National Bee Action Week Draws Attention to the Plight of the Pollinators

February 20, 2014 | Katherine Paul

Organic Consumers Association

Like a bee to the clover . . . last week’s “Show Bees Some Love” actions in seven metropolitan areas attracted local and national media, drawing much-needed attention to the critical role pesticides play in decimating the world’s honeybee population.

Activists wearing bee costumes, singing “Give Bees a Chance” and carrying “Show Bees Some Love” banners swarmed Home Depot and Lowe’s stores in Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., Chicago, Eugene, Ore. and Los Angeles. They delivered valentines and cupcakes. Some even staged die-ins.

But people all over the country, in cities large and small, also did their part. More than 30,000 individuals, including about 13,000 members of Organic Consumers Association, signed up to deliver Valentine Day cards to managers at their local Home Depot and Lowe’s stores. The cards were delivered along with this message: Please stop selling bee-killing pesticides, and garden plants sprayed with bee-killing pesticides. (If you delivered a valentine in your city, we’d love to hear from you. Send your comments, photos and videos to office@organicconsumers.org).

Home Depot responded to the campaign, telling a CNBC reporter that the retail chain has been “working on” an alternative to neonicotinoids (the class of pesticides scientists now believe play a key role in Colony Collapse Disorder) for “some time,” and that several of its suppliers are already using replacements. We plan to hold their feet to the fire until they follow through.

Meanwhile, Lowe’s is still giving us the silent treatment.

We, along with our allies Friends of the Earth, SumOfUs.org, Pesticide Action Network and other groups, plan to keep the pressure on Home Depot and Lowe’s. Through petitions, letters, talks with the companies’ CEOs. Whatever it takes.

In the meantime, there’s a bill (H.R. 2692), Saving America’s Pollinators Act, in Congress that calls for restricting neonicotinoids. But it needs more support. And Oregon and California have introduced similar bills at the state level.
And what about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency? It’s been busy approving more bee-killing pesticides. All the more reason for consumers to pressure retailers, and for Congress to act.

What You Can Do

TAKE ACTION: Tell Your Representative: Please Support the Saving America’s Pollinators Act (H.R. 2692)

TAKE ACTION: Tell Home Depot and Lowe’s to Stop Selling Bee-Killing Plants

Send comments, photos & videos of your valentine delivery office@organicconsumers.org

More Coverage from the Bee Week of Action

Why it Matters: For Whom the Bee Tolls http://organicconsumers.org/articles/article_29307.cfm

Press release http://organicconsumers.org/articles/article_29282.cfm

Home Depot’s statement on neonicotinoids http://www.ecooptions.homedepot.com/

Awesome videos!

Chicago Bee Love Action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W5PQbitoS4

DC Bee Love Action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5TOQRTRCow

Bay Area Action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHHNAmOjUh4