Interesting conversation I like comment by Allen ‘should not be too inhumane’ I like comment by Juanse ‘I do not think humane is the word here’ Bravo!! There is NO humane way to kill any living creature. It is the humans responsibility in their ‘rule over other living creatures’ to find the ‘least inhumane’ way of killing another living creature when the “need” arises, and it should be described as such, ‘least inhumane.’ WEBSTER: Humane - marked by compassion, sympathy, or consideration for humans or animals. I see no 'killing' in humane. Humanity to bees was for several hundred years used a totally different context than I am seeing put forth on this thread. How far have we advanced? To example this, we need to look back a few hindered years to the movement against inhumane treatment of bees. Nut, Huish, Bevan, Langstroth, Neighbour, all spoke of humanity to bees. Perhaps the most descriptive account of the inhumane treatment of bees was by James Thomson, a British poet born 1700, at Ednam, near Kelso, in Scotland. Who was perhaps best known for his poetic works titled; The Seasons. In his Autumn, Thomson includes a graphic description of the destruction of bees. Bevan, langstroth and many other beekeeping greats quote Thompson in their quest for humanity to bees. As well I also quote Thompson for the same. Autumn by James Thomson Year 1730 Starting on Line 1170 Ah, see where, robbed and murdered, in that pit Lies the still heaving hive! at evening snatched, Beneath the cloud of guilt—concealing night, And fixed o'er sulphur: while, not dreaming ill, The happy people, in their waxen cells, Sat tending public cares, and planning schemes Of temperance, for Winter poor; rejoiced To mark, full flowing round, their copious stores, Sudden the dark oppressive steam ascends; And, used to milder scents; the tender race, By thousands tumble from their honeyed domes, Convolved and agonizing in the dust. And was it then for this you roamed the Spring, Intent from flower to flower? For this you toiled Ceaseless the burning summer heats away? For this in Autumn, searched the blooming waste, Nor lost one sunny gleam? For this sad fate? O, man! tyrannic lord! how long, how long Shall prostrate Nature groan beneath your rage, A waiting renovation? When obliged, Must you destroy? of their ambrosial food Can you not borrow; and, in just return, Afford them shelter from the wintry winds; Or, as the sharp year pinches, with their own Again regale them on some smiling day? Best Wishes Joe Waggle http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles/ *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm