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Growing alarm over birds and bees is justified

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 1:02 PM PST

By John Green / for The Daily News

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In 2007, The Daily News ran articles concerning the disappearance of bees, crop pollinators and songbirds. Farmers are becoming alarmed that there will not be enough bees around to pollinate their crops. These crops are our food supply. So what is happening to the bees? A look at our lifestyles gives us the answer.

Our dependence on chemicals permeates every aspect of our lives. Walk through garden supply departments and see rows and rows of chemicals. When citizens douse their lawns and gardens with pesticides to try to have the greenest lawn or the prettiest flowers in the neighborhood, they use chemicals that are toxic to bees.

In our pursuit of perfect produce, farmers spread pesticides, which are considered highly toxic to bees. Even the city of Longview spreads pesticides around the city and our parks to control the aphids and leaf miners, which irritate our residents. The pesticide in this case, is Imidacloprid, which was outlawed in France because of its toxicity to bees. This chemical stays in the soil for months and, in some cases, years. Even small amounts will disorient bees to the extent that they cannot find their way back to their hives. The bees also lose the ability to groom themselves, exposing them to mite and virus infestation and death.

Imidacloprid is applied to the soil within a tree’s drip-line, where it is absorbed by the root system and then spreads to the leaves and flowers where bees forage. Imidacloprid is not just absorbed by the target trees, but by any flower or plant growing in the soil where it is applied. Even clover, which grows under the trees becomes deadly to the bees which forage there. Imidacloprid also is toxic to earthworms, which live in the soil and to fish if it enters the storm water that drains into our lakes, streams and rivers.

Our songbirds also are affected by pesticide use. Research has shown that birds which eat insects which have eaten pesticides become sick and in many cases, die. At one time DDT was thought to be safe, until many years elapsed and we discovered how detrimental it was to the environment and the creatures living in it. A single pesticide may not be the final straw, but the cumulative effect can be devastating.

Recently, the Longview City Council created an Environmental Policies Document, which is a good beginning. It calls for reduction in the use of fertilizer and water in our parks, but there was no mention of pesticide use.

Each of us can help curb a natural catastrophe (and a potential risk to human health) by not applying pesticides to our own yards or farms and also by calling your City Council members to ask them to stop using chemicals, which are threatening our birds and bees. There are more environmentally safe ways to deal with harmful insects. Information can be found on the Internet or at your county extension office.

Remember, pesticides cannot distinguish “good” bugs from “bad” bugs.

John Green is a Longview resident.

yay wrote on Feb 13, 2008 4:52 AM:

" Hurray for a start. Seems like we should just tell ourselves No...no, we don't need all those chemicals such as pesticides, fertilizers. When I was a child, we had a beautiful lawn and we never put anything on it.We grew a garden and all we used was chicken manure. We need to quit being consumers of every product that's out there. It'll save money and the environment and the bees, etc.All of it...pesticides, fertilizers, antibiotics, rat poisons, etc., the whole pandora's box of chemicals...should only be used as a last resort.I'd rather see the dandelions! And by the way, dandelion greens are high in iron and good for salads...if you were sure they hadn't been poisoned!And if those chemicals are bad for the birds and bees, think about the children playing on those lawns, dropping their toys under those trees. The illusion of pretty and neat as safe has to be dispelled.And everything gets washed into the river and into the wells...the upsurge in domoic acid occurances at the beach seems to be due to increased nitrogen from fertilizers, etc., washing into the ocean. We are poisoning ourselves along with the 'weeds' and 'pests' while we are trying to make everything 'look good'. "

BRAVO! wrote on Feb 13, 2008 8:53 PM:

" Terrific information, glad to see such an article here! We all need to support organically grown food of all types, even if it is initially more painful to our pocket. I had cancer a few years ago, was diagnosed at the age of 42, the first in my family to ever have it. I have radically changed my eating habits because I am certain unhealthy, polluted food plays a role in the ever increasing presence of cancer. I would rather have imperfect, healthy food than `plastic perfection' that is covered in pesticides. I wish more would put their money where their mouth is! We need MORE organic, less chemicals! "

El Gabilon wrote on Feb 14, 2008 4:42 PM:

" This appears to be a start. However, we need a radical and fundamental change in how we grow food, A piece-meal attempt is better than nothing however how long will it take before the pieces are all in place. There needs also to be a fundamental change in what we believe "life" is. Questions such as considering there is no danger to me, what is the value of the life of a mouse compared to the value of my life.
Except for the few species that in some way benefit us, we seem to be on a killing spree, intentionaly or not. The number of species going extinct is outrageous. Chemicals are one of the major contributers, and they need to be strictly controlled. "

mgn wrote on Feb 14, 2008 9:21 PM:

" Grow your own food would help. People are just lazy.Every one has for got how to can there foods they rather sit in front of the tv.It will come back. Sure glad i know how.fresh out of the garden is the best! "

My Opinion wrote on Feb 15, 2008 6:13 AM:

" This is an important article worthy subject,I hope TDN follows this up with more information.A farmer that uses pesticides,fertilizers,etc. is required(in most states) to take classes for application and the hazards of such.There is a much bigger issue at hand for all people ,animals and plant life than just whether or not to use a pesticide.Just as John Green mentioned in his letter/article ,even private water supplies such as wells are in danger.Rivers and streams and even the ocean are giving up amazing facts to back the real problem at hand.I'm not a fan of having more rules and regulations forced on me or my family,however;there is a reason most of these pesticides have been banned in other countries.They are looking to the future.This problem with the lack of bees is far beyond the need for a nice flower garden.This is a dire need for a change in the way the general public and industry alike are treating the earth.What will the future hold for us,our children and grandchildren?This isn't a radical comment or idea,we're ruining what we are required to care for.If we continue to go forward the same way we have,we will see more dead fish,dead birds,non-producing fields,and lack of food and water supply for people and animals alike.In short there won't be a future. "

StunGun wrote on Feb 16, 2008 8:19 AM:

" Don't lose sight of the fact that the City is spreading this stuff around to make the city "Pretty". City trees are a lot closer than the nearest agricultural fields. "

David wrote on Feb 25, 2008 7:12 AM:

" Thank you for raising this very serious subject. I do hope you will keep on researching the subject and that those who have suggestions as to how these problems can be remedied will respond. "

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