Thursday, December 16, 2010

EPA Allowed Bee-Toxic Pesticide Despite Own Scientists’ Red Flags

Leaked document shows EPA allowed bee-toxic pesticide despite own scientists’ red flags "It's not just the State and Defense departments that are reeling this month from leaked documents. The Environmental Protection Agency now has some explaining to do, too. In place of dodgy dealings with foreign leaders, this case involves the German agrichemical giant Bayer; a pesticide with an unpronounceable name, clothianidin; and an insect species crucial to food production (as well as a food producer itself), the honeybee. And in lieu of a memo leaked to a globetrotting Australian, this one features a document delivered to a long-time Colorado beekeeper."

It's a good read. The crass would sum it up (probably incorrectly and at least prematurely) as Bush is responsible for killing the bees. "At the very least, we have ample evidence that the EPA has been ignoring the warnings of its own staff scientists and green-lighting the mass deployment of a chemical widely understood to harm pollinators -- at a time when honeybees are in grave shape."

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