The Playbook for Poisoning the Earth

This is about neonicotinoid pesticides, and their promotion in the US despite studies showing their toxicity towards non-targeted insects. Some highlights yanked from the article:

- the American landscape has become 48 times more toxic to insects since the 1990s, a shift largely fueled by the rising application of neonics.

- Studies have tied neonics to the disappearance of native bees, butterflies, mayflies, dragonflies, amphipods, and a range of waterborne insects, as well as earthworms and other insect invertebrates.

- migrating songbirds suffered immediate weight loss following the consumption of only one or two seeds treated with neonics

What an incredible and disturbing read. It's sad to see how willing we are to let bribery win out over science but thankfully the EU are on the right track.

I would love to see a follow-up on other countries as well - based in Australia at the moment means we didn't even get a mention but I imagine it's closer to the US than the EU on strategy and listening to solid science.

I've just setup a recurring donation to the intercept as well, this sort of thing is truly worth supporting