Become a Power Pollinator
Spread the Word & Lobby for Better Policies
The Insect Apocalypse is here and it will have widespread consequences. but it's not too late to take action. We can rally together to help pollinators in our communities and demand change:
Agribusinesses must cease the use of pesticides, harmful not only to pollinators, but also the environment and humans.
Shift culture through required, accessible education for horticultural and agricultural workers.
Increase awareness around the way the food we purchase is grown and how consumer choices matter.
How to Help
Read, learn and share - starting with the links below - to spread the word about protecting our pollinators.
Consider hosting letter- or postcard-writing campaigns.
Get the word out when voting will impact legislature.
ACTION ITEM:
Global Impacts in the News
Global pollinator losses causing 500,000 early deaths a year – study (The Guardian, 2023)
The Insect Apocalypse is Here (New York Times, 2018)
Insect 'apocalypse' in U.S. driven by 50x increase in toxic pesticides (National Geographic, 2019)
Alarm as pesticides spur rapid decline of US bird species (The Guardian, 2020)
An assessment of acute insecticide toxicity loading (AITL) of chemical pesticides used on agricultural land in the United States (Plos One, 2019)
‘Insect apocalypse’ poses risk to all life on Earth, conservationists warn (The Guardian, 2019)
Is the Insect Apocalypse Really Upon Us? (The Atlantic, 2019)
See Kim Eierman, author and environmentalist, talk about what's happening in her conversation with Bedford 2020.
Organizations & Initiatives for Environmental Change
State and Federal Legislature
Right to Clean Air and Water, Environmental Rights Amendment, New York Proposal 2
Birds and Bees Protection Act, Senate bill S5816, Senate Bill S699B
New York State Pollinator Protection Plan, 2016 and the New York State Pollinator Protection Plan Update, 2018
Lobby for NYS Senate to pass Senate Bill S7599 to prohibit the use of gas-powered leaf and lawn blowers during certain months statewide
Insect Watch & Counter Initiatives
Bumblebee Watch, a collaborative effort to track and conserve North America's bumble bees