Bee Friendly Or You'll Bee Sorry

Honeybee,  Photo by Alexander Woodloaf

I don’t know about you but when a bee fly’s into my face the first thing that pops in my mind is to KILL IT. What about you? Yes, you too? Perfect, you and I both are great examples of following Anthropocentrism (regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence) I mean what is a bee to us anyway? Humans are strong, independent, and smart. Why does a bee matter in our life? Right? ... oh my goodness I could never have been so wrong. 

According to an Article by Michael McCarthy, the Environment Editor of the Independent, The Decline of honey bees has been in effect as of the mid 1960’s in Europe and the US soon realized they were in the same boat in 2007, close to 30 percent of the nation’s 2 million-plus managed honeybee colonies were failing, almost three times  as many as usual, and a third of those were collapsing in mysterious circumstances. Now as of the year 2011 (today) the disappearance of honeybees is resulting into a global Phenomenon according to the United Nations. It is stated that with these decrease in bees the importance of crop pollination is at an all time high and increasing yearly. Many theories of why this is happening is everything to 

-Habitat degradation (loss of food for bees resulting in death)

-Air pollution, which is said to interfere with the ability for the bees to find food or their way home resulting in death

-Cell phones, the signals that cellular devices give off effect the bees way to find its way home

-Expansion of city life and the distinction of the countryside have declined several homes for bees.

Thus being said all these theories lead to one thing...us...HUMANS are not only killing bees but are also killing our own future. 

According to the reading by Merchant the the question of nature and mans relationship is brought to a point. Is nature there for man to control or is man there to learn and prosper along side it? Are we here alongside nature side by side as equals? According to the bee article it clearly states we are both in need of one another maybe even us humans in need of the bees more. "The fact is that of the 100 crop species that provide 90 per cent of the world's food, over 70 are pollinated by bees.” The reading published by Merchant presents that earlier years the natives embraced the land, became one with nature and all “her” teachings. That idea was later lost in “Modern Thought” when Europeans came into the belief of domination of nature. “For some men care only to know nature, others desire to command her” p46. Now today we result in the Humanistic ways that are fully concurring our worldview as well as the practice of Egocentrism (thinking only of oneself, without regard for the feelings or desires of others). Our world has fully become absorbed in what is good for humans and humans only. According to Merchant today we learn everything about nature and earth through science and every technical scientific explanation. The 20th century view stands at, all objects on earth are here to assure man’s domination over the earth and planets. Throughout time everything from DNA- Biotechnology and Laws based on nature help man figure out the meaning and understanding of our relationship with nature. Through all this man has lost total understanding in whats important and that’s maintaining an equal and healthy balance between nature and ourselves."Bees underline the reality that we are more, not less, dependent on nature's services in a world of close to seven billion people." 

All in all, we need not only the bees but all that nature has to offer us. "Human beings have fabricated the illusion that in the 21st century they have the technological prowess to be independent of nature." we cannot survive alone no matter what they believe. Facts are facts and the world around us and what is on it need to work together to create a better and healthier life.

By Schyler DuVall


Resources and related websites and videos:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/honey-bees-dying-scientists-suspect-pesticides-disease-worry/story?id=10191391

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/decline-of-honey-bees-now-a-global-phenomenon-says-united-nations-2237541.html

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/03/birds-bees-and-fish-why-are-so-many-ceratures-dying-in-2011/

videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEFvk3bJ4HY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbLyxH4MbQA