Protecting our Species – World Earth Day 2019
International Mother Earth Day is celebrated on the 22nd of April each year to remind each of us that the Earth and its ecosystems provide us with life and sustenance. Because of our love for bees, this year’s theme, protecting our species is very important to us.
Honey bees in the hive. Can you spot the queen?
Many times we see the #savethebees and while this is important the #savethepollinators is even more so. As beekeepers we here the stories about the loss of bees due to farmers spaying insecticides on their crops (remember, bees are insects too). But one must imagine if this is happening to the bees what about or other pollinators? our native stingless bees, our butterflies etc.
Source: https://caligo.com/trinidad-tobago/group/trinidad-s-birds-butterflies-with-author-robert-gallardo
We suppose the bigger question to this may be, “How does this affect our health?” A good start would be getting to know your farmers. Ask questions, and don’t be afraid to buy fruit and vegetables that aren’t perfect. Avoid using chemicals that have fipronil or glyphosate listed as their active ingredient. These can be very harmful to bees. And if you can, grow more of your own food.
“In nature, nothing exists alone.”
— Rachel Carson, 1962
Earth Day Network is asking people to join their Protect our Species campaign. Their goals are to:
- Educate and raise awareness about the accelerating rate of extinction of millions of species and the causes and consequences of this phenomenon.
- Achieve major policy victories that protect broad groups of species as well as individual species and their habitats.
- Build and activate a global movement that embraces nature and its values.
- Encourage individual actions such as adopting plant based diet and stopping pesticide and herbicide use.
In commemoration of Mother Earth Day let us know what you are doing in the comments section.