Bye Bye Bees? Not If We Can Help It!

Pesticide giant Bayer wants to introduce ANOTHER bee-killing pesticide into Canada. We have just one week to convince Health Canada to stand up for the bees. Tell them not to approve this new pesticide! Add your voice Larry -- Pesticide giant Bayer wants our government to approve ANOTHER new bee-killing pesticide -- and we have just one week to convince Health Canada to stand up for the bees.  If approved, this new pesticide 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 alone. 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 in Health Canada's hands, 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, is very similar to an existing class of pesticides called “neonics”. Neonics are systemic pesticides -- they don't just remain on the surface, but are absorbed into plant tissues, and this new pesticide works the same way. Research shows that neonics severely impair bees' immune systems, making them vulnerable to deadly viruses. These pesticides have already been deemed so harmful that they are banned in Europe.  But 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 Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency to reject Bayer’s proposal for a new pesticide now. Thanks for all you do, Angus, Katherine, and the team at SumOfUs    ********** More information: Canada proposes approval of Bayer's insecticide flupyradiflurone, AgroNews, 24 September 2014  SumOfUs is a worldwide movement of people like you, working together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable path for our global economy. Please help keep SumOfUs strong by chipping in $3.