Keep the EU wide ban on Neonicotinoids?

Bees pollinate three quarters of the world’s crops - apples, strawberries, onions, carrots and many many more of our fruit and veg. We wouldn’t last long without them.

Right now there's a temporary ban on bee-killing pesticides, called neonicotinoids, across Europe. Over the next few months Environment Secretary Michael Gove has a chance to protect our bees for good by voting to extend the ban to take more of these pesticides of our fields, and by voting to make the ban permanent. 

During the ban period, there has been time available to assess the rise or decline of the Bee populations in the UK and Europe and to ascertain if it is ONLY the use of neonicotinoids that are causing the decline.  We think not.

For a lawn / garden owner, the ban on these neonicotinoids means that there is a ban on the active ingredient Imadacloprid which provides control of Leatherjackets and Chafer Beetle Larvae in lawns.  Lawns and sports turf are being ripped up by foraging animals like Badgers and Foxes and also large birds such as Blackbirds and Crows rendering the lawn and playing surface unplayable.  We need these products back in the UK, even on an emergency approval period to be applied at the time when the soil pest larvae are active in the soil.

We did email 38 Degrees to point out the fact that our green and pleasant land is being blighted by the lack of control products but they refused to comment on the facts put to them in support of an emergency use of neonicotinoids in the UK when the product is available in The USA and other Countries.  These other Countries also have Bees so trhere cannot be a problem with these products harming the Bee populations.  There are many other reasons why the Bee population is in decline and it is all too easy to claim that the problem is being caused by Pesticides. 

Michael Gove has been talking the talk on how he would like a ‘Green Brexit’ and protect our environment and our bees, but up until now those words have turned into little action. Our bees are too important to lose, Michael Gove and the UK government must do all they can to protect them.

We've got a huge opportunity to help save our bees for good. Big corporations want to spread bee-killing pesticides across UK fields. These pesticides are temporarily banned in the UK on some crops, but if we want to stand up for our buzzing friends we need to get these chemicals banned on all crops.

There's a vote coming up to extend the current ban, protecting bees from even more pesticides. And Environment Minister Michael Gove decides whether the UK will vote to ban these pesticides.

That's where we come in. Lobbyists for big chemical companies will be whispering in Michael Gove's ear, telling him to vote against the bees. But there are hundreds of thousands of us, so a huge petition could persuade him to put our bees before business profits.

Will you sign the petition calling on Michael Gove to protect the UK’s bees? It only takes 30 seconds:

Bees pollinate three quarters of the world’s crops - apples, strawberries, onions, carrots, and many, many more. We wouldn’t last long without them. But the pesticides favoured by big business, called neonicotinoids, are lethal - they scramble their memories, and damage their navigation leaving them lost and confused.

Our bees have been under siege since 2013 - every year chemical companies have tried to lift the ban, threatening bees existence. But every year 38 Degrees members have fought to keep these threats at bay.

We’ve now got the chance to make sure the ban covers more of Britain's fields, and keeps our bees safe for generations to come. Michael Gove has been saying warm words about protecting our bees - so now let's get him to turn those words into action.

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Please commit to protecting the UK's bees by:

• Voting to extend the EU ban on bee-killing pesticides (neonicotinoids) to cover all kinds of crops
• Voting to make the EU ban on neonicotinoids permanent
• Keeping the ban in place after we leave the EU

Why is this important?

If you think our bees should be protected, will you sign the petition calling on Michael Gove to vote the right way and extend the ban on bee-killing pesticides? It only takes 30 seconds:

Sign the Petition

If you love playing sport on natural sports turf or like visiting a stadium to watch football live, like to visit a golf course to play golf or attend your Son's Sunday football match, DO NOT SIGN IT. 

Bees are NOT being harmed by the use of neonicotinoids.  Once again the UK has adopted an EU Policy when other EU Nations have not as they still use neonicotinoids in France and Spain.  It is another UK Vs EU farce.

Some text from 38 Degrees from an email sent to members to alert them of their campaigns.  Copyright acknowledged.