Kristin Brown / The League of Conservation Voters – 2016-03-26 00:57:10

http://action.lcv.org/site/R?i=7Q9IifaNRRD5URfci6H_Rg

ACTION: Stop the Bee-pocalypse! Act Now to Protect our Nation’s Bees
Tell Bayer to stop producing pesticides that are killing our nation’s number one security guard

(March 24, 2016) — Could you imagine a world without fresh fruits and veggies? Summer without apple pie? Chips without guacamole? I certainly can’t, but this could be our not-so-distant future if we don’t take action now to protect our bees from the toxic chemicals that are endangering their populations.

In recent years, bees have been dying at a record pace in a phenomenon scientists are calling “colony collapse disorder.” The situation is so bad that people have started to dub it the “Bee-pocalypse.”

To be clear — this is not a natural occurrence. Scientists believe a deadly class of pesticides known as neonicotinoids are playing a huge role. That’s why we’re targeting the German chemical giant Bayer (yes, the same company you get your aspirin from) — one of the largest producers of neonicotinoids in the world.

Why are the deaths of our honeybees a big deal? Because one-third of the food produced in North America, including nearly 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables, rely on honeybees for pollination.

The EPA has called Bayer’s neonicotinoids “highly toxic” to bees. And yet Bayer continues to manufacture its bee-killing chemicals, refusing to accept the scientific fact that its products are putting honeybees, our national food security, and an estimated $15 billion a year in agricultural production in the US at risk.

This is unacceptable. We need to demand that Bayer stop producing their neonicotinoids and develop a safer alternative. And get this — we may already have the key to a safer pesticide. Researchers in England have been investigating the Australian funnel web spider, whose venom creates a bio-pesticide that is still fatal to common farm pests but appears to have absolutely no effect on bees.

We have a very real shot at saving the bees, but only if Bayer stops producing dangerous pesticides and develops new safer alternatives.

There’s no simple solution to the bee crisis, but we do know steps we can take now to move us in the right direction. The most powerful thing we can do is stop the production of the deadly pesticides at the source. Bayer is a commercial company — they will listen to feedback from their consumers. Speaking out in a public manner like this may be the best shot we have in getting them to change their ways.

The success of our crops and security of our nation’s food supply hinges on whether or not we can protect our bees.

If we want to save the bees, we need Bayer to stop the production of pesticides that are contributing to their population collapse today. Speak out now! Tell Bayer to stop producing the deadly chemicals that are killing our nation’s bees!

TELL BAYER TO SAVE OUR NUMBER ONE FOOD SECURITY GUARD — THE HONEYBEE!

Our nation’s number-one food security guard, the honeybee, is dying by the thousands at least in part due to their exposure to harmful pesticides called neonicotinoids. The German chemical giant Bayer is one of the biggest producers of these chemicals. Scientists and the EPA alike know that Bayer’s chemicals are “extremely toxic” to bees, yet the company has thus far refused to take action.

Why is this a big deal? Because one-third of the food produced in North America, including nearly 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables like apples, pumpkins, cranberries, and avocados, rely on honeybees for pollination — we can’t afford to lose them.

We need Bayer to stop manufacturing their bee-killing chemicals and find safer alternatives. But they will only change their ways if we speak out now. Send a message to Bayer CEO Marijn Dekkers and tell him to stop producing chemicals that are killing our bees!

THE MESSAGE
Protect our nation’s food security — stop producing chemicals that kill our bees

Dear Marijn Dekkers,

I am writing to urge you to stop producing the neonicotinoids that are killing our honeybees across the globe.

Honeybees may sound easy to dismiss, but they are directly responsible for pollinating nearly 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables, including produce like almonds, cranberries, avocados, and apples. In the US alone honeybees pollinate more than one-third of the entire food supply and help to generate more than $15 billion in agricultural production each year!

Kristin Brown, Director of Digital Strategy
League of Conservation Voters
1920 L Street, NW Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
202-785-8683