks.

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Ariadne Mon 29-Apr-13 15:04:16

Bump

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Eloethan Mon 29-Apr-13 15:27:05

Signed.

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Greatnan Mon 29-Apr-13 15:45:05

Patterson apparently voted against the ban but it was passed anyway. Hm...wonder if he knows anyone with any commercial interest in the pesticide industry.

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Maniac Mon 29-Apr-13 22:20:35

Good news that ban was passed.Several beekeepers in this locality- get my honey from a friend living 1 mile away.Noticed bees in my garden today buzzing around the clumps of heather and flowers on rosemary bushes.

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Nelliemoser Mon 29-Apr-13 22:53:35

Greatnan Surely you are not implying any UK ministers actions might be influenced by his links with industry? Whatever next! You are getting cynical!
wink grin

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Ana Mon 29-Apr-13 23:15:38

Watched the discussion on Newsnight tonight about this - opinion is deeply divided among experts as to whether these pesticides have actually caused the decline of the bee population, especially as that decline has dramatically fallen in recent years.

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Orca Mon 29-Apr-13 23:28:50

Has the decline slowed or halted? I thought the severe winters and wet summer had made things even worse????

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Tegan Mon 29-Apr-13 23:57:37

Ana; did you see that thing about the monkeys at the end of Newsnight? How funny was that. Wonder if it's on utube? I've seen more bees over the past few days than I saw all of last summer so I'm quite hopeful for them at the moment.

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