Seanelle Higgins: Save the Bees!

Bees were recently added to the endangered species list for the first time. This is going on in Hawaii where the yellow- faced bee is the only bee native to the island. Yellow-faced bees have evolved into 63 species, and 10% of the world's faced bees are in North America. However, the population of these bees are becoming smaller and smaller. For example, the Hylaeus anthracinus, a species that used to exist in dozens of locations, now only exists in 15 locations in Hawaii. This is a major issue because bees play a critical part in pollination and honey production. About 40% of the pollinator species are in danger of extinction, and 75% of the worlds food crops rely on pollination. Good news is that up to about 11 new species native to Hawaii have been discovered in the past fifteen years. New rules protecting these endangered species are set to be in effect by the end of the month. 

Analysis: I think this is a very good thing that the bees are not being ignored, especially in places like Hawaii where the environment is potentially dangerous to bees. This could spark a very important chain of events that could potentially save lots of endangered pollinators around the world. Since bees and butterflies are something critical to our crop production, it is important we pay extra attention to them and care for them.

Synthesis: This reminds me of the Proclamation of 1766 because it is a rule created to protect the bees. Britain tried to protect the colonists by passing this act. This could anger people how it angered colonists when rules are put in place regulating what you can do to bees. 

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/10/03/496402620/bee-species-added-to-u-s-endangered-species-list-for-1st-timeget