nd limited food and water resources. Environmentally related factors like sunlight and temperature determine the timing of when a bird will start to migrate. Hummingbirds are a perfect example. If hummingbirds are prompted to migrate earlier than usual this year, they could be in trouble. The climates they have to migrate through might affect them negatively.
In a published journal study of 48 million bird observations, see this 2012 Science Daily article to learn more.
THE BEES (“Ain’t Mis BEEhavin’ “on their own)
Coincidentally, the bursting growth of neonicotinoids since 2005 has coincided with the rising deaths in honey bees, also known as COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER. Beekeepers are beginning to enter panic mode since as much as 50% of the hives have been wiped out. Without bees, there goes most of our fruit and vegetable crops. Call me selfish but I like to eat apples, honey, blueberries, almonds etc; At least 1/3 of the world’s crops rely on the pollination from honey bees.
“If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left.” – Albert Einstein
What the heck are neonicotinoids?
A nicotine based pesticide used in GMO (genetically modified organisms) crops.
- A class of neuro-active insecticides related to nicotine and can pose a danger to both humans and insects.
- They affect the central nervous system in insects while affecting both central and peripheral nervous systems in mammals. Low exposure causes nervous stimulation and high levels block receptors causing paralysis and ultimately death.
- These pesticides are directly placed in the soil of the plant. The plant becomes poisoned with toxins present in the roots, leaves, stems and pollen.
GMO crops – a health issue
Last week, the European Commission has proposed a 2 year ban on certain pesticides believed to contribute to honey bee deaths. Needless to say, pesticide companies deny a link to the bee deaths.
When GMOs were first introduced in 1996, one big selling point was that these new crops would reduce the number of pesticides. For a while, it appeared to have worked. Studies in 2006, 2007 and 2008 cited decreases in pesticides. Then U. S. farmers started to complain about having to use more and more pesticides to try to eliminate the newly created “SUPERWEEDS” – (herbicide resistant weeds) and the hard-to-kill insects. It turns out that GE crops led to an increase, not decrease, of pesticide use from 1996 through 2011; a whopping 404 million pounds more pesticides! Recently, farmers have been feeling a need to return to using high risk older herbicides on corn, soy and cotton crops to try to eliminate the superweeds. Farmers also are forced to use the GMO seeds since Monsanto owns most of all patented GMO seeds under the brand name Roundup Ready.
A study published last year at Purdue University in Indiana found evidence that neonicotinoid coated corn seeds generated dust that traveled beyond the fields where the seeds were planted. The researchers found toxins in the soil as well as the pollen collected by the bees for food. These neonics were present on dead bees collected for study.
September, 2012, Charles Benbrook published this peer-reviewed paper and proved a steady increase of pesticides and how weeds were developing a resistance to Roundup Ready.
MONSANTO MUST BE FEELING THE PRESSURE
Just this week, Monsanto announced they will host a “BEE SUMMIT” in June. Along with Monsanto, other agri-chemical companies such as Syngenta and Bayer claim it is an invasive mite that is killing the bees and not their pesticides. This should be very interesting. These companies say they want to find out the truth of what is killing the bees. OK, but that remains to be seen. If these companies plan on doing their own studies……Well, I wouldn’t call these independent studies, would you?
GMO LABELING – your right to know
YOU have the right to know whether a product is from a GMO source. I want to be able to choose between a GMO product and a non-GMO product. Organic products are labeled, nutritional content on products is la