The government has just given the green light for bee-killing pesticides to be used in the UK. The pesticide being used has been banned for being poisonous to bees, but it’s just been approved to help grow sugar beet in the spring. [1]
The bees and us
This is about bees, but it’s also about us. If we keep harming bees, we risk our food supplies.
It’s estimated that a third of our food is dependent on pollinators, of which bees are some of the most important.[2]
A third of bee populations are already shrinking. [3] We can’t allow pesticides to destroy our environment and kill any more bees.
Can you quickly sign this Greenpeace petition urging the Environment secretary to enforce a total ban on bee-killing pesticides?
We cannot afford to put our pollinator populations at risk.”
Michael Gove (2018)
These were the words of Michael Gove when he introduced the ban on bee-killing pesticides in 2018. [4]
So what’s changed since then? Well, it’s certainly not the science. Pesticides, including neonicotinoids, are still bad news for bees.
Breeding success at risk
Studies have shown that these pesticides can affect bees’ navigational abilities and breeding success, and they are unsurprisingly ravaging other insects as well. [5]
The government are now saying that their reasons for allowing emergency use is to protect growers of sugar beet. But this is a short-sighted and dangerous approach to take, especially when you consider we rely on bees to help pollinate lots of crops like apples, beans, squashes and almonds.
George Eustice has the power to change all of this. We have the opportunity to shift away from chemical-intensive agriculture to organic farming that protects nature.
As Environment Minister, he can show he’s on the right side of protecting nature by enforcing a total ban on bee-harming pesticides. Can you get the Environment Minister to act now?
We have the power to make George Eustice act. He’s approved this emergency use of a deadly pesticide, but we need to remind him that we’re in the middle of a climate and nature emergency.
The crucial role of organisations such as Greenpeace to watch out for unsustainable industrial practices
I have a Greenpeace membership and are more than happy to cover the yearly donation.
They, like many other charities, are doing an essential work or monitoring corporations and expose the companies who are responsible.
We can stop this now. If lots of people sign this petition we can pile pressure on the government to quickly reverse its decision and keep bee-killing pesticides away from our environment.
Can you sign this petition so we can get the Environment Minister to act fast?
Refs
[1] Government to let farmers use bee-killing pesticide banned in EU
[2] Would we starve without bees?
[3] A third of wild bee and hoverfly species are in decline in Britain
[4] Government breaks promise to maintain ban on bee-harming pesticide
[5] Bees
NB:
This content was received from Greenpeace by email. We, at Drawing United, fully support Greenpeace and relay their information to our audience.
By Pierrick Senelaer
Since 2015, I have had the chance to have my own art studio in Stoke Newington (London).
Environmental issues such as Climate Change or Plastic Pollution, are something I feel concerned about. Therefore, I’ve launched DRAWING UNITED.
Drawing United is a collective of artists, started off by Pierrick Senelaer, who cares for our environment and planet and who want to use their art and creativity to raise awareness and/or support a good cause.
ACT NOW! "The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it"Robert Swann
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