Australia’s bees and butterflies are under attack!

The Australian Government authorities had begun recent deployment of toxic pellets to erradicate the  “Fire Ant”  in our bushland, farming, rural and urban impacting animals, and insects.  Hive owners have reported decline in the number of bees.  Farm owners have reported chickens, and birds dying.    Using drones, helicopters and pest control control companies to spread the toxic pellets, there appears to be such misguided actions with bias towards the growth of the pest control industry. 

There is a history of misguided government action when it comes to verifying the environmental impact of any chemicals.  Australia has been using the 3M fire fighting foam since the 70s, and known for many years that it contrains a highly toxic and carcinogenic 3M chemical known as PFAS.  The Australian government has known about it for decades and continues to have it in use, saying it will cease using it in 2025.   In 2023, 3M settled for a multi billion settlement for the use of the fire fighting foam  (https://lawandcrime.com/environment/3m-announces-multi-billion-dollar-settlement-over-use-of-toxic-chemicals-in-firefighting-foam)

And thirdly, the toxic weed sprays that contain glyphosate, such as the “Roundup” have been banned in Belgium, France and Netherlands, and Germany that has been considered as the house of chemicals, has also banned it.

Herbicides used by farmers are also killing our bees and butterflies. Farmers spray large amounts of a family of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, named for their chemical similarity to nicotine. Neonics are effective because, after the chemical is taken up by a crop, it becomes part of its pollen, nectar, and leaves. The insecticide effectively makes the plant itself toxic to pests.

We need to hold the Government and the authorities making decisions that have not undertaken the proper non bias environmental impact studies that are scrutinised and done over long term to assess any long term dangers to our plants and animals.  

On behalf of the butterflies, I call for an injunction to stop immediately the deployment of the Fire Ant poison and undertake a Royal Commission to review and establish a proper environmental study.