The Mystery of the Disappearing Bee

There is no machine made by man "or any other insect, bird or means" that could be as efficient as the bee in pollinating our food crops. Scientific research supports that our planet's bees have been disappearing at alarming rates. When you think of the bee, you may initially think of its role in providing honey for your meals--or as an ingredient in products such as your favorite lotions, make-up and shampoos. However, the bee plays an irreplaceable role in the sustenance of life on this planet through its work as a pollinator of many food and oxygen supplying plants. Without food and oxygen, all life forms are at risk of extinction on earth. Albert Einstein has been quoted as saying that all life would end within four years if the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe!

This story has been in and out of the news for a few years now, but very few people are really paying attention. There are plenty of theories as to the reason behind this honey bee colony depopulation syndrome, also known as colony collapse disorder (CCD). Colony collapse disorder occurs when the bee colony no longer has enough bees to sustain the colony. The colony ultimately fails and dies. CCD has taken its toll on commercial beekeepers across the globe. Farmers rely on beekeepers to provide bees to pollinate their crops. We rely on the farmers for our food. Do you follow? We must find out why the bee population is declining and we must be prepared to alter our lifestyle if necessary.

Speculation abounds whether the root cause can be attributed to our genetically modified crops, insecticides, environmental changes or other concerns. I wonder if cell phone towers are emitting a frequency that might harm the delicate life of the bee? Whether these theories will be found to be true remains to be seen. Regardless, I believe man is abusing his resources on the planet. I also believe the planet does its job in restoring balance. The earth has been programmed with an intelligence for survival and it may be viewing mankind as a threat to its resources. Mankind needs to evaluate how its life impacts the other life forms on the planet and prepare now for the future. Greed, excess, high-mindedness and overconsumption may be the very things that destroy mankind in the end. Begin by teaching your children how to live a sustainable life. We may need to prepare for shortages of food in the coming years. I am not sure how serious this news is to us today, but maybe the future generations would ask us to reconsider our lifestyle so that we are living in greater harmony with nature.

Sources:
Lisa Wojnovich - The Mysterious, Disappearing Honey Bee (inspiredeconomist.com)
My personal conclusions