Not having a subscription, I can only read this except, and there does not
seem to be any easy way to subscribe from overseas using their online tool. 
Does anyone have access to the full text?



Scientists accused of plotting to get pesticides banned
Ben Webster Environment Editor
Last updated at 12:01AM, December 4 2014
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/environment/article4286838.ece

Research blaming pesticides for the decline in honeybees has been called
into question by a leaked note suggesting that scientists had decided in
advance to seek evidence supporting a ban on the chemicals.

The private note records a discussion in 2010 between four scientists about
how to persuade regulators to ban neonicotinoid pesticides.

The EU imposed a temporary ban last year after the European Food Safety
Authority identified risks to bees. The Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs opposed the ban, saying that there was not enough evidence of
harm to bees.

Many farmers have blamed the ban for high levels of damage to this winter's
oilseed rape crop from flea beetle.

The leaked note says that the scientists agreed to select authors to produce
four papers and co-ordinate their publication to "obtain the necessary
policy change, to have these pesticides banned".

A paper by a "carefully selected first author" would set out the impact of
the pesticides on insects and birds "as convincingly as possible". A second
"policy forum" paper would draw on the first to call for a ban.

The note, which records that the meeting took place in Switzerland on June
14, 2010, says: "If we are successful in getting these two papers published,
there will be enormous impact, and a campaign led by WWF etc. It will be
much harder for politicians to ignore a research paper and a policy forum
paper in [a major scientific journal]."

Scientists "plotting" among themselves sounds a bit far-fetched to me, but
first, let's review the full article.
  
In other news of Scientists working closely to achieve a goal, as of 7:41am
EST, the Orion spacecraft waits on the Launchpad, waiting for winds to die
down.
Live stream here:
http://www.space.com/17933-nasa-television-webcasts-live-space-tv.html
http://tinyurl.com/8ggrve5

or here
http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv

Like the tee shirts say, "#GetYourAssToMars"

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