TYT: Dead Birds, Bees & Fish Explained By EPA Document?

[Generic Other]

Run time: 05:44 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CeR8tV1iss   Posted on YouTube: January 08, 2011 By YouTube Member: TheYoungTurks Views on YouTube: 301   Posted on DU: January 08, 2011 By DU Member: Generic Other Views on DU: 2347

 
The world honey bee population has plunged in recent years, worrying beekeepers and farmers who know how critical bee pollination is for many crops. A number of theories have popped up as to why the North American honey bee population has declined--electromagnetic radiation, malnutrition, and climate change have all been pinpointed. Now a leaked EPA document reveals that the agency allowed the widespread use of a bee-toxic pesticide, despite warnings from EPA scientists.

The document, which was leaked to a Colorado beekeeper, shows that the EPA has ignored warnings about the use of clothianidin, a pesticide produced by Bayer that mainly is used to pre-treat corn seeds. The pesticide scooped up $262 million in sales in 2009 by farmers, who also use the substance on canola, soy, sugar beets, sunflowers, and wheat, according to Grist.
The leaked document (PDF) was put out in response to Bayer's request to approve use of the pesticide on cotton and mustard. The document invalidates a prior Bayer study that justified the registration of clothianidin on the basis of its safety to honeybees:
Clothianidin's major risk concern is to nontarget insects (that is, honey bees). Clothianidin is a neonicotinoid insecticide that is both persistent and systemic. Acute toxicity studies to honey bees show that clothianidin is highly toxic on both a contact and an oral basis. Although EFED does not conduct RQ based risk assessments on non-target insects, information from standard tests and field studies, as well as incident reports involving other neonicotinoids insecticides (e.g., imidacloprid) suggest the potential for long-term toxic risk to honey bees and other beneficial insects.

The entire 101-page memo is damning (and worth a read). But the opinion of EPA scientists apparently isn't enough for the agency, which is allowing clothianidin to keep its registration.

Suspicions about clothianidin aren't new; the EPA's Environmental Fate and Effects Division (EFAD) first expressed concern when the pesticide was introduced, in 2003, about the "possibility of toxic exposure to nontarget pollinators through the translocation of clothianidin residues that result from seed treatment." Clothianidin was still allowed on the market while Bayer worked on a botched toxicity study , in which test and control fields were planted as close as 968 feet apart.
Clothianidin has already been banned by Germany, France, Italy, and Slovenia for its toxic effects. So why won't the EPA follow? The answer probably has something to do with the American affinity for corn products. But without honey bees, our entire food supply is in trouble.

[Ghost Dog]

1. Accurate information. I find source for this here:

http://conversations.blackvoices.com/health/e3b526295de34889a47c736eb97bc909/epa-knowingly-allow%20.../461d5b3ce4934ca8a5b9b32858dba829?sn=0

The (PDF) is here: http://www.panna.org/sites/default/files/Memo_Nov2010_Clothianidin.pdf

[Generic Other]

2. Alarming and proof that these chemicals are to be feared

I remember when the government responded to fears of pesticide use. DDT killed a lot of birds before they took action to prevent losing species. But they took action! Now? I am not so sure they will.

[ihavenobias]

3. Here's the link from the TYT video description on YouTube

http://www.fastcompany.com/1708896/wiki-bee-leaks-epa-document-reveals-agency-knowingly-allowed-use-of-bee-toxic-pesticide

[Ghost Dog]

4. Right. Interesting site. From the comments:

Incidentally, clothianidin, is just ONE pesticide made by "health industry", Bayer, that appears on lists of tobacco pesticides. Is Bayer the supplier? Who asks? Bayer does not seem to have yet been dragged into any hearings on "smoking and health" to explain itself. Bayer, and the many other tobacco pesticide suppliers (including BASF), naturally, prefer to blame "smoking" (behavior of unwitting victims) and the tobacco plant (an "act of God") for the effects of typical pesticide contaminated cigarettes.

[pghtytfan]

5. Kick

Scary story.

[sulphurdunn]

6. When you think of Bayer

you think of aspirin. You should also think of Auschwitz, Joseph Mengele and Zyklon B. You should not think that Bayer might give a shit about honey bees.

[KwaveD]

10. when you think of Bayer

don't forget Heroin ...

[20score]

7. Well, obviously more tax cuts will fix this. In two different conversations, with two different

teabaggers, they each said that things can't be as bad as I described. (While talking about the economy and the environment.) Each one, separately said that the people in charge of things are smart and wouldn't let the economy/environment get out of control.

So I'm sure they were right and there's nothing to worry about.

With smart people in charge and geniuses like these people voting, there is no problem that can't be solved.

[truedelphi]

8. Don't quite understand why EPA has not already come up with some

Bayer industry-clone who can announce a new doctrine of "Clothianidin's" safety?

Such as Mike Taylor's announcement about the new scientific doctrine to govern the situation of GM seeds and crops. "GM crops and seeds are similar to conventional crops and seeds because those of us appointed by the government to decree them as being safe are willing to do so."

To whit, "Clothianidin's is safe on account of us saying it is safe. Nothing to see or discuss here. Please go back to your televised info on assassination hit against Arizona Congress woman."

[pleah]

9. K&R :( n/t

[lilyrl]

11. And, now they are trying to kill our water supply with the fracking chemicals to obtain natural gas

Utter, total, complete INSANITY....

I don't care how much fucking money you have....if you can't drink the water and eat the food, you DIE just like the rest of us.

IDIOTS

[DeSwiss]

12. "But the opinion of EPA scientists apparently isn't enough for the agency..."

This is what a DLC Democratic Administration gets you.

- Friendly to business and deadly to bees, birds and every other living thing.......

K&R