Huge bee epidemic, could impact agriculture

This article includes information or quotes from the following sources: Paul Joseph Watson of PRISON PLANET, E.G. Vallianatos (author of book as cited in article), Phaedra Greenwood, of ENCHANTMENT, The voice of New Mexico's REA, and SPIEGEL ONLINE-German News.

Bee in troubleI saw something in Ecuador last week that I had not seen in a long time in the USA. Bees, pollinating flowers. I began to wonder why I haven't seen bees in my yard in recent years, and began to research the subject. There is an alarming decline in bee populations across the United States and Europe that represents a potential ecological apocalypse, an environmental catastrophe that some believe could collapse the food chain and wipe out humanity.

Who and what is behind this flagrant abuse of the eco-system?

Many people don't realize the vital role bees play in maintaining a balanced eco-system. According to experts, if bees become extinct then humanity might perish after just four years.

"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man," said Albert Einstein.

Others say four years is alarmist and that man can always find other food sources, or methods to pollinate crops. But the fact remains that the disappearance of bees is potentially devastating to agriculture and most plant life. Experts at the EPA know it. Researchers at agricultural universities around the world realize it. Farmers know it.

Reports that bee populations are declining at rates of up to 80% in areas of the U.S. and Europe should set alarm bells ringing and demand immediate action on behalf of environmental organizations. Experts are calling the worrying trend "colony collapse disorder" or CCD. Farmers in the United States are very concerned and some have had to resort to importing bees from other nations, to assure that their crops are properly pollinated.

"Bee numbers on parts of the east coast and in Texas have fallen by more than 70 percent, while California has seen colonies drop by 30 to 60 percent"

"Approximately 40 percent of my 2,000 colonies are currently dead and this is the greatest winter colony mortality I have ever experienced in my 30 years of beekeeping," apiarist Gene Brandi, from the California State Beekeepers Association, told the U.S. Congress recently.

The article states that U.S. bee colonies have been dropping since 1975 and the number of beekeepers have halved. This date corresponds with the dates new pesticides were approved by the EPA.

Scientists are thus far unwilling to stand up and declare what is causing the decline, ruling out parasites but leaning towards some kind of new toxin or chemical used in agriculture as being responsible. Others believe that "the large-scale use of genetically modified plants in the US could be a factor," reports Germany's Spiegal Online.

Yet another research report indicates that cell telephone transmissions confuse and disorient bees, causing them to become lost.

E.G. Vallianatos, a former EPA analyst, and author of the book: THIS LAND IS THEIR LAND, HOW CORPORATE FARMS THREATEN THE WORLD has studied the problem in detail. Vallianatos says that in 1974 the EPA licensed the nerve gas parathion, and that this poison kills the bees, and pollutes the pollen so that they return to hives, kill other bees and poison the honey. The U.S. National Research Council, part of the National Academies issued a report showing the substantial decline in pollinators. Scientists expressed alarm that the precipitous decline caused by pesticides could substantially harm agriculture. But they lacked the will to lobby the EPA to make changes. In recent years, more and more scientists have become afraid to stand up to big business, or "pollitical correct" positions, for fear of job safety or punishment by business and political institutions.

Bee populations throughout Germany have simultaneously dropped 25% and up to 80% in some areas. Poland, Switzerland and Spain are reporting similar declines. Studies have shown that bees are not dying in the hive, but something is causing them to lose their sense of orientation so that they cannot return to the hive. Depleted hives are not being raided for their honey by other insects, which normally happens when bees naturally die in the winter, clearly suggesting some kind of poisonous toxin is driving them away.

"In many cases, scientists have found evidence of almost all known bee viruses in the few surviving bees found in the hives after most have disappeared. Some had five or six infections at the same time and were infested with fungi -- a sign, experts say, that the insects' immune system may have collapsed." This is the same thing that happens to humans, when their immune systems are reduced by toxic chemicals.

A study at the University of Jena from 2001 to 2004 showed that toxins from a genetically modified maize variant designed to repel insects, resulted in a "significantly stronger decline in the number of bees than normal."

According to Hans-Hinrich Kaatz, a professor at the University of Halle in eastern Germany and the director of the study, the bacterial toxin in the genetically modified corn may have "altered the surface of the bee's intestines, sufficiently weakening the bees to allow the parasites to gain entry -- or perhaps it was the other way around. We don't know."

Kaatz was desperate to continue his studies but funding was cut off. Again, a implication that big business interests were threatened by his research and may have pressured his University to clamp down on his research.

In another arena, American Indians have taken steps to protect their native corn and maize crops. In doing so, they by banning genetically modified corn, may be also protecting bee populations, in tribal areas of New Mexico. American Indian Tribes, including the All Indian Tribal Council, the Eight Northern Pueblos of New Mexico, and the Pueblos of Pojoaque and Tesuque have all adopted resolutions banning the introduction of genetically engineered seed on all tribal lands within range of traditional agricultural systems. The Indian tribes believe that the pollen drift from accidental plantings of genetically modified feed corn is harmful and can contaminate native heirloom seeds and traditional foods. Paula Garcia of the New Mexico Acequia Association says: "Traditional cultures have always had a relationshihp with food that is sacred. Growing food has been central to our lives for countless generations. There is an urgent need to honor the way our ancestors grew food and to protect native seed that is indigenous and not corrupted by corporations that are trying to make a profit."

While we are lectured by government to change our lifestyle because of global warming, an environmental catastrophe that could eliminate agriculture and food crops that the human race depends upon is looming, and appears to be caused by three potential results of giant business entities:

  1. Pesticides or nerve gases such as the nerve gas parathion
  2. Toxins from genetically modified crops
  3. Possible interferance by radio waves from cellular telephone transmissions that disorient bees

Is this just another example of big business flagrantly abusing the eco-system in order to drive up profits? One of the roles of responsible government is to protect a society, from abuses that could cause harm. We need to call on government to be responsible.

This issue represents an overwhelming threat to the food chain and an environmental problem of the highest order. The chemicals responsible, or genetically alterations that cause toxins to bees should be banned.

Please circulate this article to environmental groups.