Monday, 11 January 2021

R is For Reneging

Bees are important pollinators. It has been shown that the neonicotinoid thiamethoxan incapacitates and kills them. This led to a EU-wide ban on the agricultural use of this pesticide, something that the UK government pledged they would maintain post-Brexit. It now appears that, after intense lobbying by British Sugar and The National Farmer's Union, the pesticide is now legal for UK use in 'emergencies' (i.e. when the farmer wants to use it). This is impressively fast reneging (going back on a previous commitment). One might almost describe it as 'world class' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/09/pesticide-believed-kill-bees-authorised-use-england-eu-farmers)!

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