Action

City of Akron, Ohio Plant Species & Height Ordinances

Need Changed to Support Pollinators

Join with LEAD for Pollinators, Inc. in supporting changes to two City of Akron, Ohio Ordinances pertaining to “species and height of plants” as the Ordinances are outdated, unscientific, and not representative of Akron community planting for nearly thirty years or the vital needs of pollinators.

View the video “City of Akron Ordinance Conflicts” for clarification and understanding of the issues.

Review our SUPPORT LETTER seeking the needed changes to two City of Akron Ordinances and add your name or business in support of these changes.

Watch our video to learn about the “Value of Urban Pollinator Habitat for gardens, soil, clean water, and pollinators.”

JOIN US AND ADD YOUR NAME TO THE SUPPORT LETTER HERE

Akron Ordinances UPDATE

Thank you to the Akron, Ohio City Council for passing our proposed Resolution to recognize National Pollinator Week and recognizing the environmental work of Councilman Rich Swirsky. Read the Resolution HERE

Read our submitted testimony HERE

Learn more about the work of Councilman Swirsky HERE

LEAD for Pollinators Comment letters for policy & legislative actions:

LEAD for Pollinators comment letters during 2021

Rhode Island- An Act Relating to Health & Safety-Pesticide Control (March 2021)

House Bill 5641- Read Our Written Testimony

Senate Bill 702- Read Our Written Testimony

Joining with fellow advocates in 2021:

Save the Monarch Butterfly: Signed a bicameral letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asking for critical pollinator protections- Jan. 28, 2021

Beyond Pesticides Action for Monarchs to the US Fish and Wildlife Service to eliminate pollinator poisons.
NOFA to oppose Heidi Heitkamp for USDA Secretary.
NOFA Action letter to MDAR (Massachusetts) to ban neonics.
Center for Biological Diversity expressing strong support for the EPA to issue a robust and protective final biological evaluation for atrazine under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
PEER letter to National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service , Department of the Interior concerning the Wildlife Refuges policy for genetically modified crops and neonicotinoid insecticides.
Earthjustice letter Urging EPA to Ban Chlorpyrifos.
Rural Action letter to Congressional leadership to Support Emergency Relief for Farmers and Ranchers of Color.

LEAD for Pollinators comment letters during 2020

Ohio HB 496 Ohio Apiary Owners Immunity Bill-May/June 2020
Proposed Decision on Some Neonics– April 2020

Fairlawn, OH Tree Plan

Joining with fellow advocates:

Beyond Pesticides-Clopyralid PID-July 2020
Massachusetts Neonic Scientific Literature Review June 2020
Beyond Pesticides- Proposed Revised Decision on Some Neonics- May 2020
Food & Water Watch and Friends of the Earth-Treasury Secy Disaster Relief for Farmers- April 2020
Coming Clean- COVID-19 Implications for EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Program- April 2020

Keep Toxic Herbicides Out of Lake Tahoe with Beyond Pesticides- August 2020

Remove products with glyphosate from retail shelves with Friends of the Earth to Lowe’s and Home Depot

Take Action As A Keeper of the Ecosystem With Our Partners

Please take action through our advocacy partners on these issues affecting pollinators and the keepers of our ecosystem. Some actions may be for local or state residents only.

Select a link below to be directed to their current advocacy action for a healthy and sustainable ecosystem.

Audubon
Friends of the Earth
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Food Safety
Xerces Society
Sierra Club
Beyond Pesticides
Cornucopia Institute
Pesticide Action Network
Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides

American Beekeeping Federation

NOFA/MASS

American Honey Producers

Farmworkers Association of Florida

Ohio Apiary Owners Immunity Bill

Ohio House Passed HB 496 June 9, 2020

The Ohio Apiary Owners Immunity bill was originally presented in the 2017-2018 session of the Ohio Legislature. It passed the Ohio House, then remained in committee in the Senate, as the 2018 election season began.

Representative Dick Stein (District 57) and Representative James Hoops (District 81) have re-introduced the bill for this session. HB 496, the Apiary Owners Immunity Bill was voted on June 9, 2020 and passed by the Ohio House of Representatives. The Bill now moves to the Ohio Senate. LEAD for Pollinators will continue to work with the Bill’s Sponsors to move it forward.

To read the bill and committee testimony select this link

Thank you to all who joined with LEAD for Pollinators (an Ohio nonprofit) and Beyond Pesticides and emailed a support letter encouraging your Ohio Representative to vote for HB 496, the Ohio Apiary Owners Immunity Bill.

LEAD for Pollinators is actively working to protect pollinators:

Akron, OH- Beekeeping and Urban Agriculture ordinances

Massachusetts: H.4650 Arbovirus Concerns H.4650 Text of Bill FAQ H. 4650 Legislator Testimony Massachusetts Advocates News Release 6-2-20 Support letter for Mass Bee Representative for Task Force

Thanks to all those who took action in OCTOBER 2020–We support the action of our collaborator, NOFA/MASS, to protect pollinators and other beneficial insects from neonics in Massachusetts.