Fighting for people over profits
Health Canada -- reject Bayer's risky new pesticide to bees
Bayer's introducing this new toxic pesticide to control sap-sucking insects. Once on the market, it will likely wreak further havoc on our bees -- which are already dying in record numbers. Last winter, almost 30 percent of Canada's bee colonies were devastated, and strikingly, we lost over half of our bee colonies in Ontario. Judging by Bayer's deadly track record, this new pesticide could speed up the complete decimation of the local bee population, which would have catastrophic effects on Canada's food supplies.
The final decision lies with Health Canada, and we have until November 1 to make our voice heard. If we want Health Canada to stand up to Bayer, it needs to hear from us now.
Tell Health Canada to reject Bayer's proposal for a new pesticide. Submit a public comment before November 1.
Bees are diligent, unassuming creatures. They pollinate our crops, and are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. It's simple -- no bees means no food for us.
This new pesticide, Flupyradifurone, belongs to a class of pesticides called "neonics". Neonics are systemic pesticides -- they don't just remain on the surface, but are absorbed into plant tissues. Neonics severely impair bees' immune systems, making them vulnerable to deadly viruses. Similar types of neonics have been deemed so harmful that they have been banned in Europe.
Pesticide companies like Bayer are merciless. They're already suing the European Union to overturn the ban (and SumOfUs is heading to court to fight back)! Elsewhere in the world, pesticide companies are busy lobbying and bullying politicians against a ban, like in the United States.
It won't be easy for Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to stand up to a pesticide company that is spending millions to get its way. Bayer has money, but we have the power of people. The only way we can get the PMRA to make the right decision is to make sure that it sees that there is widespread public opposition to Bayer's proposal. The comment period closes on November 1, so we have to act quickly.
Add your voice. Tell the Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency to reject Bayer's proposal for a new pesticide now.
More information:
Canada proposes approval of Bayer's insecticide flupyradiflurone, AgroNews, 24 September 2014
Bayer introduces flupyradifurone as alternative to imidacloprid, AgroNews, 18 December 2014
Pesticide giant Bayer wants our government to approve ANOTHER new pesticide -- and we have just one week to convince Health Canada to stand up for the bees.
Bayer's introducing this new toxic pesticide to control sap-sucking insects. Once on the market, it will likely wreak further havoc on our bees -- which are already dying in record numbers. Last winter, almost 30 percent of Canada's bee colonies were devastated, and strikingly, we lost over half of our bee colonies in Ontario. Judging by Bayer's deadly track record, this new pesticide could speed up the complete decimation of the local bee population, which would have catastrophic effects on Canada's food supplies.
The final decision lies with Health Canada, and we have until November 1 to make our voice heard. If we want Health Canada to stand up to Bayer, it needs to hear from us now.
Tell Health Canada to reject Bayer's proposal for a new pesticide. Submit a public comment before November 1.
Petition Text:Reject Bayer's proposal to introduce a new pesticide. Introducing this new pesticide will be a severe risk to our bee population, which is already facing collapse. These pesticides should be banned to protect our food system."
http://action.sumofus.org/a/canada-bees-comments/?sub=mtl
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CBC CANADA NEWS
Canadian beekeepers are suing the makers of popular crop pesticides for more than $400 million in damages, alleging that their use is causing the deaths of bee colonies.
The proposed class action lawsuit was filed Tuesday in the Ontario Superior Court on behalf of all Canadian beekeepers by Sun Parlor Honey Ltd. and Munro Honey, two of Ontario's largest honey producers, the Ontario Beekeepers Association announced Wednesday.
"The goal is to stop the use of the neonicotinoids to stop the harm to the bees and the beekeepers," said Paula Lombardi, a lawyer with London, Ont.-based law firm Siskinds LLP, which is handling the case.
As of Thursday morning, more than 30 beekeepers had signed on to participate in the class action.
The lawsuit alleges that Bayer Cropscience Inc. and Syngenta Canada Inc. and their parent companies were negligent in their design, manufacture, sale and distribution of neonicotinoid pesticides, specifically those containing imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiomethoxam.
The pesticides, which are a neurotoxin to insects, are widely coated on corn, soybean and canola seeds in Canada to protect the plants from pests such as aphids. Studies have shown that bees exposed to the pesticides have smaller colonies, fail to return to their hives, and may have trouble navigating. The pesticides were also found in 70 per cent of dead bees tested by Health Canada in 2013.
The European Commission restricted the use of the pesticides for two years and Ontario has indicated it will move toward regulating them, due to concerns over bee health.
Bayer maintains that the risk to bees from the pesticide is low, and it has recommended ways that farmers can minimize bees' exposure to the pesticide.
Both Bayer and Syngenta told CBC News they wouldn't comment on the lawsuit because they haven't yet been served with it.
The lawsuit is seeking more than $400 million in damages, alleging that as a result of neonicotinoid use:
- The beekeepers' colonies and breeding stock were damaged or died.
- Their beeswax, honeycombs and hives were contaminated.
- Their honey production decreased.
- They lost profits and incurred unrecoverable costs, such as increased labour and supply costs.
Beekeepers or companies involved in beekeeping services such as honey production, queen bee rearing and pollination who are affected and want to join the lawsuit are asked to contact Lombardi.
The Ontario Beekeepers Association is not directly involved in the lawsuit, but along with the Sierra Club Canada Foundation, helped connect beekeepers with the law firm. The association also helped with the research for the lawsuit.
EXCERPT.
SumOfUs states it is "a new world-wide movement for a better global economy" that stands for: Fair treatment of workers and the right of every human being to make a living, safely and ethically, for themselves and their family; The right of ordinary consumers to products that are produced and marketed ethically, sustainably and transparently; and "Business models that put people and the planet first instead of being driven by shortsighted greed." They then tell the "consumer": "Yeah, take that deep breath, close your eyes and imagine what kind of a world that could be – and then crash back to this one."
What SumOfUs doesn't tell you and never will tell you, is that 1) this vision is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to achieve under the global industrialized capitalist economic system, and 2) our current economic system is absolutely dependent upon the exploitation of both people and planet to simply continue its existence. SumOfUs wishes to convince you that this suicidal economic system can be reformed. That, like Obama, corporations can be made "to do the right thing" if only we ask nicely. Yet, let's be clear and cast all denial aside – one cannot reform an abomination.
And while millions continue to anguish over tragic atrocities such as the Holocaust, the Congolese genocide continues unabated. Organizations such as SumOfUs don't touch upon such uncomfortable truths, especially when the victims are non-white. In the world of RINGOs [1], the continuous and relentless plunder of liberating nations by Imperialist states is simply par for the course. Certainly not a reason to stop consuming items we have lived without for approximately 100,000 years.
The questions SumOfUs will never put forward is this: Would you rather consume beyond your most basic needs, or would you rather live? Would you rather consume beyond your most basic needs, or would you rather your children have a future? Which do you value more – your iPhone or the life of an African? Which do you value more – your iPad or the life of an exploited Chinese worker, whose distress is so great they prefer death over life?
http://wrongkindofgreen.org/2012/03/28/sumofus-are-corporate-whores-some-of-us-are-not/
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