Sunday September 23, 2012, 7:53 pm
Many apologies: I got the date in the title wrong.
The deadline is SEPTEMBER 25th, Tuesday!!!!

Thank you for caring.

Sunday September 23, 2012, 7:55 pm
From the petition website (AVAAZ):

"A pesticide called Clothianidin is potentially killing bees and threatening our food supply. In 48 hours an EPA consultation on whether to suspend the use of this toxic pesticide will close. Let's seize this opportunity to save the bees and flood the EPA with public support to stop these pesticides! Send an urgent message to the EPA now:Sign the petition

Quietly, billions of bees are dying, threatening our crops and food. But if the US Environmental Protection Agency bans a major pesticide, we could save bees from extinction.

Four European countries have begun banning many of these poisons, and some bee populations are already recovering. But Bayer has lobbied hard to keep their main pesticide on the US market. The EPA has been slow to react, but an Avaaz petition with over a million signers helped force the agency to open a formal consultation to measure public support for action -- and in 48 hours, the consultation closes. Let’s all act now and call on the EPA to put people before polluters and save our bees!

The pressure is working, and this is our best chance for impact in the fight for bee survival. Send an urgent message to the EPA at the link below-- and we’ll formally submit it before the deadline on Tuesday!

http://www.avaaz.org/en/hope_for_bees_usa/?bgYWMab&v=18162

Bees don't just make honey, they are vital to life on earth, every year pollinating 90% of plants and crops -- with an estimated $40bn value, over one-third of the food supply in many countries. Without immediate action to save bees, many of our favourite fruits, vegetables, and nuts could vanish from our shelves.

Recent years have seen a steep and disturbing global decline in bee populations -- some bee species are already extinct and some US species are at just 4% of their previous numbers. Scientists have been scrambling for answers. Some studies claim the decline may be due to a combination of factors including disease, habitat loss and toxic chemicals. But increasingly, independent research has produced strong evidence blaming neonicotinoid pesticides, forcing several European countries to ban one or more of these bee killers. But in the USA, Bayer's poison is still unregulated.

This issue is now coming to the boil as major new studies have confirmed the scale of this problem. If we can get the EPA to act, we could shut down this attack on bees and our food supply. The real experts -- the beekeepers and farmers -- want these deadly pesticides prohibited until and unless we have solid, independent studies that show they are safe. Let's support them now -- click to send a message to the EPA:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/hope_for_bees_usa/?bgYWMab&v=18162

We can no longer leave our delicate food chain in the hands of research run by the chemical companies and the regulators that are in their pockets. Banning this pesticide will move us closer to a world safe for ourselves and the other species we care about and depend on. With hope,

Iain, Antonia, Mia, Luis, Ricken, Stephanie, Pascal, Alice, Ari and the whole Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION

"Studies fault Bayer in bee die-off" (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0406/Studies-fault-Bayer-in-bee-die-off

"2 Studies Point to Common Pesticide as a Culprit in Declining Bee Colonies" (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/science/neocotinoid-pesticides-play-a-role-in-bees-decline-2-studies-find.html?_r=1

"Leaked document shows EPA allowed bee-toxic pesticide despite own scientists’ red flags" (Grist)
http://grist.org/politics/food-2010-12-10-leaked-documents-show-epa-allowed-bee-toxic-pesticide/

"Bee Deviled: Scientists No Longer Bumbling Over Cause of Colony Collapse Disorder" (HuffingtonPost):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annie-spiegelman/bee-deviledscientists_b_1884294.html

"Controversy Deepens Over Pesticides and Bee Collapse" (Wired)
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/04/neonicotinoids-colony-collapse/

Sunday September 23, 2012, 7:59 pm
Signed

Sunday September 23, 2012, 9:27 pm
Noted and signed.

Sunday September 23, 2012, 10:33 pm
Signed

Monday September 24, 2012, 12:37 am
Wrote the letter, gave my address and sent it, noted too.

Monday September 24, 2012, 2:43 am
Thanks for sharing!

Tuesday September 25, 2012, 9:21 am
Signed.