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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-SPST-BIOTECH-FORUM list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp