In Honor of World Bee Day, May 20th, 2022
On December 20th, 2017 the United Nations proclaimed that May 20th would be officially known as World Bee day. The day was established to bring awareness to the species which has been officially classified as endangered. This is a very scary thought as there is no life without bees.
The struggle to keep bees from going extinct is symbolic of the greater picture of how our earth is also struggling. Scientists have said that the condition of the bees is a good indication of the condition of an ecosystem. There are many changes in our environment that cause stress to not just bees but plants, animals, and people. Certain countries are more affected by these changes because they have fewer resources and/or money to import food when crops are destroyed or fail to come up due to environmental causes. Warming earth temperatures, fluctuating weather patterns, species extinction, and food scarcity are all connected. From the macro to the micro, we must give the care needed to heal our earth and all of its inhabitants before it is too late.
Why Do We Rely So Much On Bees?
For such a small creature, bees are incredibly powerful. Today, every third spoonful of food relies on the pollination of bees. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from one plant to another. This allows the receiving plant to be fertilized. This process usually occurs from the pollen that falls from the bee's body and legs as it flies from one plant to another. A bee’s motivation is to gather the nectar and pollen bits from plants so that they may create the delicious and nutritious honey that we all know. While they do their thing, bees are inadvertently ensuring the growth of diverse and sustainable agriculture for the rest of the animal kingdom to enjoy. In short, if we save the bees, we can help reduce world poverty, and hunger and preserve our environment and biodiversity.
Noč, president of the Slovenian Beekeepers' Association, said "To talk about reducing world hunger without ensuring conditions for the existence of bees and other pollinators is to pull the wool over people's eyes. It is time for everyone to listen to bees, in particular leaders and decision-makers. We must ensure the conditions for their (the bees) survival, and thus for the survival of the human race."
What Happened to the Bees?
Studies show that there are fewer and fewer bees these days due to environmental toxins known as pesticides. The chemicals that some companies are using to protect their crop from pests are also weakening the bees’ ability to fight disease. Some countries like Slovenia, a pioneer of bee cultivation and preservation have prohibited any pesticide that negatively affects the bees’ health.
Another factor in the decline in the bee population is the loss of their natural habitat. Theconstruction of buildings, redirection of waterways, lack of preservation, upkeep of green zones, and conversion from rural fields and farms to urban environments have killed many bees. Holland took action to ensure that more bees had green space by creating 300 bus stops into green hubs. On top of each bus stop was a small garden with lush green plants and grass, a bee’s heaven! An excellent example of urban innovation that hopefully, other urban centers can all take inspiration from. Other reasons for bee endangerment include pollution, droughts, and parasites.
How Can You Help?
Start a garden. Create your own little green space for bees to find a safe haven in. And you will have the bonus of enjoying your own little oasis. Try letting your grass grow longer. This will give the bees a place to rest and feed. Don’t use pesticides on your grass or garden and write to your local government representative to ban pesticides that harm bees. Support organic produce farmers within your means, it’s better for the bees and for your body. Every little bit helps, so continue to share the vital information with those around you, and together we can create a healthier safe environment for bees to multiply. Smaller things make bigger things and facilitating the solution to food scarcity and world hunger must incorporate the preservation and fostering of the Bees.
Happy World Bee Day from Life for Relief and Development!
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