Ban neonicotinoid pesticides -protect the bees

Soil Association: Keeping Britain Buzzing

Our bees, pollinators and other wildlife are under threat with their numbers declining. There is strong evidence that neonicotinoid pesticides are involved in the deaths and that they are impacting on other species such as birds, earthworms and aquatic insects too. Another major factor is intensive agriculture contributing to a loss of habitat and food. Organic farming on the other hand encourages higher levels of wildlife – including bees. The Soil Association campaigns to tackle these problems and to work with all farmers to help save our precious wildlife. See more: http://www.soilassociation.org/keepbritainbuzzing/gclid/cjwkeajw8losbrddub-swpw8riisjaanms017iss813qxikjciwfrz-zvuixlspcgmm3dgr-tqyqbbocqgpw_wcb

June 26, 2015

New Winnie-the-Pooh story: In which Pooh and Piglet save the bees

The British Beekeepers Association in partnership with Egmont Publishing have created a new bee-friendly guide inspired by Winnie-the-Pooh, with simple activities for families to help save the honey bees. Winnie-the-Pooh, Christopher Robin and friends create their own vegetable patch, in the Yorkshire Dales. Illustrations by Mark Burgess after E H Shepard. ©Disney 2015. Embargoed to 00.01 Thurs 25th June 2015.

Telegraph: Beekeepers have joined forces with Winnie-the-Pooh to encourage children to bake with local honey, visit nearby apiaries and throw seed-bombs

Winnie-the Pooh might be a ‘bear of very little brain’ but even he has become troubled to learn that his beloved treat of honey is under threat by the continuing decline of Britain’s bees.

New figures from the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) showed the colonies declined by 14.5 per cent last winter, 50 per cent more than the previous year, despite efforts to tackle to the problem by banning pesticides.

Continue reading “New Winnie-the-Pooh story: In which Pooh and Piglet save the bees”

June 15, 2015June 15, 2015

Monday 16 June 2015: Kurds push ISIS back

ANF: Girê Spî liberated

YPG/YPJ and Burkan Al Frat forces have gained victory over ISIS and liberated Girê Spî (Tel Abyad) after two years of ISIS occupation.

Commander Rubar Qamislo operation launched by the YPG/YPJ and Burkan Al Firat forces has reached to its completion as Girê Spî is cleansed of the ISIS gangs following the pincer operation.

An YPG commander, Husên Koçer has confirmed that Girê Spî has been retaken from the ISIS gangs.

YPG/YPJ and Burkan Al-Firat forces have started searching and cleaning activities in Girê Spî. Continue reading “Monday 16 June 2015: Kurds push ISIS back”

June 2, 2015

DOUBT A CROW’S INTELLIGENCE? YOU WON’T AFTER SEEING THIS…

The clip, just over three minutes in length, shows a crow — dubbed “007? — easily solve a complex, eight-step problem to earn a snack. Posted to the BBC’s YouTube channel , the clip has gone viral, sitting at just over 6.5 million views at the time of publication… Continue reading “DOUBT A CROW’S INTELLIGENCE? YOU WON’T AFTER SEEING THIS…”

May 25, 2015May 25, 2015

We are for justice and mercy and truth and peace and true freedom

Oceans

I saw also that there was an ocean of darkness and death, but an infinite ocean of light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darkness. And in that also I saw the infinite love of God*; and I had great openings

George Fox, Journal for 1647

…

There’s more than dark enough to drown us all,

pulls with strong currents though it’s overflown.

Mostly, I drift; but sometimes catch the tide

and swept up, thrown between the waves of light

we splutter kingdomwards, make landfall, stumble

bedraggled and squint-eyed, a few steps on.

Testimony: Quakerism and Theological Ethics By Rachel Muers

…

23.11: We are not for names, nor men, nor titles of Government, nor are we for this party nor against the other … but we are for justice and mercy and truth and peace and true freedom, that these may be exalted in our nation, and that goodness, righteousness, meekness, temperance, peace and unity with God*, and with one another, that these things may abound.

Edward Burrough, 1659

http://qfp.quaker.org.uk/chapter/23/

* My word would be ‘Love’.

March 18, 2015July 22, 2015

Vasiliki Scurfield calls for action after her son Kosta died in action with YPG in Syria

Vasiliki Scurfield said: I would like to start by taking this opportunity to thank the Kurdish people from the Rojava region for looking after my son and honouring him and for their support in his repatriation and the financial assistance they’re giving us for this. Continue reading “Vasiliki Scurfield calls for action after her son Kosta died in action with YPG in Syria”

February 3, 2015April 12, 2016

Kobani and Rojava

Congratulations to the Kurds in Kobani and Rojava for looking after each other and the area, for Kurds and others who live peaceably with you. Well done the women who have worked so hard to change the way things are done, and to the men who did not stand in their way.

I was not impressed to read about women taking up arms, and was dsappointed to see the Facebook glorification of these women because it seems tokenistic, but when my friend Houzan Mahmood reframed it – the women were protecting themselves and all that is important to them, not relying on anyone else – it all made sense. In some ways it makes them less of a target if they can defend themselves. Women are so often used in war. Continue reading “Kobani and Rojava”