WASHINGTON, D.C. – An analysis released today by Friends of the Earth U.S. reveals disturbing news: U.S. and European Union trade negotiators meeting in Miami this week appear to be actively considering adopting the agenda of chemical and pesticide industry lobbyists. Under the terms of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement -- or TTIP -- chemical and pesticide safety standards on both sides of the Atlantic could be lowered. In particular, efforts…
More than 500,000 Americans call on Bayer to stop selling bee-killing pesticides
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Farmers, beekeepers, environmentalists, students, bee-lovers and members of the North Carolina community rallied in front of the North Carolina Capitol building today and delivered more than 500,000 petition signatures urging Bayer (DE: BAYN) to stop selling bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides. Bayer is one of the leading manufacturers of neonicotinoids -- a key driver of bee decline. Bayer was invited…
500,000 Americans demand that Bayer help save bees
RALEIGH, N.C. — Farmers, beekeepers, environmentalists, students, and other members of the North Carolina community will swarm the North Carolina Capitol building in bee costumes on Saturday to help save the bees. Local stakeholders will speak and deliver petition signatures from more than 500,000 Americans, urging Bayer, one of the manufacturers of neonicotinoids -- a leading driver of bee declines -- to stop manufacturing and selling…
Thousands urge Ace and True Value to remove bee-killing pesticides
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Over the month of August, more than 2,000 people across the country urged Ace Hardware and True Value to “save brunch” and stop selling bee-killing pesticides. As part of a national month of action organized by Friends of the Earth and allies, bee activists held “brunches for bees” to educate their communities about the importance of protecting bees; customers visited…
CropLife America’s influence on EPA’s regulation of bee-harming pesticides questioned
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friends of the Earth sent a letter to pesticide industry trade association CropLife America today, urging it to immediately release all meeting minutes and communications between representatives of the EPA Office of the Administrator, Office of Pesticide Programs and Croplife America. On August 26, CropLife America claimed that Friends of the Earth’s Freedom of Information Act request on the…
A trio of recent studies, one conducted in the U.S. and the others in Europe, are highlighting some alarming facts regarding the daunting realities of neonicotinoid pesticides and their prevalence in industrial agriculture. The timing of this research coincides with the closing of the public comment period for EPA’s proposal, which is part of the White House Pollinator Strategy and once again emphasizes why the administration’s policies should focus more heavily on eliminating neonicotinoid pesticides…
FOIA request probes pesticide industry influence
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friends of the Earth submitted a Freedom of Information Act to the Environmental Protection Agency today requesting meeting minutes and communications between the EPA Office of the Administrator, the Office of Pesticide Programs and representatives of the pesticide industry. Friends of the Earth submitted this FOIA due to concerns raised by beekeepers around undue pesticide industry influence on the development of the EPA’s pollinator and…
Lisa Arkin is the executive director of Beyond Toxics, a Eugene, Ore.-based non-profit that works to protect communities and the environment from toxic pollution.
Have you been enjoying watching the furry bumble bees visiting your garden flowers? They seem to be out and about, buzzing the blossoms just at dawn, and hanging around for that last nectar-y drop even as the sun sets.
Cherish them as they flirt with your oregano and lavender. Despite their…
As the plight of honey bees and other crucial pollinators gains more attention worldwide, a growing number of nurseries, garden retailers and landscaping companies both large and small are starting to listen to the growing body of science, consumer demand and take action to get neonicotinoid pesticides out of their gardening practices and off their shelves while avoiding regrettable substitutions and adopting healthy practices for bees and the environment. In our recently released report, “
WASHINGTON, D.C. — To celebrate National Pollinator Week, more than 50 beekeeper, farmer, farmworker, faith-based, environmental and consumer organizations sent letters to more than 100 of the top garden retailers across the country, including True Value and Ace Hardware, urging public commitments to stop selling bee-toxic neonicotinoid pesticides. These letters follow thousands of calls on Tuesday from customers of Ace and True Value urging these retailers to stop selling bee-killing pesticides and pre-treated…