Thanks for speaking out on this, Laurel.
Sierra Club in the USA, with well over a million members, should be a major
force in the fight against neonicotinoids, which are killing bee colonies.
I am copying this to the Iowa Topics list.--Tom
In a message dated 11/15/2013 11:54:09 A.M. Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
This is very interesting to me ...
Sierra Club Canada apparently has made the bee issue into a national
campaign with a paid staffer.
Sierra Club in the U.S. has done neither. Rather, the HUGE implication of
losing a major pollinator is a back burner issue.
Laurel Hopwood, volunteer chair, sierra club genetic engineering action
team and volunteer coordinator, sierra club pollination protection campaign
Is CropLife buying influence?
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
November 15, 2013
OTTAWA -- Just as Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)
is considering a ban on bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides, the ag
industry trade association CropLife named long time Conservative MP Ted Menzies
as its new President and CEO.
"Is the pesticide industry attempting to influence a pending decision on
the future of bee-killing pesticides or is it a coincidence?" asked John
Bennett of Sierra Club Canada.
Bee pollination is essential to the functioning of our ecosystem and the
production of most fruits and vegetables. When bee populations start to
mysteriously and rapidly die-off, it's a very big deal.
In September, PMRA _confirmed_
(http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=xfxx+DEqHy+Vy3dNtPHt53fXszEPITYc) neonicotinoid pesticides (including
Clothianidin, manufactured by Bayer) are killing bees and asked for public
comment (deadline December 12, 2013). Thousands of Canadians and beekeepers
have already strongly urged the PMRA to ban the bee-killing neonicotinoid
pesticides.
CropLife has been actively waging a PR campaign to confuse the public
about these pesticides - ironically originally marketed at 'safer' than other
pesticides. CropLife suggests there haven't been big bee losses while at the
same time _blaming_
(http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=8B7OfBz0NyI6nmIW1wTO+HfXszEPITYc) viruses, parasites and beekeepers for their
obvious declining populations.
Over the last decade, use of neonicotinoid pesticides has grown at an
unprecedented rate. Almost every corn and soybean seed now arrives at the farm
gate already coated with the neurotoxin.
In Europe, where neonicotinoids were first introduced, massive mortality
of bee and pollinating insect populations led to the European Union banning
them. In 2012, beekeepers in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba suffered huge
die-offs - and early reports from 2013 are grim as well. In early August,
David Schuit of Elmwood Ontario _lost several million bees_
(http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=VydUwB84My+vk9cEvbIF2nfXszEPITYc) alone.
"The PMRA says the decision will be based on science and there is now a
_significant body of evidence_
(http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=dIwLez03YxRX85pVd9mbwnfXszEPITYc) that neonicotinoid pesticides are the
culprit," said Mr. Bennett. "We are happy to see a decision truly based on
science -- CropLife clearly isn't."
Because of dangerously weak federal ethics and lobbying rules, Mr. Menzies
is allowed to become President and CEO of a federally regulated company
that lobbies the federal government regularly.
Mr. Menzies should be very aware that there are two ethics rules that
apply to him in his new job. Under section 33 of the Conflict of Interest Act,
he is prohibited from acting in any way that takes "improper advantage" of
his time as a Cabinet minister, and subsection 34(2) prohibits him from
giving "advice to his or her client, business associate or employer using
information that was obtained in his or her capacity as a public office holder
and is not available to the public."
Whether or not Mr. Menzies 'technically' does any lobbying, his position
as President and CEO of CropLife clearly opens government doors and provides
valuable insight on the internal workings of the Harper government.
"Are we supposed to believe Mr. Menzies will lock himself in his new
office and not take calls or check his email," said Mr. Bennett.
xxx
John Bennett, National Campaign Director
Sierra Club Canada Foundation
412-1 Nicholas Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
613.291.6888
http://www.sierraclub.ca/en/Bees
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