Shame on you Hortweek

Okay Hortweek has steadily lost its influence, where it was once at the top of pile for all news surrounding our industry. But it now really has lost the plot and joined the growing numbers of journals that either do no understand the situation or are trying to manipulate to favour their advertisers - either way the time is up. How can you create this headline ''Bumblebee Conservation Trust Chair backs neonictinoid insecticide"

From this quote by Prof Michael Usher -

"You have to look at risk assessment and balance what might replace neonicotinoids. There are concerns - I'm not trying to hide that - but they may have a role in a mixed economy where there could be several insecticides being used. We need pollinators but we need our crops too."?

Prof Usher's comments tie in a lot with other threads on here and a general call for more research and attention before happily introducing yet another potentially catastrophic chemical into our environment. It is in no way an endorsement of neonicotinoid insecticides.

This is not just shoddy journalism it is dangerous journalism.

Another article headlining on Hortweek is this: Dr Julian Little attacks draconian EU regulations - Speaker at Royal Society Event calls for biotechnology solution to tackle food security issues.

Sounds all very scientific but as with most people I question 'science' that is contrary to ALL other independent peer reviewed research studying Bee deaths resulting from neonicotinoid and which comes from the Communications & Government Affairs Manager for Bayer CropScience Limited, which is Dr Littles' full title. This is spin attacking EU regulations which are in place to prevent the likes of Bayer from rolling out products that may cause serious and irreversible harm to the wider landscape in the pursuit of profits.

Impartial journalism by Hortweek? Hardly - to shun science and research to follow money and treat us all in the industry with such contempt is inexcusable and worse still halts any kind of progress in actually finding a solution and a product which may work without wiping out the pollinators we depend on. I am becoming more and more a fan of 'organics' simply because the businesses and those like Hortweek who pander to them seem incapable of actually solving something, anything without fatuous claims and the very worst pseudo science.

Replies

Pip Howard June 2, 2012 at 12:30pm

Thanks John - This French film, (English subtitles), highlight some of the REAL science behind the Bee deaths and Neonicotinoids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9boueJGtLPY&feature=relmfu

I am flabbergasted at Hortweeks decision to twist what was said - is this an attempt to court favour with the 'insecticide manufacturers - who rather than trying to find a solution go on the offensive against ever increasing odds? Even criticising the highly respected French scientific community with glib, close to rascist, remarks.

This polarisation of all issues is being manipulated to make money and those that suffer are the consumers, the practitioners and all biodiversity. Where is the reasoned debate and the search for a middle line gone?
Pip Howard June 2, 2012 at 3:15pm

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust gave Hortweek a well deserved hammering on tweeter - forcing the removal. http://bumblebeeconservation.org/

But for me I will be avoiding a publication that has been heading up the wrong street for a while with claims of copying and pasting others work etc for its own journalists to put their name to and otherwise nothing more than rehashed Press Releases - whats the point anymore? Particularly as most of the original research is now widely available elsewhere without having been twisted.
PRO

Phil Voice June 2, 2012 at 3:16pm

Did you save a copy of the article Pip?

If so paste it in this thread so we can all read it.

John www.acegardenservices.co.uk said:

I think the article has been removed by Hortweek, perhaps

a very wise thing to do.

Well done Pip for bringing our attention

to this. Lets hope that the french beekeepers also succeed with their

requests.

Perhaps they could be persuaded to voice their concerns on LJN ?
Pip Howard June 2, 2012 at 3:47pm

I didn't unfortunately - In the future I'll make sure I take a screenshot of similar articles before they disappear and to avoid copyright issues.
PRO

Phil Voice June 2, 2012 at 4:41pm

BBCT ‏@BumblebeeTrust

@hortweek pls urgently provide the genesis of the article that you are currently running about us. This does not represent our position.
Pip Howard June 2, 2012 at 5:41pm

The French did succeed and Neonicotinoids are banned in France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia. Coincidentally all countries have not seen a reduction in agricultural productivity.

John www.acegardenservices.co.uk said:

I think the article has been removed by Hortweek, perhaps

a very wise thing to do.

Well done Pip for bringing our attention

to this. Lets hope that the french beekeepers also succeed with their

requests.

Perhaps they could be persuaded to voice their concerns on LJN ?
Pip Howard June 3, 2012 at 10:49am

Another article headlining on Hortweek is this: Dr Julian Little attacks draconian EU regulations - Speaker at Royal Society Event calls for biotechnology solution to tackle food security issues.

Sounds all very scientific but as with most people I question 'science' that is contrary to ALL other independent peer reviewed research studying Bee deaths resulting from neonicotinoid and which comes from the Communications & Government Affairs Manager for Bayer CropScience Limited, which is Dr Littles' full title. This is spin attacking EU regulations which are in place to prevent the likes of Bayer from rolling out products that may cause serious and irreversible harm to the wider landscape in the pursuit of profits.

Impartial journalism by Hortweek? Hardly - to shun science and research to follow money and treat us all in the industry with such contempt is inexcusable and worse still halts any kind of progress in actually finding a solution and a product which may work without wiping out the pollinators we depend on. I am becoming more and more a fan of 'organics' simply because the businesses and those like Hortweek who pander to them seem incapable of actually solving something, anything without fatuous claims and the very worst pseudo science.