I think this is the beginnings of an economy based on perpetual growth and fossil fuel energy running headlong into geological energy constraints. Basically I see an undulatory downward path for the rest of my life. From here out, I think any rallies in our economic condition are going to be met with spiking commodity prices that knock us right back down.
Joined: May 27, 2007 Posts: 1723 Location: The Post Peak Oil Historian
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:02 am Post subject: Bayer on defensive in bee deaths
Bayer CropScience is facing scrutiny because of the effect one of its best-selling pesticides has had on honeybees.
A German prosecutor is investigating Werner Wenning, Bayer's chairman, and Friedrich Berschauer, the head of Bayer CropScience, after critics alleged that they knowingly polluted the environment.
The investigation was triggered by an Aug. 13 complaint filed by German beekeepers and consumer protection advocates, a Coalition against Bayer Dangers spokesman, Philipp Mimkes, said Monday.
The complaint is part of efforts by groups on both sides of the Atlantic to determine how much Bayer CropScience knows about the part that clothianidin may have played in the death of millions of honeybees.
Bayer CropScience, which has its U.S. headquarters in Research Triangle Park, said field studies have shown that bees' exposure to the pesticide is minimal or nonexistent if the chemical is used properly.
Clothianidin and related pesticides generated about $1 billion of Bayer CropScience's $8.6 billion in global sales last year. The coalition is demanding that the company withdraw all of the pesticides.
"We're suspecting that Bayer submitted flawed studies to play down the risks of pesticide residues in treated plants," said Harro Schultze, the coalition's attorney.
"Bayer's ... management has to be called to account, since the risks ... have now been known for more than 10 years."
Under German law, a criminal investigation could lead to a search of Bayer offices, Mimkes said.
On the other side of the Atlantic, the Natural Resources Defense Council is pressing for research information on clothianidin.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the pesticide in 2003 under the condition that Bayer submit additional data. A lawsuit, which the environmental group filed Aug. 19 in federal court in Washington, accuses the EPA of hiding the honeybee data.
So the Bush Administration's EPA policies are responsible for the death of the Bees as well. I mean, how evil could one group of people be. _________________ In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. - George Orwell
It riles them to believe that you perceive the webs they weave. - Moody Blues
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:15 am Post subject: Re: Bayer on defensive in bee deaths
Cid_Yama wrote:
I mean, how evil could one group of people bee?.
They bee very evil. Very. _________________ Massive Human Dieoff must occur as a result of Peak Oil. Many more than half will die. It will occur everywhere, including where you live. If you fail to recognize this, then your odds of living move toward the "going to die" group.
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:33 am Post subject: Re: Bayer on defensive in bee deaths
Well lets see. This is the company that A: invented heroine. B: was the primary supplier of chemical weapons to Germany during WWI C: used slave labor from concentration camps during WWII, D: was heavily involved in medical experimentation on concentration camp prisoners, E: made zyklon B to gas concentration camp prisoners, and F: had it's CEO sentenced to prison by the Nuremberg tribunal following WWII.
They've been accused of knowingly leaving several bad medicines on the market causing numerous human deaths. They're in a pissing match with FDA right now because they don't want farmers to stop using their antibiotics in chicken feed causing antibiotics resistance and countless human deaths.
So yeah. Causing the extinction of honeybees probably wouldn't even make the top ten list for bad acts by Bayer. _________________ "So while you sit and whistle Dixie with your money and your power.
I can hear the flowers a-growin in the rubble of the towers.
I hear leaders quit their lying
I hear babies quit their crying.
I hear soldiers quit their dying, one and all." - OCMS
Joined: Jun 28, 2005 Posts: 523 Location: The Netherlands
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:08 am Post subject: Re: Bayer on defensive in bee deaths
smallpoxgirl wrote:
Well lets see. This is the company that A: invented heroine.
I'm not defending Bayer here, but you have to tell the whole truth.
Heroin was not invented as an addictive drug, but for cough treatment.
Quote:
B: was the primary supplier of chemical weapons to Germany during WWI C: used slave labor from concentration camps during WWII,
This happened throughout Germany during WWII. For instance, slave labor was used by municipalities for dealing with the effects of bombing raids. Despicable, sure.
Quote:
D: was heavily involved in medical experimentation on concentration camp prisoners, E: made zyklon B to gas concentration camp prisoners,
Not completely true. Zyklon B was produced by Degesch, which was a 42,4% subsidary of IG Farben, a conglomerate of firms which also included Bayer.
Once again, I'm not defending Bayer here, just trying to tone down the rhetoric for a bit. Chemical industry as a whole does not always live up to humanitarian and ecological standards, putting it mildly. Here's one other of the usual suspects:
Quote:
Du Pont’s GM and Rockefeller’s Standard Oil of New Jersey collaborated with I.G. Farben, the Nazi chemical cartel, to form Ethyl GmbH. This subsidiary, now called Ethyl Inc., built German factories to give the Nazis leaded gas fuel (synthetic tetraethyl fuel) for their military vehicles (1936-1939).
link _________________ The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.
Joined: Apr 08, 2006 Posts: 1442 Location: Somewhere there
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:37 am Post subject: Re: Bayer on defensive in bee deaths
smallpoxgirl wrote:
Well lets see. This is the company that A: invented heroine. B: was the primary supplier of chemical weapons to Germany during WWI C: used slave labor from concentration camps during WWII, D: was heavily involved in medical experimentation on concentration camp prisoners, E: made zyklon B to gas concentration camp prisoners, and F: had it's CEO sentenced to prison by the Nuremberg tribunal following WWII.
They've been accused of knowingly leaving several bad medicines on the market causing numerous human deaths. They're in a pissing match with FDA right now because they don't want farmers to stop using their antibiotics in chicken feed causing antibiotics resistance and countless human deaths.
So yeah. Causing the extinction of honeybees probably wouldn't even make the top ten list for bad acts by Bayer.
WOW
all that since 1863 and 5 billion euros in profits last year. Definetly a buy. A buy and HOLD.
The explosion at the Bayer CropScience plant, which could be felt miles away, happened about 10:25 p.m. Thursday. State Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Kathy Cosco said the primary chemical involved, methyl isobutyl ketone, is highly flammable but not especially toxic.
_________________ "Every junkie's like a setting sun..." - Neil Young
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:57 am Post subject: Re: Bayer on defensive in bee deaths
There was a news article about this on Coast to Coast AM radio show last night. Linda Moulton Howe, who is a Science reporter, reporting on the ongoing problems with colony collapse cited Bayer in her report last night, exactly what Cid Yama wrote on.
George Noory comes on and reports to her the (then) breaking news of the Bayer plant explosion (what Shanny posted on) and I thought LMH was going to pop right through the radio, she was so excited. It was "so" weird timing....
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: Bayer on defensive in bee deaths
drgoodword wrote:
smallpoxgirl wrote:
So yeah. Causing the extinction of honeybees probably wouldn't even make the top ten list for bad acts by Bayer.
This would be a catastrophe almost on par with peak oil. It would definitely be #1 on their list.
FYI to the list..
I run garden centers, and we had a H-U-G-E trade show here in Chicago last week at Navy Pier, a buying show where we purchase what we are going to need for next year's sales (gloves, hats, rakes, garden soils, chemicals, etc. besides different growers showcasing their plants. ya get the drift).
So, I'm walking down the aisle and there's this gigantic display that Bayer puts out, and they were NO WHERE in this market place just 3 or so years ago. They desperately want a share of the pie, and are making a concerted effort to do so.
I just walk on by to the Organic vendors like Espoma and Dr. Earth to place my store's orders...sigh..
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