Killing the bees

[George]

I was quite disturbed when I just read this article about how our cell phone signals are obviously the reason for the world's sudden dwindling population of bees. This article sounds very serious:

http://inhabitat.com/its-official-ce...-killing-bees/

[wdhpr]

One possible solution is to outfit each bee with a tiny GPS device.

[MidnightCowboy]

The fact that the bee population is in decline worldwide is already accepted but I don't quite get this bit...

"Led by researcher Daniel Favre, the alarming study found that bees reacted significantly to cellphones that were placed near or in hives in call-making mode".

I can't see that this in itself poses any threat as long as beekeepers are not amongst the "connected" set (LOL) complete with protective net for their headset I could understand if the signal transmitting towers were involved because the strength of this disturbance is likely to be felt over a much wider area. In any case, one has to remember that most of the "connected" set, bless their little ipods tend to frequent places likes towns and cities, whereas most of the bumblys tend to be amongst the flowers in the countryside. Of course there are bees in built up areas too, including the cultivated variety, but I think the numbers in close proximity to cellphones are still very small compared to the scale of the decline.

Maybe I'm missing something, but this looks more like an attempt to promote a cause or lifestyle, rather than a solid attempt to provide real evidence.

[Sope]

That is indeed worrying if it turns out to be confirmed as true.

I can't see human beings wanting to give up their mobile phones even if it was necessary in order to save the human race!

Of course a phone ringing inside a beehive is very different from the bees coming into contact with mobile transmissions in the atmosphere. Lets hope it's just another scare story hyped by the Daily Mail (it's good at those).

[MidnightCowboy]

Originally Posted by Sope

Lets hope it's just another scare story hyped by the Daily Mail (it's good at those).

No as good as the Sunday Sport used to be
250px-Spurt1.jpg

[Sope]

Originally Posted by MidnightCowboy

No as good as the Sunday Sport used to be
Attachment 951

I'm surprised you managed to find a page shot of the Sunday Sport that was acceptable to be displayed on the forum

[wdhpr]

Actually the diminishing number of bee's are a major concern. Farmers in my area actually rent bee hives to pollinate their crops. I just think its premature to blame it on cell phones despite the 83 experiments. Many crops are dusted with insecticides which may be a major component to the problem. My neighbor raised bees and his major die offs were disease related.

[MidnightCowboy]

Originally Posted by wdhpr

Actually the diminishing number of bee's are a major concern. Farmers in my area actually rent bee hives to pollinate their crops. I just think its premature to blame it on cell phones despite the 83 experiments. Many crops are dusted with insecticides which may be a major component to the problem. My neighbor raised bees and his major die offs were disease related.

This was my understanding too. The march of the African killer bee and a kind of mite are already proven contributors. Still very unsure where mobiles might fit into this.

[MidnightCowboy]

Originally Posted by Sope

I'm surprised you managed to find a page shot of the Sunday Sport that was acceptable to be displayed on the forum

This one was more tasteful than most and nothing worse than you will see on any beech I could have opted for the "Mum Gives Birth To 8LB Trout" story but thought better of it