Author Topic: A Real Global Catastrophy (Read 846 times)

bustr · « **on:** April 16, 2007, 06:48:21 PM »

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2449968.ece

Are mobile phones wiping out our bees?

Scientists claim radiation from handsets are to blame for mysterious 'colony collapse' of bees

By Geoffrey Lean and Harriet Shawcross
Published: 15 April 2007

It seems like the plot of a particularly far-fetched horror film. But some scientists suggest that our love of the mobile phone could cause massive food shortages, as the world's harvests fail.

They are putting forward the theory that radiation given off by mobile phones and other hi-tech gadgets is a possible answer to one of the more bizarre mysteries ever to happen in the natural world - the abrupt disappearance of the bees that pollinate crops. Late last week, some bee-keepers claimed that the phenomenon - which started in the US, then spread to continental Europe - was beginning to hit Britain as well.

The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees' navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving species from finding their way back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this up.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) occurs when a hive's inhabitants suddenly disappear, leaving only queens, eggs and a few immature workers, like so many apian Mary Celestes. The vanished bees are never found, but thought to die singly far from home. The parasites, wildlife and other bees that normally raid the honey and pollen left behind when a colony dies, refuse to go anywhere near the abandoned hives.

The alarm was first sounded last autumn, but has now hit half of all American states. The West Coast is thought to have lost 60 per cent of its commercial bee population, with 70 per cent missing on the East Coast

Meatwad · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2007, 09:57:16 PM »

Oh noes! The poor wittle bees

Heres comes PETA banning the use of cell phones

devild0g · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2007, 10:01:04 PM »

LOL TIME TO START THE P.E.T.A."People for the Eating of Tasty Animals" banner again XDDDD

Bluedog · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2007, 12:17:28 AM »

You are right, that sounds like some B grade techno thriller movie gone bad.

But when you think about just how much the human species relies on bees to pollonate the plants we eat, and those that feed the animals we eat it is downright scary.

60 and 70% of bees MIA?

BBBB · « **Reply #4 on:** April 17, 2007, 12:23:42 AM »

See Rule #7

tedrbr · « **Reply #5 on:** April 17, 2007, 01:04:24 AM »

Totally bogus. Many of the dead bees are found IN the hives and colonies.

I've seen several reports to the bee die offs in relation to a mite that has infested the colonies. Also possible vectors being looked at include: "mites and associated diseases, some unknown pathogenic disease and pesticide contamination or poisoning" (from a Penn State College of Agriculture Report). There is probably an environmental trigger as well (overall warmer weather propagating the mites or disease vectors for example).

For some reason, I trust a leading Agriculture College that's been studying it for a while now, over a UK rag called "The Independent" on this issue.

No doubt some scientists ARE suggesting this is all due to cell phones (they haven't been blamed for anything lately and are due), and that if these scientists were only to receive really big monetary grants to study the problem and possibilities, they will be able to tell us if it is the case.

tedrbr · « **Reply #6 on:** April 17, 2007, 01:08:01 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by BBBB
See Rule #7

Well. The bees are kinda important if you and a lot of others want to keep eating affordable foodstuffs in the future.

As to the powder coated yellow on your car? You live in an area with pine trees (or maybe a coal fired plant?) --- because it sounds like pollen from pine trees (or sulfer from a plant), which don't depend on bees. Many pollens don't, dependent on the wind and such instead (pines being a big one).

DiabloTX · « **Reply #7 on:** April 17, 2007, 01:12:07 AM »

A few weeks ago my dark blue Camaro was a pale yellow due to all of the pollen. We have some pine trees here but not nearly enough to cover all the cars in the area. I really miss the white paint of my '96 Camaro.

Yeager · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2007, 01:27:29 AM »

Ive noticed alot fewer bees over these past dozen years. Whos to say for sure, but the beekeepers associations are mighty concerned.

tedrbr · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2007, 01:33:01 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by DiabloTX
A few weeks ago my dark blue Camaro was a pale yellow due to all of the pollen. We have some pine trees here but not nearly enough to cover all the cars in the area. I really miss the white paint of my '96 Camaro.

You'd be surprised at how much pollen some varieties of pine trees can put out if they are healthy, or how far that pollen can travel.

Jackal1 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2007, 05:56:33 AM »

You boys been messing with the bees?

The Point

Blank · « **Reply #11 on:** April 17, 2007, 06:05:39 AM »

What Kind of Bees make Milk?

Boobies!!

:-D

Meatwad · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2007, 06:37:31 AM »

My favorite kind of bees

AquaShrimp · « **Reply #13 on:** April 17, 2007, 06:48:03 AM »

Lose the bees and we lose the pollinators. Lose the pollinators and we lose our food.

storch · « **Reply #14 on:** April 17, 2007, 07:04:30 AM »

lose our food and we will look like europeans

Author Topic: A Real Global Catastrophy (Read 846 times)

storch