Take Action to Understand and Ban Neonicotinoids

Neonicotinoids are a class of insecticides that are widely used around the world to treat weeds and pests. Initially thought to be less damaging to birds and insects than other chemicals on the market, large-scale scientific studies ultimately showed that the neonicotinoid residues absorbed by plant tissue infected pollen and nectar. Neonicotinoid use has been linked to honey bee colony collapse disorder, as well as die off in other species. Increasing concern about widespread ecological damage led European countries to ban several pesticides containing neonicotinoids, but the U.S. has not yet done so. 

On Tuesday, the White House Task Force on Bees will report on proposals. Monsanto, Bayer, CropScience, and Syngenta want to retain the use of this dangerous substance. There's a campaign on Avaaz to get signatures before Tuesday's  meeting of the White House Task force. 

We have no time to lose -- members of the White House's bee task force will report with proposals on Tuesday. Already 2.5 million of us have backed this campaign. Let's race to send messages to the heads of the task force before Tuesday's meeting. This is not just about saving bees, this is about our survival. Click to send a message now: 

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_us_sam_loc/?bLEdVdb&v=46989 https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_us_sam_loc/?bLEdVdb&v=46989 

What can you do to help? Educate yourself; teach your children.

To learn more about how pesticides effect pollinators, the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society invites you to their October lecture:

Pesticides and Pollinators

A Presentation by Nathalie Steinhauer

Green Spring Gardens

4603 Green Spring Road

Alexandria, VA

703 642-5173

VNPS programs are free and open to the public. 

No reservations are necessary for lectures.

Nathalie will talk about the effects of pesticides on pollinators, with a
focus on neonicotinoids. She will cover effects of pesticide residues,
pesticides found in foraged pollen, in bee hives, toxicity and sub-lethal
effects on bees and other insects, and most ominously, the knowledge gaps in
the industry.