Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Honey Bees, GMO seeds


It is about time I talk some about honey bees. I've been wanting to have them for 2 years now. I see more and more the reason for people to get bee hives. Our natural honey bees are dying out FAST. For the past 6 years or so we have lost roughly a third of the bees, each winter. Due to CCD, colony collapse disorder. What is CCD? Well, it is not ONE thing. Researchers have found a common bacteria that is in each hive and are blaming it on that. But how did the bees get that bacteria? Well, most have been traced to herbicides, pesticides, other poisons, and now, GMO seeds.

Sometimes, I wonder about this world. Will it last until I pass out of it? Will it last another 500 years? Can mankind keep it going? Well, he doesn't. He is not ultimately in control, God is. However, Man was given the earth to control. And, though some people will disagree (mostly people who have not done enough research), the way we do agriculture, is not sustaining. Were the Incas a pretty sinful people, you bet! But why didn't they have problems with agriculture, why is it today that the bees are dying off, we are spreading poison everywhere and making super weeds and super bugs. We....Why?....

Honey bees, though most people think of them for there honey, are most important for pollination. Without honey bees the existents of most fruit would be eliminated. Almonds, are pollinated exclusively by honey bees. Bumble bees are better pollinators, but they don't live in collonies like honey bees. We are, without trying to, killing off the population of bees. Our extensive use of herbicides, pesticides, and the other poisons we spray on our plants, and now the use of GMO seeds. You know why GMO seeds? Well, they have bred a poison, pesticide, INTO the gene of the plant?! So now, instead of spraying the pesticide on the plants outer leaves etc., it is now in EVERY cell! Including pollen. And now studies have shown that, while it doesn't kill bees fast, it seems to suppres the immune system, and other things. Hmm.....sounds like all the stuff americans take, antibiodics, vaccines, I mean, don't you EVER wonder about it? Do you ever stop to think, why you put that stuff inside you? Do you know what ELSE it has? Well, thats for another time (to write on sometime).

We need to get the word out. That you CAN do substantial agriculture WITHOUT the use of poison. There is a BETTER way then to slowly kill us and everything around us. As much as ORGANIC company's (some, not all) do it partly for the name Organic so it sells better, and don't often regulate every rule as much as Organics think they should, they are on to something. The left is on to something that the right needs to see. Those wacko liberals who are rallying against GMO seeds, well thats a good thing. Though many conservative christians think other wise. But do they know what is behind GMO, do they know the harm they do? I doubt it.

I would encourage you to look into getting a hive this year, if you have the money, space (you don't need much), and a little time. Once you have them set up, it really doesn't take a whole lot of time. The first few months check on them every other week. After that you check on them once a month or so, and harvest once or twice during the year. I would encourage you to go as natural as you can with medications. I've seen some research on using essential oils as treatment. I've also seen where you don't give the bees really anything FOR it, you just try to feed them the best food etc. and let them take it. If you lose the hive due to it being sick, would it have been better for it to survive and be weak? I think here survival to the fittest makes for the toughest bees.

Thank you. Oh, and please do more research on the subject for yourselves. Here is where I got my most recent info on GMO seeds and honey bees. The other stuff is just what I've learned in past. http://obrag.org/?p=3353 That is the link.

English Vintner

5 comments:

  1. Thank you for your interest in the world pollination crisis. It's a healthy vision.

    There are also other insects that are manageable and should be raised as well. Mason Bees (the European Red Mason Bee, Blue Orchard of the US, and Hornfaced of Japan) are all useful and easy to raise.

    The almond industry is already using the Blue Orchard Bee with pollination. My website is designed to help people be successful with raising this alternate bee. Please don't get me wrong, the honeybee is the backbone of our managed pollination needs. We need them!

    On the issue of GMO seed, I agree, pesticides are a tough nut to crack. it's easy for us to say "no pesticides", but from the farmer's point of view, those pests keep destrying their crop. What else can they do but try to kill them off each season?

    I don't have a solution right now other than to encourage the use of alternate pollinators while we work through the CCD crisis.

    Dave Hunter, crownbees.com

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  2. This made me so sad. At first I was angry but now I feel so sorry for people who live in such a messed up world that they can't see past a profit. I feel sorry for anyone who will grow up learning from such poor examples without any true hope of a perfect enternity to strive for. It sounds so depressing!

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  3. Thank you Dave Hunter. I have seen some stuff on the other pollination bees. Yes, pesticides are hard to stop, because, you can't just stop using them and keep pests off. You sorta have to revolutionize your way of farming, quite radical. If you aren't willing to make the change, it won't happen.

    Yes, it is sad. It is encouraging to hear stories about organic farmers and others who are pushing.

    Oh, and not all the 'leftist' are for this. Many, like Mr. Obama actually are upholding Monsanto and other GMO seeds and products. It's more the environmentalist. The problem with environmentalist is that most, do it JUST for the money. They can talk all they want about saving the planet and all, but then they drive expensive cars, fly jets, do exactly the opposite. I'm not saying what they are doing is bad, what IS bad is that they are hypocrites, they do it JUST for the money.

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  4. And to be fair... My company is in place to make a profit as well. Corporate jets are a far cry off... just looking to pay mortgage and college tuition for my children.

    However, my intent is to be a win/win/win company.
    1) my company succeeds
    2) I'm able to help others be successful in raising mason bees and other native pollinators
    3) We're able to help the global pollination crisis

    The first two concepts should come easy. The latter one will take a concerted effort from many people. ...and each of those people will hopefully be successful in either just helping, or running a small business that positively impacts pollination. :)

    I get very frustrated with my country and the ways the corporatacracy runs it. However, since I'm not an elected official or need funds from anyone, I can choose to make a positive impact where I can.

    http://Crownbees.com - making a difference, one customer at a time!

    Dave

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  5. Don't get me wrong, I believe you are doing a great job! If we weren't making some profit we couldn't keep going.

    No, but someone like Al Gore who, talk about saving the planet, but than have a HUGE house, and all that. Which, frankly, I'm fine with huge houses, I don't think they are having a bad impact on the environment. But, to talk about how we need to cut back on things, go 'green', and than do the exact opposites. I'm just against the hypocrites.

    Great job again! I believe this country is going to change from the bottom up. I am already seeing many things starting at the 'grass roots' and doing much good. Keep it up! The people run the government, not the other way round.

    Cheers!

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