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It was only a few weeks ago that I started reading about the plight of commercial bees in Oregon, where I live, and other nearby agricultural states: some mysterious force was causing what's called "Colony Collapse Disorder" for untold (but, by all guesses, large) numbers of bees used for pollinating crops up and down the Pacific Coast. One beekeeper said that the vast majority of his colonies had just disappeared -- the bees would leave, and never return to the hive, presumably dying from hunger. Despite the seeming widespread nature of the problem, agricultural authorities wouldn't confirm its severity, and no one had solid numbers. Until now, a variety of unrelated and unsatisfactory theories had been surfaced, though none even seemed half-right. Global warming. A bad batch of the high-fructose corn syrup typically used to feed commercial bees. Genetically modified crops. Pesticides. Mites. In the past few days I've seen several bees around my home, buzzing in and then fizzling out, dying slow, awful deaths on the sidewalk or windowsill. My stomach began to sink. Bees are vital to the health of so many of the world's plants. What could be done?
Now a report from Britain, where bee losses are still denied by agricultural authorities, although beekeepers are raising the alarm (U.S. beekeepers claim 60% of West Coast populations and 70% of East Coast bees have vanished): cell phone signals are disrupting bees' natural navigation systems. While alarmist, it makes sense; when cell phones are on, they're constantly crying for attention, pinging whatever tower is nearby every few minutes so that the home tower can keep track of the signal and send in whatever calls or messages come its way. Think of all the millions of pings that bounce back and forth across agricultural areas every week.
I'm not a conspiracy theorist and never worried about fears that cell phones cause brain cancer and cell death (although the reports seem to indicate this could be true). But after reading these reports my first urge is to turn off all the cell phones in the family and only use them for emergencies. If this is true, cell phones could become the SUV of 2008; a public display of a human putting its own comfort above the needs of the environment at large. And I'm sticking to land-based stocks for now!
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Reader Comments (Page 4 of 4)
4-22-2007 @ 4:56PM
RUsure said...
I have no idea if cell phones kill bees.
I was reminded that telcos and cellcos spent billions on the microwave emission problem due to a scientist who kept proclaiming the threat. His news releases were on the front page. What was buried in the newspapers was the fact that someone finally decided to replicate his research and in the process found it was fraudulent but a good way to get lots of grants and publicity. I believe, but I don't know, that he ended up in jail.
Whatever the problem is, let's get a Univ. of Calif.at Davis, a Michigan State, a Cornell - places with agricultural schools of name - to jointly address the issue.
4-30-2007 @ 6:40PM
Karen said...
When I was younger I'd always see lots of honeybees everywhere. As time as move on, I have noticed that I hardly see honeybees at all. When we lose our honeybees we're going to be in a world without plants to eat. Without the honeybees where are we going to be getting our food to survive. There won't be much or any plant life available for us to eat.
This needs to looked into more deeply on the use of the cell phone usage. Pesticides kill the honeybees too. Along with pollution. The air has gotten worse as time as moved on. Look at your city that you live in. Have you notice the ucky haze that is hanging above the buildings? This is a health factor not only for us, the honeybees and other living creatures and plants. We 'all' need to 'help' out to stop our honeybees from becoming an endangered species. Soon they'll be extincted.
Yes, I have a cell phone. I use it very sparely and it is off most of the time.
4-30-2007 @ 7:57PM
Jeremy Simmons said...
I am a documentary filmmaker working on a documentary about bees. I would love to hear from beekeepers who have lost a significant number of their bees. Please feel free to contact me at jsimmons@worldofwonder.net. Thanks and Im looking forward to hearing your stories.
5-01-2007 @ 12:12PM
Dan said...
I was a hobby type beekeeper until back in the '80s when it became necessary to medicate them because of varroa mites, tracheal, etc. The local sheriff's dept called me to capture swarms, but this no longer happens. What makes me discount the theory that it is basic health problems that is causing the problem is the fact that dead bees are not in the vicinity of the hives. In this area (western North Carolina) feral bees are very rarely seen. I'm currently setting out sugared water to see if any are attracted to it - so far there have been none. Our local bee club meets on the first Monday of each month, so I'll be attending to if current beekeepers or the state bee inspector will have any new info on the subject.
Were it conclusively proven that cell phones are causing the problem, I don't think the public would be the determining factor on their continued use. Nor could cell phone companies have much say in the matter. The real threat of massive starvation would trump. Anyone for homing pigeons ? You could cross them with owls and woodpeckers so you could receive messages at night, with a knock on the door.
5-10-2007 @ 9:38AM
Daniel Sherwood said...
1. Gaday Guys
Dan from Perth Western Australia.
It’s Bloody obvious what’s happening.
These ideas of pesticides are all crap.
Why has Australia got all the bees?
We are not fucking NUCLIER that’s why.
FRANCE has zero carbon emission because it’s fully NUCLEAR.So what happen there?
All the bees die off and the ones that are surviving are mutating to survive if they can.
Has anyone read Sir Charles Darwin Esquire “the Origin of the Species”?
The survival of the fittest.
Did dent Einstein say that man would become extinct 7 years after the bee’s do?
I’m no scientists but I am bipolar, not crazy but not stupid.
The poor bees are so sensitive that the unmeasurable amount of radiation coming out of nuclear reactors is stuffing up their sense of direction and they can’t find their way home and die.
The Cell phones idea may also contribute but we got those hear in OZ too. Not as many mind you.
Just like the whales beach themselves from the navy sonar.
I doubt very much that I will be listened too because the government will loose zillions in shutting down power stations. The poor bees are just going to Mutate. Doe’s that mean we have too?
Or are we already Mutating too?
Could that be the reason for increased cases of depression, ADD, ADHD suicide?
Anyway if we can get enough people, we can change the bloody governments.
2. If anyone wants to contact me for questions call me on my cell 0437808340
3. If calling from overseas call +61437808340