The New Dark Age

22 July 2015 — 38 Degrees

Breaking news: an hour ago, environment minister Liz Truss snuck out a last-minute decision to allow the use of bee-killing pesticides on UK fields. [1]

It’s not good news, but thanks to enormous pressure from 38 Degrees members over the past few months, the approval is for a much smaller area than originally planned. [2] By allowing the use of bee-killing pesticides, the government is going against it’s own experts and almost half a million 38 Degrees members. [3]

Today’s been a big, surprising setback in our campaign to protect our bees. But we don’t have to stop here. We could talk to experts about whether we can appeal this decision. Or perhaps we should find out where the bee-killing pesticides are going to be used and launch local campaigns against them?

We make the best decisions when we work together. Can you help decide what we do now?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/bees-what-next

The process around this decision was a total mess. The government gagged their own experts from speaking publicly – after they initially said no to letting bee-killing pesticides back on UK fields. [3] And then ministers made the final decision behind closed doors on the last day before MPs go on holiday for six weeks. [4]

The petition to keep the ban on bee-killing pesticides has an incredible 473,000 signatures. And thousands of 38 Degrees members sent tweets, called and emailed the Defra ministers asking them to stand up for our bees. [5]

Our pressure made a difference, the first application to use the toxic pesticides was rejected outright. [6] Sadly the second one was approved, but for a much smaller area. So what should we do now?

Should we embarrass the government for making this dodgy decision by taking out adverts in newspapers? Or perhaps we should move on to other campaigns?

Please help us decide what to do next by taking this short survey:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/bees-what-next

Thanks for everything you do,

Nat, Robin, Maddy, the whole 38 Degrees team and the bees

[1] Farmers Guardian: NFU granted Autumn Emergency Use Neonicotinoid Derogation:
http://www.fginsight.com/news/nfu-granted-autumn-emergency-use-neonicotinoid-derogation-4968
[2] Farmers Weekly: Neonicotinoid emergency use approved for 5% of OSR area:
http://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/neonicotinoid-emergency-use-approved-for-five-of-osr-area.htm
[3] The Guardian: UK government gags advisers in bees and pesticides row:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/17/government-gags-pesticide-advisers-refusal-support-bee-harming-neonicotinoids
[4] Parliament UK: House of Commons recess dates:
http://www.parliament.uk/about/faqs/house-of-commons-faqs/business-faq-page/recess-dates/
[5] 38 Degrees Blog: Breaking news – Bees:
http://home.38degrees.org.uk/2015/07/03/breaking-news-bees/
38 Degrees Blog: 435,000 say save bees:
http://home.38degrees.org.uk/2015/07/07/435000-say-save-bees/
[6] Farmers Guardian: NFU Neonicotinoid Emergency Use Application Rejected:
http://www.fginsight.com/news/nfu-neonicotinoid-emergency-use-application-rejected-4555