Domestic Honeybees Echo Fish Farming Woes
Over the past year, bees have begun to disappear in droves, and a supposed quote from Albert Einstein has highlighted the severity of the situation.
“If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left.”
Although it is uncertain whether or not Einstein really made that statement, it does raise an important question: How important are bees to humans?
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is the mysterious die-off of a colony of bees. It is widespread in Europe and the U.S., but so far, it is not something that we have had to worry about in B.C.
The Canadian Council of Professional Apiculturists, who study beekeeping and pollination, state that although more bees died off over the winter than normal this year, it should not cause alarm.
Ron Lin, president of Honeyland in Pitt Meadows, blames the higher overwinter mortality rate on a longer, damper winter.
He says that contrary to popular belief, bees do not hibernate, but constantly vibrate to stay warm, so they need an adequate food supply (honey) to keep up their energy.
“The key to a healthy colony is having good bee keeping management,” says Lin. “Beekeepers keep hives strong.”
Having a strong colony means better survival through the cold winter months. Although many of the workers die off in the winter, the queen should survive.
Lin recently traveled to Alberta where it is believed that the long winter, and not CCD, is what claimed so many bees this year.
But the cause of CCD is unknown, and that, says Lin, is the real problem.
“If we knew what is was than we would be able to deal with it.”
Everything from disease to cell phone radiation has been blamed for the bee disappearance.
Mites have also been named as a concern. But a mite infestation is not a death sentence for a colony. With proper management, pests can be kept under control, which is what is going on in B.C.
“Bees make a huge contribution. As we know, bees pollinate; so no bees, no fruit.”
In the U.S., some beekeepers travel across the country renting out their colony’s pollination services. This practice, says Lin, is what may be contributing to the spread of disease and mites.
“We can’t rely on wild bees anymore because they are dying of disease. (Domestic) honeybees are important for pollen distribution.”
Ed Nowek, president of the Canadian Honey Council, says that CCD is definitely a cause for concern.
“It seems like the areas of highest loss are adjacent to the U.S.”
He says that Canada is usually only a year of two behind the States when it comes to disease and pest infestations, but they still import queen bees from the U.S., Australia and New Zealand.
But there is a new piece to this puzzle, and it may be a key in solving CCD.
Nowek says there is a small hive-beetle that may be creating a fungus that causes the hive to be undesirable to bees.
“The bees abscond the hive and do not return, and even other bees do not want to go near these hives to raid their honey.”
As for the keepers that rent out their colonies for pollination, Nowek says that it’s possible that they may be spreading the mystery more.
“Migratory pollination helps increase the rate that the pests are spread.”
The Canadian Honey Council is taking proactive measures, and is organizing an upcoming strategy meeting in Winnipeg.
“I wouldn’t go as far as Einstein,” says Nowek. “But since honeybees are responsible for pollinating forty per cent of the food crop in B.C., the result (of CCD) could be catastrophic.”
Tigers in B.C.
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Residents of B.C. are not allowed to keep local wildlife as pets; you cannot keep a raccoon in a doghouse, or a crow in a cage, without a permit.
So how come anyone can keep an exotic animal in their home?
An exotic animal is still a wild animal; it is just wild in a different country, hence its exotic appeal.
But perhaps it is that removal from seeing tigers roaming through our backyards that has caused us to forget that they are still dangerous.
When Gangus, a 2 year-old Bengal tiger, swatted at Tania Dumstery-Soos and killed her last week, it was only doing what came naturally.
Tigers are killing machines, they are born to hunt, and should be respected as such.
Dogs are an excellent example of human triumph over nature. We have taken wild wolves and bred them for thousands of years to make them our lap dog companions. But even that doesn’t stop them from resorting back to their wild roots.
History has shown us that even the animals that we have bred domestically may still not be man’s best friends.
In August 2005, vicious attacks from pit bulls prompted a province-wide ban from the province of Ontario, and the breed has been banned from Winnipeg for over a decade. The owners can be blamed on many accounts, but not all.
So if animals that we have taken centuries to tame will still act out and attack people, isn’t it naïve to think that creatures that are very much wild will do any different?
There are those that argue that keeping a tiger is a valiant way to save the species, as there are more tigers in captivity than there are in the wild. But that does not means it is right to keep a 200-pound cat in your backyard.
Tigers in the wild command a territory of anywhere from 8 to 200 sq km, depending on the abundance of prey. They are also solitary creatures, and can live for up to 20 years. This is a stark contrast to the cramped quarters that the tigers in the cages of 100 Mile House were being kept in. When you confine creatures that are meant to live alone in vast spaces, perhaps keeping them in close quarters with other animals, you are causing them distress, only contributing to the danger. This compounded with a lack of activity and stimulation creates an even deadlier problem, because a restless tiger is a disaster in the making.
In this latest example of exotic ownership, not only did a woman lose her life, but an endangered species lost another misunderstood member that, if tried in a courtroom, would have been found not guilty by reason of insanity.
From big cats taken from India to small squirrels captured in Chile, the exotic animal trade is big business in Canada; and it is a dangerous and morally wrong trade that must at least be regulated, if not halted.
It is usually mere selfishness, and not conservation, that people have in mind when they purchase a tiger or other outrageous pet, which is no real basis for their argument to keep them.
Those that own or sell exotic animals say that many of the creatures are captive-bred, now; but that doesn’t necessarily mean any more docile than their outdoor cousins, and that practice may even promote inbreeding.
William Blake wrote, “A robin redbreast in a cage; Puts all of heaven in a rage.” It is about time that our government thought that way as well, before more lives are lost.
Thin-spiration
There is a lot of “thin-spiration” out there for young people.
The media commands an infantry of underweight women and overly toned men that are armed with messages that influence the way youth view their bodies.
When a young person begins to think negatively about their self-image, their nutrition habits may be ripped from the guidance of parents and doctors, and placed in the hands of celebrities and models. This is one way an eating disorder may develop.
Although it does not look as though this bombardment of “thin is in” will ever end, there are resources out there that work to prevent possible unhealthy choices before they begin.
Jessie’s Hope Society is a non-profit organization that provides prevention training to teachers, parents, community members and health professionals.
“This program focuses on young kids because prevention starts early,” says Heather Quick Rajala, Program Coordinator. “There is so much outside influence that bombard us with messages every day.”
The organization has developed a program called “Celebrating EveryBODY,” which focuses on building natural strengths, as opposed to fixing problems. The program is not gender biased.
“Knowing that healthy minds make healthy bodies is the foundation of the program,” says Rajala, a mother who has been with the organization for two years. “When they understand the basic principles behind the program, they understand themselves better.”
“Celebrating EverBODY” educates adults in the school system, parents, counselors and community members who are involved with children regularly, such as boys and girls club leaders.
“The health of the helper is a key component,” Rajala says. “It’s important that their state of mind is calm in order to access the child. The helper needs to clear their mind and focus on positive helping.”
Jessie’s Hope Society is working with the school district to integrate a similar program into the curriculum. Rajala says that the program can be relevant to other issues beside eating disorders, like addiction and alcoholism.
Professionals working directly with children ages 9-11 in the Maple Ridge area are encouraged to book a space for “Celebrating EveryBODY,” happening on May 26 and 27, or June 14, 19 and 21. A parenting workshop called “Connecting with Your Kids” is taking place June 19, and more workshops are planned for the fall. Rajala, Program Coordinator, can be reached at 604-466-4877 for questions or booking. The society’s website is www.jessieshope.org.
“The sun is always there, it just needs to come out,” says Rajala. “Once you tap into that sun, you have the ability to take control of your life.”
Over the Rainbow
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It’s time to end the stigma that is attached to mental illness.
That was the message that over 75 people came out to support on Friday for the 10th Annual Walk-A-Mile for Mental Health Awareness, held during National Mental Health Week. The walk was put on by the Rainbow Club, which is a local organization that provides a supportive atmosphere for the psychosocial rehabilitation of people with mental illness. The club is a division of Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Community Services.
The festivities began at Memorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge, with balloons, music and guest speakers. After the speakers, an instructor led the crowd in light warm-up exercises to prepare them for the route, which went down 224th along Lougheed Hwy, to the Clubhouse at 11907 228th St.
Sandy Craig, supervisor of Mental Health Services, was one of the coordinators of the event.
“It’s a magical day. I feel proud and privileged to be a part of it,” said Craig. “Rainbow Club offers so many services, from vocational to social, and it helps it’s members live independently. We get 25-30 people a day.”
She said that although people may have their own reasons for coming out for the walk, they are all there to support a common cause.
Maureen Martin came from Chilliwack to walk with her grandchildren and support her daughter who works for mental health services, and Candice Kutyn, who is bipolar, came out to raise awareness.
Kutyn is a mother of two who volunteers at the Maple Ridge Self-Support Centre.
“I walk to help reduce the stigma that is attached to mental health,” said Kutyn. “Mental illness is a journey, and you have to work through recovery.”
Kutyn said that media play a role in stigmatizing mental illness by only reporting on negative stories that come from people with psychiatric disorders.
“You have to take that and realize that it may happen, but that is not all that it is. I’m functioning, and I’m fine.”
After the walk, the crowd converged on the clubhouse, where a band played and food was served.
The band, which plays classic rock covers, was comprised solely of members of Rainbow Club. Jeremy Huntley is the lead vocalist; he also has schizophrenia.
“We jam pretty regularly,” said Huntley. “And we do about two shows a year. We still don’t have a name for the band yet, though.”
Huntley has been an active member of the Club for a year. He helps with chores, acts as tour guide and visits there five days a week.
“The main focus here is rehabilitation. And it’s a very good place, the staff are great.”
The clubhouse is a hub of activity, and boasts a pool table, kitchen and computer lab. It is open from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with evening programs offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Call 604-467-7165 for more information.
“It’s more than a place to hang out,” said Huntley. “It’s a place to get involved.”
A Mother’s Day Tribute
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Mother’s Day
May has always been a special month for the Boyd family.
Not only does Mother’s Day fall in May, but so did Janet ‘Jessie’ Boyd’s birthday. To celebrate, the Boyd family had an annual tradition.
“We had this double celebration where the immediate family would go out to Hastings Park and rent the high-class tables,” says her son, Derek Boyd. “We would tidy up once a year to do something special for her.”
Jessie would look forward to the family event for months.
“She felt sorry for grey horses, so she would bet on any that had grey on them, even if they had bad odds,” recalls Derek. “If we lost $400 we didn’t care, we had fun.”
But this year the Boyds won’t be visiting the races. Jessie Boyd passed away in March after battling a lengthy illness.
“It wouldn’t be the same without her.”
Jessie Boyd was born in Scotland, and immigrated to Canada in 1967 with her husband and young son. The family chose Maple Ridge as their home, and the town would be where Jessie would spend the rest of her life.
“She had been here for so long, I always said that she could run for Alderman just from the Bingo votes alone,” says Derek.
Jessie was a housekeeper at Riverview Hospital and a janitor for the school board before a heart attack forced her into early retirement 15 years ago.
“While we were cleaning out her house last month, there were all these hand-drawn posters that had been done by children that read ‘To Jessie, greatest janitor in the world…’ They must have loved her.”
In 1999, her son began to integrate Jessie into his sports radio program.
“It began with broadcasting the voicemails that she would leave me. We used to have this thing called ‘The Top Five Calls of Mama Boyd,’” says Derek. “Then she began to get recognized on the street from her Scottish accent.“
Soon ‘Mama Boyd’ was calling in as a regular personality on the program, and would debate athletes that her son was interviewing.
“There was this one time that Grant Connell, Canadian Wimbledon Doubles Champion, was on the phone, and so was my mum. She asked him why women tennis players get paid the same as men when they only have to play the best of three sets as opposed to the men’s five, and Grant was stumped. My mum loved Grant Connell, but she wouldn’t back down. She was a stubborn Taurus.”
Jessie was an avid sports enthusiast, and a dedicated Canucks fan.
“While on the radio, she had no problem asking the questions that made us cringe,” says Derek. “Once, she even asked Mark Messier why he was given the Canucks captain over Trevor Linden, and if Trevor was mad about it or not.”
Jessie was a caring and friendly woman that would never refuse a chance at conversation with anyone, but would also never pass up an opportunity to make someone laugh.
“She had the gift of putting smiles on faces. I inherited my sense of humour from her,” says her son, who bases much of his livelihood on comedic routine. “That’s what we did best. We were funny, and we were funny together.”
Jessie claimed that her last 15 years were the best of her life. After a divorce from her husband of 32 years, she regained her confidence and began to live with a new, independent outlook.
“She was outgoing and fantastic. We had this awesome mother-son dynamic; we’d fire comedic routines between one another constantly.”
When Derek became engaged, Jessie was thrilled.
“She was so happy that I’d found someone. She could leave peacefully knowing I was rock solid with my fiancé.”
The past two months have been hard for Derek and his family, but he is determined to recall his mother with smiles instead of tears.
“It broke my heart to write the obituary, and I was dreading the eulogy; but I ended up talking for ten minutes. I joked and smiled in remembrance of her,” says Derek. “I am who I am today because of this woman.”
Wheels in Motion
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Jim Nielson has always had a passion for anything with two wheels.
He lived for mountain biking and road racing, either bicycles or motorbikes; but it was that same passion that almost took his life away.
“At the time of the accident I had booked a mountain biking trip in Costa Rica,” says Nielson. But instead of taking the trip, he was fighting for his life.
Nine years ago, Nielson was in a motorbike accident that left him with a five percent chance of living, and no use of his legs.
“I had to be revived three times,” says Nielson. “They found my watch 200 feet away from the accident scene; but it was still working because it was a Timex.”
Going from enjoying an active lifestyle to relying on homecare workers to support him through the most basic life functions was the new reality for Nielson, who is now confined to a wheelchair. He speaks about his accident readily and openly, and Nielson enjoys Pitt Meadows because it’s “nice and flat.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Nielson and other event organizers inspected the route that the participants of an upcoming event will travel. They were checking for accessibility and comfort. Grates, curbs and puddles are areas of concern, as something that those on foot take for granted can be a tough obstacle for someone in a wheelchair.
The 5th Annual Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion Event is held in cities across Canada, and focuses on a 2 kilometre course that circles downtown Haney, and can be wheeled or walked.
“It’s been a growing effort,” says Event Chair Bruce Wilson. “We are hoping to double our participants this year. It’s all about awareness.”
Nielson has been the third highest fundraiser for the event in Canada for the past two years, and is hoping to be number one this time.
“But I don’t care if I’m third or three-hundred and third,” says Nielson. “I just want to see the money put to use in a positive way.”
The course starts at the Memorial Peace Park, continues along Dewdney Trunk to 227th, and then back to the park along Lougheed.
“The city just upgraded 227 St.,” says Wilson. “And it is supposed to be 100% wheelchair accessible.”
Wilson was inspired to help with this event by Rick Hansen.
“He is my hero,” Wilson says. “Both he and Terry Fox were ordinary guys living ordinary lives until they were faced with adversity. Then they took the experience and turned it into something positive.”
Along the test-run, Nielson points out the obstacles that demonstrate how difficult it can be to navigate a wheelchair; broken glass and slight inclines pose harsh challenges.
“Until you are sensitized to it, you don’t realize how many people there are out there in chairs,” says Wilson. He hopes that the event can become as wellknown as the Terry Fox Run.
“Young people don’t realize that they are not invincible,” adds Nielson. “These events can help raise the awareness of not only people living with these injuries, but also prevent others from taking unnecessary risks,”
The Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion Event takes place Sunday, June 10th. If you are interested in participating, or pledging a participant such as Jim Nielson, you can visit www.wheelsinmotion.org.
A lesson in Facebook
I swore that I would never put my photo on the internet.
With technology these days, a face could be digitally imposed on a donkey’s body and sent around the world in under a minute.
But online message boards and chat rooms have become so mainstream, so comfortable, that I didn’t hold out for long.
Online interactive communities are now big business, with sites like Myspace and Bebo boasting millions of users.
The latest fad site, Facebook, stems from the same idea as the others, (members have a personal profile page, a comments section and albums for photos), except that it is designed to help users keep in touch with people they have actually met in real life, as opposed to helping them meet new cyber friends. But also unlike Myspace, Facebook is more of transparent community.
Upon signing in, the homepage displays a ‘News Feed’ that informs the user of the comments and photos that people in his or her network of ‘Friends’ have been posting. This includes mundane messages, such as “Hi Sally, ROTFL,” to the more extreme, such as, “Rob, the engagement is OFF!”
Users can ‘Tag’ photos with the names of people in them, which not only show up on their friends’ ‘News Feed,’ but also on their personal profile. That means, that if someone posts an embarrassing photo, everyone in his or her network can view it.
And that’s what happened to me.
My ‘News Feed’ alerted that a ‘Friend’ had posted a photo of me. I clicked on the link, which took me to the photo. What uploaded was the most horrific photo I had ever seen of myself.
I was fully clothed, yes, but obviously intoxicated and acting less than professional. I contacted the ‘Friend’ that had posted the photo and demanded that he delete it immediately; which he did the following day without question.
This incident, although trivial, brought to my attention the ease by which your image can travel, and how powerless you are to stop it.
But what amazes me most about these community websites is the unending number of (very) young girls that willingly post scantily clad photos of themselves in their own photo sections. They have usually taken these pictures with their webcams, in their bedrooms, and think that either no one will recognize them, or that no one will care.
But these girls do not realize that once a photo is on the net, it is out there for good. There is no getting it back, no noticing the mistake and hitting the backspace button. No, that blurry photo of your 11-year-old daughter in her Sponge Bob panties could be the desktop background for a 72-year-old man in Russia right now; and there is nothing you can do about it.
Not only is it a danger to have these types of photos of children on the Internet, but it may also jeopardize their reputation or employment opportunities.
Are we becoming a more open society because information is so easily accessible? Or are we just being naïve to the fact that things that we do on the Internet can affect our future?
It is rare to not have your face on the Internet now, and short of keeping a bag over your head, there is little you can do to keep yourself off of it. And even though that photo of me was deleted, there may be more out there that I am not aware of.
At least I can be sure that I haven’t contributed to my own embarrassment, as in my younger days I resisted the temptation to add another nude and naïve body to the Internet.
