A Bee C
The pandemic that is killing the bees, and how we can stop itBrandon Tung, Staff Writer
Graphic by Melissa Liu, Managing Print & Design Editor
You’re probably reading this wondering what this article is about. Well, let me cut right to the chase. When we think of bees, they’re like the B in the alphabet; they are essential, both for the alphabet and for the world. Bees are dying, and we will die with them if we don’t do something to stop it. You heard me right. Of course, bees normally die a lot, considering that there are so many of them and that they are insects. However, according to former President Barack Obama’s White House administration, on average, 30 percent of all managed bee colonies die out each year, which, according to Environment America, is double the loss size that is considered “economically tolerable.” Not only are managed bee colonies dying out but according to a report published by the highly prestigious Science Magazine, wild bees are following suit. Before I get into what’s causing our little buzzing angels to beeline towards extinction (sorry not sorry), let me take a moment to hopefully make you understand what a world with no bees would look like to the human race. Overall, 71 of the 100 crop species that provide 90% of the global food supply are bee-pollinated. If you do the math, this means that bees are vital to the pollination of 63.9 % of the global food supply. The definition of the word famine, according to Merriam-Webster, is “an extreme scarcity of food.” If we dissect this definition, scarcity is defined by almost any dictionary as a deficiency or deficit of an amount. In these terms, 63.9 % definitely meets that prerequisite, meaning that if the decline of bee colonies continues, we will face a worldwide famine. If we continue on this 30 % trajectory, we could see the complete eradication of bees in less than 10 years. Not only does the decline of bees pose a threat to humanity’s food supply, but also the world economy. Bees account for more than $15 billion of the United States economy because of their environmental and agricultural importance. This may not seem like a lot of money, but the U.S.--Mexico wall that Trump has proposed is estimated to cost $12-15 billion dollars. Now, what’s causing the world’s busiest workers to die out at such an alarming rate? We are killing the bees. A combination of pollution, habitat loss, global warming, pesticides, and invasive species are all key factors that negatively impact bee colonies. One of the deadliest causes, according to Environment America, is pesticides that are known as neonics. Like DDT, neonics are sprayed onto crops and other plants that bees are active around. However, compared to DDT, neonics are 6,000 times more toxic to bees. Let that sink in; DDT almost drove Bald Eagles to extinction. Yet here we are, using a substance that is 6,000 times more toxic.
However, by acting in unison, we can save our buzzing friends. Big agrochemical companies, including the likes of Bayer and Syngenta, who are lobbying in Congress to prevent bans on substances like neonics, are only focused on profits, while politicians revoke acts that protect our bees and quite frankly could care less about the environment. You can change this. By going to https://environmentamerica.org/feature/ame/no-bees-no-food
and selecting ACT NOW, we can stop the plague that has corrupted the government and big companies. Also, go to
to vote for people who care about our environment and make your voice heard. Every voice matters in this battle to save the bees, so let’s come together and so we can create a better future and a cleaner, healthier Earth for generations to come.