ACTION ALERT / February 5, 2014
Tell the Senate to Speak Out Against Neonicotinoid Pesticides
The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry is now holding hearings on widely-used, bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides. The committee has invited beekeepers, grain-farmers, and scientists to present evidence at the hearings.
The Senate Committee will undoubtedly hear a repeat of what the Ontario Bee Health Working Group heard last summer -- that something was wrong and the beekeepers want a moratorium on the prime suspect: neonicotinoid pesticides.
Noenicotinoids are sprayed on almost all the corn and soybean seeds grown in Canada (roughly 1 million bags of corn seed in Ontario alone).
Beekeepers and scientists -- armed with massive amounts of both scientific research and direct experience --have clearly illustrated the devastating effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on bees and other pollinators. These experts, as well as others concerned about neonicotinoid poesticides, hope Senators will listen to their testimony and recognize the undeniable fact that these pesticides are wiping out a species crucial to our ecosystem and food production.
As much as 40% of our food crops are threatened as a result of the bee-killing pesticides. Despite the incriminating global body of evidence against neonicotinoids, however, grain farmers and the pesticide industry are fighting a moratorium, saying the bee-killing pesticides are "essential" to their operations.
The Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) bowing to pressure from lobby group Croplife and the pesticide industry -- shockingly punted any action on the bee-killing pesticides until at least 2016. CropLife is led by newly minted President & CEO Ted Menzies, a former Conservative MP.
This inaction is unacceptable. In light of the damage caused by these pesticides, action must be taken as soon as possible.
A Senate recommendation to take speedier action could go a long way towards forcing the PMRA to do the right thing and institute a moratorium on these devastating toxins.
TAKE ACTION
I am urging you today to take action for our pollinators by sending a letter and making a phone call. Senators and MPs say letters and phone calls are much more persuasive than emails so let's be heard together.
So please, call and write one -- or all -- the committee members. You can find all the information you need below.
You don’t need to be an expert. They will be listening to the experts in the hearings. Just politely tell them you want them to do the right thing and recommend an immediate moratorium on neonicotinoid pesticides.
This 21st Century ‘Silent Spring’ must be brought to an end now.
RELATED: Senate must heed evidence on bee killing pesticides, Media Release (January 28, 2014)
HON. PERCY MOCKLER HON. JEAN-GUY DAGNAIS HON. LEO HOUSAKOS HON. VICTOR OH HON. TERRY M. MERCER HON. CLAUDETTE TARDIFF | HON. NICOLE EATON HON. PANA MERCHANT HON. KELVIN KENNETH OGILVIE HON. FERNAND ROBICHAUD HON. JOANNE BUTH HON. GHISLAIN MALTAIS |
John Bennett, National Campaign Director
Sierra Club Canada Foundation
412-1 Nicholas Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7
Executive.Director@sierraclub.ca
John on Twitter / Bennett Blog
For more information on the plight of the bees click here