Monday, January 19, 2015

Protect the bees from pesticides in Ontario!

Bee on aster - nutmeg 66 / Flickr Creative Commons
I've been reading about the decline of bee populations for a while and it really alarms me because *about 75 per cent of our food requires bee pollination.

My province, Ontario, is planning to take steps to restrict the use of neonicotinoids, the pesticides that have been linked to mass bee deaths, but we're not out of the woods yet. 

I decided to write an email.

Subject: Protect the bees. Limit the use of neonics
To: The Honourable Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
CC: Gord Miller, Environmental Commissioner of Ontario (Independent watchdog)

Dear Minister Leal,

I was relieved to read that the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is set to limit the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, which have been linked to mass bee deaths and thus pose a significant risk to our bee-dependent agriculture. I applaud the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario's recommendations that Ontario take action

It is my understanding that the pesticide industry and agriculture lobbyists can have a high influence on public opinion and government policy. Like many other Ontarians, I am concerned about the health and safety of our food system, so I am writing to you to ask you to resist a pesticide lobby. 

Please make Ontario a North American leader in bee protection by limiting or even banning neonicotinoids. I have posted this letter to my blog and I will do the same for any responses. http://loveablehomebody.blogspot.ca/2015/01/protect-bees-from-pesticides-in-ontario.html

Sincerely,

Ashley Ashbee
Communications Professional | Blogger | Advocate

Learn more about the Ontario Government's plans and research about the impact of neonicotinoids.

*From the David Suzuki Foundation. Join the campaign!
Send your own message through Sum of Us

UPDATE: The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs sent me a response letter from Minister Leal on his behalf. He explained that he understood and shared my concerns, detailed the risks of neonicotinoids and described the provincial government's proposal for a Pollinator Action Plan. Please let me know if you require a transcription to read it.





2 comments:

  1. The big chemical corps would have us believe the lie that the cause of bee death is cellular waves but nothing his further from the truth. It is their rotten chemicals they force on us. Great post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much for your comment, Desertson. Independent research MUST have a seat at the table.

      Delete

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