New year, same problems for our pollinators

Dear Friend, The EPA could either ban or approve bee-killing neonics this year. Time is running out to take action: Donate $27 today to help protect pollinators, people, and our planet! If you've saved payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Donate $27 immediately]( [Donate $50 immediately]( [Donate $100 immediately]( [Donate another amount]( The New Year is a time of hope and new beginnings. But for bees and other pollinators, 2024 is do or die -- literally. Research points to neonicotinoids as a leading cause of catastrophic bee declines. But these neurotoxic chemicals don’t just attack bees’ nervous systems, they also can harm people’s nervous systems -- with children being the most vulnerable. And this year, the EPA could APPROVE neonics for another 15 years. [The clock is ticking, Friend, and we’re running out of time to protect pollinators and people from the disastrous impacts of the pesticide industry. Rush your $27 donation today and join us in the fight for pollinators, people, and the planet!]( You may be wondering how neonics are still legal if they do so much harm. Well, the worst of these pesticides are already banned in the European Union. But pesticide corporations in the U.S. -- like Bayer-Monsanto -- are spending big to DECEIVE the public and policymakers about the impacts of their toxic products. They’re taking a page out of Big Oil and tobacco's playbook, insisting that there’s no real evidence that neonics hurt people, pollinators, and the planet. And as a result, neonics are not only still allowed, but more widely produced than ever. But the facts don’t lie, Friend. In the last 5 years, there have been over 840 reports of neonicotinoid poisoning in people! The EPA has concrete data that proves how dangerous neonics are, but it still hasn’t banned them. I’m not exaggerating when I say this could be our last chance to ban neonics before they’re approved for another 15 years. So please, will you join us in this fight today for the sake of pollinators, people, and the planet? Don’t let the pesticide industry get away with poisoning people, pollinators, and the planet. Donate $27 today! If you've saved payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Donate $27 immediately]( [Donate $50 immediately]( [Donate $100 immediately]( [Donate another amount]( Neonicotinoid poisoning can be a brutal death for bees. Some are killed outright, while others are left paralyzed or shaking uncontrollably. But unfortunately, neonics are still the most widely used insecticides in the world. And despite how dangerous these chemicals are, they’re easily accessible. You can even get them delivered directly to your front door! If the EPA decides to approve neonics, the future would be bleak for our insect pollinators. In the past few decades, neonics have already made agriculture nearly 50 TIMES more toxic to insects. To put it bluntly, our insect pollinators can’t afford another 15 years of these harmful pesticides. And neither can we. That’s because bees are essential for our food supply and way of life. We rely on these helpful little pollinators for 1 out of 3 bites of food that we eat and 75% of the world’s most nutritious food crops like fruits, veggies, and nuts. Almonds wouldn’t even EXIST if it weren’t for bees! And without bees and other pollinators, crops like coffee and chocolate would be in short supply, making them more expensive and harder to obtain. Not to mention, neonics pose risks to our health too. Neonics have been linked to memory loss, tremors, and even birth defects of the heart and nervous system. Some studies have even found these neurotoxic chemicals in children’s spinal fluid! Neonic production shows no signs of stopping, and more and more of these pesticides are being used each year. But this year, the EPA can protect bees and people by banning neonics. We can’t push it to act without your support. So please, Friend -- for the sake of children and the pollinators that keep our planet healthy: Donate $27 today to help fight for a future for bees, people, and our planet. If you've saved payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Donate $27 immediately]( [Donate $50 immediately]( [Donate $100 immediately]( [Donate another amount]( We’ve seen devastating bee losses over the last two decades. The Rusty-Patched Bumblebee population has dropped by 87%, the American Bumblebee by 89%, and the Western Bumblebee by 93%. And things will only get worse if we don’t get neonics out of our food system. States like Maryland and New Jersey have already implemented restrictions on neonics. And now the EPA has the chance to follow suit. But without action, you and I could be part of the last generation to share the planet with many vital bee species. At Friends of the Earth, we’re pushing the EPA to ban neonics once and for all. We’re asking big supermarket chains to stop selling foods grown with bee-toxic pesticides and increase organic offerings -- which will shift the market away from these chemicals. And we’re working at the state and local level to ban neonics and other bee-toxic pesticides. At the same time, we’re researching and shining a light on the pesticide industry’s disinformation tactics to make sure decision-makers know the truth about the toxic way we produce food. With your help and membership support today, we can make a difference. But the bees are running out of time -- and they need you. If we don't stand up to Big Pesticide corporations now, we could lose hundreds of wild bee species in North America alone. It's up to us to help ensure a future for these vulnerable pollinators. Please, Friend, we need you by our side as we ramp up our efforts to save wild bees from extinction and protect our planet. Help stop the downward spiral of vulnerable pollinator populations and protect people and our planet. Donate $27 or more to Friends of the Earth today! If you've saved payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: [Donate $27 immediately]( [Donate $50 immediately]( [Donate $100 immediately]( [Donate another amount]( Standing with you, Lisa Archer Director, Food and Agriculture Program, Friends of the Earth Contact Us: Friends of the Earth U.S. Washington, D.C. | Berkeley, CA 1-877-843-8687 [Contact us]( Email Preferences: [Click here to unsubscribe]( Learn more: www.foe.org/news www.foe.org/about-us www.foeaction.org Connect: [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Flickr]( © 2023, Friends of the Earth. All Rights Reserved. [supporter]