<
https://cleantechnica.com/2023/06/10/new-york-protects-the-birds-the-bees-with-nation-leading-legislation/>
"Albany, NY — The New York State Legislature has passed the Birds and Bees
Protection Act (A.7640/S.1856A), a first-in-the-nation bill that would rein in
the use of neurotoxic neonicotinoid pesticides (“neonics”), which now heads to
Governor Hochul’s desk for her signature. The Birds and Bees Protection Act
bans the neonic uses that in-depth Cornell University shows provide no economic
benefits to users or are replaceable with safer, effective alternatives —
specifically neonic coatings on corn, soybean, and wheat seeds and lawn and
garden uses (with an exception for invasive species treatments). This
eliminates 80%–90% of the neonics entering New York’s environment yearly.
Neonics are linked to massive bee and bird losses that impact food production,
contaminate New York water and soil, and create human health concerns,
especially with recent testing showing rising levels of neonics in 95+% of
pregnant women from New York and four other states. While the Birds & Bees
Protection Act does not go as far as Europe’s total outdoor neonic ban, and
Canada has largely phased out neonic-coated corn and soybean seeds, it is the
first law to address neonic seed coatings in the U.S. — far and away the
largest and most widespread neonic use nationwide.
On May 5, 2023, the EPA released an assessment finding that use three neonic
chemicals likely jeopardizes the continued existence of 200+ species — or ~11%
of the entire endangered species list — effectively admitting EPA’s approvals
of the pesticides broadly violated the Endangered Species Act. The astounding
finding is unprecedented in scope, although perhaps not as shocking considering
what we already know about neonics.
Support for the Birds & Bees Protection Act came from a wide range of
environmental, health, garden, social justice, and farm groups. This includes
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), Sierra Club – Atlantic Chapter,
Citizens Campaign for the Environment, the Northeast Organic Farming
Association of New York (NOFA-NY), Environmental Advocates of New York, Clean +
Healthy, Riverkeeper, Damascus Citizens for Sustainability, Catskill
Mountainkeeper, NAACP New York Conference, New York League of Conservation
Voters, National Audubon Society, Friends of the Earth, the Bee Conservancy, WE
ACT for Environmental Justice, American Bird Conservancy, the American Academy
of Pediatrics, the Just Green Partnership, Mothers Out Front Capitol Region,
Physicians for Social Responsibility – NY, Earthjustice, League of Humane
Voters of New York, Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition, The Climate
Reality Project, the New York Sustainable Business Council, Pollinator Pathway,
and the Bedford, Rochester, and Fort Orange Garden Clubs."
Via
Future Crunch:
<
https://futurecrunch.com/good-news-inequality-aids-south-africa-tortoises-galapagos/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
