Changes

==Bee Decline==

==Bee Decline==

Because of their vital role as pollinators, bees are responsible for 15 to 30 percent of the food U.S. consumers eat. However, in recent years there has been a steep decline in the population of bees, and some scientists claim that unless this is arrested the supply of some fruits and vegetables may also decline. <ref> http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/10/1005_041005_honeybees.html </ref>

[[Albert Einstein]] wrote, "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left." <ref>[http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=38449 Einstein warned of bee deaths] Free Market News, April 11, 2007</ref> Because of their vital role as pollinators, bees are responsible for 15 to 30 percent of the food U.S. consumers eat. However, in recent years there has been a steep decline in the population of bees, and some scientists claim that unless this is arrested the supply of some fruits and vegetables may also decline. <ref> http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/10/1005_041005_honeybees.html </ref>

This decline is considered to be the result of diseases such as the varroa mite and other parasites, and the widespread practice of spraying crops with pesticides. Some [[liberal]] [[activist]]s have asserted that the increased use of genetically modified crops may have a role to play, but the evidence for that is not there. Another theory, cellular phone signals may be interfering with bee populations. <ref>[http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/04/cell_phones_bees.html Cell Phones Linked to Bee Decline] Consumer Reports, April 16, 2007 </ref>

This decline is considered to be the result of diseases such as the varroa mite and other parasites, and the widespread practice of spraying crops with pesticides. Some [[liberal]] [[activist]]s have asserted that the increased use of genetically modified crops may have a role to play, but the evidence for that is not there. Another theory, cellular phone signals may be interfering with bee populations. <ref>[http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/04/cell_phones_bees.html Cell Phones Linked to Bee Decline] Consumer Reports, April 16, 2007 </ref>