Brian said:
>I agree, what's skipped over in most blogs and news stories is this was a
>raw chemical incident, not a
systemic poisoning which the main controversy surrounds.
A recent incident in France was a misapplication issue but it would be hard
to say all are. Bayer says misapplication is rare but says all bee death
linked to its product is misapplication.
Companies have got a problem when they release statements about their
product and produce tests paid for by the company to get the product
registered which are later proven to be incorrect. As Brian says little
proof exists to positively confirm the neonicotinoids are killing bees but
proof does exist that higher amounts are found in both honey and pollen than
was said to be when the products were registered and no sub lethal testing
was done.
Look at the way imidacloprid kills termites.
It is sad that it is so easy to get a product registered *if* you have
plenty of funding and so hard to get labels changed and products pulled.
Many feel the payoff in Germany is what many call "hush" money. A drop in a
deep bucket for chemical giants.
Large auto makers have chosen for years to simply settle auto lawsuits
rather than fix the problem. Cheaper in most cases. Possibly big ag will try
the same. Make billions and throw beekeepers a couple million.
Exxon finally settled the Valdez oil spill. Money talks and the folks of
Alaska are getting a few crumbs after fifteen years. The judgment reduced by
80% I was told. To excessive an amount the court said.
Why did Exxon fight so long and hard?
They know the spill most likely will be only one of many down the road and
sets a precedent Exxon feels they can live with.
Bayer starting to make payoffs seems to show a problem exists with their
products causing bee death. The problems with bees and the neonicotinoids is
like a sandspur in the foot of a giant. uncomfortable but not a big deal!
bob
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