News
Bayer court out!
Chemical giant loses legal battle
BAYER has failed in its attempt to sue Friends of the Earth Germany over its claims that thiacloprid, a pesticide manufactured by the company, harms bees.
Responding to the ruling by a judge in Dusseldorf that the environmental group had a right to voice its concerns, Friends of the Earth (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) bees campaigner Dave Timms said: “Bayer has been shown up as a corporate bully, trying to silence campaigners who are standing up for bees.”
“The ruling is a victory for Friends of the Earth Germany, freedom of speech and for the many thousands of people who have taken action to protect bees across Europe.”
“Now we want to see action from the European Commission to ensure that any pesticides with evidence of harm to bees are taken off our shelves and out of our fields for good.”
Campaigners have serious concerns about the impact of some of Bayer’s products on bees, including those containing the neonicotinoid thiacloprid, which is used by farmers, the turfcare industry and is on sale to gardeners in the UK.
Three other neonicotinoid pesticides were subject to a temporary ban in the EU from 2013, due to evidence that they harm bees. Although thiacloprid is not subject to that ban, there is evidence that it can make bees more likely to die from common diseases and can impair their navigational abilities, making it harder for them to return to their hives.
Friends of the Earth is now asking the European Commission to take a precautionary approach by suspending all uses of thiacloprid and to review its safety. The environment charity will be contacting retailers in the UK asking them to stop selling products containing Thiacloprid.
Friends of the Earth is also urging the Commission to stand firm in the face of bullying tactics against the EU’s existing temporary ban on three other neonicotinoids. These chemicals were restricted following a thorough and independent scientific review of their safety which found they each posed a “high acute risk” to honey bees.
6 I PC APRIL/MAY 2015 BIGGA and Bernhard ‘snow’ the way
The 2015 BIGGA/Bernhard sponsored Delegates trip to GIS San Antonio, Texas is a success, despite the snow!
2015 saw the thirteenth Bernhard sponsored BIGGA trip to the USA to visit the Golf Industry Show (GIS) which, this year, was held at a new venue; The Henry B Gonzales Convention Centre in San Antonia, Texas.
The lucky ten were selected from an ever growing, impressive collection of greenkeepers, managers and mechanics who were presented with their itinerary at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) in Harrogate in January.
Steve Nixon, International Sales Manager for Bernahrd, said; “The job of selecting ten people to go on this trip gets harder each year and it is tough to turn away so many good candidates. I do hope they will apply again. Jim Croxton (BIGGA CEO) and I were so impressed with the level of intelligence, professionalism and commitment to the industry.”
“We have always enjoyed running this trip. It’s a great opportunity for us to meet and spend time with ten such committed professionals. Over the last thirteen years, this trip has advanced the careers of people at the top of their trade, supporting BIGGA with their increasingly impressive Continued Education Programme. We feel privileged to be able to spend time with them and watch them grow and enjoy the US experience.”
The 13th Delegation had a ‘memorable’ fifty-hour journey to San Antonio after hitting bad weather at JFK. The snow came down and, as the stack of aircraft waiting to be de-iced built up, more flights were delayed and cancelled.
The ten delegates on the Bernhard stand at GIS
“Throughout the entire journey, sitting for hours in departure lounges, on planes, trying to get hotel bookings for the night, standing in wet snow waiting for transfers, everything that could go wrong did - and yet throughout the punishing journey everyone remained cheerful, everyone found something to laugh about, and we all kept smiling to the bitter end.”
“The Delegates emerged great friends and were an inspiration to travel with.”
Commenting on the trip, Leigh Powell, Assistant Golf Course Manager, Hockley Golf Club said; “The education was excellent and extremely in-depth - far more than I am used to in the UK. The methods they use for documenting and recording data is first class! Some of these methods I am hoping to adapt and execute at my club this season.”
Simon Connah, Deputy Course Manager, Old Course, St Andrew’s Links Trust, commented; “TPC San Antonio was fantastic and of particular interest to me as they were
preparing for the Valero Texas Open. I was interested to see how they were preparing for a televised event in comparison to us with the Open Championship in sight in July.”
Richard McGynn is an Irishman from The Curragh of Kildare, now living in Switzerland. He commented that he was “very disappointed that there were Welsh and English on the trip too.” … but, when he’d got over that shock he said, “everything is bigger at GIS and very professional. If it’s in the industry, then it’s at GIS.”
Steven Hulme. Head Greenkeeper, Murrayfield GC. Edinburgh was impressed by the professionalism of the Superintendent Association. “Their seminars were good, very informative and well run, and probably a bit more relaxed than ours,” he said.
A full report on the trip appeared on the Pitchcare website in mid-March.
Further details from
Sallie.taylor@bernhard.co.uk or tel: 07867 787608
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