There, Dennis noted bees dying in droves. Since then, numerous outlets have covered this recent phenomenon--destroying the livelihoods of American, French, Canadian, British, Argentinean, Iranian and Israeli farmers, although less in Australia because its island-like border security of July 2008. This problem is definitely an international issue, although the next few paragraphs are dedicated to US government steps to curing CCD.
There seem to be several reasons for bees dying at such alarming rates, including Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), where worker bees abruptly disappear, a virus-like situation starting late 2006. As of June 2009, the Beesource says causes include drought, mite control, parasites, pesticides, chemical buildup, feed/nutrition, and decreased bee pasture.
So why should we care? About one mouthful in three in the diet directly or indirectly benefits from honey bee pollination. According to USDA and AIA surveys, as of May 2009: "Honey bee colony losses nationwide were approximately 29 percent from all causes from September 2008 to April 2009, according to a survey conducted by the Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture".
In 2007, the USDA even created an Action Plan and CCD Steering Committee. The CCD Steering Committee June 2009 report represents the work of 8 Federal agencies, 2 state departments of agriculture, 22 universities and several private research efforts "In this report, two forthcoming publications have produced evidence of increasing honey bee losses [31% (2007); 35% (2008)] beyond the already-high losses experienced in 2006 (20-25%) (pg 7)".
One Israeli-US company (Beelogics) is even testing a CCD anti-viral agent that promises to alleviate CCD's effects. Speaking on indirect effects, "Today it's not about honey but about pollination," says Ben-Chanoch (CEO of Beeologics to ISRAEL21c news service). According to the USDA, Bee pollination is responsible for $15 billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables.
Green marketer John Grant authored the Green Marketing Manifesto in 2007 [John Tweets @greennormal and blogs at Greennormal], and as green marketers do continued to develop outreach strategies for companies and organizations. Notable. But in July 2009, John told me about this GREAT idea he had--to use the #Tweehive hashtag to support awareness raising around the issue of bees dying internationally. I certainly did my part and joined the conversation, and it definitely made me think and want to spread the word so well done, #Tweehive!
As a social media activist, I look forward to numerous such campaigns surrounding awareness raising but believe #Tweehive also has the opportunity to raise money like Twestival (#Twestival). Hashtags have great room for development for new and innovative organizations to have a platform for reaching out with a highly developed and internationally connected sustainability community.
#Tweehive will show up during Pestival (3-4 September hosted by the ZSL London Zoo at the Southbank Centre, London) where London celebrates insects, the arts and ecology.
