This Bee Thing

[john11inc]

I've read some articles and such, and everyone seems to have a different take on this.  Some say there aren't that many gone, some say there are a lot gone but it's just a fluctuation, and some say the world is going to end.

So, does anyone here know much about this whole bee population drop-off thing, and how serious it actually is?

[thalbergmad]

I cannot comment on the rest of the World, but I have to say the decrease in numbers in my garden over the last 5 years is noticable.

Loads of wasps, but not many bees.

Thal

[goldentone]

I have a relative who is a bee expert, and the next time I talk to him (can't say when that might be), I could broach the subject.

[ahinton]

I don't know the answer either but, in the meantime while we wait for it from someone who does, I might mention that a report that appeared in a British newspaper (and was published in various other newspapers worldwide) about a beekeeper from Katowice, Poland; here is the one from The Times:
https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7002357.ece
I can't now recall in which paper I read it, but I rather liked its heading O Sting; Where Is Thy Death?

And no, this is not a 1 April gag; it was actually reported in January this year.

Best,

Alistair

[dss62467]

I've read some articles and such, and everyone seems to have a different take on this.  Some say there aren't that many gone, some say there are a lot gone but it's just a fluctuation, and some say the world is going to end.

So, does anyone here know much about this whole bee population drop-off thing, and how serious it actually is?

There is a fantastic Podcast put out from the HowStuffWorks.com website, called Stuff You Should Know.   If you are a iTunes user, then go into the Podcasts and subscribe to it.  The podcasters (Josh and Chuck) always have the best topics and are very interesting.  They had one about the bees not too long ago.

Here's a link to the article they used as a source of information.

https://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/colony-collapse-disorder2.htm

[pianowolfi]

A global ban of one group of pesticides could save bees from extinction!

Here you can sign a petition:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees/?fpla

[littletune]

Can you sign if you're a kid too?

[pianowolfi]

Can you sign if you're a kid too?

In their privacy policy they say:

Children
Avaaz does not solicit personally identifying information from children. Visitors who are under 13 years of age should ask their parent or legal guardian for assistance when using the Site and should not submit any personally identifying information to the Site. For example, visitors under 13 years of age should not make donations or use the Avaaz email tool.

So I think it's better if you ask your mom to sign it

[littletune]

Ok I will... But I'll have to translate it to her cause she doesn't speak English that well...   

[pianowolfi]

Ok I will... But I'll have to translate it to her cause she doesn't speak English that well...   

I think they have no Slovenian version But I'm sure you are a good translator

[littletune]

Well we signed it now    I hope we did it ok she got an email and they thanked her so I guess it must be ok  (even though I didn't see her name there where it says recent signers, but I guess it's just too many people )... 

[Bob]

https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110104/ts_afp/usanimalagricultureresearch_20110104083208