Honey Bee Collapse Now Worse on West Coast

suchandra · 04-14-2008, 12:43 PM

Although nature is withdrawing more and more ressources, still, people don't have the intelligence anymore to see the actual cause, Godlessness.

Honey Bee Collapse Now Worse on West Coast

http://www.earthfiles.com/news.php?I...ry=Environment
“It's worse than last year, and last year was worse
than the year before. So, it's bad. And there are a lot of good,
big beekeepers that are having a lot of problems. I think we're coming
in for a big train wreck.” - Gilly Sherman, Beekeeper

Western honey bee, or European honey bee (Apis mellifera),
gathering pollen from purple aster. 34% of American honey bees in
commercial hives have disappeared this spring of 2008, in a
persistent mystery known as “colony collapse disorder.”

April 10, 2008 Gainesville, Florida - On April 5, 2008, England's BBC News carried a report entitled, “U. S. Fears Over Honey Bee Collapse.” A California beekeeper, Gilly Sherman, was interviewed and he said sobering words: “It's worse than last year, and last yar was worse than the year before. So, it's bad. And there are a lot of good, big beekeepers that are having a lot of problems. I think we're coming in for a big train wreck.”
I took that quote to Jerry Hayes, Chief, Apiary Section, Florida Department of Agriculture, and President of the Apiary Inspectors of America in Gainesville, Florida and asked for his comment.

Interview:
Jerry Hayes, Chief, Apiary Section, Florida Department of Agriculture, and President of the Apiary Inspectors of America in Gainesville, Florida: “Certainly West Coast beekeepers were more dramatically affected this year than perhaps East Coast beekeepers. Last year, East Coast beekeepers had the first and dramatic events happening to their bee colonies. Sometimes, the West Coast beekeepers said, ‘Well, it’s not happening to us. You must just be bad beekeepers.’ So, now the shoe is on the other foot and they are suffering as badly as anybody has been. Everybody is on an even playing field right now.
Bees are not healthy. Bees have not been healthy for a few years and they are becoming more unhealthy. The beekeepers, the industry that uses them as a tool, is in a precarious situation.
SO WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THE BEEKEEPER QUOTED BY THE BBC NEWS, ‘I THINK WE’RE COMING IN FOR A BIG TRAIN WRECK’?
We’ll never know these things until after the train wreck. It certainly does not look good. I’ve been reading some reports about whole populations of bats dying and disappearing in the Northeast. The quail population in the southeast has virtually disappeared. I don’t know if any of these things have parallels and links, but it certainly is interesting that something in the environment is impacting these other animals.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATE OF COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA?

34% Bee Loss in U. S. by Spring 2008
The Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA), of which I am a part – we just completed a survey of 327 beekeepers and we came up with about a 34% loss rate over this past 2007 to 2008 winter season.
THAT’S EVEN MORE THAN LAST YEAR?
Yes, a little bit. [ 2007 estimated American loss was 25%.]
GOING INTO THIS SPRING OF 2008, WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST WORRIES?
Beekeepers cannot continue to take these kinds of losses and rebound in any kind of way.

Cause of Colony Collapse Disorder?

“Unfortunately, we still don’t have a clear picture of why this is happening.”

THE LAST TIIME WE TALKED, IT WAS THE ISRAELI VIRUS UNDER SUSPICION OF COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES THROUGH AUSTRALIAN BEES THAT HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN BECAUSE THE NORTH AMERICAN BEE POPULATION HAD BEEN WEAKENED. IS THERE EVIDENCE THAT THE ISRAELI ACUTE PARALYSIS VIRUS IS STILL CAUSING THE MORTALITY? OR IS THERE STILL SOMETHING TO BE FOUND? WHAT IS CAUSING ONE-THIRD OF ALL THE BEES IN THE UNITED STATES TO DISAPPEAR IN THE WINTER OF 2007 TO SPRING OF 2008?

[ Editor’s Note: See 090707 Earthfiles: Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) September 2007 journal, Science.]

Boy, if I knew that, I’d probably have a statue some place, Linda. Obviously it’s all the issues that are still on the table right now. Viruses – whether it’s the Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus, or other viruses that are known and impact honeybees? There again, pesticides, poor nutrition, stress whatever that is from moving bees back and forth, a shallow genetic pool in our managed bee colonies. Some how, all these things are interacting. Basically, we need more funds in order to hire smart people and expensive equipment to figure what is going on. Research is never quick.
DID YOU EXPECT AN INCREASE IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BEES IN NORTH AMERICA?
I was personally interested to find out if it was going to continue and to find out what was going to happen to our West Coast beekeepers that seemed to have dodged a bit of the bullet last year. I was hoping that it would not, but I knew that something like this just generally does not go away on its own.
BUT ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT THE WEST COAST BEEKEEPERS ARE BEING HIT HARD NOW IN 2008?
No, not really. You know how things spread – if this is a pathogen or something in which all populations are not hit equally. So, it was unfortunately their turn.
HAS THE ISRAELI ACUTE PARALYSIS VIRUS BEEN FOUND IN THE WEST COAST HONEYBEES?
Yes, it’s there, but not at any dramatic levels. In fact, there’s kind of an East Coast variant and a West Coast variant of the Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus. There’s also the Kashmir bee virus that has shown up in quite large numbers. Then you add in all the other things we talked about that could cause the immune system collapse. All those things are interacting.
SO, IN APRIL 2008, YOU CAN’T SAY EVEN NOW THAT IT IS THE ISRAELI VIRUS THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER?
No, because in the CCD, the Israeli acute paralysis virus was found in most of the samples and at the moment is considered just a marker. It was not present in tremendously high numbers. And we can’t say it’s the varroa mite because in CCD, varroa and trachea mites are in very low levels. The Nosema protozoan was found in less than 50% of the colonies. Unfortunately, we still don’t have a clear picture of why this is happening.

theist · 04-14-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Although nature is withdrawing more and more ressources, still, people don't have the intelligence anymore to see the actual cause, Godlessness.

Exactly!

There are two ways to approach any endeavor. 1. As a servant of the Lord. 2.As an exploiter.

As regards to the resources of the world we can approach them in the spirit of Sri Isopanishad or as caretakers of our Masters earthly estate and maintain things according to His will or we can grab as much as possible as fast possible for our immediate sense gratification & the future be damned.

As your article above shows that damned future is arriving now.

indulekhadasi · 04-14-2008, 05:23 PM

If we realize that everything belonged to Krishna then we would not exploit His resources, we would use them sparingly and with much care. We would not just throw out whatever we don't need at the moment, but we would save them for later or distribute the thing to needy people.
Unfortunately in Kali yuga it is so hard to get this type of a vision. I myself don't have it.

theist · 04-14-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

I myself don't have it.

Yes you do.

indulekhadasi · 04-14-2008, 09:45 PM

Not really Theist prabhuji, but I used to be even worse when I was younger. Whenever I would mess up in a drawing I used to throw the whole paper away. Now I have the sense to use an eraser.

theist · 04-15-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indulekhadasi

Not really Theist prabhuji, but I used to be even worse when I was younger. Whenever I would mess up in a drawing I used to throw the whole paper away. Now I have the sense to use an eraser.

Did you know that in the sixties it used to be a practice for surplus grain to be dumped in the ocean rather than given to the poor or put onto the market because excess grain would cause the price to fall.

Similarly in India when there were food shortages in the 70's some rice distributors held onto the rice to cause to shortage to become even greater which caused the price to rise. Srila Prabhupada mention that Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister, should publicly hang some of those men and confiscate their rice and distribute it free to the poor. This would be a lesson to remaining distributors who would then stop such a demonic practice. The monkey on a stick principle.

suchandra · 04-21-2008, 12:50 AM

seems the reason are not the bees but the flowers and why flowers are losing their scent, chemical cocktails applied by rascals who can't get enough ...

Why flowers have lost their scent

http://www.independent.co.uk/environ...nt-812168.html
Pollution is stifling the fragrance of plants and preventing bees from pollinating them – endangering one of the most essential cycles of nature, writes Environment Editor Geoffrey Lean

AP
Researchers say that pollution is dramatically cutting the distance travelled by the scent of flowers

Sunday, 20 April 2008

Pollution is dulling the scent of flowers and impeding some of the most basic processes of nature, disrupting insect life and imperilling food supplies, a new study suggests.
The potentially hugely significant research – funded by the blue-chip US National Science Foundation – has found that gases mainly formed from the emissions of car exhausts prevent flowers from attracting bees and other insects in order to pollinate them. And the scientists who have conducted the study fear that insects' ability to repel enemies and attract mates may also be impeded.
The researchers – at the University of Virginia – say that pollution is dramatically cutting the distance travelled by the scent of flowers. Professor Jose Fuentes, who led the study, said: "Scent molecules produced by flowers in a less polluted environment could travel for roughly 1,000 to 1,200 metres. But today they may travel only 200 to 300 metres. This makes it increasingly difficult for bees and other insects to locate the flowers."
The researchers – who worked on the scent given off by snapdragons – found that the molecules are volatile, and quickly bond with pollutants such as ozone and nitrate radicals, mainly formed from vehicle emissions. This chemically alters the molecules so that they no longer smell like flowers. A vicious cycle is therefore set up where insects struggle to get enough food and the plants do not get pollinated enough to proliferate.
Already bees – which pollinate most of the world's crops – are in unprecedented decline in Britain and across much of the globe. At least a quarter of America's 2.5 million honey bee colonies have been mysteriously wiped out by colony collapse disorder (CCD), where hives are found suddenly deserted.
The crisis has now spread to Europe. Politicians insist that CCD has not yet been found in Britain, but the insects have been declining here too, and the agriculture minister Lord Rooker has warned that "the honey bee population could be wiped out in 10 years".
The researchers do not believe that they have found the cause of CCD, but say that pollution is making life more difficult for bees and other insects in many ways."
To have your say on this or any other issue visit www.independent.co.uk/IoSblogs

theist · 04-22-2008, 01:33 AM

That makes sense.

It is frightening how things have deteriorated just in my lifetime of 56 years.

Flowers have no scent, vegetables have no flavor, millions of people have never once seen a star filled night free from the glare of city lights. `When I was a child I remember butterflies everywhere. Just now I can't remember the last one I saw.

One needn't be a professional reader of omens to read these signs.

theist · 04-22-2008, 01:52 AM

SB 1.14.1 - Sri Suta Gosvami said: Arjuna went to Dvaraka to see Lord Sri Krishna and other friends and also to learn from the Lord of His next activities.

SB 1.14.2 - A few months passed, and Arjuna did not return. Maharaja Yudhishthira then began to observe some inauspicious omens, which were fearful in themselves.

SB 1.14.3 - He saw that the direction of eternal time had changed, and this was very fearful. There were disruptions in the seasonal regularities. The people in general had become very greedy, angry and deceitful. And he saw that they were adopting foul means of livelihood.

SB 1.14.4 - All ordinary transactions and dealings became polluted with cheating, even between friends. And in familial affairs, there was always misunderstanding between fathers, mothers and sons, between well-wishers, and between brothers. Even between husband and wife there was always strain and quarrel.

SB 1.14.5 - In course of time it came to pass that people in general became accustomed to greed, anger, pride, etc. Maharaja Yudhishthira, observing all these omens, spoke to his younger brother.

SB 1.14.6 - Maharaja Yudhishthira said to his younger brother Bhimasena, I sent Arjuna to Dvaraka to meet his friends and to learn from the Personality of Godhead Krishna of His program of work.

SB 1.14.7 - Since he departed, seven months have passed, yet he has not returned. I do not know factually how things are going there.

SB 1.14.8 - Is He going to quit His earthly pastimes, as Devarshi Narada indicated? Has that time already arrived?

SB 1.14.9 - From Him only, all our kingly opulence, good wives, lives, progeny, control over our subjects, victory over our enemies, and future accommodations in higher planets have become possible. All this is due to His causeless mercy upon us.

SB 1.14.10 - Just see, O man with a tiger's strength, how many miseries due to celestial influences, earthly reactions and bodily pains-all very dangerous in themselves-are foreboding danger in the near future by deluding our intelligence.

SB 1.14.11 - The left side of my body, my thighs, arms and eyes are all quivering again and again. I am having heart palpitations due to fear. All this indicates undesirable happenings.

SB 1.14.12 - Just see, O Bhima, how the she jackal cries at the rising sun and vomits fire, and how the dog barks at me fearlessly.

SB 1.14.13 - O Bhimasena, tiger amongst men, now useful animals like cows are passing me on my left side, and lower animals like the asses are circumambulating me. My horses appear to weep upon seeing me.

SB 1.14.14 - Just see! This pigeon is like a messenger of death. The shrieks of the owls and their rival crows make my heart tremble. It appears that they want to make a void of the whole universe.

SB 1.14.15 - Just see how the smoke encircles the sky. It appears that the earth and mountains are throbbing. Just hear the cloudless thunder and see the bolts from the blue.

SB 1.14.16 - The wind blows violently, blasting dust everywhere and creating darkness. Clouds are raining everywhere with bloody disasters.

SB 1.14.17 - The rays of the sun are declining, and the stars appear to be fighting amongst themselves. Confused living entities appear to be ablaze and weeping.

SB 1.14.18 - Rivers, tributaries, ponds, reservoirs and the mind are all perturbed. Butter no longer ignites fire. What is this extraordinary time? What is going to happen?

SB 1.14.19 - The calves do not suck the teats of the cows, nor do the cows give milk. They are standing, crying, tears in their eyes, and the bulls take no pleasure in the pasturing grounds.

SB 1.14.20 - The Deities seem to be crying in the temple, lamenting and perspiring. They seem about to leave. All the cities, villages, towns, gardens, mines and hermitages are now devoid of beauty and bereft of all happiness. I do not know what sort of calamities are now awaiting us.

SB 1.14.21 - I think that all these earthly disturbances indicate some greater loss to the good fortune of the world. The world was fortunate to have been marked with the footprints of the lotus feet of the Lord. These signs indicate that this will no longer be.

indulekhadasi · 04-22-2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theist

Did you know that in the sixties it used to be a practice for surplus grain to be dumped in the ocean rather than given to the poor or put onto the market because excess grain would cause the price to fall.

Similarly in India when there were food shortages in the 70's some rice distributors held onto the rice to cause to shortage to become even greater which caused the price to rise. Srila Prabhupada mention that Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister, should publicly hang some of those men and confiscate their rice and distribute it free to the poor. This would be a lesson to remaining distributors who would then stop such a demonic practice. The monkey on a stick principle.

I like Srila Prabhupada's idea.
People are such wasters. Of course I am too.

theist · 04-22-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indulekhadasi

I like Srila Prabhupada's idea.
People are such wasters. Of course I am too.

I like it too. "Soft as a rose and as hard as a thunderbolt."

suchandra · 05-03-2008, 01:12 PM

Hopefully such pics will not become unknown soon.

indulekhadasi · 05-05-2008, 10:55 PM

Yes, hopefully Suchandra prabhuji. It would be sad if people were talking about Brahmar Gita or something, and a rebellious person stands up and says, "I can't believe in this because bees are not real!"

suchandra · 05-06-2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by indulekhadasi