On the backs of bees, humanity rests. As I'm sure you've heard, bees just might be the most important creatures on Earth. They pollinate the majority of crops worldwide and make it possible for our ever-growing agricultural needs. Sarina Jepson, Director of the Xerces conservation effort states: "Addressing the threats that the rusty-patched bumble bee faces will help not only this species but countless other native pollinators that are so critical to the functioning of natural ecosystems and agriculture."
Although we have known for a long time that bees are vital to our economy and ecology, not a single species of bee was protected under the Endangered Species title until 2017. After the furious petition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made steps to protect, but much damage has already been done.
The Us trails behind many countries in environmental protection, and this neglect has heightened dangerously during the stay of President Donald Trump.
For many of those in the thrall of capitalism, they cannot or refuse to appreciate the damage that is being done by or for them. If the environmental policy does not reach the cognition part of the brain, maybe this might: "Between US$235 billion and US$577 billion worth of annual global food production relies on direct contributions by pollinators." That means if we don't take action, our economy will collapse.
According to Green Peace, factors contributing to the bee devastation include: "pesticides, drought, habitat destruction, nutrition deficit, air pollution, global warming and more." To me, it sounds like the downfall of bees is a human instigation. To us, that means we are sabotaging the longevity of our future for corporate profit, convenience, and carelessness. It's bad enough that we are sacrificing the well being of an entire species from a moral perspective, and from a logical perspective, we are damaging the infrastructure of human prosperity in the name of human prosperity.
This makes two things very clear for me. One: The people in charge of structural lawmaking are not conscientious of conservation out of the desire for immediate gratification. Two: Those people will resist any change that threatens their plans.
The solution? Resist to protect.
There are important steps that must be taken to curb the damage done on our ecosystems.
1) Educate and spread awareness on rehabilitation, and deforestation. Spread word that it is not the circle of life that is doing this, it is the direct result of human behavior.
2) Support sustainably grown and managed farm practices, and take personal offense to those that neglect ecological health for profit.
3) For the love of God recycle and conserve when you can. I know it's hard, when places like Walmart offer thousands of easy and cheap trinkets. Shop second hand, buy locally, and REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR OWN BAG!
4) Do not torch bee nests, hunt animals for fun, or degrade habitat with pollution. Yellow jackets nests in public areas are a different story, but ethically they are no different. Animals were here before us and they deserve respect and care.
5) Be aware of corporate pesticide practices that endanger important insects. Resist those. Look for petitions on and off campus, and take a minute out of your day to contribute.
6) Become active in restoration and preservation organizations and movements. Alone, you cannot do much, but many people alone together can be the difference between the extinction of the bee and the extinction of the human.
You may be asking: Why college students? We are the lifeblood of upcoming society. Our youth and educations mean as a group, we are coming into a world where power is treated like a game, and our gift from our grandparents is an ecological disaster.
We need to act now as fresh innovators and passionate governors of the land.
This isn't a game, there is no restart button. There is no pause button. All we can do is what we must do: protect, conserve, and rebuild.