There are a couple of things I don't understand about this blog.
Firstly, why do I bother?

When I started going to markets it seemed a logical thing to do to have a web site which I set up as a technical exercise [ I have an IT background unfortunately but I'm better now] rather than to advertise my 'products' I do follow a couple of  blogs so again it seemed sort of logical to set up a blog and link it to the site. Again a technical exercise more than anything else.
However it does seem like I'm probably talking to myself in an empty room and given my trait of doing something and then promptly dropping it, and the fact that there are a number of blogs that I can't be arsed to finish, I suspect it won't be long before this becomes another Marie Celeste of the interwebnet.

Another thing I don't understand is how I seem to be some sort of Wolfie Smith of the bee world, railing at 'The Man' and how he's poisoning the bees and no one cares or understands.
However I would genuinely like to know if pesticides are as dangerous as some people say or neonicitinoids do the damage they are supposed to. However any discussion about this depends on scientific evidence and its clear to me that, as far as this issue is concerned, science is totally corrupt.
In other areas it might be possible for a rational discussion on the 'evidence' which may be unclear or contradictory but as soon as money is involved, all this goes out of the window and the opposing sides of the debate produce all sorts of 'evidence' support their argument.
Another dark secret I try to keep quiet, is that for a long time I worked in Financial Services where the 'scientists' were mathematical  experts called actuaries. They were the butt of endless jokes and a truism abut actuaries was if you asked them a question they would ask you what you would like the answer to be.
Such it is with scientists. Provided its financially important enough, any argument can be supported by some sort of scientific fact. These 'facts' are then presented in a friendly, smiley sort of way and those of us gullible accept it. How can science be wrong?

Since the ban on neonicitinoids, which our Government voted against and allowed the NFU a partial exemption, I have no doubt that the scientists employed by Monsanto, Bayer, Syngenta et all have been beavering away producing their evidence and I watch with increasing boredom as one report is produced that contradicts the other ad nauseum in an increasingly noisy propaganda war., and recently I came across something that I found to be just another missile.

I was in the Homebase garden section and saw a solitary leaflet forlornly hanging in  a tatty dispenser zip tied to a shelf.

'Bee Informed', 'Bee safe' and 'When using insecticides in your garden' caught my eye so I took it. At markets this is the sort of thing people often ask me about so I thought I would contact the providers and see if they would let me have a few to hand out.
At home I saw it was issued by the Crop Protection Association.
A Little Voice said 'Mmmmmmmm......'

Inside it went on in the usual way about how bees need to be protected and then stated

There is no reason to stop using tried and tested pest control treatments in your garden'.

 'What about fucking Roundup?' shouted the Little Voice.

On the reverse of the leaflet it then said
Always use Garden Care Products as directed on the label and they will not harm bees.
It wasn't clear who Garden Care are and what their products are but they were listed in the 'For further information' section directly below the CPA.
I  went to the Garden Care website to see:-

The header says:-
This Crop Protection Association (CPA) website is designed to give simple,
basic information....
 I clicked the 'gardeners' link to see this:-

I clicked the 'Products' tab so see what their products were to be told

Garden Care Chemical is a term to describe a group of chemical products that control the pest organisms that are a problem in the garden and in and around the home. These products control weeds, moss , insects, fungal diseases, rats, ants and slugs.

So they [whoever 'they' are] don't have products as such.

Next onto the 'Garden Care section to find out:-

Responsible garden care means:

1. that consumers are well informed on how to use Garden Care Chemicals safely and effectively.
2. that consumers understand how garden chemicals must be disposed of safely to avoid pollution of surface and ground water.
3. that products have minimal impact on the non target plants and animals living in the garden.
4. that new products suitable for ‘organic’ gardening and new products compatible with integrated pest management are researched and developed.
5. that alternative methods of pest, weed, and disease control are considered so they can be integrated with the use of Garden Care Chemicals.
6. that new products are developed with sustainable product profiles in terms of safety, and environmental impact, including recycling of the packaging.
7. that tiered training is carried out with retailers selling and advising on Garden Care Chemicals. 

As the front page of the site says
 'Garden Care Chemicals are often confusing for the consumer with pest, disease and weed problems in the garden and home. This Crop Protection Association (CPA) website is designed to give basic information to the gardener on how to choose, use, store, and dispose of Garden Care Chemicals',, some of the statements above are weird and inappropriate.
'This stinks' said the Little Voice.

Head spinning slightly, on to the Crop Protection Association who seem to care so much about bees.
First thing I found was that the CEO is Nick von Westenholz, who was previously the head of government affairs at  .........  the National Farmers Union, but obviously a different National Farmers Union to the one that has consistently denied the impact of pesticides on bees, had an application to ease the neonicitinoid ban earlier this year refused before getting an easement from Defra who refused to say what the basis of the NFU's application was, what was the basis of their change of mind and to ban the release of the minutes of the meeting that agreed the easement in contravention of their terms of reference. Definitely a different NFU.

On their site the bee leaflet is downloadable but as I wanted a few and there was a members log in option, I wondered if I could register as a member to get them. There wasn't an option to register so I clicked the Members tab and got this:-

A roll call of the members of the Drug Cartel.

Bayer - sellers of Provado which contains neonicitinoids
Monsanto - I think we all know what they provide
Syngenta - biggest seed manufacturer, including Oil Seed rape, and a recent take over target for Monsanto
A lot of the others sell insecticides.

'Crumbs' said I falling to the floor in a faint.
'Does this mean the nice bee friendly leaflet has been produced by companies selling products that allegedly kill bees and butterflies?'
'Is this just a shameless piece of  deceitful propaganda funded by Monsanto and Syngenta'
'Are big conglomerate companies lying money grabbing bastards?'
'Is it a risk that people might take notice of the leaflet without knowing who produced it and why?'

'Yes you moron' said the Little Voice.

Some other interesting things on their site included a link to a leaflet called 'RSPB - Controlling garden pests with wildlife in mind'
The leaflet has a RSPB logo at the top and someone could assume the RSPB supports the CPA
However the RSPB official policy is:-

Pesticides are currently an important tool for farmers and other land managers in managing unwanted insects, weeds and other pests, but should be viewed and used as just one part of a toolkit of sustainable pest management methods, and only as a last resort.

Neonicotinoids were intended to be safer for people and wildlife than earlier pesticides but there is mounting evidence that they contaminate the wider environment and can pose a threat to a range of wildlife. The RSPB is calling for the EU moratorium on neonicotinoids to be expanded to cover all agricultural uses (not just flowering crops). 

Another extremely dull leaflet on their site goes on about the 'The effects of the Loss of Plant Protection Products' and is produced by the Anderson Centre. Who are they I wonder?

Looking at their web site who do you think their clients are? 

Surprisingly they include Syngenta, Bayer, the NFU and Defra. Obviously impartial then.

Elsewhere on CPA's site they say:-

There’s a great deal of debate and misunderstanding about the use of pesticides in food production and in our environment more widely, and we hope this website will help overcome any confusion by helping people to understand why pesticides are used, what their benefits are and why they’re safe for consumers and the environment

''this website' is at http://www.pesticidesinperspective.org.uk/home which is an endless stream of propaganda for the pesticides industry but has nothing about who produces the site or who back them.

Back at the leaflet it gives a link to the British Beekeepers Association. The link given is wrong although you do get through to the BBKA. The BBKA has 'previous' as regards insecticides and in the past allowed their logo to be printed on insecticides. Presumably the ones the NFU now don't want to go back to.
I wonder if the BBKA are comfortable being referred to on a leaflet that says
There is no reason to stop using tried and tested pest control treatments in your garden'.
Garden Care Products [pesticides]...... will not harm bees

Same goes for the Royal Horticultural Society

I wonder what Homebase's view on this but I have been promised a response from the Directors on another issue and have been waiting weeks for it.
Also have to wonder what the BBKA, RSPB and RHS think about ostensibly being seen to support this leaflet and am considering writing to them.

However, I don't think Wolfie can be arsed.