As the public debate over causes behind Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) — a syndrome in which bees seemingly abandon their hives — carries on in the media, more and more new science has shown that neonicotinoid pesticides are indeed a critical piece of the puzzle. Although they are not the cause, these and other pesticides are acting in concert to make very bees sick:
EPA knows enough to act. They have the authority and responsibility to suspend Bayer’s bee-toxic pesticide, clothianidin — yet for over a year the Agency has failed to do so. Neonicotinoids like clothianidin are not the sole cause of CCD, but they are a key part of the problem, and at least one of them is on the market illegally.
Congress has the authority to exercise oversight over federal agencies like EPA. They can call a hearing, and they alone can fix a broken pesticide law that leaves EPA hamstrung and captive to industry players like Bayer. Help them understand what’s at stake.