Help save European bees

[bob10]

Sent to me by my bee keeping association, Bob







Pesticides:






Syngenta asks EPA to raise tolerance level for 'bee-killing' chemical








By Tiffany Stecker, E&E reporter


Greenwire: Friday, September 5, 2014


A giant pesticide company is asking the U.S. government to increase the legal limit on bee-killing pesticides by a stunning


4000%.


Bees are already facing a massive global die-off. This could be a death sentence for millions more bees.


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting public input on the decision for the next 27 days. So we're urgently


working to organize beekeepers and the public to speak out against this devastating bee-killing proposal -- and we need your


help.


Bees fill a crucial ecological role as pollinators and are essential for agriculture, and are responsible for every third bite of




food we eat. In other words: No bees, no farms. No farms, no food. These pesticides are already banned in Europe. But


rather than phase them out for the sake of our bees, pesticide companies are suing the European Union to overturn the


ban. Now, they're petition the US government to massively increase the limits of pesticide residues - residues that are






actively harmful to bees, and can stay in the soil for up to a year.


Pesticide companies are already spending millions to get their way - to beat them we need to show the depth of public


opposition to this move.




So here’s the plan: First, we’ll use social media, our five million member email list, and online ads to alert the public about






this dangerous new threat. Then, we’ll organize beekeepers to speak out in the media to put pressure on the EPA to reject


the proposal.




But with less than a month to save the bees, we have to act fast. And since we don’t get a dime from corporations, we






count on you - our members - to provide the funding we need to win.


We know we can win this. A massive public campaign helped get these bee-killing pesticides temporarily banned in the EU,


and SumOfUs members are crowd-funding a legal intervention to protect the ban, too. This is just one battle in a larger fight -


but we have to win in the US, now, if we're going to win for the bees all around the world.


Thanks for all that you do,




Jon, Paul and the rest of the team at SumOfUs.org


For more information go to Syngenta asks EPA to raise tolerance level for 'bee-killing' chemical

[Chucaro]

Perhaps it will be good idea to print this image and put it on the fridge so people give a second thought before buy a Monsanto product.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/09/707.jpg

[Ausfree]

Link does not work!!! Sounds like the pestcide companies are acting like bullies. We have seen that before with large corporations like the cigarette companies and James Hardy.

[bob10]

Damn, try this, Bob


http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060005321 (http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060005321)


Bayer is suing *Europe* for saving the bees | SumOfUs (http://action.sumofus.org/a/bayer-bees-lawsuit/)

[disco man]

G'day Bob, I remember a while back you were just getting started with your bee-keeping,how is it all going mate?

[disco man]

Perhaps it will be good idea to print this image and put it on the fridge so people give a second thought before buy a Monsanto product.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/09/707.jpg

Perhaps its my computer,but i can't get that image to work or any of Bob's link either:(

[Chucaro]

Perhaps its my computer,but i can't get that image to work or any of Bob's link either:(

Has to be your PC.
Try this: Monsanto (http://guardianlv.com/2014/03/monsantos-pesticides-are-partly-responsible-for-the-collapse-of-the-bee/)

But this one is my favorite :D

http://fcdn.mtbr.com/attachments/off-camber-off-topic/885818d1397586107-africanized-honey-bees-monsanto.jpg

[bob10]

G'day Bob, I remember a while back you were just getting started with your bee-keeping,how is it all going mate?


One of the professional keepers is getting a " nuec" [ nucleus] together for me, I have just to put together a brood box to fit it in. To explain, the nuec consists of a Queen, & some bees, probably about 4 frames. This is the best way to learn, I could get a fully made up brood box, but with the neuc I have to be hands on to develop the brood box myself. Only way to learn, and in the association, first time bee keepers get the neuc free. I have been going to the pros home, with others, for a few months now, getting hands on , and the last time we introduced the Queens to the neuc's. We were also shown how Queens are produced. Fascinating stuff, so much to learn. Really enjoying it, Bob

[Chucaro]

Bob, are the rainbow bee-eater Merops ornatus a problem up there?

[bob10]

Bob, are the rainbow bee-eater Merops ornatus a problem up there?


Well, I have been told birds are a problem, and believe it or not, Butcher birds love bees, they catch them on the fly, just outside the hive. Could be a problem, we have a family of butcher birds here, I feed them worms from the garden. All ahead of me, Bob

[Chucaro]

The Butcher birds will be ok, they are not specialists like the rainbow ones and also they are not in groups of 20 or more.
Which kind of flowers are in reach to your hive?
I love the clover and orange tree flower honey, the iron bark it is a bit strong to my taste.

[bob10]

Some more on bees, Bob




“The word “canola” was coined from the phrase “Canadian Oil, low acid”—a plant developed from rapeseed (Brassica spp.)
with low levels of erucic acid that is suitable for human consumption. Rapeseed is a species closely related to vegetables

such as turnips, collards, mustard, and cabbages

Rapeseed is a good crop for honey bees, offering both nectar and pollen in early spring. Huge acreages of it are planted in

Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan) and in North Dakota and Minnesota. The nectar flows are heavy and yield

huge crops of light-colored, mild-flavored honey.

However, rapeseed honey—commonly called canola honey—crystallizes so quickly that it is a problem for

beekeepers. It will crystallize in the comb while still in the field. Many beekeepers go through their hives and pull out the
combs of canola honey as soon as it is capped. After collecting, it should be extracted within 24 hours and market

immediately. Extracted canola may last 3 to 4 weeks before it crystallizes in the jar.”


The full article at The trouble with canola honey | Honey Bee Suite (http://www.honeybeesuite.com/the-trouble-with-canola-honey/)

[disco man]

One of the professional keepers is getting a " nuec" [ nucleus] together for me, I have just to put together a brood box to fit it in. To explain, the nuec consists of a Queen, & some bees, probably about 4 frames. This is the best way to learn, I could get a fully made up brood box, but with the neuc I have to be hands on to develop the brood box myself. Only way to learn, and in the association, first time bee keepers get the neuc free. I have been going to the pros home, with others, for a few months now, getting hands on , and the last time we introduced the Queens to the neuc's. We were also shown how Queens are produced. Fascinating stuff, so much to learn. Really enjoying it, Bob

It does sound like a very interesting pastime mate,Good on you for getting it all going.:)

[bob10]

The Butcher birds will be ok, they are not specialists like the rainbow ones and also they are not in groups of 20 or more.
Which kind of flowers are in reach to your hive?
I love the clover and orange tree flower honey, the iron bark it is a bit strong to my taste.


We have the Brighton wetlands at our back door, Paperbark ,Scribbly gum, Box, White Stringybark, are some of the trees there, whilst I have Macadamia, Mango, Peach, Orange, Mandarin, Lemon, Lime, Guava , red Pawpaw, plus vegetables in season [ mainly tomatoes, I make pasta sauce ]
Next door has a Brazilian cherry tree, which is absolutely buzzing with bees ATM, [ not mine, yet] A smorgasboard for bees. Also, because we have no neighbours behind us, I can place the hive in such a way that bees don't overfly any one else's property. I've already sweetened the next door neighbours by promises of honey, they don't mind my tomatoes, very tasty, & I don't use pesticides. I try to be as organic as I can. I also make a mean cherry tomato relish, and used to make marmalade, but too much sugar for us now. Life is good, I can sit down the back & read LRM, & you'd swear you were out in the bush, somewhere. Bob

[Chucaro]

We are missing our native garden in Moore Park Beach with 50 different types of grevilleas.
There is nothing nicer than the color and melodies of the Australian native bush. :)