4 Million People Just Told Obama to Save the Bees—Now [View all]

[Omaha Steve]

Conservationists, beekeepers, farmers, and ordinary citizens are demanding a ban on pesticides implicated in the die-off of pollinators.



http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/03/04/4-million-people-just-told-obama-save-bees-now?cmpid=tpdaily-eml-2015-03-05-actions

March 04, 2015 By Taylor Hill

Taylor Hill is TakePart's associate environment and wildlife editor.

llions of bees have died in recent years, and now more than 4 million people have called on President Barack Obama to ban neonicotinoid pesticides linked to the mass die-off of insects that pollinate a third of the world’s food supply.

Conservationists presented the petition to the White House Wednesday in advance of a report from a presidential task force that will make recommendations later this month on how to avoid the further collapse of honeybee populations.

The coalition of 125 groups—including 11 of the nation’s top environmental organizations—gathered the signatures in an effort to keep pressure on the administration to take action.

“We’re urging President Obama to take meaningful action on neonicotinoids, which are devastating bee populations,” said Larissa Walker, pollinator campaign director at the Center for Food Safety. “These systemic insecticides are also threatening the nation’s food supply.”

FULL story at link.