{"id":12704,"date":"2014-02-04T00:01:37","date_gmt":"2014-02-04T04:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/?p=12704"},"modified":"2014-02-04T10:08:48","modified_gmt":"2014-02-04T14:08:48","slug":"do-something-sweet-for-honey-bees-this-valentines-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondpesticides.org\/dailynewsblog\/2014\/02\/do-something-sweet-for-honey-bees-this-valentines-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Something Sweet for Honey Bees This Valentine’s Day!"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Beyond Pesticides<\/em>, February 4, 2014) No strawberries, no honey — without bees Valentine\u2019s Day just wouldn\u2019t be the same.<\/p>\n

In fact, one out of three bites of food depend on honey bee pollination<\/span>, but they are in danger from the use of neonicotinoid pesticides that Europe has already banned<\/a>. We know bees can’t wait any longer <\/a>for increased protections, so we need to take a stand wherever we can.
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\n\"ShowBeesSomeLove\"<\/a><\/b>That\u2019s why we’re asking you to join thousands of people coast-to-coast to swarm<\/i> Home Depot and Lowe\u2019s stores<\/b> the week of Valentine’s Day (February 10-16).<\/p>\n

We’ll be delivering valentines, asking these stores to \u201cshow bees some love\u201d and stop selling bee-killing pesticides and garden plants poisoned with these harmful chemicals. Planting season is right around the corner. We can\u2019t let another year pass with Home Depot and Lowe\u2019s selling \u201cpoisoned plants\u201d with no warning to consumers.<\/b><\/p>\n

Last year U.S. beekeepers reported a 30-100 percent loss of their hives<\/a>, and right now they are likely facing another winter of historic bee die-offs<\/b>. You can help BEE Protective<\/a> of pollinators during another tough winter season by delivering a Valentine to retailers. We’ve made it easy:<\/p>\n

Sign up here and we\u2019ll send you a printable valentine with a step-by-step guide <\/a>closer to the date<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Background:<\/b><\/p>\n

Scientific studies are consistently finding that a new, and increasingly popular class of pesticides, called neonicotinoids, are significant contributors to the devastating decline of pollinators across the globe. They include imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, nithiazine, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam, <\/em>and products containing these pesticides can be found on this list<\/a>. Peer-reviewed science has repeatedly identified these insecticides as highly toxic to honey bees and other pollinators<\/b><\/a>. Once applied, plants take up these pesticides and exude them in their pollen and nectar, subsequently endangering any pollinators that forage on these contaminated plants.<\/p>\n

A report<\/a> co-released late last year by Beyond Pesticides, Friends of the Earth, and other allies revealed that the neonicotinoids may be lurking in our own gardens. The study showed that more than half of the \u201cbee-friendly\u201d plants sold at retailers like Home Depot and Lowe\u2019s contained these bee-killing pesticides.<\/strong> In lieu of federal action to restrict the chemicals, we must take a stand against retailers who continue to sell poisoned plants.<\/p>\n

More BEE Protective<\/a> Actions:<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Help Beyond Pesticides build the buzz on all fronts by asking retailers, administrators, and elected officials to take action by eliminating or curtailing the sale and use of neonicotinoid pesticides.<\/p>\n