Save the bees - it’s now or never!
How You Can Help Save The Bees with your vote on the 21st of March
Research has shown that bees are smart, resourceful, and have feelings about their life experience. They follow a highly ordered, efficient society that has been crucial to their survival over many years. They were on this planet well before humankind, and developed an effective way to live. However, they are faced with extinction that will have a greater effect on the entire ecosystem than many ever thought possible.
Life without our buzzy friends
Have you ever considered how many of the fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts we consume rely on pollination? An incredible 70% of these plants must be pollinated to grow - meaning if we were to lose all bees we would in turn lose many delicious crops we eat on a daily basis.
For example, the food that would no longer be available to us if bees ceased pollinating our agricultural goods are: broccoli, asparagus, cucumbers, pumpkins, blueberries, watermelons, almonds, apples, cranberries, and cherries.
This shocking image reveals the damage that would be done to our fresh produce if bees became extinct. Imagine walking into your local supermarket and seeing this:
Genetically Modified Organisms have taken a turn for the worse
We have the ability to accommodate a natural agricultural model, yet large corporate companies such as Monsanto, choose to build an industrial model that doesn’t respect or care for nature. They work with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to manipulate the beautiful, natural process of plants. GMOs were originally designed to keep us all from starvation and prevent crops from being ruined. Unfortunately this scientific development has turned into something much worse.
There are a lot of single independent studies conducted on the impact of genetically modified food, and it shows that it damages organs, causes infertility, and can result in immune system failure as well as multiple organ system failure.
Did you know that Monsanto is connected to the cause of the Colony Collapse Disorder? They designed a pesticide to spray the crops of the manipulated seeds (GMOs) which is claimed to have killed over 40% percent of honey bees in the U.S. within a year.
Let’s talk pollination
Of course we also rely on other animals (like the Rhino, which is almost extinct) and the wind. And some plants can actually pollinate themselves. But killing the bees means killing our natural pollination system, which is the livelihood of growing new plants and trees in a natural way.
By killing the bees, we become more dependent on GMOs, which unlike natural seeds, cannot be reproduced after a year. This means that farmers always have to buy new seeds which is an expensive, unsustainable option for those who grow crops for a living.
The future of our own free food chain is at risk. It is being killed and corrupted by large corporate companies who are focused purely on making money, and making money fast. The power is in the hands of the consumer - we can petition for change, shop consciously, and educate ourselves and others about the future our planet faces.
Here’s how you can help:
Get educated - read, watch and interact with all of the amazing content out there. Form your own opinion and share this with the rest of your community.
If you haven’t already, we recommend checking out The World According To Monsanto, Cowspiracy or Leonardo DiCaprio’s film Before the Flood, it reveals how many large corporate companies are willingly killing our planet for money.
Sign up to the petition to protect our bees and vote for a total ban on neonicotinoids. It’s time we stopped greedy companies like Monsanto from causing harm to our ecosystem.
In The Netherlands we get to vote against these harmful pesticides on Wednesday 21 March; make sure your voice is heard!
Say goodbye to honey. This is a simple and effective way to make a positive impact on the lives of bees.
Not convinced that quitting honey will make a difference? This video explains how we are damaging the entire bee kingdom one spoonful of honey at a time.
Buy organic plants for your garden or balcony. Do you know that you can contribute by buying GMO-free plants? GMO-free plants don’t contain the harmful pesticides that are responsible for bees dying. This way your balcony or garden can save many bees lives! Here’s a list of 25 bee-friendly plants you can purchase at your local garden centre.
Keep your own beehive at home. BEEcosystem has developed a beautiful device that can house a bunch of happy bees in your very own home. The bee-friendly hive comes with a clear plastic tube that can lead outdoors through a window to allow bees to come and go as they wish.
The power truly is in our hands! If we are to act now we can truly save the bees and our planet.
Curious to learn a bit more about Monsanto in 13 minutes, check out this history of the company and why we need to ban their pesticides in Europe!
Conscious Contributor: Elizabeth Plokker
Sources:
Urban Apiculture: Raise Bees in Your Apartment
Can you keep bees in an apartment complex?
Sleek Urban Hive Lets You Keep Bees in the Comfort of Your Apartment
By Rebecca Boyle November 9, 2011
Become an urban beekeeper in 8 steps
The BEEcosystem Lets You Keep Bees as Indoor Pets
Beekeeping for Everyone