As reported in "Apis_Newsletter" August 8, 2003 Apis Newsletter
EAS meeting:
    .... Honey bees are in crisis, Dr. Spivak said in her acceptance address, and beekeepers are not
helping them much.  Bees are
certified "junkies" and beekeepers have become their "pushers."  A new set of rules is necessary to
get the bees off the chemical / pesticide treadmill.  Her advice was direct and to the point:.....

Seeing where these comments were coming from - is it not a trifle rich to hammer into beekeepers who
are now reacting to new diagnostic techniques and levels of detection, when abounding in the
phytosanitary market, new, more toxic substances are being developed and marketed.
Bees are being wiped out, with all consequences attached.
With rather limited in legal redress, tonnes of material designed to kill out right are distributed
in the areas that the bees are expected to perform.

I find it hard to swallow such statements, again reported in above mentioned newsletter that a
researcher may state that "Pesticides "pamper" bees; and we should effectively let them use there
own innate defense mechanisms.
How many generations will in take to become immune to the present generation of systemic
insecticides? - not taking into account the constant development that is taking place to enhance
their performance.

So, thinking - Who is working for who? - Let us work towards IPM, but at the same time as the rest
of the Agricultural system plays the same game!

Regards,
Peter

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