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Off Topic UK allows emergency use of bee-harming pesticide

Discussion in 'Sunderland' started by Brian Storm, Jan 14, 2021.

  1. Brian Storm

    Brian Storm Well-Known Member

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    "UK allows emergency use of bee-harming pesticide - BBC News" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/newsbeat-55566438

    BBC News
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    UK allows emergency use of bee-harming pesticide
    By Manish PandeyNewsbeat reporter
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    Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
    A pesticide believed to harm bees has been authorised for emergency use in England, despite an earlier ban.

    In 2018, an almost total ban was put in by the EU and UK because of the serious damage it could cause to bees.

    The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says its use will be limited to this year only.

    A spokeswoman told Newsbeat the measures "will be tightly controlled to minimise any potential risk to pollinators".

    Emergency use of a product containing the chemical thiamethoxam has been allowed because a virus is threatening sugar beet seeds.

    Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
    Image captionSugar beet is important for the production of sugar
    Scientific studies have long linked the use of these chemicals to the decline of honeybees, wild bees and other animals which pollinate plants.

    At the time of the ban , Michael Gove, then environment secretary, said the UK was in favour as it couldn't "afford to put our pollinator populations at risk".

    But according to Defra, the amount of sugar beet grown in 2020 was reduced due to the yellow virus - and similar conditions in 2021 would cause the same problems, unless it took action.

    Along with the UK, 10 EU countries including Belgium, Denmark and Spain - countries with significant sugar production - have granted emergency authorisations.

    Why are bees important?
    Milan Wiercx van Rhijn, from the charity Bees for Development feels "disappointed" by the government's decision.

    The 32-year-old says the insects play a vital role in the food chain - with around a third of the food we eat relying on pollination mainly by bees.

    "If we kill the insects which are the starting blocks in the chain, we'll kill the animals higher up," he tells Radio 1 Newsbeat.

    "It's hard to grasp how much of an impact it'll have on us."

    Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
    Image captionBees are important in the process of pollinating plants
    Milan agrees it's important to protect sugar beet - but says the government has to find another way.

    "If we keep thinking about these short-term solutions and rolling back, we'll never get to the point where we don't use these products."

    "I thought we saw an end to these chemicals. But it's creeping back now."

    He suggests a greater focus on having "strong, resilient bio-abundance" - which is letting things grow properly and "not cutting them down".

    "Keep your flowers growing in the spring, as that will have food for pollinators. In every way, we should consider our effect in killing everything by using pesticides."

    The Defra spokeswoman says this emergency authorisation has only happened because it's an "exceptional circumstance where diseases or pests cannot be controlled by any other reasonable means".

    They added "protecting pollinators is a priority for this government".

    "Continue the ban on the use of Neonicotinoids - Petitions" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/563943

    In order to keep up production of a cheap control drug for the working class. Ffs just grow something healthy! Bring the price down of it thanks to availability so the low earners can afford a healthy diet. But no that would raise the quality of life for the plebs, must keep them full of sugar and to do it we'll kill pollinators, without which we are all dead. Good old modern capitalism strikes again no respect for life wet so ever.

    Less than one month out of the EU and the Tories set about undoing the things that make us decent as many of us knew they would. They're a ****ing cancer.

    Next up, previously banned chemicals in food bulking out cheap processed foods to keep our pleb children stupid and unlikely to persue educational related careers. Nailed on. I'm not ****ing daft.
     
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  2. Brian Storm

    Brian Storm Well-Known Member

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    Look at the BBC wording too the ****ing snakes. "Believed". It ****ing well does <doh>
     
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  3. Disco down under

    Disco down under Well-Known Member

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    I get what you're saying but I personally don't see this as a problem the Tories are solely responsible for.

    In the last 100 years 50% of the world's arboreal environments have been wiped from the face of the earth.

    Across temperate, tropical and boreal climates they play home to 80% of the world's flora and fauna.

    50% gone in 100 years after millions of years in existence. To make way for ****ing palm plantations and all that horseshit.

    This sort of thing isn't really a Tory or a Labour problem. It's a people problem.

    Poor David Attenborough must despair.
     
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  4. Brian Storm

    Brian Storm Well-Known Member

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    It's all down to capitalism which is the economic structure we live in it's not a people problem, it's politics related, it's industry related, it's profit related, I'm not taking the blame **** that. Look what the almond industry is doing to bees in america thanks to pesticides(then marketed to vegans, that's another gripe though). We're joining that mentality and it's not relevant for me to be upset by the party taking us there? I beg to differ personally mate.
     
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  5. Brian Storm

    Brian Storm Well-Known Member

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    The govt brings back a previously banned harmful pesticide because it will help a crop they've recently heavily taxed at the till and it's a people problem not politics? Lol
     
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  6. DH4

    DH4 Well-Known Member

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    Never mind. Now all that EU "red tape" has gone we can import chlorinated chicken from the USA to replace any food we lose due to a dearth of bees <laugh>
     
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  7. The Norton Cat

    The Norton Cat Well-Known Member

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    Humans have been doing things that adversely impact existing ecosystems since the late Pleistocene. That pre-dates capitalism, a market economy, even agriculture, and most definitely pre-dates the Conservative party. Humans do stupid things to the environment through naivety, greed and, in some cases, desperation. That's one of the fundamental flaws of humanity. Not everything is a right wing conspiracy.
     
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  8. Disco down under

    Disco down under Well-Known Member

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    Multiply that by seven billion and you gave quite a clusterfuck on your hands.
     
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  9. rowley

    rowley Well-Known Member

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    This pesticide is still used in France and other countries in the EU , and is not used during the flowering season.

    Not much to see here, I'm afraid
     
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  10. ImissedShack

    ImissedShack Active Member

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    Just an observation. Socialism has been a raging success wherever it"s been tried!
     
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  11. The Norton Cat

    The Norton Cat Well-Known Member

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    Exactly. We're ****ing up our planet and we need to protect it better. But we also have to balance that with the needs of people (in this case sugar beet farmers). That's the fault of, and the problem for, everyone of every political belief.
     
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  12. MrRAWhite

    MrRAWhite Well-Known Member

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    This is absolutely shocking and scandalous news even worse than the governments plans to start using genetically mutated animals and crops that are also banned under EU laws and regulations. This tells me all I need to know about this disgusting Tory government and it's priorities.
     
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  13. Sandy Camel

    Sandy Camel Well-Known Member

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    Wouldn't worry too much about it. The world's ****ed and we're only going to **** it more. Wait till the water wars starts, that's going to be great fun.
     
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  14. Brian Storm

    Brian Storm Well-Known Member

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    Not sure what socialism has to do with it but it recently saved our arses, gives your missus materaty leave, a raging success, gives you paid holidays, raging success, free health care raging success. Infact that little piece of evil socialism has made us te envy of the entire world, what a rampant failure. What an evil **** it is, helping people who would struggle without it. Hitler level of of evil!

    It's a fact that following the the second world war socialism plays key role in restoring our country. Dan that Clement Attley and his mass failing that brought our country from it's knees back onto it's feet. All Such examples of massive failings eh?


    Please tell me more completely irrelevant opinions? What's your thoughts on fishing quotas? <laugh>
     
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  15. Brian Storm

    Brian Storm Well-Known Member

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    Behave, were the bad ones wanting better and to maintain stadards
     
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  16. Brian Storm

    Brian Storm Well-Known Member

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    So why are the Tories going backwards on their environment promises? We're reopening coal mines now. Our carbon footprint is expanding as a direct result of our govts decisions. Every expert with an opinion on the last election cattagorliy stated we aren't doing enough with promises put in place. Infact only the Green party were willing to do enough. This is fact and the proof will be in about 150 years when it's anounced the average temperature has risen to the point that there's no GOI g back. He sea will rise and only those on the high lands stand a chance of surging until the final extinction of humans(and many many other Innocent animal)
     
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  17. The Norton Cat

    The Norton Cat Well-Known Member

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    Well its quite clear why they're going back. They have to balance the needs of the economy with the needs of the environment. Any government would have to do the same. Fot example, they need to keep the (now minimised) UK steel industry going and you can't make steel without coal. Imports are expensive (and don't forget transportation generated carbon emissions) so they're sourcing it locally.
    I totally agree with you, we need to do better but to blame one particular political party for it is inaccurate. Like you said, only the Greens have a plan for the environment and it may be that that plan isn't realistic, at least in the short term.
     
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  18. MrRAWhite

    MrRAWhite Well-Known Member

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    Absolute poppycock.. There is absolutely no logical reason why the government should be opening coal mines. This investment should be directed towards creating clean renewable energy. It is utter madness and quite frankly a disgrace that we are opening coal mines at this present time.
     
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  19. The Norton Cat

    The Norton Cat Well-Known Member

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    Its not poppycock at all. The UK steel industry requires coal. The stated reason for opening new mines in the UK is to supply the steel and chemical industries which require it with less expenditure than importing it. The alternatives to coal are burning old tyres or direct reduction, which reduces some emissions but still requires coal or gas in most cases.
    Neither is it poppycock that our government, and governments all around the world, have to strike a balance between the needs of the environment and the needs of the economy. Otherwise, there will be lots of people out of work, and that's not going to work in our wondrous socialist utopia, is it?
     
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  20. MrRAWhite

    MrRAWhite Well-Known Member

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    We have to move away from fossil fuels and use renewable sources. This is a socialist utopia but an absolute must if we are going to avoid an utter catastrophe in the not too distant future.
     
    #20
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