[GREN-Exec] FW: #SaveTheBee campaign update...

Fri Jan 9 16:48:47 EST 2015

Hi John,

Neither Anne nor I want to organize something out of town. We were both
thinking that Guelph does have Pollination Guelph and the Ag. College, so
perhaps they want to organize their own event. We have so many farmers in
Waterloo Region, it would be good to have them involved. Ran into Jeff
Stager at  swing dancing lesson at HepCats in Waterloo. I'm going to check
to see if he's still on the exec. of the local farmer's org. And I think the
Waterloo food roundtable is good to be part of this. Maybe they can get us a
venue for this. Also, Anne has followed up with them re costs (if any), size
of venue and what date fits their schedule and we're going to meet before
the GREN meeting to talk more about this. Anne is a master gardener and
entomologist, so would be a good local speaker. 

There was a wonderful article by Nathan Carey, Director of the National
Farmers Union in Grey County, that Theresa McLenaghan posted on Facebook
about the consultations and how CropLife walked out on them.
http://www.nfu.ca/blog/Walking-out-on-the-commons/580

Wish he was in Waterloo Region....

Susan K

From: Executive [mailto:executive-bounces at gren.ca] On Behalf Of John Jackson
Sent: January-09-15 2:38 PM
To: Gregory C. Michalenko; Susan Koswan; GREN Executive
Subject: Re: [GREN-Exec] FW: #SaveTheBee campaign update...

I have added it to the GREN agenda, but if we don't want to wait until then
to start organizing on it, I don't see any problem in going ahead with it.
We already had a presentation on it at GREN and as a result of that meeting
I sent in a letter on behalf of GREN. So there is no problem with GREN being
behind it.

Susan K, when does Sierra Club need to know our desire to go ahead? 

Also, it is something that we could hold in Guelph. It was because of Norah
bringing it to us that I sent in the letter. And with the ag schools there,
etc., it would be a good community to do it in. Perhaps this is a chance for
us to work with some Guelph groups and do something outside of the Waterloo
area. I am sure that Norah would be pleased to help connect us to the groups
there, etc.

Thoughts?

John

On 15-01-09 2:22 PM, "Gregory C. Michalenko" <gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca>
wrote:

I agree - it would be a good thing to put on.  I would like to enlarge the
focus:  the bees are only part of the issue.  Recent evidence shows that it
is a systemic environmental poison.  Insectivorous bird populations
inHolland have declined by 50% because there are no insects left to eat.
Co-sponsors could also include the Waterloo Region Food System Round Table,
whichI'm on.  It will meet the afternoon of Jan. 22 and I could bring up
your proposal then. 

- Greg
From: Executive [executive-bounces at gren.ca] on behalf of Susan Koswan
[dandelion at gto.net]
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2015 11:54 AM
To: 'GREN Executive'
Subject: [GREN-Exec] FW: #SaveTheBee campaign update...

Hi John,
Please put this on the agenda. Anne Morgan suggested that we should have one
in our area and I think she's right. I spoke with her and we have both
contacted Sierra to see what's involved and if they can work Waterloo Region
into their schedule. I think this would be another great collaborative event
for GREN. Suggested partners are KW Field Naturalists (or whatever they're
called now), rare, local farming org'ns like ALUS, GRCA perhaps...
Thanks,
Susan K

Dear friends, Hope you had a great holiday break! We did and we're back,
refreshed, and ready to go! It's going to be a great year for the
pollinators--I can feel it. But great things come from hard work, so we have
to roll-up our sleeves and get to it. Let's get started with the
#SaveTheBees Tour and Ontario neonic plan (see below). As always, a sincere
thanks for taking action. John Bennett, National Program Director
Sierra Club Canada Foundation
1510-1 Nicholas Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7
jb at sierraclub.ca <mailto:jb at communications.ca?subject=Feedback> 

John on Twitter
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3720
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3720&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429>  / Bennett Blog
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rn/url.php?u=3721
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
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<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3736&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429> 

  _____  

Update 1: #SaveTheBees Tour
The Sierra Club Canada Foundation will be undertaking a cross-country
speaking tour as part of our #SaveTheBees campaign. The tour will include a
series of public meetings with beekeepers, farmers, academics, and
environmental advocates, as well as individual Canadians concerned about the
fate of bees and the environment who would like to further learn about the
issues.
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429>
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429>
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429> As you know, Sierra Club Canada
has been campaigning to #SaveTheBees and raise awareness of the increased
colony losses and bee carnage. We worked hard to convince the Ontario
government to take strong action and mobilized over 100,000 Canadians to
oppose Health Canada's registration of yet another new bee-killing
pesticide: flupyradifurone (a close cousin of the neonicotinoid killers).
The Canada-wide tour will start in early spring to coincide with the 2015
planting season. Tour stops include Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton,
Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, Montreal, Fredericton and
Halifax. If your town's not on the list, let's talk
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429>  about adding it! Events will
include speeches from author Paul McKay and Sierra's National Program
Director John Bennett. The addition of local guest speakers will ensure that
the #SaveTheBees tour builds partnerships with local communities and
organizations, and furthers the dialogue on bee-killing pesticides and
environmental protection. 
THE BEES NEED VOLUNTEERS 

In order to make these events a success, we're enlisting dedicated
volunteers to help in the planning, promoting and running of local events.
Whether you are an environmental campaigner or simply a concerned citizen,
your help would be greatly appreciated. If you're interested in
volunteering, please get involved
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429>  today.
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429> We can't do it without your
help so sign-up here
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3732&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429>  if you're able to volunteer.
If you'd like to help but can't volunteer, please consider making a small
donation
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3736
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3736&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429>  today. The bees need us more
than ever before! CLICK HERE
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3724
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3724&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429>  for more information on our
#SaveTheBees campaign
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3736
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3736&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429> 

  _____  

Update 2: The Empire Strikes Back
As you know, Ontario plans to restrict the use of bee-killing pesticides. In
2014, the Ontario government announced it intended to restrict the use of
neonicotinoid pesticides. In order to develop the plan and regulations, the
province began conducting consultations and invited the public to comment. A
number of these public consultations took place this past December and the
majority went very well, with farmers and other stakeholders able to give
input on the new rules. A meeting on December 19th, however, was very
different. 
DIVIDE AND CONQUER
The head of the Ontario Grain Growers (OGG), accompanied by (former MP
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3725
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3725&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429> ) Ted Menzies, the new CEO of
industry lobby group CropLife
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3726
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3726&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429> , stood up at the beginning of
the meeting, condemned the government, and then (took their toys) and
stomped out. The OGG and CropLife intend to undermine the consultations and
are already preparing a pre-federal election ground offensive, and the
battlefield is Ontario's urban/rural divide. You may remember CropLife is in
the midst of a major lobbying and public relations campaign to prevent
Canada from adopting a ban on bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides (an
action the European Union took more than a year ago). They know they have to
defeat any regulatory action in Ontario or risk seeing it spread across the
country. 
GOOD FIRST STEP
The Ontario government's plan applies only to corn and soybean crops in the
province and does not prohibit other uses of neonicotinoid pesticides. The
new plan will require farmers to demonstrate a need for them, replacing the
present practice of spraying all seeds before delivering them to the farmer.
The province confidently states that it can eliminate neonicotinoid use by
80% on these crops without a significant impact on production. New rules are
expected to be in place by July 2015 (and apply to the 2016 crop growing
year). Sierra Club Canada Foundation is supportive of the plan because it
will be the first action by any jurisdiction in North America (the European
Union acted in 2013). It should be viewed, however, as only a first step
because it applies strictly to soybean and corn seed treatment and not other
crops. As a precautionary measure to protect pollinators, we're calling for
restrictions on all uses of neonicotinoid pesticides. We see no logical
reason to treat other uses of the bee-killing chemicals differently. 
BEE HEARD TODAY
We hear from our sources that CropLife and OGG's lobbying of late against
restricting bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides has been fierce
("unprecedented"). So let's make sure Ontario stays strong. One way of doing
that is submitting comments, and we have until January 25th. We've provided
a draft letter here
<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
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<http://secure.sierraclub.ca/sites/secure.sierraclub.ca/modules/civicrm/exte
rn/url.php?u=3727&qid=2861429> &qid=2861429> , but we encourage you to
personalize it and emphasize your concerns.
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  _____  

Sierra Club Canada Foundation 1510-1 Nicholas St
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7
Canada 
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