Dear John,
BREAKING: New research just published in a scientific journal shows that fireflies are in danger of extinction.
In some parts of the U.S., fireflies are an iconic visitor at campfires, backyard barbecues, and long summer evenings spent outside with family.
But if you’re lucky enough to spot a firefly this year, take a good look -- it could be the last time you see them. Habitat loss, light pollution and pesticides are threatening to wipe out fireflies forever.
At Friends of the Earth, we’re working to save fireflies and other insects from toxic pesticides and environmental ruin. But we can’t do this without you, John.
Help save fireflies from extinction: Donate $10 or more before it’s too late!
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We're hurtling toward the brink of ecological collapse as critical insect species disappear. Scientists warn that if we don’t act fast to stem insect decline, we could be on the brink of a “catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems.”
And while the Earth is under lethal attack, Trump's EPA and Fish and Wildlife Service are busy giving handouts to the very corporations threatening the survival of our most essential insects.
It’s not just fireflies that are at risk. This year’s western monarch count shows that monarch butterflies are at an all-time low for the second year in a row. Honeybees are dying at alarming rates. Bumblebees are in trouble. And the same pesticides that are killing bees are harming songbirds as well.
If you want to stop the pesticide industry and Big Polluters from driving us toward a "Second Silent Spring," one of the most important ways to make an impact is by donating to Friends of the Earth right now.
Stop a “Second Silent Spring”: Donate $10 or more to Friends of the Earth!
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Pesticides like neonicotinoids can kill insects outright. The impact on bees is especially devastating -- these pesticides harm bees’ navigational systems, making it harder for them to find their way back to the hive.
Meanwhile, climate change and habitat loss are putting insects in danger. Bumblebees are especially susceptible as global temperatures rise, because they are more vulnerable than other bee species to overheating.
These threats may seem insurmountable -- but the truth is, there are a number of simple actions that our leaders could take to protect bees and other pollinators. At Friends of the Earth, we are pushing elected officials and corporations on all of these fronts:
- The EPA could ban pesticides like neonicotinoids. In April, the agency will collect public comments on whether to renew the license for some bee-toxic pesticides. So with your help we’ll submit thousands of comments to the agency. Then, we’ll deliver those comments with a rally outside the EPA, to call the media’s attention to the bee crisis.
- The Fish and Wildlife Service could ban the toxic pesticides harming bees, butterflies and fireflies on wildlife refuges. Friends of the Earth is pushing the agency to act -- but with Trump in the White House, this is an uphill battle. So we’re also asking Congress to step in and pass legislation to ban these toxic chemicals in the very places that should be sanctuaries for our pollinators, fireflies and other species on the brink of extinction.
- Cities and states across the country could ban pesticides. Friends of the Earth members like you have already helped ban chlorpyrifos in Hawai'i, California and New York. Now, we’re working to pass similar bans on this and other pesticides in Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and beyond. And these state bans have a ripple effect -- they reduce the market for pesticides, causing pesticide producers to second-guess whether their products are worth keeping on the market. This month the Big Ag company Dow decided to stop selling chlorpyrifos in part because of state bans.
- Supermarkets play a critical role in our food system -- and they rely on bees and other pollinators to supply them with 2/3 of our food crops. But too many big grocery chains are looking the other way as pollinators continue to die at alarming rates. That’s why we’re demanding Kroger take action and stop selling food grown with pesticides that are key drivers of bee, butterfly and firefly declines. As the largest traditional food retailer in the U.S., Kroger could help dramatically shift the market away from pesticides and toward organic food with a strong pollinator policy.
In short, we’re working to shine a light on insect collapse in the media. We’re raising awareness with the public about the impact of toxic pesticides on our food system. And we’re organizing across the country to make sure our voices are louder than Bayer-Monsanto, Dow and Syngenta’s lobbyists. But we can’t do this without you.
Make a generous contribution to Friends of the Earth and protect fireflies, bees, and other insects from toxic pesticides!
If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:
Express Donate: $10
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Standing with you,
Lisa Archer,
Food and agriculture program director,
Friends of the Earth
