That, Micheal Harris writes, is the question. There simply are a lot fewer of them around:
Plos One, a Europe-based Open Access multidisciplinary journal, published a stunning report this year on the plummeting number of flying insects in Germany. The report, which made headlines around the world, found that the number of such insects fell by a jaw-dropping 75 per cent over 27 years.
The reason? We are using all kinds of neonicotinoids on our fields. These insecticides are killing off pollinators -- those seemingly insignificant creatures -- who guarantee the long term viability of our crops. The U.K. and European Union have decided to ban neonicotinoids, And certain jurisdictions in Canada have also forbidden their use:
Vancouver and Montreal have already banned these dangerous pesticides within their city limits. Ontario became the first jurisdiction in North America to limit the use and sale of neonics. That seems appropriate after ten years of bee-poisoning in that province’s corn fields. Quebec also has limited the pesticide’s use.
But the federal government is still refusing to move. Harris writes that Justin Trudeau vowed that he would protect the environment and rely on science as a driver of policy. But there is a growing gap between Trudeau's rhetoric and his actions. And he should have learned from recent history:
Canadians have had their fill of governments that gave the benefit of the doubt to products and practices that kill the ecosystems that keep us alive. They watched as Ottawa issued larger and larger quotas on the Grand Banks, even as the Northern Cod was disappearing as a commercial species.
Millions of people cringed when the Harper government kept supporting asbestos exports, long after it was banned as a hazardous material in this country and we were paying to take it out of 24 Sussex.
The last thing Canadians want is a government that won’t get its ass in gear in the interests of a marvelous creature that helps pollinate the plants that give us one out of every three mouthfuls of food we eat.
Canadians will throw Justin out if he can't back up his words with action.
Image: mnn.com
6 comments:
You don't have to have a PhD. to realize that there are fewer Honey bees, Monarch butterflies, fire flies, june bugs, lady bugs, song birds, etc. In my part of the world on GeorgianBay I have personally sighted bald eagles five different times this year. We all remember that they were in danger of extinction due to DDT. Thank goodness someone paid attention to that problem when warranted and banned the use of that pesticide. How stupid or apathetic have we become due to our greed?
That's precisely that right question, zoombats. Stupidity and greed are a deadly combination.
Here in Nova Scotia , wild blueberry processors will no longer purchase berries sprayed with neonic. Bees are too expensive to kill and Japanese customers don't want chemically tainted fruit. Economics and customer pressure have banned neonics in the industry with no government help.
It seems that in Nova Scotia -- as in some other jurisdictions -- folks are way ahead of the federal government, rumley.
Nuclear Energy, school busing, pipelines, opiates, GMO crops are all wonderful scientific discovery. It does not mean for the public its good science. When the product hurts the consumer, its more than a misdemeanor. Yet we go full sail into the future guided
buy the trimming skills of the best lobbyist. IMHO epitomized forever by Ted Cruz.
Who Justin acknowledges eviscerated him in debate games.
Globalization is dead. The idea of economic trade based upon anything is false. If I have something and you have something lets trade.
Food is number one thing we should bring home. We buy strawberries from California, stupid.
We can grow everything we need in factory farms, no GMO, no pesticides, no herbicides and if fact it tastes fresh not like transported vegetable matter.
Solar Wind and storage have not even been touched.
Do not get me started about 3D printing.
Technologies are merely tools, Steve. It's how we choose to use them that makes the difference.
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