Honeybees are in peril because of disease and pesticides. A photo contest celebrating bees will be on display during the first Friday Artwalk in Eugene Friday evening.
The organization Beyond Toxics has been sounding the alarm about bee health for years. They're celebrating a recent decision by the Eugene City Council to ban the use of pesticides containing neonicotinoids from city property. The chemicals are proven to kill bees and other insects. Lisa Arkin of Beyond Toxics says we should care about bees because they help to grow food:
Arkin: "Our future is very much tied in with the health of bees. Without bees we don't have pollination. Without pollination, we don’t have a lot of the food we eat."
Beyond Toxics held a photo contest called "The Beauty of the Bee". The winning pictures are now hung at Noisette Pastry Kitchen in downtown Eugene. An event Friday evening at Noisette will celebrate bees and raise awareness of their plight. There will also be honey ice cream and music.