Acrylic on canvas, stretched and ready to hang.

Signed on the front.

Humanities survival is based on clean air, water, food and shelter. Bees make our food grow, so the devastation of colony collapse disorder is most likely resultant of GMO’s and sublethal amounts of
neonicotinoids (neonics) which have scientifically shown a loss in cognitive functions in bees, including their ability to navigate home.

This piece is dedicated to Vandana Shiva, an Indian scholar, environmental activist and anti-globalization author. Her fierceless activism is aimed at attempted seed patents by big corporations which create seed monopolies through genetic modification of seeds. What many people dont realise is that GMO’s are infiltrating natural seeds through cross pollination (which occurs within a 4km radius),
meaning that one day we many never have pure, original, virgin seeds again.

Seed patents also cause the destruction of alternatives, the collection of superprofits in the form of royalties, and the increasing vulnerability of monocultures (growing a single crop). While good for business, monoculture is disastrous for biodiversity, wiping out beneficial species that need more varied habitats and diets, and also creating a smorgasbord for pests that prey on a single crop. If every plant for miles blooms only two weeks a year, bees have nothing to eat for the other 50.

Part proceeds of this sale will go to the Wheen Bee Foundation, who raise awareness of the importance of bees for food security, and to raise money to help fund research projects that will address the national and global threats to bees. www.wheenbeefoundation.org.au