" ... and I do hereby swear to protect the bees and bats."
Posted on 06/21/2014 5:01:14 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
President Obama is hoping his latest executive action will create lots of buzz.
Obama signed a presidential memorandum on Friday ordering the federal government to develop a plan for protecting pollinators such as honey bees, butterflies, birds and bats in response to mounting concerns about the impact of dwindling populations on American crops.
"The problem is serious and requires immediate attention to ensure the sustainability of our food production systems, avoid additional economic impact on the agricultural sector, and protect the health of the environment," Obama said in the memo, which was sent to Cabinet secretaries and agency heads.
According to the White House, the number of bee colonies in the United States has declined from 6 million in 1947 to 2.5 million today. Some crops, including almonds, rely almost exclusively on pollination from honeybees, and honeybee pollination alone is responsible for $15 billion in value every year.
Although scientists can't fully explain why bee colonies are dying off, a combination of stressors, including the loss of their natural habitats and exposure to certain pesticides, is thought to be responsible.
Under the president's order, the government will establish a new task force tasked with developing a "coordinated research action plan" to help better understand and prevent the loss of pollinating species.
Government agencies will also be tasked with developing plans to enhance habitats for pollinating species on federal lands. And agencies will partner with local governments, farmers, and the business community in a bid to increase the quality and availability of available habitats for the species.
Additionally, the president has requested $50 million in his 2015 budget for the Department of Agriculture to help study and prevent pollinator loss.
"Given the breadth, severity, and persistence of pollinator losses, it is critical to expand federal efforts and take new steps to reverse pollinator losses and help restore populations to healthy levels," Obama said. "These steps should include the development of new public-private partnerships and increased citizen engagement."
The boy is a loon.
Obama gives order to protect moonbats.
There fixed it.
Clearly this urgent crisis requires the government to adopt sweeping new powers over private property and enact massive new taxes.
What was the problem again?
the only thing that will protect us would be if he was to trip and fall down the steps of Air force one and break his neck
wind farms slaughter bats.
Bee habitat ——— We’re gonna plant flowers.
And sgt. Tamorese still sits in a Mexican prison...priorities.
" ... and I do hereby swear to protect the bees and bats."
I’m all for protecting useful wildlife like bees, bats, birds, etc., and you’re right that banning big solar and wind farms makes sense. That Obama and his cronies do the opposite for ideological reasons is yet more proof they can’t be trusted on this, either.
I give up . You can’t explain this crap to anyone
“The boy is a loon.”
No kidding!
With all the problems his policies have caused you would think he would shut the hell up and hide. Instead he thinks this is important when many people can’t find jobs!
You pretty much summed it up in five words.
I was gonna use three more.
WTF!!!
We’ve got a “humanitarian tragedy” going on along our southern border and Barry is worried about the birds and the bees. What a pathetic moron.
White nose disease is another killer of bats.
As for bees, I was reading that the loss of beekeepers is a much bigger factor than anyone mentions.
Birds and bees regulations!
It is a sting operation.
Just when you think he can’t get more absurd he proves us wrong again!
Nanny State PING!
If our bees die, we will have a major humanitarian crisis.
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