Dear John,

]It’s already happening, John. A study released this
month confirms that the declining bee population is already hurting food
production. Help protect bees, people, and our food systems -- rush a $10 donation to
Friends of the Earth today.
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Newly published research shows that crops like apples, blueberries, and cherries
are being directly hampered by a lack of bees, putting limits on the amount of
food that can be grown.

This news comes alongside yet another alarming study published last week,
documenting continuing declines of the Western Bumblebee population. Their
population has plummeted a precipitous 93% in the past 20 years.

This is devastating news. Up to 80% of flowering plants and crops are pollinated
by animals overall. And it’s bad news for our economy, too -- pollination
contributes to a whopping $20 billion in agriculture in the United States.

The decline in pollinators, in concert with a deliberate rollback of
environmental protections aimed to benefit Big Ag, is setting us up for food
security problems locally, nationally, and around the world.

But we can turn the tide. Help secure a thriving and just food system with your
$10 donation to Friends of the Earth.

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation
will go through immediately:

Donate $10 immediately
[[link removed]] Donate $5/month immediately
[[link removed]]The leading cause of this decline in pollinators? Pesticides like
neonicotinoids, or neonics.

Neonics kill bees and other pollinators. They contaminate groundwater, the
broader food chain, and harm human health as well. Babies and children are
especially vulnerable to these dangerous compounds. Yet despite the documented
dangers of pesticides like neonics, they continue to show up in our food supply
-- even in foods marketed to kids.

We know what to do to protect pollinators and our food system: Get the
pesticides out of circulation, and ensure a rapid shift to sustainable organic
agriculture. But there is a road-block. Pesticide corporations like Monsanto are
consolidating their power, working hand-in-hand with government officials to
roll back regulations and prevent safeguards.

At Friends of the Earth, we know their playbook, and we know how to beat them.
Our multifaceted strategy includes a push for a nationwide ban on neonics and
other toxic pesticides, and innovative campaigns targeting corporations that can
shift us away from pesticide-intensive agriculture and make pollinator and
people-friendly organic food available for all.

Our plan has the power to win comprehensive protections for pollinators across
the board. But we don’t have much time, and we need your help to get there.

Will you support the bees and other pollinators with a $10 donation to Friends
of the Earth?

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation
will go through immediately:

Donate $10 immediately
[[link removed]] Donate $5/month immediately
[[link removed]]With your help, we’ve been pushing Congress to ban pesticides and reform
industrial agriculture. Friends of the Earth Members like you have already
delivered millions of messages to legislators supporting bans on bee-killing
pesticides. We’ve organized Congressional briefings to ensure that key
decision-makers understand what’s at stake. Together, we can build support for
game-changing legislation like the Save America’s Pollinators Act and the Ban
Toxic Pesticides Act.

We’re also pressuring some of the largest grocery store chains in the country,
like Kroger, to stop selling food grown with toxic pesticides. After three years
of campaigning by Friends of the Earth members like you -- including recent
testing that exposed unsafe pesticides in retail brand foods targeted to
children -- Kroger committed to a better pesticide policy. But it didn’t go
nearly far enough. As bees continue to die at alarming rates, we have to keep
the pressure on.

In short, we’re harnessing massive grassroots support to compel state
governments to ban toxic pesticides and huge retailers to phase them out of
their supply chains. We’re fighting -- and winning -- on many fronts, and we
won’t back down now. To keep up this fight, we’re counting on your continued
support.

Help win a pesticide-free future and a healthy and just food system for all:
Donate $10 or more to Friends of the Earth today.

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation
will go through immediately:

Donate $10 immediately
[[link removed]] Donate $5/month immediately
[[link removed]]Thank you,
Lisa Archer,
Food and agriculture program director,
Friends of the Earth

Contact Us:Friends of the Earth U.S.

Washington, D.C. | Berkeley, CA

1-877-843-8687

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