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BURT'S BEES IS NOW OWNED BY CLOROX AND THEY NOW RIDICULOUSLY SUPPORT BAYER, THE COMPANY PRODUCING BEE KILLING PESTICIDES!

8/31/2015

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In 1946 the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal concluded that without IG Farben the Second World War would simply not have been possible. The Chief Prosecutor, Telford Taylor, warned: "These companies, (BAYER being one) not the lunatic Nazi fanatics, are the main war criminals. If the guilt of these criminals is not brought to daylight and if they are not punished, they will pose a much greater threat to the future peace of the world than Hitler if he were still alive."
Bayer Corporation manufactures an insect neurotoxin called Clothianidin, (a pesticide) clearly linked to massive bee die offs. Bayer knows the truth. Bayer knows its product kills pollinators. But it's a choice of profit over caring. 
sign/share the petition by clicking here or on the image below
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Below is the history of the BAYER company. They shouldn't even be in business after what they did during WWII. This should be taught in school. 
SOURCE

"Bayer AG is a chemical and pharmaceutical giant founded in Barmen, Germany in 1863 by Friedrich Bayer and his partner, Johann Friedrich Weskott. Today it has its headquarters in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It trademarked acetylsalicylic acid as aspirin in 1899. It also trademarked heroin a year earlier, then marketed it world-wide for decades as a cough medicine for children "without side-effects", despite the well known dangers of addiction.

During the First World War, Bayer turned its attention to the manufacture of chemical weapons including chlorine gas, which was used to horrendous effect in the trenches. It also built up a "School for Chemical Warfare". During this time Bayer formed a close relationship with other German chemical firms, including BASF and Hoechst. This relationship was formalised in 1925 when Bayer was one of the chemical companies that merged to form the massive German conglomerate Interessengemeinschaft Farben or IG Farben, for short. It was the largest single company in Germanyand it became the single largest donor to Hitler's election campaign. After Hitler came to power, IG Farben worked in close collaboration with the Nazis, becoming the largest profiteer from the Second World War. Amongst much else, IG Farbenproducedall the explosives for the Germanmilitary and systematically looted the chemical industries of occupied Europe. It's been described as the Nazis' "industrial jackal" following in the wake of Hitler's armies.

During the Second World War, IG Farben used slave labour in many of its factories and mines and by 1944 more than 83,000 forced labourers and death camp inmates had been put to work in the IG Farben camp at Auschwitz in Nazi-occupied Poland. Auschwitz was a vast labour and death camp where more human beings were put to death than were killed in the whole of World War I. It was comprised by 3 main camps: Auschwitz I, a concentration camp; Auschwitz II (Birkenau), an extermination camp in which by 1944 some 6,000 people a day were being killed; and Auschwitz III, which supplied slave labour for the nearby IG Farben plant (Buna-Werke, also known as IG Auschwitz).

IG Farben's Auschwitz plant was a massive industrial complex. The largest outside of Germany, it consumed as much electricity as the entire city of Berlin. Built and run by slave labour, it is thought - at a conservative estimate - to have cost at least 35,000 lives. In 1941, Otto Armbrust, the IG Farben board member responsible for IG Farben's Auschwitz project, told his colleagues, "our new friendship with the SS is a blessing. We have determined all measures integrating the concentration camps to benefit our company." But not only did thousands of slave labourersdie from the conditions in which they worked for IG Farben, those camp inmates who were viewed astoo sick or weak to continue to labour in the IG Auschwitz plant were selectedfor the gas chambers. IG Farben paid 100,000 reichsmarks each year to the SS and in return was assured a continuous supply of fresh slave labour, while being "relieved" of unfit inmates.

Elie Wiesel, the writer, Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor, came to Auschwitz in 1944 and was sent with his father to IG Farben's Buna work camp. That same year, the Holocaust survivor and author Primo Levi was among 125 men selected at the railhead for labour at IG's Buna-Werke. One of only 3 survivors from this group, Levi later wrote about his experiences in searing detail: "A fortnight after my arrival there I already had the prescribed hunger, that chronic hunger unknown to free men... On the back of my feet I already have those numb sores that will not heal. I push wagons, I work with a shovel, I turn rotten in the rain, I shiver in the wind, already my own body is no longer mine: my belly is swollen, my limbs emaciated." In Night, Elie Wiesel's acclaimed memoir of his personal experiences of the Holocaust, he describes how veterans of IG's Buna-Werke told those who had arrived there late in the war that the brutal treatment they were experiencing was as nothing to what had previously been endured by the IG work force: "No water, no blankets, less soup and bread. At night we slept almost naked and the temperature was 30 below. We were collecting corpses by the hundreds every day... Work was very hard... [The gangmasters] had orders to kill a certain number of prisoners every day; and every week selection [for the gas chambers] - a merciless selection."

When it came to "selection", it was an IG Farben subsidiary, with IG Farben managers on its Management Committee, that manufactured and supplied Zyklon B to the SS. This poisonous cyanide-based pesticide, on which IG Farben held the patent, was used during the Holocaust to annihilate more than a million people at both the Auschwitz-Birkenau and Majdanek extermination camps. The form of Zyklon B used in the gas chambers was deliberately made without the normal warning odorant. IG Farben also supplied the SS with the Methanol used to burn the corpses.

In 1946 the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal concluded that without IG Farben the Second World War would simply not have been possible. The Chief Prosecutor, Telford Taylor, warned: "These companies, not the lunatic Nazi fanatics, are the main war criminals. If the guilt of these criminals is not brought to daylight and if they are not punished, they will pose a much greater threat to the future peace of the world than Hitler if he were still alive." Their indictment stated that due to the activities of IG Farben "the life and happiness of all peoples in the world were adversely affected."Chargesas graveas fomenting war and killing slave labourers were alsoadded. In his opening statement the Nuremberg Chief Prosecutor pointed out that, "The indictment accuses these men of major responsibility for visiting upon mankind the most searing and catastrophic war inhuman history. It accuses them of wholesale enslavement, plunder and murder." CLICK TO READ FULL HISTORY

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FIND YOUR CONNECTION TO NATURE

8/27/2015

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"If we disconnect from the natural world, we become disconnected from who we are — to the detriment of our health and the health of the ecosystems on which our well-being and survival depend." -- David Suzuki
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"The more I learn about bees, the more I want to know.  My first "bee" blog was on February 19, 2011. I'd discovered a wild beehive with honey bees. I am reminded of the famous quote by Lao-Tzu where a thousand miles begins with a single step. My bee journey began with a single bee -- quite literally. I was photographing one bee in February and as I followed the bee around, I looked up at one point and realized she had taken me to her beehive in an oak tree. Since that day, I've been visiting the hive often -- sometimes daily -- weather permitting. It's been my very own live nature show. I am in love with, and in awe of, these stunning creatures!" - ( I wrote this back in 2011 and I've been in love with bees ever since!_)
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Pictured above is a side view of the tree where the hive was located. 
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Pictured above and below is the hive and bees coming and going.
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This is more from my 2011 blog: 

"I often wear black, yet I've heard that's not the color to wear around bees because it can draw them to me. I guess they've been known to get aggressive? I don't know. I've never had an issue. Some of the bees will land on me to rest or clean themselves, or maybe out of curiosity, but most of them fly around me like I'm part of the natural environment. I love that. In a world so divided, and our own nation lacking harmony and togetherness, it's comforting to find a place so inviting and to feel like such a part of something. I've said it before about my bees, but it's worth saying again: I love how they have a live and let live attitude. The world would be a better place if more people adopted that philosophy -- as long as no harm is being done."
Below are photos from my hive on August 26, 2015
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One of my frames August 26, 2015.
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The top of the frames.
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A frame full of mostly capped honey.
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These are capped drone cells.
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Pulling out a frame.
For more bee photos with flowers click here.
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READ: A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT NURTURES HEALTHY PEOPLE by David Suzuki
Researchers concluded that increased exposure to nature "can have positive effects on mental/psychological health, healing, heart rate, concentration, levels of stress, blood pressure, behavior, and other health factors." READ FULL ARTICLE
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COLONY COLLAPSE "DISORDER" is a made up term. THERE'S NO MYSTERY ABOUT WHY POLLINATORS ARE DYING

8/26/2015

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"The industry wants to direct the conversation away from the role of neonicotinoids and focus on this mysterious “disorder”  that is going to consume millions of dollars and years more research. While collapse certainly occurs, it is just one of many symptoms of neonic poisoning, perhaps more dramatic and noticeable, but a symptom, not a disorder. There is an avalanche of credible, peer reviewed science, but the regulators and congress choose to simply ignore it lest they raise the ire of their chemical handlers."  -- Tom Theobald
"IT'S THE FOX GUARDING THE HENHOUSE," SAYS A FORMER EPA RESEARCH SCIENTIST. "IT'S CORPORATE GREED OVER ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY."
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The U.S. Geological Survey just published a report about 
neonicotinoids being in streams all over the country.
BY COCO MCPHERSON

"The USGS study simply says that these chemicals are found in half the streams we've sampled. The USGS is a scientific body and they're very careful, but I think it does add to a huge body of evidence – for instance, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with their meta-analysis of 800 studies showing that these chemicals are really a problem for pollinators and other beneficial insects, and they're a huge problem for aquatic insects. Neonics are easily transported from soil into water, and they're very toxic to aquatic organisms that make up the base of the food chain for fish and for the birds who eat the insects. What's really interesting is that there are almost no studies coming out that are saying these chemicals are safe. "


What about the chemical companies?

As each new study says this is continuing to be a problem, it does get harder for the chemical companies to say that this isn't a problem. They'll always point to the uncertainties inherent in science; they did this with lead in paint, tobacco, and climate change. They sow seeds of doubt even though they do not have the evidence to support their conclusions.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/pesticides-killing-bees-study-shows-what-everybodys-suspected-20150826#ixzz3k8E5XNXX 
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook
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WAYS TO CONNECT WITH HONEY BEES

8/24/2015

3 Comments

 
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It's difficult to describe the feeling I get from their tiny feet and flutters. The trust I feel them giving me each time I do this, keeps me coming back for more. 
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To make a bee 'drip', you scoop bearding bees. I often do it toward evening.  (If you don't know what bearding is, click here.)
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Depending on how many you're able to gently and slowly scoop, you'll end up with a gathering like this, pictured below. 
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The bees will stay on my hands for various lengths of time. I start to play with them by moving my fingers apart.  One by one, they will eventually fly off. 
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I used an old smoker one time, and only some paper caught on fire. It was about as much smoke as a match gives off. After that, I never used a smoker again. I've read where smokers are a must use. I've even read opinions that say it's mean to not smoke the hive; that the bees are stressed more if a smoker is not used.  I've worried a bit about that statement. I would not want to do anything to hurt or stress my bees. However, I have a different theory, or at least some questions.

The way I understand how a smoker works is that it effectively calms bees because smoke makes them instinctively think their hive is in danger and that they may have to abandon their home right away. The bees quickly gorge on honey to prepare for their fast departure in case they won't have another honey source for a while. Supposedly, the bees are preoccupied with sucking down honey and the gorging makes them less agitated.  I'm unsure of the science behind gorging, but I know humans are less active after a large meal. Maybe it's the same sort of effect.

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When the human is done with the inspection (or done with taking the honey) the bees just lived through the tremendous threat that their home was going to be wiped out. They live through this every single time the smoke is used. How is it less stressful for them to endure that then it is when I don't use smoke? 

I think my bees have learned that the sounds and smells associated with me fooling their hive are not a threat.  By not inducing fear via smoke, I think they feel less stressed all the way around. I know this may seem ridiculous to even write about. There are beekeepers with decades of experience out there and there is history dating back thousands of years, and all say the same thing: smoking bees is necessary. 

I just happen to have a sweet hive. For whatever reasons, my bees don't seem inspired to attack me or sting me, so I can't see a reason to change what I'm doing.
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I would not presume to tell others what to do. I am not suggesting to stop using a smoker. All I can do is go by what I feel and what I am experiencing. I am new to being a guardian of honey bees. My bees came to me two months ago. I spend time talking to them and touching them nearly on a daily basis. They are often ever ready to climb on my finger. I've blogged about my theories about how bees can sense human's emotions and intentions.  Here's my blog called A SENSE OF WONDER. I think some humans and bees can have a most symbiotic relationship.  I only urge guardians and bee keepers to find ways to make deeper connections with their bees. Any time we increase understanding between life forms, the world benefits.

I may have a hive some day that is not nearly so gentle and kind. All I can do is speak about this hive; the one I have right now, and they seem extraordinarily trusting. I have inspected the hive many, many times and not only do I not smoke them, I don't wear a bee suit or veil. I'm in sleeveless shirts and sandals. I've been stung once on my hand at the end of an inspection. 
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Click here to read about my one and only sting so far. I wasn't even sure I got stung.
3 Comments

When A Beehive Does What's Called Bearding

8/13/2015

4 Comments

 
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I call this 'the drip' ....
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Bearding on the outside of the hive.
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BEARDING: Here the bees were clustered on the corner of the hive on the outside.
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BEARDING: This is on the outside of the hive. This is a lot of bees just hanging out trying to help the hive cool down.

My bees were bearding this afternoon. Bearding can resemble the look of a swarm that's in its early stages, but it's something entirely different.   It happens when a group of bees cover a portion of the outside of the hive box. It can occur on hot days and/or when the hive is very full and the heat generated from all the bees might threaten the health of the hive, so some of the workers hang out outside to try to cool things down. IF it's a sign that the hive is too overcrowded, then something needs to be done. Often, it's just a way the bees cool the hive down.

I wasn't sure what was going on with my bees. It wasn't a notably hot day, and the sun was behind clouds much of the day, so I opened up the top for an inspection and to cool things down for them. I knew from yesterday's short inspection, the hive is very full. Today, I saw even more bees. The underneath of the top lid was covered in bees. The second lid that has a hole in the center was covered with bees and the underside of that lid was also full of bees. 

On top of the edges of the frames the bees were packed more than I've ever seen them. I figured I needed to add another box very quickly to give the bees more room, so I tried finding someone local to help me. 
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BEARDING: A side shot of the outside of the hive
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This is what a swarm looks like as it's growing. All these worker bees are surrounding the queen and they'll soon find a new home and will all fly there together.

Picturea queen cell


The person who called me today, responding to my email inquiry about what to do, told me to look for 'queen cells' and if I found them, it would mean my hive was preparing to swarm, even this late in the year. For those who don't know what that would mean, it's not good news. It would mean a new queen is going to be picked and a large group of my bees would take her and leave me to start their own hive. Some would stay behind with the old queen, but I could lose a lot of my hive. I would miss them so much if that happened! 

It was overcast when I took the photos below.  All the photos in this section following this photo, are from the brood box. It's the box on the bottom where the queen has been laying eggs. I haven't looked inside it since I got my bees back at the end of June. After I opened the top, I went looking for queen cells. I had fresh images in my mind after having googled to see what they look like.
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Remember, I have one hand working with the frames and one hand with my camera. I couldn't get far enough back to get this whole scene in focus.
I was excited to be moving the top box and seeing parts of my hive I'd never seen before.  If the queens-in-the-making were there, I would find them on the underside of the top box. I pried the top box gently apart from the bottom box (I don't use tools specific for beekeeping; I just used a bread knife and it worked perfectly.) and put it on its side on the ground with the frames positioned so they wouldn't leak honey. That was part of my newly learned instructions.  Fortunately, I saw no queen cells. 

I proceeded to do an inspection of a couple of the frames on the bottom box. It was quite different than the top box inspections. It was so fun to see what had been going on here. It had remained a mystery to me. 
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This is the top part of the bottom box or brood box where the queen lays her eggs.
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August 13 & 14 - update

My bees were 'bearding' again today. I took their insulated top off for a couple of hours to help them cool down and kept a close eye to make sure no wasps were making trouble for them. Without the top on, there's an oblong hole about six inches by 3 inches wide that helps cooler air reach the hive. (If you don't know what bearding is, please check out yesterday's blog http://www.foralltheanimals.com/for-all-the-bees)

When I went to cover the hive back up, only a small section of bees remained on the outside of the hive box. I took my hand and gently scooped from the bottom of their huddled mass right through them and could feel their vibration. I managed to scoop up about twenty of them into my hand and they covered a couple of my fingers. I can't quite describe the softness and gentleness that I felt. Eventually, they flew off of me one by one. I didn't have my camera the first time, but the next day I experienced it again.
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Here's what it looks like when I scoop the bees up!
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ANOTHER WAY TO HELP THE BEES COOL DOWN
It was suggested that I put some water near the entrance to the hive and be sure to add rocks so that they won't drown. I tried that today (August 14th) and they bees loved it. I don't know if you have a dog or cat, but I do, and when I give them new toys they are so happy. That's how it felt today, giving the bees their very own little pond of water.
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4 Comments

Today's Inspection Shows a Thriving Hive

8/11/2015

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CAPPED HONEY
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A DRONE INSIDE THE HIVE
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A DYING DRONE
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Bringing In The Pollen 

8/2/2015

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When worker bees bring pollen into the hive, the queen is stimulated to start laying eggs. Bee pollen contains vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids, and protein. Adult bees can live off of carbohydrate rich honey, but bees in the making need both pollen and honey for optimal nutrition. Below are photos of my bees bringing in colorful pollen to their brood.
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Below are some photos of another episode where drones were being chased out of the hive. The drone is the one next to the bee on the left and has bigger eyes than his sisters. If you haven't seen the photo blog where a drone was being denied access to the hive click here.
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    FOR ALL THE BEES
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    by Betsy Seeton
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    This blog will cover what I learn being a guardian of honey bees. I will also share with you about my connection with bees in ways that you won't often find in books or other sources.  
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    For All The Animals (this website) is my company. Inspiring young people to learn about and love nature is very important to me.

     I'm also a private investigator, writer, photographer and activist. Nature is my religion. 

    One of my goals through the use of a camera lens is to bring the world of  what I call "tiny life" into focus, to expand our own. I want to share my belief that all life matters. 

    My photography passion extends to all animals, birds, marine life and reptiles. I posit that if the human race embraced that single concept -- all life matters -- we'd be closer to peace on this beautiful and glorious, but quite messed up planet.

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    A Drone Got The Boot From The Workers
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    A SENSE OF WONDER IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
    BAYER IS KILLING BEES
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    Betsy Seeton's Gorgeous Honey Bee Photography
    BOYCOTT BAYER
    BURT'S BEES PETITION
    CONNECT LIKE THIS
    For All The Bees
    Honey Bees Up Close
    HOW DO YOU CONNECT WITH YOUR BEES?
    How To Figure Out If Your Colony Is Queenless
    How To Get A Bee To Come To You
    I LOVE MY BEES
    I'm Now A Beekeeper!
    I Think I Got Stung Today
    It's Killing Bees
    It's No Mystery Why Our Bees Are Dying
    Making A Connection
    My First Beehive Inspection
    My Honeybees Arrived!
    Neonic Poisoning Is Killing Bees Around The World
    Photos Of A Healthy Beehive
    THE DIRTY HISTORY OF BAYER
    What Is Bearding?
    What To Look For When Inspecting Your Beehive

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If you love bees, check out my other website.
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