Help Ban the Pesticide That's Wiping Out Honey Bees

A Slow Moving Crisis for Honey Bees has been wiping out hives for the last several years. 

Colony Collapse Disorder is the term used for the devastation afflicting the honey bee populations. 

CREDO is championing the cause by calling for the Ban of clothianidin, is produced by the German corporation Bayer Crop Science.  Their petition site is an effective way to take action on this issue.


And it's about more than just the honey that we love. Honey Bees are an essential element of agriculture and our food production in this country and worldwide. The USDA has a site to answer questions on the subject. http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572
"Bee pollination is responsible for $15 billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables. About one mouthful in three in the diet directly or indirectly benefits from honey bee pollination."

If you want to attract bees to your yard for pollination
check out WDFW's site and Russell Link's books

Since 2006, U.S. honey bee populations have been in precipitous decline, with some estimates suggesting losses as high as 30% per year.¹ While that's terrible, the problem is far greater than just the destruction of a species. Without bees, a big piece of our food supply is in serious danger. Pollination by honey bees is key in cultivating the crops that produce a full one-third of our food.

Scientists have been scrambling to understand the crisis -- termed Colony Collapse Disorder -- but have yet to find a single, definitive cause. There are likely multiple interacting causes, and mounting evidence suggests that one widely used class of pesticides may be a critical factor.

One such chemical, called clothianidin, is produced by the German corporation Bayer CropScience. It is used as a treatment on crop seeds, including corn and canola, and works by expressing itself in the plants' pollen and nectar. Not coincidentally, these are honey bees' favorite sources of food.

Shockingly, no major independent study has verified the safety of this pesticide. While clothianidin has been used on corn -- the largest crop in the U.S. -- since 2003, it was officially approved by the Environmental Protection Agency last year on the basis of a single study, conducted by Bayer. However, recently leaked documents show that the study was actually debunked by the agency's own scientists, so the pesticide was effectively approved with no scientific backing.²

It is outrageous that the E.P.A. is putting a vital species, the livelihoods of farmers and beekeepers, and our very food supply at risk just so Bayer can peddle its pesticide.

When clothianidin first came to market, there was little or no scientific review of its effect on the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allowed "conditional registration" in 2003 but requested additional study to establish the safety of the chemical. Bayer, the producer of the chemical, conducted one such study, and without public notice, the E.P.A. granted unconditional use in early 2010.

But E.P.A. documents³ leaked at the end of last year expose a more sordid story. Agency scientists who reviewed Bayer's study determined that the evidence was by no means sound, and even downgraded the study to a level at which it should not have been allowed as the basis for an unconditional approval of the pesticide.

Additional independent studies have shown that neonicotinoid pesticides like clothianidin are highly toxic to honey bees, providing compelling evidence that they should be immediately taken off the market until the E.P.A. can conduct a full and valid scientific review.

This appears to be a case of the E.P.A. catering to the needs of a large chemical corporation at the expense of a lynchpin species in our ecosystem. France, Italy, Slovenia, and Germany -- the home of Bayer -- have already banned clothianidin.

The stakes are simply too high to continue the use of this chemical in the absence of any scientifically verified evidence that it is safe to use. Tell the E.P.A. to immediately prohibit the use of clothianidin and conduct a full scientific review to determine its impact on honey bee populations.

Arts Fund Study Shows Huge Economic Impact of Cultural Events and Organizations

Theater, Zoos, Historical Museums, Science Centers, Ballet, Opera, Symphony

These are just a few of the types of organizations that bring enormous economic benefit to our region, says a study just released by a group called the Arts Fund.

The nearly 360 organizations in the study supported some 32,520 jobs and $882 million in labor income, according to the economic-impact study prepared by University of Washington Professor William Beyers.

Music and Gallery Art go together in Pioneer Square

The Seattle Times has the story today.

Ronald School has benefitted from
funding from 4Culture and City's of Shoreline
and LFP

 Many local organizations receive funding from 4Culture and other funding sources, such as
State, County and Local governments. These funds are invested in many ways that benefit our economies. Arts groups spend money locally on supplies, expertise from artists, musicians, writers, and so many other arts experts and equipment to make their organizations work. Shoreline - Lake Forest Park
Arts Council is just one of so many organizations that benefit from this funding, and then help generate economic value for the region.

The study was funded by the University of Washington.
Geography Professor Bill Beyers’ continuing studies of the economic impact of arts in the Puget Sound region was recently featured on KUOW radio.  
http://depts.washington.edu/geog/2011/01/arts-communitys-economic-impact-bill-beyers-latest-study/

Shoreline-LFP Arts Festival
hands on kids arts

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013931477_arts14m.html

ArtsFund study shows economic impact of Northwest cultural organizations

The Puget Sound area's arts, cultural and scientific organizations generated $1.9 billion in business activity in 2009, according to a study released Friday by ArtsFund.

By Janet I. Tu

Seattle Times staff reporter

The Puget Sound area's arts, cultural and scientific organizations generated $1.9 billion in business activity in 2009, according to a study released Friday by ArtsFund.

The nearly 360 organizations in the study supported some 32,520 jobs and $882 million in labor income, according to the economic-impact study prepared by University of Washington Professor William Beyers. The study also includes data from some 3,000 patrons.

Previous studies were conducted in 2003, 1997 and 1992.

It's difficult to compare some of the newest numbers to earlier ones because the latest study includes organizations such as zoos and science centers, which were not part of previous studies. The latest report also covers more counties than in the past — King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap.

The new results show spending by patrons of $712 million, with tickets accounting for $222 million. The rest was spent on services such as dining, transportation and lodging.

Total income for the organizations was about $488 million during that time, with expenses of $482 million.

"New money" — that spent by tourists or from foundations or groups outside the area — accounted for 17 percent of the groups' revenues.

The study shows "the impacts of cultural organizations and their patrons is significant in the region," said Dwight Gee, executive vice president at ArtsFund, who oversaw the study.

In areas where comparisons can be made to earlier research — primarily in King County — there are both heartening and worrisome trends.

There was growth in the overall economic impact of cultural organizations in King County: from $1.1 billion in 2003 to $1.4 billion in 2009.

And the impact of "new money" has increased in the areas of both employment and sales.

But among the worrisome trends was a drop in attendance — about 2 percent — from the 2003 study. Patrons attending on season tickets or memberships dropped by more than 15 percent and those attending on single tickets or admissions declined more than 5 percent. (Free and student-admission discount tickets, though, climbed by 22 percent each.)

Marty Wingate Headlines KBGF Annual Meeting

MSK Nursery area of Kruckeberg Garden

Author Marty Wingate with KBGF Boardmember

Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation held their annual meeting last night at Shoreline City Hall. The guest speaker was noted urban horticulture expert Marty Wingate. She is author of 3 books and is featured in Seattle PI and on KUOW gardening hour on "Weekday". 

Marty gave a fun and fascinating talk about some of the native plants at Kruckeberg Botanic Garden

that have made a big impression internationally.  She has led many gardening tours in Europe and is enthusiastic about the Kruckeberg Garden. 

She talked about the history of NW native plant discoveries and how they gained fame in many countries, especially England and Scotland. For instance she gave the long history of different botanical names given to the Douglas Fir since the 18th Century.

New Boardmembers were also voted in at the general meeting.

Some of KBGF Board

Plaque near front gate of garden shows
designation as a City Park

Townsends Warbler Photographed in Highland Terrace Neighborhood

Beautiful Townsends Warbler -
photo credit - Linda Stein

Linda Stein captured these great shots of the Townsends Warbler at her feeder and in her yard. 

Townsends Warbler -
photo credit - Linda Stein

Townsends Warbler catches holiday spirit!
photo credit - Linda Stein

The Townsends Warbler actually prefers coniferous forests to Christmas lights according to the 

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 

Cool Facts

• The Townsend's Warbler hybridizes with the Hermit Warbler where their ranges overlap in Oregon and Washington. The hybrid zones are rather narrow and appear to be slowly moving, with the more aggressive Townsend's Warbler displacing the Hermit Warbler.
• On the wintering ground in Mexico, the Townsend's Warbler feeds extensively on the sugary excretions of scale insects. Although the warbler usually forages in the tops of trees, it will use patches of the honeydew-producing insects at whatever height it finds them. It will defend territories around trees infested with the insects against other Townsend's Warblers as well as other bird species.
• The male Townsend's Warbler begins to sing before it leaves its wintering grounds.
• Sometimes a female Townsend's Warbler will partially construct a nest in one tree, then move all the materials to another tree and finish the nest there.

So if you want to see more Townsends Warblers and other types of birds, plant more coniferous trees!

City Considering Change in Richmond Beach Road for Point Wells Issue

Save Richmond Beach organization is requesting that the public weigh in to the City of Shoreline on a change to the status of Richmond Beach Road.

Save Richmond Beach sent this request and asks that folks send comment to the City Council on whether the an amendment to reclassify a segment of Richmond Beach Drive from arterial to neighborhood local access. 


CRITICAL MEETING - PLEASE ATTEND: 
Planning commission public hearing
January 20 - 7:00 p.m.City Council Chambers
17500 Midvale Avenue North, Shoreline
SEND A LETTER: 
If you can't attend please send a letter or email supporting the amendment to the Planning Commission and the Shoreline City Council. Make sure the letter is sent by 4PM on January 20.
Email letters to:
plancom@shorelinewa.gov andcouncil@shorelinewa.gov

Is Our Caring for the Environment a Benefit to People?

Environment vs People, Stark Choice Posed by Republican Representative.


It may sound like a strange question.  
To me the answer is as plain as day and a no brainer. People are a part of the environment, every bit as much as trees, streams, clean air and birds in the skies. 


But, apparently Rep Charles Ross doesn't get this.

Rep Charles Ross (R-14 -Yakima) assistant-minority floor leader,
painted the budget dilemas facing legislators in a strange light. According to Publicola yesterday, when he was asked about the Governors budget item to fund Puget Sound recovery he said:

What is your number one priority as a legislator? Is it the people of the state or is it the environment? Our environment is in a tremendous position comparatively to the rest of the states in the nation. We can and should afford take a pass on big environmental programs and continuing down that road of massive protection orders because frankly, the people matter more and are more important to us that this table, I can assure you.

Our message is, ‘We choose the people.’ We’re hoping to see a dialogue that shows ways we can direct money that currently is spent in capacities that are not life and death and that can be reallocated to help sustain those who are the most needy.

http://www.publicola.net/2011/01/12/afternoon-jolt-the-people-vs-the-enviornment/?utm_source=RSS+Feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+publicola+%28PubliCola+%7C+Seattle%27s+News+Elixir%29

So, what do you think? Is Puget Sound an important issue to your community? If so why? Should it be important to all of our state? Is protecting and enhancing the environment an issue important to our state's economic health, to our physical well being?

photo credit - Art Wolfe

We'd like to know what you think!

New Senator Sworn in This Week for 32nd District

Senator Maralyn Chase was sworn in to new post and is on the job for the 32nd District.

Senator Maralyn Chase Sworn in in State Senate

Chase is a Democrat and was elected this November with 60% of the vote in her first term as Senator to the seat previously held by Senator Darlene Fairley. She served 4 terms as State Representative from the 32nd District.

She is serving as Vice Chair of the Senate Economic Development, Trade & Innovation Committee,

and serves on the Environment, Water & Energy and also Government Operations & Elections Committee.

Senator Chase greets Senator Nelson and other
Senators at swearing in.

Senator Chase can be reached at:

By E-Mail: Maralyn.Chase@leg.wa.gov

By Postal Mail:

Sen. Maralyn Chase

PO Box 40432

Olympia, WA 98504-0432

 

Staff Contact:

Marylyn Hawkins, legislative assistant
Marylyn.Hawkins@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7662

OLYMPIA OFFICE

241 Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA 98504-0432
(360) 786-7662