> neither of which is true.  Read the study, not the media hype.


It is orchestrated, Jerry.  There are a couple of beekeepers in the UK who look for any study that can be used to promote an agenda against pesticides, then build up a story to feed to newspapers, and circulate them as widely as they can elsewhere.  They have no interest in the real position but simply wish to raise worries about pesticides.  I know that with certainty because I have challenged one of them on several occasions on UK beekeeping fora to debate the issue and he just disappears, sometimes after issuing insults.  In the meantime one of the leading UK newspapers takes the story and the twisted message gets relayed to the public.  In recent weeks this story and the one on multiple routes for clothianidin exposure have been misrepresented in the Independent, the Guardian and the Sunday Herald, three of the most highly respected newspapers in the UK.

Contrast the tone of that piece with Jeff Pettis in his own words when he came to the UK last spring, after another of these media storms promoted by the campaigners mentioned above.  He came partly to explain his research to members of parliament in the UK after the campaigners roused interest there.

http://www.channel4.com/news/bee-decline-not-caused-by-pesticides (video down the page)

Beekeepers in general, media, politicians and the public like to hear stories about the evils of farm chemicals.  These folk are exploiting that to promote a no-chemical food production system, and that is a very risky path for society to follow.  Beekeeping is being caught in the crossfire.

Gavin


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