Oakland Climate Change Rally a Great Success!

We had a great day at the NorCal Climate change Rally on Sunday!
Some photos  and a link to more photos at the 350 Bay Area website!

http://bayareasept21-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/photos

 

Breaking News! Seattle Bans Neonics!

BREAKING NEWS: THE CITY OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON BANS THE USE OF NEONICOTINOID INSECTICIDES!! 

On Monday, September 22nd, 2014 the Seattle City Council overwhelmingly approved an ordinance, R. 31548, that bans the use of products containing Neonicotinoids.

The Resolution states:
• The City of Seattle will NOT purchase or use any neonicotinoid pesticides for any purpose and will seek to use only pollinator-friendly methods of weed and pest control management on any city-owned or operated land.

• The Mayor and the Seattle City Council supports a national moratorium on the sale and use of neonicotinoids.

• The Mayor and Seattle City Council strongly urges the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to suspend the registration of imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, dinotafuran and any other neonicotinoids until the EPA can complete its environmental assessments.

• The Mayor and the Seattle City Council strongly urges the White House Task Force on Pollinator Health to recommend or institute an immediate moratorium on all uses of neonicotinoids.

• The Mayor and Seattle City Council strongly urges businesses operating within the City of Seattle to take immediate steps to ensure NO plants, seeds, or products containing neonicotinoids are purchased, sold, or used within the City of Seattle.

***The City of Eugene, Oregon, became the first community in the nation to specifically ban from city property the use of "neonic" pesticides earlier this year. Spokane, Washington, was next in line in June. Shorewood, Minnesota, followed in August. THANK YOU, to all the citizens of SEATTLE, for stepping up to#SaveTheBees and #SaveOurPollinators - which city will be LUCKY NUMBER FIVE?!?

MANY THANKS to the Coalition of Organizations, and many volunteers that made this possible, including (but not limited to) Central Co-op (who co-sponsored the online petition), Seattle Tilth, Bee Safe Neighborhoods,Bee Against Monsanto, Seattle March Against Monsanto, NW Center For Alternative To Pesticides,Change.org, CAGJ, Beacon Food Forest,Seattle Sierra Club and all of the amazing people we met, who personally signed the offline petition. Thank You!  

Read more here:
https://www.change.org/p/city-of-seattle-we-call-on-the-city-of-seattle-to-ban-neonicotinoid-pesticide-usage/u/8234515

And here:
http://www.pesticide.org/get-involved/thankyouseattle/

Images from the People's Climate Change Rally in Oakland CA, September 21

Its too bad we didn't get much media coverage, the rally was amazing!!! Maybe not as big as NYC but still a couple of thousand at least! These are photos taken by one of our group. 

NORCAL CLIMATE CHANGE RALLY! OAKLAND: SEPTEMBER 21

We will BEE at the Climate Change Rally in Oakland with a hive and information on September 21 from 2 to 5PM

At the Lake Merritt Amphitheater

12th Street and Lake Merritt Blvd.

Join Us!

Official site for the rally: http://bayareasept21-350bayarea.nationbuilder.com/

My Article Published in the Daily Californian

I have just had an opinion article published in the Daily Californian.
Link here...Honeybees and Native Pollinators Heed Our Help

Unfortunately, the graphic is a bit off-putting. The staff artist used a phalaenopsis Orchid, which is a house plant, as the bee flower. I appreciate that they ran the article but having graphics that indicate false information is a step down for aspiring journalist. 

I think this is the point they were trying to make...

graphic taken from Eco Watch website...
showing how systemic pesticides work on the bees and pollinators