[Artie Fufkin]

It could be that humankind, indeed life on earth as we know it, will cease due to the rapidly declining bee population.

Einstein supposedly said "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man."

...and this seems to be happening now. In the US, bee population has fallen 90% in the last 50 years and in the last couple of years the decline has become far more immediate and globally widespread. There are various reasons being put forward but whether this decline is due to GM crops, mobile phones, land development or disease no-one can say for sure.

Honestly, this sounds to me to be a more serious situation than climate change. [Unless, of course, climate change is the cause].

[njp]

Originally Posted by kherm

Einstein supposedly said "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man."

I'm pretty sure he didn't. Not that I'm underestimating the importance of bees, you understand. I just don't think Einstein had anything to say on the subject. And even if he had, his remarks would have been rather less interesting than those of someone who actually knew something about bees...

I haven't read much about the bee crisis (real or imagined). All I've seen recently was what looked like some extremely dodgy research blaming mobile phones!

Originally Posted by njp

I haven't read much about the bee crisis (real or imagined). All I've seen recently was what looked like some extremely dodgy research blaming mobile phones!

This looks more recent
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-sci-b...iewed-homepage

[njp]

That looks a lot more plausible. Thanks.

[MikeTV]

I still want to know what's happened to the sparrows. In the absence of any evidence, I put it down to climate change.

[johntheexpat]

Originally Posted by MikeTV

I still want to know what's happened to the sparrows. In the absence of any evidence, I put it down to climate change.

If you want sparrows, come to Maine et Loire and get them. 100's of the blooming things sitting around my garden, eating all the young veg, singing their little hearts out at 4am, scoffing the chickens food and generally being a pain.
(Almost sounds like a description of the ex-pat community round here)

[Artie Fufkin]

It does seem that Einstien's remark is considered to be a myth after all, although it's message may not be far off the mark. The decline in bee population is real enough:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...14/wbees14.xml

http://environment.newscientist.com/...bees-gone.html

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...473166,00.html

http://www.beeculture.com/content/Co...seDisorder.cfm

[Fusewire]

I was watching a report on sky news from the US on the bee population dwindling a couple of weeks ago....

What was strange was that there were no dead bees.

They just seemed to disapear without trace, which obviously made it difficult to determine the cause not having any dead bees to examine.

To demonstarte they set up a hive and the next day there was no trace of any bees at all they just seem to have flown away - very strange indeed.

[njp]

Originally Posted by johntheexpat

If you want sparrows, come to Maine et Loire and get them. 100's of the blooming things sitting around my garden, eating all the young veg, singing their little hearts out at 4am, scoffing the chickens food and generally being a pain.

After a rather tiring kayaking trip yesterday, I slumped in front of the TV watching a series of programmes on UK TV History called A Natural History: Wild Europe. Quite a lot about Man's impact on the environment through the ages, which should have been required viewing for anyone who doubts it. But I digress... One of the sequences covered the problems Rome has with sparrows in the winter. They see the city as a welcome island of heat, and descend on it in their millions, deluging it with buckets of highly corrosive crap in the process. It all looked very unpleasant.

[johntheexpat]

When it comes to the demise of The Bees, I think it's tragic. I've followed their fortunes ever since I was a nipper and it breaks my heart to see them disappearing like they have, perhaps never to return to their previous levels of importance and influence, and as for leaving The Hive, well I know Griffin Park isn't the best football ground, but it is home and anywhere else just wouldn't be the same.
Good luck Terry Butcher, Brentford FC deserve better than Div 2

[johntheexpat]

Originally Posted by njp

After a rather tiring kayaking trip yesterday, ....

Practising what you preach, that's the spirit. Everyone else would have taken the car......

[Reign-Mack]

didnt the US have tv programs not to long ago about the African Killer Bees taking over in huge numbers

[Wellington Tim]

Originally Posted by johntheexpat

When it comes to the demise of The Bees, I think it's tragic. I've followed their fortunes ever since I was a nipper and it breaks my heart to see them disappearing like they have, perhaps never to return to their previous levels of importance and influence, and as for leaving The Hive, well I know Griffin Park isn't the best football ground, but it is home and anywhere else just wouldn't be the same.
Good luck Terry Butcher, Brentford FC deserve better than Div 2

I think the decline of the bees started when non-league Telford United beat them in the FA Cup 2nd round a few years ago.