From Robert on Wed, March 02, 2011

Thank you for another informative article - it echoes what I’ve been aware for a while.  So thank you for a way to get involved.

From Anna on Wed, March 02, 2011

You should push for the EPA to look very carefully into GMOs, too.  They’ve had an effect on monarch butterflies, bees could be affected, too.  Also, a lot of bees are fed HFCS, which is not their natural diet (and is also GMO).  All of this should be looked at, not only pesticides.

I signed the petition.  It’s a start.

From Theresa on Wed, March 02, 2011

What about “Chemtrails” - is there any evidence that it is something that is being released in the sky?

From Trish on Wed, March 02, 2011

Yes! GMO’s as well! BT toxin expressed through pollen.  What country has the most GE crops planted? Is it North America? Is this where the largest die-offs of Bee populations are? Remember, this BT toxin is supposed to only be in the soil, not spread through pollen in the air, potentially destroying our monarchs butterfly & bee populations.

From Citizen Deux on Wed, March 02, 2011

Your petition is misguided and your assertions are not supported by research.  Colony Collapse Disorder may be linked to pesticides . miticides designed to protect bee colonies. 

From the current USDA report -

“The most recent report (USDA - 2010) states that “based on an initial analysis of collected bee samples (CCD- and non-CCD affected), reports have noted the high number of viruses and other pathogens, pesticides, and parasites present in CCD colonies, and lower levels in non-CCD colonies. This work suggests that a combination of environmental stressors may set off a cascade of events and contribute to a colony where weakened worker bees are more susceptible to pests and pathogens.”

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/br/ccd/ccdprogressreport2010.pdf

From FoodFitnessFreshAir on Wed, March 02, 2011

I wrote something about this over a year ago, and it saddens me to see that a distinct culprit still can’t be found. I’m sure pesticides presumably play a large role though. I will be sending the pledge around.

From Todd Hauser on Wed, March 02, 2011

“If the bee disappeared of the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years left to live.” - Albert Einstein

From Terry Kelly on Wed, March 02, 2011

It’s the EPA"S job to run herd on these fools. Get to work!

From Trish on Wed, March 02, 2011

Get Monsanto out of our gov’t and it’s pesticides out of our crops, then maybe our bees will have a chance. Stop Bayer’s pesticide as well!

Unfortunately, there is a revolving door between policy makers, lobbiest and the fact that the USDA, FDA and parts of the EPA are run with Ex Monsanto heads.  Pushing ahead Industrial GM subsidized farming agenda, furthing our bee loss.  When the bees die, we die.

From Marjorie Bell on Wed, March 02, 2011

The government needs to do its job to help find out why pollinators are dying. Without them, there will be no food! Step up before it’s too late!

Margie Bell

From Carolyn Hughes on Thu, March 03, 2011

Yes, when the bees die, we die.  The officials and agencies who ketow to Big Poison, chose to kill them; it’s time to make choices for life.
Carolyn

From chet dalzell on Thu, March 03, 2011

May I ask if the environmental protection agency is also looking at viruses being the origin?

http://www.physorg.com/news205675578.html

I plan to sign the petition to support my friends at catskill provisions, but want the government oversight to look at all possible sources for the die-off, pesticide impact among them.

From chelle webb on Fri, March 04, 2011

This is a real threat and one we take seriously.  We rent bees every year to pollinate our Cranberry Bogs. As the bee pollination dies out, we have to pay more which raises costs to product the product…..or what we are worried about, what happens if we can’t get bees because they are in extreme shortage or have died out.

From Emily Vaughn on Fri, March 04, 2011

Thanks for the enthusiasm Robert, Anna, FoodFitnessFreshAir, Todd, Terry, Margie, and Carolyn! So glad we all share concern for and love of our pollinators. 

Chet: yes, government agencies are studying the role pathogens are likely playing in exacerbating CCD—the study you refer to even had US Army scientists on the team of lead authors! Many independent researchers are focusing on N. ceranae and more recently IIV, and their studies are taken into account by EPA and USDA CCD task forces.

Trish: great point about the revolving door between industry and government.  Hard to take the oversight seriously when there are conflicting interests.

Theresa: I’m familiar with the concept of chemtrails but haven’t seen much research to support the theory. Although stranger things have happened.

Citizen Deux: I actually think we’re in agreement. I’ve read (and we cited) the study you refer to, and our petition makes the same point as you do and as the authors of the study do: CCD is likely caused by a confluence of factors.  The reason we’re encouraging additional emphasis on pesticides is that independent researchers and the EPA face pressure from industry lobbyists not to conclude that pesticides are among the key problems. Private interests cannot be allowed to get in the way of finding out the cause of CCD, which affects every eater on the planet.

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From Tom Hubbard on Sat, March 05, 2011

Citizen Deux is, in fact, in agreement with this article.  He just doesn’t realize it.  There exists a confluence of factors at work here, in fact, across the entire world.  When are we going to understand that the environment is totally inter-related - is a delicate balancing act - where all pieces depend on each other to function correctly?  Think of your body:  if a part of it does not work correctly, it upsets the balance of the rest and adversely affects how it functions.  Think of your foot: it something is wrong with it, causing you to limp or favor it, changing the way it strikes the ground as you walk, all the joints, ligaments, muscles that go to locomotion are affected.  Ultimately the delicate balance of how we stand could be affected, causing knee or back problems.

Our world is in crisis:  the collapse of the bee population is a marker of this.
What will happen in PA, NY or any of the areas where hydrofracking drilling is being permitted, because of political pressure to limit the study of this practice where pollutants and poisons are not only injected into the earth, but are also the byproduct of the process to release the gas which is supposed to ‘free’ us from our dependence on Middle Eastern oil, is permitted? 
We are poisoning the aquifers that millions of us depend on for our drinking water, and the voices of reason are constantly stymied when we ask for oversight and control of industry.
Big business needs to develop a conscience, an awareness of consequences and a respect for corporate and human stewardship, implementing a responsible approach to how business is conducted.  They need to understand that house cleaning does not mean sweeping the living room and putting the detritus under the rug. 

If we permit the use of products whose end-harm is not fully understood, we face the potential of deformed fish (look at mountain top removal mining and how it affects the environment in Appalachia) and bee colony collapse.

We cannot allow, in the name of progress or corporate profit (or release of dependence on foreign oil), any practice which puts our existence at risk.  We are poisoning ourselves and more importantly, our children and future generations for our comfort today.

For shame!

From steve on Wed, March 09, 2011

this has already been solved in europe back in 2005, when they banned neonicotinoids.

From Meredith Simonds on Thu, March 10, 2011

Yes, I cannot help but believe GMO crops have everything to with this. In the words of Paul Hawken, “Everything is connected…no one thing can change by itself.”

From steve on Thu, March 10, 2011

so, CCD was caused by neonicotinoids in europe; we use neonicontinoids here, but here it’s actually caused by gmo?

i’m sure gmo isn’t helping matters, but my understanding is that the proven link so far is between neonicotinoids & CCD.  i’m torn by the need to address gmo, and the need to focus our attention on solving CCD.  there’s also the chance that we ban neonicotinoids and get left with a gmo-caused-CCD (which i don’t believe they’ve had in europe).  definitely a complex issue.  i’m still trying to wean the neighbors off of chem-lawn…

From Candy on Fri, March 11, 2011

Steve is right.  France banned neonicotinoids and the be colonies made a comeback.  I don’t believe in GMO’s, however we need to address this now, not spend money on research, just ban the neonicotinoids.

From deseriessancho on Sun, March 13, 2011

looking into getting a bee hive

From Trish on Sun, March 13, 2011

Do your research on BT Toxin, Genetically Modified Organism and GMO.

Bacillus Thuringiensis - a soil bacteria that is *present in the soil*.  Recombinant DNA is forced into Monsanto’s BT seed crops as to activate.

This Toxin, the thought is, (because of Genetic Modification is now expressed through pollen in the air from GM crops), and now (will be worse with the deregulation of Alfalfa crop feed for dairy cows). Bacillus Thuringiensis where it attacks the host, ie., moth, butterfly, bee, etc., etc.,

also one of the reasons that allergies are at an all-time high in the US.  Remember, much of the EU (if not most) does not allow GM crops.  However, the US is threatening to change that—if they get their way…

From steve on Sun, March 13, 2011

@ deseriessancho check out the book “complete idiot’s guide to beekeeping,” it’s written by two practitioners of “treatment-free” beekeeping.

From coursework writing on Sun, March 13, 2011

Thay`re also are our helpers who need our support too

From Trish on Mon, March 14, 2011

Also an interesting article.

http://action.panna.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5370

From Michelle Plain on Mon, March 14, 2011

Let’s work together and save our food!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Pam Sorrell on Mon, March 14, 2011

I can’t help thinking that the transporting of honeybees all over the country as they are used to pollinate vast commercial crops exposes them to so many varied viruses and other stressors that they wouldn’t encounter if they stayed in one area.  When do they hibernate, for instance, if they are taken from a cold region immediately to warm areas such as California and Arizona to continue their work?  Isn’t it normal for them to have a season of rest?

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