Honeybee Population Decline and Its Devastating Effects Are Topic of 'Vanishing of the Bees'

Documentary is focus of three U.S. environmental groups' Feb. 4 fundraiser

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Jan 22, 2010, 07:45 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Bee Native, The Honeybee Conservancy and the Natural Resources Defense Council announce the creation of a February 4th fundraiser for "Vanishing of the Bees," a new documentary that comprehensively demystifies the collapse of honeybee populations across the planet and its risk to $15 billion dollars' worth of U.S. agricultural revenue products.

Helen Faraday Young, Founder of Bee Native, said, "'Vanishing of the Bees' is focusing unprecedented awareness on the confounding disappearance of up to 50% of our honeybees and the possible connection to a group of systemic pesticides known as neonicotinoids. Illegal in many European countries because of their toxicity, these pesticides are still legal and readily used in the United States."

The fundraiser comes a few months before the film's premiere in the U.S. and after a high-profile and successful screening run in the U.K. When previewed in England, Filmstar reviewed it as "the most important documentary film since AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH." The directors traveled the world and returned with some profound answers from a diverse group of beekeepers from abroad.

"Most people think bees are simply stinging insects that produce honey but primarily they pollinate one-third of our diet. What's really at the core of their importance is pollination - apples, oranges, melons, broccoli, even alfalfa used to feed our livestock rely on bee pollination," said director George Langworthy.

"Honeybees are the modern canary in the coal mine," stated director Maryam Henein. "They have a very important message to impart to our planet. They are telling us that we are out of sync with nature and that we need to come together for the greater good of Mother Earth and be the change we want to see."

"Our collaboration on this event comes at a critical time as more people are galvanizing to help the honeybees. New York City moves towards lifting its beekeeping ban and a federal court has just invalidated the EPA's approval of a pesticide known to be toxic to America's honeybees," said Guillermo Fernandez, Founder of The Honeybee Conservancy.

RAMSCALE, located at 463 West Street, 13th floor, New York NY 10014, is hosting the event on February 4th from 7:00-10:00pm. The event includes previews of the documentary and a Q&A with the directors George Langworthy and Maryam Henein, a silent auction, hors d'oeuvres and drinks. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.thehoneybeeconservancy.org/Events.html.

FilmAngels, HerFLiX, New Realities and Weleda are also supporting the event. Underwriters for the evening include: Brotherhood Vineyards, Hudson-Chatham Winery, Manhattan Meadery and Trader Joe's. Donors to the silent auction include: Anarchy Apiaries, Apiary Restaurant, BBC Earth, Big Dipper Wax Works, Chelsea Market Baskets, Honey Love Soaps, Mantis Farm in Hudson, NY, PAM Progressive Asset Management and the Pfeiffer Center.

For further information, the following links may be helpful:

http://vanishingbees.co.uk/

http://www.beenative.org

http://www.thehoneybeeconservancy.org

http://www.nrdc.org

http://www.ramscale.com