Nina von Kalckreuth
It has not been a secret for a long time, and yet it is still a topical issue: pesticides. The pesticides that are used to protect the plants mainly harm the bee colonies. Although pesticides cannot always be avoided in agriculture, according to a Greenpeace study there are individual “culprits”: neonicotinoids, for example. The death of up to 30 percent of bee colonies can be explained, among other things, by the use of this substance.
The first origin of the pesticides can be traced back to the chemical industry that produces the pesticides. These include, for example, Bayer, BASF and Syngenta. The next section of the cycle of origin concerns industrial agriculture, which uses the pesticides for its products. But the roots of all origins are consumer behavior - those who like to buy their products cheaply and demand “juicy” strawberries even in winter indirectly support the use of pesticides.
What to do?
Pollination of bees is essential for the survival of us humans. With 1,7 million signatures, the referendum "Save the Bees" is the most successful popular initiative in Bavaria's history - a first step towards improvement. The government of CSU and free voters was under massive pressure to act, so the demands of the initiative made it quickly and completely into law.
Since then, the requirements have been increasing Prohibition of bee-polluting chemicals also heard - the EU wants to further restrict the use of neonicotinoids by not being allowed to be used outdoors. The majority of EU member states spoke out in April 2018 for this. The problem with that, however, is that already new bees-endangering substances (Sulfoxaflor, flupyradifuron and cyantraniliprole) be approved at EU level - There have also been permits in Germany. This repeats the same error, since the new substances have a similar effect to the neonicotinoids that are already banned. One way to counteract this is to petition "Insecticides? Not again!" to support with a signature.
The fate of the bees is not only in the hands of the government. We humans also have a massive impact on the survival of bees. This is an example Buy organic products. The more people buy these products, the greater the demand and more areas are grown organically. In this way one could tackle the roots of the origins of insect death directly. The final argument is of course often: "But everyone has to decide for himself". Is correct! If you like to eat foods that are contaminated with toxic substances, that is actually a "matter of taste".
cooperation: Max Bohl
Photo / Video: Shutterstock.
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