The European Citizens’ Initiative‘Save Bees and Farmers‘ needs at least one million signatures to be considered by the European Commission. Which, in agreement with the European Parliament, set a deadline of 3/31/21 to complete the operation.
‘Save the bees,’ lack of signatures in Italy
In some member countries , targets for collecting signatures in support of the European citizens’ initiative ‘Save the bees‘ have already been met. In other countries, including Italy, however, memberships are still low.
It is essential to understand some aspects:
– ‘Save the Bees‘ is not just another petition like so many (albeit agreeable) others. Instead, it is a people’s law initiative, at the European level(European Citizens’ Initiative). That is, an expression of democracy through which the citizens of the various member states ask the European legislature to introduce new binding rules,
– the personal information required to join the initiative includes ID details and must be filled out carefully just to ensure the eligibility of each signature collected,
– the rules being asked to be introduced are by no means futile. Because they pertain to the lives of bees but also to the lives of humans, as well as to the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity. The reasons for this initiative, which we have already shared, are recalled.
‘Save the bees’ and our future
From bees to man, the step is not that long. The same poisons that are exterminating bees and other pollinating insects, butterflies and fireflies, birds and more are also reaching humans. They become part of our diet as they pollute water sources and residue in food. And they cause toxicity.
European agricultural policy is severely affected by lobbying from Big Ag and Big 4 lobbyists, the corporations that dominate the global agrotoxin and seed market. The ‘gray reform’ of the CAP, voted on 20.10.20 by the European Parliament, is only the latest of the tragic examples. After theapproval of Monsanto’s GMO soybeans designed to resist the trio of carcinogenic and genotoxic poisons(dicamba, glyphosate and glufosinate ammonium).
The demands
The European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Savebeesand farmers’ calls on EU institutions to take concrete steps to promote agroecology. Three points are proposed for discussion by our representatives in the European Union:
In order to protect bees and people’s health, we call on the Commission to propose legal acts to phase out synthetic pesticides by 2035, restore biodiversity, and support farmers during the transition phase.
– Phase out synthetic pesticides from European agriculture by 80 percent by 2030, starting with the most dangerous, to 100 percent by 2035;
– restore natural ecosystems in agricultural areas by making agriculture a vector for biodiversity recovery;
– Reforming the agricultural sector by prioritizing small-scale, diversified and sustainable agriculture, supporting a rapid increase in agroecological and organic practices, and enabling independent farmer training and research in pesticide-free and GMO farming.
Change is possible
The campaign is organized by Aurelia Foundation (Germany), BUND (Germany), European Association of Professional Beekeepers (EU), Los Amigos de la Tierra Europa (EU), Générations Futures (France), Global 2000 (Austria), Pesticide Action Network Europe (EU), Slow Food (EU), Umweltinstitut München (Germany). More than 140 associations are participating.
In Italy is supported by Change the Earth, Stop Pesticides March, Malles Way (Anti-Pesticide Commune), FederBio, Revine Lago Mothers Group, Consumers and Taxpayers Defense, Green Jackets Bronte, Hollawint, ISDE (physicians for the environment), Ramazzini Institute, LIPU, Legambiente, Navdanya International, No Pesticides of Azzano Decimo, Biosphere Promoters Group Association, WWF. As well as, of course, by us and Égalité Onlus.
Change can be made, just sign here and ask our loved ones to do the same. Thank you
Marta Strinati and Dario Dongo
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
