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<DIV><FONT size=2>The resolution passed by the European Parliament
yesterday could have some impact. Since it is a directive, the
European Union member countries automatically ratify the resolution and are
required to adopt it, but it's left up to them to decide how to do
it. Mind you, it has been passed under the Common
Agricultural Policy (CAP). The CAP is the European equivalent of the U.S. Farm
Bill, so offers an existing framework of farm-support subsidies, conservation
programs, and so on, and might actually result in change on the
ground.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>And that annoying "Einstein quote" has reared it's ugly and
inaccurate head again.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Matthew</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>MEP = Member of European Parliament</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>From <EM>Financial Times</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6484fcac-b7bd-11dd-ac6d-0000779fd18c,dwp_uuid=70662e7c-3027-11da-ba9f-00000e2511c8.html?nclick_check=1"><FONT
size=2>http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6484fcac-b7bd-11dd-ac6d-0000779fd18c,dwp_uuid=70662e7c-3027-11da-ba9f-00000e2511c8.html?nclick_check=1</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Published: November 21 2008 14:18 | Last updated: November 21
2008 14:18</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG>European vote to take sting out of falling bee
numbers</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>By Helen Warrell </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=ft-story-body><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>MEPs voted on Thursday overwhelmingly in favour of providing
’recovery zones’ in European farmland to help rebuild the region’s declining bee
population.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The resolution, which was passed by 485 votes to 13, follows
fears that European food production could be threatened if there were fewer bees
to pollinate crops of fruit and vegetables. So far this year German bee
populations have dropped by a quarter and British beekeepers are expected to
lose up to ten per cent of their hives this winter alone. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>The population has been endangered by long distance
transportation of bees between countries as well as increased use of pesticides,
which can weaken the insects’ immune systems. The development of
genetically-modified crops and the spread of fungal infections and viruses have
also contributed to the decline.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>MEPs hope their directive – set up under the Common
Agricultural Policy – will spur the EU executive to help to set up patches of
farmland planted with pollen and nectar-rich plants to act as ’recovery zones’
for ailing insects. It would also fund research into the parasites and diseases
which are harming bee populations, provide financial aid to apiaries with
infected colonies, and combat ineffective pollination by banning pesticide
treatment while crops are in flower.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Struan Stevenson, the Scottish Conservative MEP said: ”Albert
Einstein wasn’t lying when he said that if bees disappeared from the world then
mankind would follow shortly after.”</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>”We must invest more into bee research to establish the exact
causes of the shrinking bee population so that we can urgently put measures in
place to combat the decline.”</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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<DIV><FONT size=1><FONT size=1></FONT> </DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT
size=1>______________________________________________________</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><STRONG>The Xerces Society for Invertebrate
Conservation</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=1>The Xerces Society is an international
nonprofit organization that </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=1>protects wildlife through the conservation of
invertebrates and their </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=1>habitat. </FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT
size=1>To </FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=1>join the Society, make a
</FONT></FONT><FONT size=1>contribution</FONT><FONT size=1>, </FONT><FONT
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<DIV><FONT size=1>work, </FONT><FONT size=1>please visit </FONT><FONT size=1><A
href="http://www.xerces.org/">www.xerces.org</A>.</FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Matthew Shepherd</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Senior Conservation Associate</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>4828 SE Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, OR 97215,
USA</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=1>Tel: 503-232 6639 Cell: 503-807 1577 Fax: 503-233
6794</FONT></DIV>
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size=1>mdshepherd@xerces.org</FONT></A><FONT size=1> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT
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