INGLEWOOD, CA – Dressed as bees, several people collapsed on the floor of pesticide aisle at Home Depot on S La Cienega Blvd this Saturday morning.
Aside from the theatrics, the activists cheerfully announced to shoppers and staff alike, “today is International Honey Bee Day! Join the fight to Save the Bees!” and handed out pamphlets titled “The Plight of the Honeybee” linking the collapse of 40% of honey bee colonies in the last decade in the United States to the use of insecticidal seed treatment in genetically engineered (GE or GMO) crops.
Bees pollinate a significant majority of the world’s food. Of the 100 crop species that provide 90% of the world’s food, 71 are pollinated by bees, according to the Organic Consumers Association. In North America, honey bees pollinate nearly 95 kinds of fruits, including almonds, avocados, cranberries, and apples.
“One out of every 3 bites is pollinated by bees,” explained one activist, “so we are here to bring awareness to the importance of the bee, the dangers of pesticides, and the continuing threat of Colony Collapse Disorder to the bee population and our food supply.”
Consumers are concerned about chemical pesticides contributing to massive bee die-offs and Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which is leads to the collapse of normally healthy hives when bees’ immune systems are weakened by the use of neonicotinoid insecticides (or neonics). Home Depot, Lowes, and Walmart all sell plants and potting soil that have been treated with neonics, as well as toxic pesticides such as the herbicide Roundup (containing glyphosate).
In San Diego, Bee Against Monsanto called a press conference on Friday, August 15th outside NBC studios asking the city to ban neonicotinoids, followed by a showing of the film “More Than Honey” and a community dinner. The San Diego Overpass Light Brigade joined the call to action on the evening of Saturday, August 16th with a message in lighted letters: "IF BEES DIE WE DIE" on the Sixth Avenue overpass of Interstate 5.
Occupy Long Beach and Bee Against Monsanto took the streets along E 2nd St. in Long Beach with a gigantic banner reading “Declare Your Independence From Bee-Killing Pesticides!” and additional information about the importance of pollinators in our food supply.
Activists at all events encouraged others to ask friends, family and neighbors to stop spraying neonicotinoids and other dangerous systemics in their yards and gardens, add pollinator plants to attract bees, and local city councils to keep our parks and public spaces toxin-free and bee-friendly.
Additional Sources:
“Honey Bee Health & Colony Collapse Disorder,” Organic Consumers Association.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bees.cfm