| Archive for NEEPS North East Eco-friendly People's Site |
| Martin |
More of our money for the agrochemical/GM apologists........http://www.guardian.co.uk/environ...bees-decline-uk-scientist-funding"UK scientists get £8m for research into bee decline Scientists will use the funding to investigate the decline in the UK's honeybee population, numbers of which have fallen by 15-30% in the last two years Leading scientists are to receive a substantial cash injection to help them investigate the decline of the British honeybee. Up to £8m will be made available for research into bees by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Wellcome Trust and the Scottish government. The new funding is in addition to the £2m announced earlier this year by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to help bee research. The funding increase marks a significant rise in government spending on bee health, which previously amounted to £1.2m annually in the UK, with the vast majority spent on bee inspectors. Bee numbers in the UK have fallen 15-30% in the last two years, mirroring steep declines and empty hives witnessed in the US, mainland Europe and elsewhere. Honeybees are vital insect pollinators, responsible for the healthy development of many of the world's major food crops. The decline in bee health has been linked to the varroa mite which attacks bee larva, poor weather in recent summers , and agricultural chemicals and air pollution. Last year Germany banned a family of pesticides blamed for the death of millions of honeybees. But the phenomenom is still poorly understood. "We are facing a fundamental problem with the decline of bees and other pollinators. They have an absolutely crucial role in pollinating many of our important crops. Without effective pollination we will face higher food costs and potential shortages. This programme will help us to understand why numbers have decreased and the steps we could take to reverse this," said Douglas Kell, BBSRC's chief executive. "Our sincere hope is that the majority of these funds will be directed towards practical research into the problems and threats that honeybees face in this country," said Tim Lovett, the president of the British Beekeepers' Association. But some scientists expressed concern that much of the money would go go to study pollinators like butterflies and beetles which are only marginally important to crop pollination in Britain. "It's welcome, but it will not necessarily go to bees, which are far and away the most important species," said one bee scientist, who asked to remain anonymous" The BBSRC and NERC would appear to be a thinly disguised bunch of GM apologists, the Wellcome Trust is run by a pharmaceutical company, and DEFRA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the agrochemical industry (least said about the British Beekillers Association the better) - well, I can see we're in for some totally unbiased research then! |
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| Maria |
Doh 
Just makes me sad - but encourages me to do my 'bit' and provide more for the bee's to feed on. Have seen lots of lovely bumblies around - must make sure there are more springtime foods in my garden next year!! Does anyone have a list of (affordable/native-ish) bee plants for different seasons? Perhaps someone could bob it in the 'bees' section if you have it to hand? Unless it's already there and I'm being ditsy? |
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| Ina |
Re: More of our money for the agrochemical/GM apologists....
How do you come to that conclusion? I worked on several projects funded by those bodies, and didn't meet a single person that would fit your assumptions! |
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| Martin |
http://tinyurl.com/cl6769
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/site/search/results.asp There really is no argument that Wellcome is funded by a pharmaceutical company, and anyone who has ever farmed will attest to the fact that Defra act as apologists and advocates for the agrochemical industries 
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| Ina |
There may be some people on those organisation that are like that - but believe me, in general I have had different experience. I've been involved in a very valuable study, funded by the Wellcome Trust, which shows exactly the negative effects all those substances have - never mind they are a pharmaceutical company, they don't want to kill off their customers either! | ||
| Martin |
I'm certainly airing my obvious prejudices against ALL agrochemical, GM and pharmaceutical companies as a point of principle, but in the context in which I made the carping comments, I think they are valid.........
Think "Yes Minister", not altruism........... bees are dying worldwide, much of the evidence points unerringly at neonicotinoids being highly likely as being at the least part responsible; several European states have banned it's use, work being done at Penn State is pointing at the "perfect storm" theory, whereby pesticides are again highly likely at the root of it.......... But strangely enough, DEFRA and the BBKA have been denying strenuously that there could possibly be a link with "icides" at all until VERY recently, then they will only mention it grudgingly, somewhere at the bottom of the list........ Which is where "Yes Minister" comes in........ the minister (the eejit Hilary) is aware of bee problems, so he asks the DEFRA expert, who doesn't know, so he asks his advisor (who just happens to work for Bayer, who are making colossal profits from neonicotinoids)..........do I need to draw pictures? Hilary decides he can't upset those nice people in DEFRA, and really does like those junkets from the agrochemical companies so he decides on a way of making everyone happy - government style......... He gets a toenail paring of funds from government (compared to banker's bailouts), then makes jolly sure he doesn't upset all his chums in the chemical and GM industries - he announces great largesse and research - all of the funds going to the last people on earth who are going to bust a gut to look in the most likely direction - pesticides........ BUT he's fulfilled his brief - government is happy, lots of positive publicity, government seen to be encouraging "science", and the people who make neonicotinoids get the excuse to pump out more short-term toxic nostrums, whilst they continue selling the very thing that's probably causing the problems.......... 
Me, cynical? - oh yes, after years of bitter experience! |